Author: Carrie Ann Inaba

Carrie Ann Inaba is an Emmy Nominated host, producer, choreographer, writer and wellness advocate. She is most recognized from her work on ABC's megahit Dancing with the Stars, and for her previous work as moderator of CBS's The Talk. She was diagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and Sjogren's syndrome in 2013 and has since become an advocate for those living with autoimmune illnesses and for those seeking wellness, leading the the way for wellness warriors everywhere.
Posted on

6 Online Thrift Stores to Find Secondhand Clothes

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 6 Online Thrift Stores to Find Secondhand Clothes

Whether you’ve been visiting thrift stores for years or have just recently discovered a passion for secondhand clothes, there are so many good reasons to buy clothes used. Thrifting gives you a chance to find clothes with a story, craft unique looks you couldn’t buy in any other store, or recreate trending styles at a fraction of the cost. Buying from thrift shops is also a great way to invest in sustainability; by electing to give a used piece of clothing a second chance, you avoid contributing to fast fashion that’s designed to wear out fast and end up in a landfill.

Whether you’re shopping for sustainability, to curate your style or to save some money, thrifting has never been easier or more fun. In addition to your local thrift shop, you can use your phone to find vintage and secondhand clothes across the country. From new apps like DEPOP and ThredUP to the tried and true websites like Ebay and Etsy, here are six easy ways to snag the perfect thrift finds from the comfort of your home.

1. DEPOP

The DEPOP works a lot like Instagram, except you can buy anything you see on your feed that you like! You can filter your feed according to your sizes in everything from jeans to shoes so the app only shows you the things that will fit you perfectly. You can search for items to see hundreds of options, or just scroll through the recommended finds that DEPOP thinks you’ll like. It’s all the fun of a day at the thrift store with none of the hassle.

2. ThredUP

ThredUP prides itself on being THE place to find high-quality brands at a fraction of the cost, making it a great site to look for the dress you saw and loved in your favorite celebrity’s story last week. You can search by brand or category of clothing and even filter by price range; brand-name finds for under $10 are waiting for you to discover them!

3. Poshmark

Poshmark shows you secondhand clothes being sold by users just like you, allowing you to connect and even negotiate on price over thousands of items.It’s an easy way to find users selling thrift store looks you love, and you have the option to bundle your purchases to save money.

4. Etsy

If you’ve always prided yourself on digging through thrift store bins for vintage gold, Etsy is a great place to start doing the same online. Etsy is a site for artists to sell their handmade crafts, but it’s also a great venue for vintage secondhand clothes and unique fashion. Etsy vintage sellers’ prices tend to trend higher than some other sites, but they also offer endless amounts of inspiration and interesting, high quality pieces.

5. Ebay

You might not expect it, but Ebay is full of thrift store finds sold by individual stores. If you know where to look, you can find anything from discounted Gucci bags to fine jewelry to vintage Levi jeans. You might have to consult a few guides to find your way to Ebay’s best thrift stores, but once you do you’re sure to find a few pieces you love.

6. Swap.com

If you like a thrift store experience that feels more like shopping online than haggling with a user, Swap.com is a great way to find fully vetted vintage and secondhand gems. Secondhand clothes are sent from sellers to Swap’s distribution center, inspected for quality and then shipped to you so you can be sure that you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for.

The promise of thrift shopping is that you’ll always come away with something you didn’t expect to find, and there’s no reason you can’t have that same experience shopping from home. We could all benefit from adding a few “pre-loved” thrift store finds to our collection, and picking up an item with a history that still has value left to give can be a great way to live sustainably.

Posted on

7 Fleece and Weighted Blankets to Create Cozy Spaces

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | Find Your Cozy With These 7 Fleece and Weighted Blankets

Everyone has a different personality style when it comes to getting cozy. Maybe you run hot and prefer to have thinner layers of blankets to stay comfy without overheating. Maybe you’ve discovered the security of a weighted blanket and never want to go back. Maybe you’ve got a soft spot for fluffy fleeces that make you feel like you’re wrapped in a cloud.

No matter what your cozy style is, working to create an environment where you feel truly comfortable and uplifted should always be a priority. Your home should be a place of solace and refuge; you deserve to make it the perfect place to find your own specific brand of rest. Whether you like dense, cozy flannel or light fluffy fleece, there’s bound to be something on this list that will help you cultivate warmth and comfort in all your spaces.

1. Sherpa Fleece Throw Blanket

Fleece Blanket
via Amazon

One of my favorite comfort items of all time is a simple fleece blanket. Fleece is my favorite material; it’s easy to care for and so soft to the touch. Keep a blanket like this around to pull around you anytime you need a little warmth and comfort.

Buy It Now For $17

2. Exclusivo Mezcla Waffle Fleece Blanket

Fleece Blanket
via Amazon

For some, there’s no greater gift than something that’s both useful and gorgeous to look at. If you’ve been searching for the ultimate fleece blanket that doesn’t compromise your aesthetic, this large throw was made for you. The soft, waffled pattern in a refined shade of pink is guaranteed to warm you up and keep your space looking cute.

Buy It Now For $17

3. Fleece Weighted Blanket with Glass Beads

Weighted Blanket
via Amazon

Some days, you can’t afford to be subtle with your efforts to get comfortable. This heavy duty weighted blanket is luxurious and high quality, making sure you feel comforted both physically and emotionally.

Buy It Now For $40

4. Luxury Chenile Chunky Knit Blanket

Via Amazon

If you’ve been looking for a cozy accessory that’s as unique as you are, look no further than this chunky knit blanket. Huge, dramatic and eye-catching, this blanket will have you feeling like you’re wrapped up in a cloud whenever you need a pick-me-up.

