Latest news with #TheEssentials
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
ABC's Ginger Zee says this part of her morning routine is 'simplistic' but so essential
ABC's Ginger Zee says this part of her morning routine is 'simplistic' but so essential In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. Ginger Zee, ABC News' chief meteorologist, is putting all of her necessities (aside from her husband, Ben Aaron, and their two sons, Adrian, 9, and Miles, 7) on your radar. Zee, an early riser for "Good Morning America," admits "I can't imagine having a leisurely morning. But I take it, and I make 3:45 a.m. feel as leisurely as possible." And on days when Zee's not heading into the studio, she could be chasing a storm, "driving to a tornado" and "doing my makeup in the car," she says. In either case, the 44-year-old is sharing all of her Essentials, from A to Zee. Ginger Zee reveals her daily essentials, from yoga to an ideal morning Ginger Zee on her daily essentials and how she spends her mornings. Ginger Zee wears a sleep ring: 'We don't put enough emphasis on' rest "I'm a scientist. I love data," Zee says, so she's delighted by the information she can gather from her sleep ring, a wearable health monitor and tracking device. Zee, who has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, finds it "empowering." "It's not like it's breaking news that alcohol changes and makes your sleep worse," Zee explains. "I knew that, but processed sugar and time of day that I have things, exercise, when I do it, when I sauna or massage or mostly hydration − honestly, that's the big one that I can tell a huge difference in my sleep. "My sleep is so critical. It's the foundation of my health, my mental health, my physical health, all of (ours)," she continues. "And we don't put enough emphasis on it." Her morning routine: Checking in and setting an intention "One of my favorite moments is just my wake-up and my moment of checking in with myself," Zee says. "I know that sounds very kind of easy and simplistic, but a lot of people don't do it. A lot of people rush right into whatever it is, and then they haven't really answered, 'How are you?' or 'What am I feeling?'" Next, Zee hops into the shower and helps set the tone of her day using her steamy shower glass as a writing board. "I make little fists that make little footprints on (the glass) and I put both my children's names," she says. "Then I put both my handprints for my husband and I," signifying, "this is the core of who I am. Then I write an intention for the day, like you do in yoga at the beginning of a practice." Zee identifies a goal for the day and writes that on the shower as well. Meditation: It 'should be used more and more every day' Zee does a guided meditation on her way into work. She likes the Calm app and recommends the meditations offered by Dan Harris, a former anchor for ABC News, and acknowledges the free options available as well. Know "you don't have to commit (to) 20 minutes," Zee says. "It can be a one-minute, a five-minute, a 10-minute" meditation, she says. "Meditation is just a moment of reflection, and a moment of groundedness and preparedness, and I think should be used more and more every day." Her on-the-road essentials: Reusable utensils and eye patches When Zee is reporting on the road, she brings reusable water bottles and utensils, which she washes after using. While she likes to avoid waste when she can, she relies on single-use eye patches. "Those are pretty necessary because a lot of times we've been up, we've been doing the other shows late and then we're waking up three hours, four hours later," Zee says. "So getting the de-puff is a pretty crucial essential for me." She adds with a laugh, "I'm not perfect." But she nixed face wipes eight years ago, she says, opting for coconut oil on a washcloth instead. Earth "has cared for us for so long," she says. "Something as simple as just looking around you and (asking), 'Where could I reduce waste?' That's something that is essential to me." The attitude required dealing with critics: 'Great empathy for these people' Years of criticism has taught Zee not to absorb the negativity of online trolls. In March, someone left a critical comment on an Instagram video. "You're not aging well," they wrote. Zee responded to the user that it is "a privilege to be aging in any manner – thanks for your opinion though." Derisive comments "usually says a lot about who they are and what's wrong with them," she says, adding she has "empathy for these people who are so sad or they need to get that out. And I take it that way and it's much easier to take when you start seeing that. "My first reaction (to the comment) was, 'Thank God I get to get older,'" she adds. "There (were) a lot of years in my 20s and teens where I was like − like a lot of other people – 'I don't even know if I'm worth it.' I'm so lucky to be alive, let alone aging. Good! Your opinion is that I'm not aging well, but the point is I'm aging. And I really meant that. I meant that it is a privilege to be able to be aging."
