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We are back. Hello 💋
Turns out, I catch myself holding my breath many times a day. 
Hello, stress!
Also, I am a mouth breather. 
Why should we care? 
Well, your brain, cells, bloodstream, sleep, and your stress levels are all connected to the breath. 
I decided it was time for me to learn more.
 Enter journalist James Nestor who has published Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, a quick read (or listen as I did) that will teach you how to optimize your breathing for improved well-being. 
Slowly, I am learning to stop and breathe. 
 
I generally abide by a high/low ethos in life, which extends to my skincare routine. My day ones know that I slather good ole grapeseed oil on my neck religiously (just trust me) and use The Ordinary’s retinol serum nightly. When it comes to skin protection, I ran through Trader Joe’s velvety, clear gel sunscreen. But my current obsession — admittedly on the “high end” of the spectrum – is Jao Goe Body Oil. I am literally glowing.
 
 
Confession: On more than one occasion I have gotten home after a long and indulgent dinner to find, say, a Café de Flore ashtray in my purse. And I’d bet I’m not the only one (in fact, I know I’m in darn good company).
 
The days of “procuring” your favorite restaurant’s wares are over, thanks to Gift Shop, a site that carries tees, sweatshirts, and all sorts of cool gear from those very cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and hotels where you regretted not grabbing a little souvenir. 
 
Rosé all day is over for now, but as the fall chill sets in — many of us may drown our sorrows in a glass of wine (or three …) at the end of a rough day. 
ZBiotics to the rescue. 
This tiny shot of “pre-alcohol” purports to produce enzymes to break down acetaldehyde, an unfortunate byproduct of alcohol that accumulates in the gut when you drink. 
Gut health is all the rage these days, and for good reason. I am not a doctor and this is not a drug, but the little 1.5-oz bottle of probiotics slips nicely in a pocket and sure works for me.
 
Click here to get 10 percent off your first order, and code MELANIEDUNEA will be applied.  
 
A film celebrating the redemptive power of art? Sign me up!
 Sing Sing gives us a look behind the bars of the infamous maximum security prison and shows how creating art helps inmates to survive and thrive. This moving film follows a group of inmates who join a theater troupe and stage a play for their peers. One of the strengths of the storytelling lies in the fact that most of the cast are formerly incarcerated men.
 
Fascinating fact: While the national recidivism rate is over 60 percent, less than 3 percent of those who participate in art rehabilitation programs return to prison. Wow.
 
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 Tell your friends about MOOD pretty please 🙏🏼
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All opinions belong to Melanie.  © Melanie Dunea 
Barbra Streisand  © Richard Avedon
wine glass  © Irving Penn
Joan Smalls @ Mario Testino
Thank you to all who send in MOOD suggestions. 
All other images procured from cited websites. Photographers sadly unknown. 
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New York, NY 10013, US