Buy It Now For $89

5. Cozy Textured Woven Blanket

If you prefer a lighter weight option when you’re choosing a blanket, this textured throw will be the perfect fit. It’s not as plush as some blankets while still providing all the softness and coziness you want from your favorite blanket, and its deep blue color will add beauty to any space.

Buy It Now For $30

6. Faux Fur Weighted Blanket

Weighted Blanket

If you love the feeling of resting under a weighted blanket but want something more visually bright than the usual grey, this bright fleece weighted blanket is the best of both worlds. It looks light and fluffy while providing all the weighted comfort you could need, giving you softness and firmness all at once.

Buy It Now For $74

7. Fringed Throw Blanket

Via Amazon

The color yellow is always useful for boosting the energy and mood of a space. This bright and lightweight blanket will give you joy whether you’re wrapped up in it and enjoying its soft texture or just admiring its color draped over your favorite chair.

Buy It Now For $15

There are few pleasures that are as rewarding or as simple as getting to curl up with the perfect blanket and a warm drink. Adding a blanket that you love to your space can help serve as a signal that it’s time to put down the problems of the day and embrace some rest and calm. Especially as many of us work from home, we could use more ways to remind ourselves that the work day is officially over. Hopefully one of these blankets will become a go-to staple for your coziness routine.

If you’re looking for even more tips on getting cozy, check out my recommendations for plush robes and comfy slippers here!

Posted on

16 Celebrity Animal Lovers Who Have Rescue Pets

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 16 Celebrity Animal Lovers Who Have Rescue Pets

There are few feelings that parallel the joy of fostering or adopting an animal in need. Anyone who’s adopted knows that you always receive so much more than you give when you choose to open your home to a shelter pet. Whether they’ve been adopting for years or just started fostering a rescue pet in quarantine, many celebrities are doing their part to reduce the number of pets sitting in shelters by bringing one home.

1. Selena Gomez

Gomez has a long history of adopting rescue pets from shelters, which is why it’s no surprise that her latest effort to simply foster a dog “failed” miserably. The singer ended up making her foster, Daisy, a permanent member of the family. On her IG Story, Gomez announced the adoption by telling her followers: “I couldn’t help it, I have to keep her.”

2. Kaley Cuoco

There’s almost no rescue pet Kaley Cuoco won’t find room for, from elderly shelter dogs to rabbits, or even piglets! Most recently, Kaley and her husband Karl Cook adopted an elder pit bull named Petunia after she couldn’t find a forever home. The Big Bang Theory star doesn’t just help animals via adopting and fostering; she also regularly shares the stories of dogs up for adoption on her Instagram page using the hashtag #muttmondays.

3. Denise Richards

Denise Richards hosts all sorts of animals on her Malibu property, whether it’s 10-day-old foster puppies, a potbellied pig named Rosie or a horse named Marvin. Richards has several rescue dogs as well, all of whom make regular appearances on her social media. A golden retriever named Tucker, a black mutt named Lily, a French bulldog named Leo, a poodle mix named Luke, a beagle mix named Henry, a pug named Baby, a black lab named Betty and a chihuahua named George make up her adopted fur family.

4. Sharon Osbourne

My lovely cohost Mrs. O is famously an animal lover; her rescue pets are so important that her website has a page devoted to them. Mrs. O’s “pack” includes two cats and several Pomeranians, Pomskies, a Shih-Tzu, a Yorkie mix, and a Maltese mix, and that’s not including regular visits from the pets she “babysits” for friends and family!

3. Pauley Perrette

NCIS’ Pauley Perrette has been active in supporting the American Humane Association, making animal rights and wellness a lifetime pursuit. She’s also involved with the Amanda Foundation in Los Angeles, having adopted all of her rescue pets there. In 2012, she made it official with her two dogs Bug and Grace after first fostering them, tweeting: “We have failed at fostering. Of course we are keeping #RescueDogs Bug & Grace forever!” In 2017 she added a third member to her little family, a Papillon Chihuahua mix named Rosie.

4. Dr. Evan Antin

Dr. Evan Antin isn’t just an animal expert, he’s a rescue dad himself. His “fur babies” include a Chihuahua mix named Henry and two cats named Willy and Blue as well as a menagerie of smaller animals like a tortoise, a snake and some fish. He told Pet Central that Henry and Willy are both huge “cuddle bugs,” and that he may have sustained an injury or two when his tortoise mistook his toe for a carrot. All in all, though, he wouldn’t have it any other way and calls his pets “a sweet little crew.”

5. Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds warmed Instagram’s heart last month when he made a tribute post for Baxter, his rescue dog of ten years. The day Reynolds met his future best friend, the actor wasn’t even expecting to adopt. He was just at a Houston animal shelter looking for a rescue pet for his friend when the big golden retriever caught his attention. “I just fell in love with him,” he told PEOPLE . “I didn’t mean to, I just picked him up along the way.”

6. Nicole Kidman

In September, Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban announced that they’d adopted the newest member of their “fur-family,” a black and white cat named Louis. Kidman and Urban have two other cats, Ginger and Snow, as well as Kidman’s “first puppy,” a red poodle named Jules. Kidman treasures her cats and has even figured out how to take them on hikes with a special windowed backpack. “[It’s] a cat carrier that’s a backpack and it has a window that they can peek out of and it’s got air and everything and they love it,” she said in an interview with PEOPLE. “It is really cute. They hop in. They can’t wait to get in.”

7. Zac Efron

Zac Efron met his furry best friend MACA after Bark N’ Bitches, a LA-based dog shelter, rescued her from being euthanized. Efron stepped in to foster her before realizing he just couldn’t give her back and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

8. Amanda Seyfried

Last year Amanda Seyfried adopted her Australian Shepherd Finn after meeting him on the set of Big Love. In an interview with PEOPLE, Seyfried shared that Finn has been huge in helping the actress manage her anxiety. “As soon as he was mine, like 24 hours after I got him, I realized something about me needed him. He completely changed my life and helped me find my solitude and my independence.” Now, Seyfried makes sure all of her film contracts allow her to bring Finn along whenever possible.