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Misty Copeland shares essential advice from Prince, favorite dish to cook, self-care tips
Misty Copeland shares essential advice from Prince, favorite dish to cook, self-care tips In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. Misty Copeland is paying it forward – both on and off the dance floor. The American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, still dancing but now at a new stage of her career as a mom, foundation owner and mentor, is sharing her advice for teens in a new book. 'Letters to Misty' (out now from Simon & Schuster) compiles fan notes the ballerina has received over her decades-long career. As the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at the ABT, Copeland has long inspired young performers, especially dancers of color. She shares with USA TODAY the best tips she's learned for self-care and confidence. Prince gave Misty Copeland key advice for confidence In 'Letters to Misty,' Copeland, 42, teaches teens that confidence is something you have to practice. 'It's working a muscle, it's putting in the reps and having a support system around you,' Copeland says. 'The ballet mistresses or the coaches or the teachers around you are there to help and guide you, but it's up to you to be consistent." As a young dancer, she was often the only Black girl in the room. Throughout her several collaborations with Prince, she said the 'Purple Rain' singer gave her advice she'll never forget: Uniqueness and individuality are strengths. 'I was coming from this place of fear and wanting to shrink myself in order to fit in and he was like 'What are you talking about? There's so much power in being the only one out there,' ' she says. ''You're holding your attention – now what are you going to do with the opportunity?'' Mentors are an essential part of Misty Copeland's journey A support squad is also crucial to building confidence, Copeland says. Her local childhood Boys and Girls Club (where she took her first ballet class) helped her establish healthy mentor figures from a young age. Her first ballet teacher was a key role model. She also looks up to fellow dancers Alicia Graf Mack, Raven Wilkinson (who Copeland's 2022 book 'The Wind at My Back' is about), Lauren Anderson, actress Victoria Rowell and producer Susan Fales-Hill. 'Throughout my career, so many incredible women, and specifically Black women, have really been like the backbone of my success,' Copeland says. 'That, naturally and organically, taught me the importance of being a mentor.' Misty Copeland's favorite social media accounts help her stay 'zen' In 'Letters to Misty,' young readers ask Copeland about staying true to themselves in the digital age and how to navigate an often toxic social media landscape. 'I really suggest surrounding yourself, following people that are more aligned with your own values and being able to shut it off and say 'What's important are the people who are actually in my life that are there for me,'' she says. Her favorites include culinary icon Ina Garten, photographer Mark Seliger, art curator Thelma Golden and any of the Aman hotel properties, which make her feel 'so zen just looking at them.' How Misty Copeland recharges: 'A necessity and not a luxury' Rest is a self-care priority to Copeland, telling teens in 'Letters to Misty' it's 'a necessity, not a luxury.' When she's in the dance studio for eight hours a day, a day off has a leisurely start, sleeping in late and stretching. On the second day of her weekend, she'll take a Pilates class, nap more, drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious meals. She also ices her body with her Game Ready ice machine, which keeps her blood circulating and reduces inflammation. You'll also find her dabbling in some 'terrible TV' and listening to Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, Anita Baker, or Sade. One of her favorite ways to unwind is to cook, especially her signature citrus salmon dish that she once made for Garten herself. Copeland broils her fish in a homemade marinade of brown sugar, orange juice, soy sauce and white wine vinegar, pairing it with sweet potato mash on the side. 'One of my favorite things is opening the refrigerator and there's nothing in there and you're like, how can I make something work? It's this creative challenge,' Copeland says. Journaling is also a key part of her routine and has been since she was young. She often journals when she's on the road or in hotel rooms and saves every finished notebook to look back on later. 'It's such a healthy way to process things and also to document,' she says. Need a new book?: 15 new releases you can read right now Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter, or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What's Penn Badgley reading? The 'You' star may surprise you