9. Chris Evans

Captain America met his now Internet-famous dog Dodger while filming the movie Gifted. When he realized the doggy actors on set were available for adoption, he fell for Dodger right away. On National Pet Day two years ago, Evans shared a heartwarming video of the first time they met, writing, “I knew right away that he was coming home with me, so I took this video to always remember our first hello.”

10. Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde was happy to introduce her newest “heartbreaker,” Elvis Sudeikis-Wilde, to her Instagram followers a few years ago. “He’s lived a pretty harrowing life so far, and we are so lucky he adopted us as his new family, so we can treat him like the king he was born to be,” she wrote in her post, thanking Barc Shelter for helping them find “the missing member of our brood.” Wilde hopes that others will give rescue pets a chance at a better life, adding, “Please consider saving a dog today.”

11. Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler has always outspoken about the importance of animal rescue; she recently adopted two chows named Beret and Bernice after the passing of her longtime companions Chunk and Tammy last year. Chelsea saved Chunk from a kill shelter at 9 years old and he quickly became a favorite of fans all over the world and even had his own Facebook and Twitter accounts. In April, Handler took to Twitter to ask people to support the shelter she adopted her new rescue pets from, writing, “If you are able to help, please join me in supporting them.”

12. Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell has a passion for adopting senior dogs, including her beloved girl Barbara who passed away earlier this month. She was intentional about sharing her experience with Barbara in the hopes that it would encourage others to see the merit in adopting and fostering older rescue pets.

In an Instagram story after Barbara’s passing, Bell urged followers to love on older shelter dogs, saying: “I had and I continue to have such a good experience with adopting senior dogs, and I hope by seeing some of Barbara’s antics, it inspires other people to open their hearts to older dogs. I know they’re not like the ideal thing to take on and obviously it’s sad when they die, but it’s no comparison to the feeling you have knowing that you spoiled someone in their twilight years.”

Kristen Bell isn’t the only one in her family with a soft spot for rescues. Bell and her husband Dax Shepherd decided to start fostering their other dog, Frank, as a way to settle an argument. “I didn’t get an apology, but I got a dog! This is so much better than an apology,” she told Justin Long while sharing the story on his podcast.

13. Charlize Theron

Last December Charlize Theron added two new dogs, Leo and Cleo, to her adopted family. She told Stephen Colbert that she adopted them off the street for her two children. Theron’s son and daughter were jealous because the family’s older two dogs were clearly their mom’s, and the actress couldn’t disagree. Theron said she couldn’t be prouder of her two older rescues, and that even though they came with their own issues like any rescue pet, “they’re such good boys.”

14. Kellan Lutz

Kellan Lutz has been an adoptee dad for ten years ever since he adopted his rescue dog, Kola, after breaking up with his first girlfriend. His most recent rescue dog, Koda, was just featured in an “Adopt, Don’t Buy” campaign for Peta and recently celebrated her fourth birthday.

15. Jennifer Anniston

Jennifer Aniston joined the masses who have stepped in to rescue shelter pets over quarantine, welcoming a puppy named Lord Chesterfield into her family earlier this month. She gave a shoutout on Instagram to the Wagmor for connecting her to her new family member, writing: “A HUGE thank you for the incredible work you do. Grateful you take such great care of these rescues and find them their forever homes.”

16. Carrie Ann Inaba

Last but not least, there’s me! My lifelong passion for animals has always drawn me to rescues, particularly ones with special needs. I’ve always found that a home feels empty until there’s some love from an animal companion to fill it. I currently have three dogs named Lola, Buddy and Peanut, and two cats named Reb and Sophie.

Adopting an animal can be a great way to show kindness both inward and outward. The love that rescue animals have to give is so pure and uncomplicated; making space for a rescue will change your life in ways you can’t imagine. If the stories above have made you curious about adopting or fostering a pet, Petfinder.com or your local shelter’s site are great places to start researching. Your new best friend could be a simple search away.

If you’re unable to foster or adopt an animal, there are still plenty of ways to make a difference in the life of a rescue pet in need. Click here for 9 easy ways to “virtually” adopt an animal today.

Posted on

Carrie Ann Inaba Shares Her Meditation for Connection

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | A Simple Meditation for Connection

Every day we are inundated with information. Our televisions, the Internet, our phones, our apps, and even our virtual assistants give us updates and input… It’s a lot of information to handle. But is that the real information that we need? I want you to ask yourself if what you are consuming is what you are choosing or if it is just being thrown at you so fast that you don’t know what else to do but catch it. You receive too much to digest, so nothing really sinks in. You don’t need to read the latest updates three times a day. This is just eating up your precious time. We’re caught between two pressures. Some of us are almost never alone anymore as our kids and families stay home more, yet we might feel more isolated and yearning for connection than ever before. We might find ourselves staying on social apps much longer than we really should, scrolling to the endless possibilities of connection without having the benefits of connection. This is the perfect time for a meditation.

I want to encourage everyone to stop.

Turn off the television. Turn off the radio. Turn off Alexa. Turn away from your social feeds. Turn off the notifications from your various apps. Close your shopping app. Then listen. Listen to you and the cues that your body is giving you. It has information that you need much more than anything those other outlets are offering you. Try it. Please, for your own wellbeing.

In the past few months, our lives have been altered greatly. We have finally moved out of the “just waiting for this to be over” stage and are now in the acceptance stage of things. This is our new normal. Like it or not, we are in a whole different chapter now. After these months of adjusting our routines, our habits, our amount of interactions with each other, after changing the “hows” of nearly everything we do (moving businesses out onto the streets, connecting via Skypes and Facetimes, teaching our kids and helping them with their homework all from the same room, losing our jobs, not seeing loved ones, no longer traveling to places we love), we have been changed. And it’s time to check in with you.