What's Penn Badgley reading? The 'You' star may surprise you In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set or on the road. Penn Badgley is waving farewell to Joe Goldberg and closing the chapter on his Netflix leading man. The "You" and former "Gossip Girl" star, 38, is an open book (pun most definitely intended), although he reads as more of a spiritual text than his onscreen alter ego's crime thriller. "We'll see what else I can do," says Badgley, who sat down with USA TODAY for a series of exclusive conversations. "I'm not worried about what I've done in the past. I would have had more concern about being able to summit the peak of a show like 'Gossip Girl.' I've heard that most people die on the way down from Everest – anyone can get on a show like 'Gossip Girl,' but can you then make it off and go somewhere else? That's difficult for anybody. I think one of the only ways I could have done it was to play someone like Joe and essentially murder Dan Humphrey." Badgley combines past, present and future as he shares the artists on his Spotify playlist, his chill morning routine and his ideal New York day for USA TODAY's The Essentials. In the backseat with Penn Badgley: With 'You,' 'Gossip Girl' in the rearview, what's next Penn Bagdley reveals his daily essentials, from music to an ideal day Penn Badgley on his daily essentials, favorite music, and how he spends a perfect day. Penn Badgley music favorites include D'Angelo, of course Badgley has an eclectic mix of favorites on his Spotify playlist. "I always have to mention D'Angelo. I would love for D'Angelo to get tired in my mind. I would love for me to feel as though, 'You know what, I'm done, because I've done it.' But literally yesterday I went back to (his 2000 album) 'Voodoo' and I was like, 'No, it's still the best.' I don't know how that's possible." Also on Badgley's rotation are Radiohead, Joan As Police Woman, London bands Kokoroko and Sault, Luke Temple and his wife, Domino Kirke: "My wife is putting out a record, and it's gorgeous." He later adds Kendrick Lamar to the list. "Kendrick manages to do the nearly impossible thing, which is, be authentic, transparent, prolific, Black, hugely successful, all together," he says. Penn Badgley's perfect New York City day Did you think a homemade roast chicken was on the list of what makes Badgley's ideal day spent in New York? He's a multi-faceted man. "Ideally wake up before the sunrise, have some tea and watch the sunrise," he says, envisioning "I'm in a penthouse suite hotel room, let's say." He would "maybe walk through Central Park" before meeting up again with his family, "and then we have lunch on the park." His dream day in the city changes with the seasons, too. "If it's summer, I'd say we go swimming (to) Rockaway and get in the ocean. If it's the winter, maybe we go ice skating," he says. And for dinner? "Well, the best meals are homecooked meals. So we leave the penthouse suite behind just for the evening, we go home, and maybe roast a chicken. … Then go to sleep by 9:30 p.m., maybe the kids go to bed at 7:30 p.m. … If I could be going into REM sleep by 10 p.m., that is a day right there. Don't sleep on that. "You young ones who think 'this man sounds like he needs to get a life'? No, I'm telling you, I am living. I lived my 20s the way you're doing it. This is the way you've got to be: Early to sleep, early to rise." Travel essentials: Peace, mainly Badgley's Joe Goldberg has traveled the world in his pursuit of obsession. But as Badgley himself arrives at the airport, he has a singular thought: "Where are my children? Are they here? The 4-year-old, especially, we don't want to lose him." Once his kids are located, the actor looks to find peace sans cellphone. "If I don't have to be on my phone at all, it's not a must have, it's like a must have not. A plane is the one place where (I ask): Can we just stop?" He's not exactly "rawdogging flights," though. "I like to spend some of the time that way, some of the time just with my thoughts," but he wants the option to "watch a movie, maybe, maybe not, sleep." What's on his nightstand? Joe's bookstore plays prominently in the final season of "You," so it's fitting that Badgley should have a variety of classic texts alongside him. "Honestly, on my nightstand I have the Quran, which sometimes I'll meditate on a passage from," Badgley says. "You know what I just read that I thought, 'Everybody loves horror so much'? 'Dracula.' It's a good book." Likely coming up on more than just Badgley's nightstand: His new essay collection with his "Podcrushed" cohosts Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari. "Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age" (Simon & Schuster, out Oct. 7) will explore "stories of heartbreak, anxiety, and self-discovery," according to the publisher. Meet you at Mooney's? Fans can go inside the bookstore from Netflix's 'You' at NYC pop-up Penn Badgley's morning routine doesn't involve Saratoga water, banana peels Though the actor's morning might not look influencer chic and be complete with a Saratoga ice water dunk and rubbing banana peels on his face, he does try to keep one thing consistent to start each day. "I have a comical, total bankruptcy of a morning routine because of children and work," he says. "But here's the one thing I have. If I get this, it's worth all of the things," he says. "There's this particular prayer within the Baháʼí Writings," says Badgley, who is part of the Baháʼí Faith, "called the long obligatory prayer. It takes about 15 minutes to say. I have it memorized, and I've had it memorized for years, because I love it. I timed it: If I say it extremely fast, I can say it in seven minutes. And then meditate like two minutes after, so I've gotten it down to a nine-minute routine if I blitz through it." But if there's time, "I can take 15 to 20 minutes if I want to be a little more luxurious. If I can do that on any given day, any morning, it just makes such a difference, because it orients me to remember a bit more clearly the purpose and nature of life – or at least a fulfilling life, an enriching one." A killer workout routine and diet Badgley gets even more active in Season 5 as Joe