Here’s a meditation I’d like to suggest. I call it “Listening to You”.

Find a quiet spot.
In the garden, in the bathtub, in the corner of your room, on your bed, whatever works, even if it’s in your closet with the lights turned off.
Sit in a comfortable position or lay down comfortably.
Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.
Make each breath a little slower and a little longer than the last.
Feel your shoulders drop with each exhale, let the tension in your body go away. It’s not yours to hold onto anymore. There is no stress in this moment.
Try to visualize your heart. If that’s not comfortable, direct your energy towards the center of you.
There is no correct way to do this; find and create your own way to find your center or heart.
Take a few more breaths and enjoy being where you are…
Which is with you.

When you feel connected to yourself, it’s time to start a simple meditation.
Say hello, or hey or hi, and say your own name. It can be in your head or out loud, whichever feels right to you.
“Hello Carrie Ann,” “Hey Mike,” “Hi Joy…”
Give yourself a little time to hear yourself.
If this is new for you, you may feel a bit strange, and your inner you may be surprised to hear you talking to them.
So gently, say it again, and add, “How are you?” or “How are you doing?”

Take a few breaths and notice how your body changes, how it relaxes, how it calms. Now, take another breath and ask yourself, how are you? Imagine that you’re holding your own hand and looking into your own eyes.
How are you doing? Is there anything you need? And listen…
Just listen…
Listen to your voice. Listen to your thoughts. Listen to your body parts and listen to your heart. You can keep asking questions once you’re in there… go slowly, at the pace of your long deep breaths. Know that whether or not you heard or understood what your body was telling you, your body understood itself and will know how to give you what you need.

Today I did this meditation and my body told me she just needs time… quiet time… time to breathe and time to be without any responsibility. She asked for quiet. It sounds like my voice in my own head. Sometimes, I can just see a picture of something, like my backyard, or my animals, and I somehow know what she is saying to me. Today it was clear: time. She wants time to just be.

Give yourself patience. If no answer comes today, that’s okay. You have spent time in meditation with yourself, and it will have a positive impact on your day in unexpected ways.

After a few more slow deep breaths, just say I love you (and your name). I always add in I love you lots and lots and lots, and it makes me smile even though my eyes are closed.

I take a few more breaths to extend such joyful love filled moment, and then I open my eyes.

Welcome back to the world, and know that you’re not alone here. Your body, your inner voice, are here as well, supporting you and guiding you.

Posted on

6 Plant-Based Supplements To Level Up Your Smoothies

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 6 Supplements To Level Up Your Smoothies

Over the years since I was first diagnosed with autoimmune conditions, I’ve developed many tools for keeping my body happy, healthy, and stable. Adding supplements into my daily smoothie isn’t just a way to help myself avoid painful autoimmune flare ups; these supplements are also a basic investment in my wellness that helps keep me fueled and energized for the day ahead.

If you’ve never loved taking pills or have a hard time getting all your recommended nutrients into your normal diet, a powdered supplement mixed into a tasty smoothie can be the perfect way to feel full, nourished, healthy and strong. Try adding these 6 supplements into your morning shake or beverage; this one daily change can bring so many benefits to your life.

1. Nested Naturals Super Greens

No products found.

This super green mix is one that I use daily in my morning shake. With spirulina, iron and B vitamins, this complex can help get any day started off right and keep your system running well. Even though it’s full of greens, this supplement doesn’t taste overpowering at all and can blend perfectly into any fruit smoothie (I usually opt for peaches).

2. Vibrant Health Green Vibrance Probiotic Powder

No products found.

Ever since adding this probiotic into my daily routine, I’ve noticed far fewer flare ups. A combination of plant-based ingredients, antioxidants, and superfoods like wheat grass helps to boost your immunity and improve your digestion. It’s a wellness godsend, whether you’re working to cope with autoimmune symptoms like me or simply want to be kinder to your body.

3. Garden of Life Vanilla Protein Powder

No products found.

Sometimes if you find yourself feeling hungry even after a meal, it might be caused by a lack of filling protein. This sweet, neutral protein powder can be added to any shake or smoothie without compromising flavor and helps to keep you feeling nourished and full. The clean, plant-based protein promotes strength and muscle growth while other ingredients can help to burn fat and reduce stress-based cravings.

4. Garden of Life Raw Organic Flax Seed Meal with Chia Seeds

No products found.

Both flax seeds and chia seeds are loaded with nutrients that promote wellness. This supplement combines them to give you a healthy dose of fiber, protein, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids that can improve your digestion and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels.

5. EarthChimp Vegan Protein Supplement Powder

No products found.

This protein shake supplement by EarthChimp is proof that “healthy” doesn’t have to mean “gross.” This rich, chocolatey powder has 20 grams of protein and includes healthy ingredients like turmeric, which I’ve found really helpful in treating inflammation. It’s even sweet enough to mix with plain water for an easy protein beverage, or can be added to some peanut butter and banana for a great-tasting shake.

6. Wild Cocotropic Wild Superfood Elixir

No products found.

If you experience days where you just can’t focus or seem to have a mental haze, this elixir might be able to help. Active ingredients like chaga, turmeric and maca don’t just help keep your body healthy and your immune system strong; it can also increase your cognitive performance. If you’re a fan of hot cocoa, this powder can become your new go-to on chilly mornings. The elixir’s raw cocoa base makes it the perfect hot chocolate mix that will supercharge your day; just add water.

When we’re busy or stressed out, it can be hard to make sure our diets include the things we need to feel our best. That’s why adding a few supplements to your routine can be such a simple but effective way to invest in your health and wellness. Just a few scoops a day of high-quality supplements could bring you more focus, strength, balance and energy. We tend to forget about our bodies in the course of our day-to-day, but making sure they get what they need will make our entire lives run smoother and easier. If you’ve been tired all day, hungry all day or just feeling sub-par, taking a smell step like picking up a supplement might change your life.

Posted on

9 Easy Ways to Adopt a Pet Virtually

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 9 Ways To Adopt a Pet Virtually

We’ve all seen stories about pet adoptions surging over quarantine, but fostering or adopting a pet isn’t always possible for everyone. Have you ever wanted to adopt a pet and help give an animal a loving home, but weren’t able to due to constraints in your space, availability or means? Adopting and fostering are both great ways to help animals in need, but not everyone has the resources to open their homes to a new life. You don’t have to miss out on helping an animal just because you can’t physically house one! There are so many ways to save an animal’s life and feel like you’re making a difference. Here are a few ways you can help an animal live their best life (and even receive updates on how they’re doing!) when you’re unable to foster or adopt a pet.

1. Wildlife Alliance

Wildlife Alliance works with animals it rescues from illegal wildlife trafficking, helping to care for them during their rehabilitation. From a pangolin named Roux to a slow loris named Pey, you can browse their list of current residents and choose one to support today. When you decide to join Wildlife Alliance’s journey you receive quarterly updates on your “adoptee,” along with a personalized certificate, a photo of your animal and a sheet of facts about them. For $5 extra a month you’ll also get a subscription to Wildlife Programs Director Nick Marx’s e-newsletter, which has regular updates on all of the animals at the rescue center.

2. Snow Leopard Trust

The Snow Leopard Trust works every day to protect snow leopards and their habitats from poaching and encroachment, conserving these rare and beautiful animals while investing in the human communities they share their land with. You can choose to adopt a snow leopard out in the wild, sponsor a snow leopard family or even fund a whole “flurry” of cubs. Adoptions come with all kinds of goodies including a tote, a matte photo of your adoptee, and a snow leopard plush!

3. Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is devoted to rescuing animals from kill shelters and giving them a second chance at the life they deserve. The society currently houses more than 1600 animals at their sanctuary in Utah, giving each one love and care while they await their forever homes. For a donation of $25 or more you can “adopt” one of hundreds of pets from a cat named Coraline to a pup named Caboodle. When you donate, you receive a printable card describing the difference you’ve made in your adoptee’s life. If you make a trip out to their Sanctuary (which is currently open to visitors) and fall in love with one of the animals there, you can look them up when you get home and virtually adopt them.

4. Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation’s mission is to help foster more connection between humans and other species, working to help animals that have been injured, orphaned or displaced eventually return to their homes in the wild. They also provide permanent care for animals who can’t be re-released, and invest heavily in programs to help show the public how to have a respectful and sustainable relationship with wildlife. The Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary has many different animals you can support with your funds, from wild ringtail cats and parrots rescued from the pet trade to red-tailed hawks who have been injured by hunters.

5. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

The David Fossey Gorilla Fund isn’t exactly a gorilla sanctuary; instead, it’s the largest and longest-running organization fully dedicated to gorilla conservation, making sure that the gorillas in its care stay free and wild. When you choose to “adopt” one of the Fossey Fund’s gorillas, you not only get a photo, profile, and a special video of “your new gorilla family member,” but you get yearly updates as well. You can invest in the freedom and happiness of any of their gorillas, from infants to silverbacks to parent-child duos. If you don’t know where to start, the website even has a personality test you can take to see which gorilla you resemble the most!

6. Penguin Foundation

The Penguin Foundation is based out of Phillip Island, Australia and is focused on maintaining a diverse and healthy environment for the little penguins that call the island their home. And, yes, “little penguin” is the species’ official name! When you sign up to sponsor one of the Penguin Foundation’s little penguins you get access to so much information about the animals you’re helping and even get to provide a name for your chosen penguin.

7. Los Angeles Kitten Rescue

Like many shelters, the staff at Kitten Rescue LA is devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and recovering as many cats and kittens as possible. One thing that’s special about this specific rescue is that it has an entire section devoted to special needs cats. This is a space specifically created to provide care, love and affection for cats who, because of health complications, might find themselves living at the shelter for their whole lives. The staff at Kitten Rescue are invested in making these cats feel loved, safe and happy within their walls, and you can help! When you pick a special needs pet to “adopt,” you become a part of their story and get to know that you made a positive difference for a particularly vulnerable creature.

8. Sloth Conservation Foundation

For the cost of a one-time donation, you can adopt a sloth from the Sloth Conservation Foundation and help an individual sloth as well as contribute to the safety and happiness of many sloths in the wild. Read through the profiles of each sloth to pick your favorite and you’ll receive a photo and certificate for your new sloth friend as well as a copy of Sloths: Life in the Slow Lane, the Sloth Conservation Foundation’s best-selling book.

9. Farm Sanctuary

With locations in Los Angeles and Upstate New York, Farm Sanctuary’s mission is rescuing abandoned or at-risk barnyard animals, giving them a safe place to live and a better quality of life. Farm Sanctuary’s animals become ambassadors for animal rights, reaching thousands via social media to advocate for ethical treatment of animals everywhere. Farm Sanctuary’s most famous resident might be Finn, a cow who went viral in 2019 for running around the New Britain woods while evading capture.You can adopt animals like Finn, Albert the donkey, Stephen the rooster or Adriano the sheep, while learning their stories and receiving periodic updates on their status in the sanctuary.

10. “Adopt” A Pet From Your Local Shelter

If you want to help out closer to home, you can adopt a shelter pet by agreeing to sponsor one at a location near you. Pets that are up for adoption still need help before they reach their forever home; fostering is a great option but it’s not the only way to support these deserving animals. You might know Petfinder as a resource for finding pets up for adoption, but did you know that you can also choose to sponsor any animal on their site? Homeward Trails is another resource that can help you find animals that need your help— sponsoring them now can get them one step closer to a brighter future tomorrow.

Fostering or adopting a pet is a great gesture of kindness, but it’s not the only way to make a difference. If you’ve ever felt burnt out by all the bad news in the world, or felt unable to make the world a better place, the easiest cure is taking that first step. One small act like choosing to symbolically adopt a pet can make such a big impact, whether it’s helpling a wild animal maintain its freedom or keeping a shelter pet safe and happy. The next time you feel the call to help out, or want to give someone else a gift, try looking at a few of these sources for endless ways to do some good.

Posted on

Dancing with the Stars: Carrie Ann’s Throwback to High School

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | Dancing with the Stars: Breakthroughs All Around

This week on Dancing with the Stars was 80s night, a blast from the past and the perfect trip down memory lane. I graduated from Punahou High School in 1986, and all the songs our contestants danced to brought back some of my favorite memories of growing up in Hawaii and pursuing dance as a career.

CARRIE ANN INABA Dancing with the Stars
A throwback from 1985!

The 80s were such an important decade for me, containing some of my favorite memories both of my home in Hawaii and my brand new career in entertainment. It was the decade that I toured Japan as a performing artist and started investing in what has become a lifelong love of dance. My team and I wanted to do justice to his fabulous era in fashion, and we went to town bringing the 80s to life in my look this week. To read more about it you can check out my getting ready diary at People.com.

CARRIE ANN INABA Dancing with the Stars
Performing in Japan for Pony Canyon Records, 1987.

First, I’d like to give a big congratulations to Johnny Weir and his partner Britt for their artistic and passionate contemporary dance. Britt’s choice to take Johnny back on the ice was incredible strategy as his mentor and partner, and I really think it helped him tap into something major in this season of Dancing with the Stars. This season has been potentially the most competitive one I’ve ever seen; we’re seeing a lot of great dancing, and there are so many couples that could be contenders. This has been a strong moment for breakthroughs; I can see so many of our performers making new connections and reaching new levels in different ways. Last week I felt Nelly had a real breakthrough performance with his paso doble only to have another breakthrough this week. He finally seemed so relaxed and comfortable, like he had found his range of movement in this samba. I think we tend to forget that dancing is not only sport, but it’s art and communication and entertainment as well. This week Nelly really tapped into that entertainment side, and we all enjoyed watching him.

As judges, we love to see our contestants have breakthroughs, which is why it can be so heartbreaking to have to say goodbye to someone when their breakthrough might be right around the corner. It was so hard to have to send Jesse Metcalfe and his partner Sharna Burgess home because after 29 seasons, I can tell when things are starting to click into place for contestants. My judge’s comments are always geared towards helping people reach that next level; I always want to invest in the growth and the evolution of the celebrities who have decided to take the chance and appear on Dancing with the Stars. It can be so challenging to lean into an experience like this one, and I always want to give advice that encourages them on their journey.

CARRIE ANN INABA Dancing with the Stars
Glamming up

It was so difficult to have to make the choice between Jesse Metcalfe and Vernon Davis, but it was clear to me that Vernon was closer to his breakthrough than Jesse at this point. That being said, I truly hope Jesse has found a love for dance in this process and I hope he can incorporate some of what he learned into his future endeavors. He seemed to really be learning to love dance and I hope this isn’t the last we see of that side of him.

I know that Dancing with the Stars is a show crafted to entertain and delight, but I also think it’s such an incredible vehicle for everyone who makes it into our ballroom. Even if people go home earlier than we’d hoped or we don’t get to see them do things we thought they could, DWTS can be such an amazing platform for celebrities to let the audience see a different side to themselves. For instance, just last week Anne Heche told a story she’d never told before about her relationship with Ellen and got to be real and vulnerable with all of us. I’m always proud to be on a show that gives people a place to grow and evolve and courageously face their fears. Dancing with the Stars is total entertainment, but it also creates change for people. It allows evolution. And it gives people hope, I think, when they watch other people face their own fears or tell their own stories. We get to know our contestants better and that helps us get to know ourselves better.

A backlot photo opp.

I’m already looking forward to next week and all the fresh growth it will bring. I’m truly so proud of each of our performers and all they’re accomplishing, even though I didn’t get a chance to mention every one of them by name here. Next week I’ll feature a few more of our couples and share my deeper impressions of them so you can get an inside look at my perspective of the competition.

Thank you for watching and for reading, and I hope you’re enjoying the process as much as we are! Halloween night is coming soon, and we’re all hard at work deciding what we’re going to be. We try to top ourselves every year, and I know that with Tyra’s fashionable influence our costumes are going to be on a whole new level!

For previous entries of my DWTS Diary, click here!

Posted on

DIY Skincare Remedies You Can Find in Your Kitchen

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | DIY Skincare Remedies You Can Find In Your Kitchen

One of life’s luxuries is going to a spa for a bit of rest and rejuvenation, getting treated with special mixtures and scrubs to repair your skin and get it feeling softer than ever. It’s always a unique gift to be able to soak in soft smells and feel the benefits of special masks, spending a bit of time just to focus on your skin. During the pandemic we might not be able to get out to the spa, but so many of those luxurious remedies are still within our grasp. Many of the best ingredients for skincare can be found in your local grocery store, which means that your next spa day could be right around the corner. From sugar scrubs to honey hand masks to natural skin brighteners, here are some ingredients for DIY skincare you can make at home at a fraction of the cost.

DIY Exfoliants for Soft Skin

Some of the best exfoliants are ingredients you already have in your pantry. Brown sugar combined with olive oil makes a great soothing scrub that smells amazing. If you add a bit of water to oatmeal, you get a soft but cleansing exfoliant you can use any time. If you want to level up your at-home spa day, you can replicate a $300 skin treatment by combining grape skin, raw honey, and lavender buds ground into a coarse powder. This mixture will bring peace and calm as it softens and exfoliates.

Natural Skin Brighteners

Some fruits available in your local grocery aisle are full of alpha hydroxy acids that can keep your skin bright and healthy. Mixing papaya with organic honey and yogurt creates an aromatic mask that cleans and brightens. Pineapple juice is another natural brightener— you can easily create a pineapple juice mask by freezing some into cubes and passing it over your skin to coat it. Leave for five minutes before rinsing and you’ll see your skin glow right away.

Steam Facial

If you’ve got essential oils, you can give your skin the gift of a cleansing steam facial. Boil water with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and lean your face over the water, using a towel to trap the steam. If you don’t have a favorite essential oil, you can select one suited for your skin type. Tea tree oil can help clear up acne, rose oil can hydrate dry skin and lavender clears up oily skin.

DIY Hand Skincare

Our hands can endure a lot of abuse over the course of the day, and more frequent washing for COVID safety can make our hands more prone to dryness and cracking. You can make a simple moisturizing oil for your hands using a mixture of sugar, olive oil, and either almond or avocado oil for easy absorption. After the scrub, you can create a homemade hand mask by coating your hands in some warmed honey and covering with a clear wrap for thirty minutes. Your hands will come out feeling softer and firmer, and you’ll get the benefits of a restful day at the spa without spending any money.

Natural Body Scrub

If you’re looking for a full-body exfoliant that’s gentle and luxurious, coffee grounds are a great place to start. Mix coarsely ground coffee with either sugar or sea salt and an oil like sunflower or jojoba and rub it into your skin. This homemade scrub will clear away dead skin, nourish dry spots and provide an energizing wake-me-up.

Puffy Eye Treatment

Any number of factors like seasonal allergies, lack of sleep, and high stress might be giving you bags under your eyes. Cucumber slices are the usual spa staple for a reason; they’re great for cooling and providing relief from inflammation. If your eyes are feeling hot or tired, taking a couple of chamomile tea bags and resting them under your eyes can help soothe and refresh.

DIY Foot Remedy

Our feet are so important; remembering to give them proper care and treatment can help keep us at our healthiest and happiest overall. A good epsom salt soak is always helpful for soothing aches and pains, but a few household ingredients can make for a cheap mask to keep your skin feeling healthy and fresh as well. Combine oatmeal, corn meal, sea salt, olive oil and aloe vera gel with a few drops of peppermint essential oil. This mixture will smell great and feel amazing on your feet, exfoliating, nourishing, and freshening.

Hair Mask

Treatments to keep your hair healthy and shiny can get expensive, but a few items from your pantry can have amazing results. Working avocado into your hair and leaving it for a few minutes before rinsing can help to hydrate and nourish your follicles. Using a beaten egg as a hair mask can give your hair a dose of protein that’ll keep it shiny and strong at almost no cost.

DIY skincare is a great reminder that self-care is more about time and intentionality than it is about access to exclusive spas or expensive treatments. Nature has provided us with many of the best skin products on earth, making it easy for you to take advantage of its gifts and make some space for yourself to relax and recharge.

Posted on

6 Easy Tips for Better Sleep at Night

CARRIE ANN CONVERSATIONS | 6 Easy Tips for Better Sleep at Night

Sleep. It’s something we all need and yet it’s something that almost none of us get enough of. When it comes to prioritizing our own self-care, losing track of our sleep schedule is one of the most normalized ways we neglect our own wellbeing. Science tells us that our bodies need sleep to recharge and repair themselves; without it we can suffer all sorts of side effects from irritability to cloudy thought process to worse physical performance. We have a thousand things calling for our attention, many of them coming from the little square screen that’s rarely more than a few feet away from us. It can be hard to prioritize a healthy sleep routine with so many distractions and responsibilities calling to us, but here are a few tips for making it easier and getting better sleep.

1. Put Your Phone Away

Scientists have almost universally agreed that having a smartphone in your room at night can keep you from getting better sleep. Looking at our phones keep our brains psychologically engaged, which means they’re likely to keep you from getting sleepy if you’re scrolling in bed. Additionally, the blue light from our phones can confuse our bodies’ internal clocks and rhythms and might trick them into thinking it’s time for them to be up and moving. One of the easiest tips for better sleep is just to cut your phone out of your nighttime routine.

If you use your phone’s alarm to get up in the morning, as many of us do, leaving your phone outside of your room might not be an option. If this is the case, you can put your phone on airplane mode, allowing you to use your alarm without exposing you to dozens of updates while you’re supposed to be powering down.

2. Use A Guided Meditation App for Better Sleep

If you find it hard to sleep in silence but find listening to a podcast or music too stimulating, apps like Insight Timer have thousands of free guided meditations designed specifically to facilitate sleep and rest. My personal favorite is Sarah Blondin’s “Practicing Gentle Kindness toward Ourself,” a quick ten-minute meditation focused on giving yourself permission to trust yourself. Guided meditations are an easy way to get yourself on track for a full night of sleep.

3. Focus on Your Breathing

Do you ever get to the end of a day and realize you haven’t taken even one deep breath? Intentional breathing can offer such immediate relief and peace, not to mention that it has a slew of positive side effects. Giving our lungs a full share of oxygenated air not only helps to slow the heartbeat and stabilize blood pressure, but it’s one of the best ways to alleviate stress and anxiety. Take a few minutes as you get ready for bed to practice this cycle: breathe in for ten seconds, hold for ten seconds, breathe out for ten seconds, hold for ten seconds. If you find you need something to focus on, there are many animated gifs online, like this one, that you can sync up your breathing to.

4. Take a Shower or a Bath

If you often find yourself putting off bedtime, try preempting it with a nice soak. An epsom salt bath can help alleviate any aches or pains and put you in a peaceful place as you prepare to sleep. If you’re short on time, a hot shower can also be beneficial— because our bodies naturally cool down when we go to sleep, your cool down after the shower will help your body get into its natural nighttime flow. Experts say the ideal time for a hot shower is one to two hours before bedtime. This easy temperature tip might bring you better sleep right away.

5. Bring a Heating Pad to Bed

For an extra layer of comfort, I like to use a heating pad on my feet when I’m falling asleep. The heat, plus my nightly lotion regime, keep my feet feeling soft and comfortable. Getting proper moisture and soothing heat always puts me into a state of relaxation that makes sleep easier. If you feel like chilly feet are keeping you up, an extra step like preparing a heating pad can ensure your comfort all night long.

6. Try Using Supplements for Better Sleep

Magnesium can be a helpful supplement for sleeplessness, helping to prepare your body to fall into sleep. A go-to for many people is a simple melatonin pill. Melatonin is fine in moderation, but a good homeopathic alternative is Calm’s Forte. When taking a supplement for sleep, make sure to follow instructions on a label. Usually the ideal time to take a supplement for sleep is about an hour or 30 minutes before you want to fall asleep. You should always check with your doctor before adding a regular supplement to your routine to make sure it’s safe for you.

While it might not be something we spend a lot of time thinking about, sleep is one of the most crucial parts of our health and wellness. If we’re not prioritizing our sleep, so many other pieces like our happiness, productivity, emotional stability and ability to focus might also start to slip. Taking the time to implement tips for better sleep that help promote your wellness instead of disrupting it could be a bigger investment in your life than you even realize.

Posted on

Dancing With The Stars: Just Roll With It!

Carrie Ann Inaba Dancing With The Stars

I believe that the lesson in last Monday’s episode of Dancing with the Stars was that no matter what turns the path takes, everything always ends up as it should. Despite some confusion towards the end, Dancing with the Stars‘ Week 4 episode was an incredible night. After an initial mixup, Monica Aldama and her partner Val were revealed to be in the bottom two along with Anne Heche and Keo. Anne had performed an incredible paso doble to “Rise” by Katy Perry. It was a number that shared so much brightness and positivity following her story about her relationship with Ellen and its impact on her career. I want to thank her for her vulnerability; her story was both profound and inspiring. Unfortunately, her dancing left her in the bottom two, and all three judges ultimately decided to send Anne home and keep Monica Aldama. It’s always difficult to send someone home after they’ve shared such a powerful and vulnerable moment from their life with us. We wanted to speak to her further but weren’t able to on air due to restricted time, so I’d like to take this moment to say that I was deeply moved by Anne’s peace. I was inspired by her strength and her courage to be the woman that she is in this world and I love the way that she puts her heart and soul into everything she does. I’m sorry that we couldn’t see her dance more because she has such a bright light, and I’m looking forward to see what doors open for her next.

Carrie Ann Inaba Dancing With The Stars
Getting ready with Rhonda Spies, my amazing stylist.

Now, the night might have ended with some unexpected confusion, but it also began with some as well. Ahead of the show, we had my outfit all planned out; I was going to wear a lovely pewter green gown with a tight corset, along with my blonde finger-wave wig. I was so excited for this dress, but the weekend before I had gone camping and had been eating differently than normal. When it came time to put the dress on, it was so tight I was afraid I’d pass out. If you’ve never worn a corseted ballgown, a danger in wearing them is that they can sometimes push on your diaphragm the wrong way and make you faint. That’s why in the 19th century, when corseted gowns were popular, many homes had “fainting couches” specifically designed to catch anyone passing out from a too-tight corset. Luckily, I didn’t need a fainting couch behind my Dancing with the Stars judge’s chair because we plan outfits for future episodes well in advance. I was able to wear a one-shoulder bronze and pewter Ivan Bitton gown picked out for a later episode. For more details, you can read People‘s coverage of my style here. I loved my look, and when I saw Tyra come out in a one-shoulder dress of her own it felt like the stars had aligned and everything was just right.

Carrie Ann Inaba Dancing With The Stars
My miraculous one-shoulder look.

I want to say that in Week 4, the dancers were incredible. I was profoundly touched by Skai Jackson’s foxtrot that she performed in honor of her friend and co-star Cameron Boyce who tragically passed away last year. I thought that it was flawless; sheer perfection. I know that it’s early in the season for a 10 paddle to come out, but I also know that I have to follow my instincts when judging. The entire time Skai and her partner Alan were dancing, my instincts kept yelling “10!” It was clear that something magical was happening, and when that kind of magic happens, you’ll always see a 10 paddle from me.

I’m blown away by the improvement we’re seeing week to week from all of out dancers. Johnny Weir and his partner Britt gave an incredible performance, as did Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem. Without any background dancers or distractions from the dancers themselves this year, I think the dancers know that our focus is solely on them. I’m seeing them put more effort into the details, and can feel them really listening to the judges’ comments because it’s the only feedback they’re getting.

I congratulate everyone on what might have been my favorite episode of Dancing with the Stars ever. The growth of the couples has been exceptional, and I feel that many of them have made leaps and bounds forward in their progress. Although the night might have had more confusion than we’d planned for, ultimately everything turned out the way it was meant to be.

I’m looking forward to Week 5: Disco Night! I was in my teens in the 80s and I know it’s going to bring back some fun memories.

(Plus, I can’t wait to see what Bruno’s going to wear!)

To read previous weeks of Carrie Ann’s DWTS diary, click here.