Goldberg, kidnapping people, physically fighting and running through the forest in the season finale. "With Joe, there's an athletic amount of rage and intensity and vitriol usually in any given scene, even if it's just a scene," Badgley says. How 'You' ends in series finale: Does Joe survive? Is justice served? Badgley says he approaches his diet while filming "like you would for a workout." "You want to be fueled, but empty. That's the ideal state for a scene," noting the "challenge" is maintaining that "for 12 hours a day. I usually end up going mostly vegetarian by the end of every season." For his workout, Badgley sticks to the basics. "I've started doing all body-weight calisthenics, like only pullups, only pushups, only body-weight squats. And I love it. I don't even do that many. Just do one set to failure every day of each one." This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Summer House' star Amanda Batula on mental health, electrolytes and 'The Pitt'
'Summer House' star Amanda Batula on mental health, electrolytes and 'The Pitt' In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set or on the road. NEW YORK – Summer should be fun, and "Summer House" star Amanda Batula is making sure of that. The Bravo reality TV star, along with husband Kyle Cooke, has spent the last nine seasons showcasing the life of a share house in the Hamptons, bonding and partying with friends and housemates. This year, Batula is stepping into her power more than ever. "I'm really becoming a new person now," she says. Batula has entered entrepreneurship – launching a successful swimwear collaboration with South Moon Under and timing her sold-out drops to each Wednesday's episode of Season 9 – and is putting her mental health and friendships first. "We live in a house together, you don't want unnecessary tension – even though we've had it over the years, and there's been our ups and downs," she says. "You want to get along. We all have the most fun when we're all getting along together, and that's what the fans really like to watch, too." Batula shares her morning routine must-haves, go-to TV shows and Hamptons necessities. Amanda Batula reveals her top everyday essentials and favorites Amanda Batula of Bravo's "Summer House" shares a look at her daily routine and product must-haves. Entertain This Lindsay Hubbard is pregnant! 'Summer House' star expecting after Carl Radke split Maintaining mental health with sunshine, dog walks and meds Batula has opened up on the Bravo reality show about her depression and mental health, finding support from her castmates and viewers alike for her candor. Maintaining a solid foundation for her mental includes "my medication, I can't speak more highly about it." "I know that there's a stigma around it, but when you have a headache, you take Advil. When you're depressed, you take antidepressants. If they're making it that easy, why not just do it?" She also urges people to "go see your doctor if you're struggling with mental health." "Getting outside is really big for me. Fortunately, I have my dogs," she says as her adorable pup Reese watches her from the couch. "And then finding time to do things that I love: Cooking has been a big thing for me … (and) getting out and seeing friends." She says she's taking "small steps to just feel like normal and feel like I'm able to keep my sanity." Electrolyte water is the new coffee Though Batula says "coffee and matcha lattes" are "probably my favorite," she's made a morning drink switch. "Recently, I've been feeling (caffeine is) giving me anxiety, so I've been drinking a big thing of electrolyte water" as her "new go to thing to energize me and fuel me throughout the day. Caffeine is only when absolutely necessary." She cites Kroma Wellness' cranberry hydration elixir jar as a go-to. 'Summer House' star's mornings start slowly with couch cuddles Mornings are "pretty slow over here," she says. "We walk the dogs. I feed them, and their food is frozen, so we call it couch cuddles after breakfast cuddles. We get on the couch and we cuddle for a couple of minutes, and I'm able to scroll my phone and sort of wake up while the dogs digest." Batula works alongside her husband leading creative and branding for Cooke's beverage brand, Loverboy, which allows her flexibility during her work day. "Kyle goes over to the office side" of their shared space while Batula stays "on the apartment side, and I'm just able to do my content, take meetings, take calls." The Essentials: Porsha Williams on divorce, 'RHOA' sisterhood with Phaedra Parks, self-care "Because I have the flexibility to work from home, and I'm not working for someone specifically, I'm able to do things that a lot of people do in the morning anytime throughout my day. If I want to squeeze in a quick workout or run some errands, I could anytime in between meetings. But I like a nice, calm, slow, quiet morning. Kyle's up at the gym, (but) I'm still in bed by the time he gets back." Amanda Batula's nonnegotiable in her night routine Batula says she's "more regimented" at night: "Doing my full skincare routine, making sure the kitchen is cleaned up before bed, taking the dogs out, unwinding with the dogs and watching some of our favorite shows or a movie." Her dogs have Wellness Whimzees dental bones "so that they're brushing their teeth while I'm also brushing mine and getting ready for bed, because they're small and dental health is such an important factor." The Essentials: 'RHOBH' newbie Bozoma Saint John talks 'quiet hour,' life while filming a reality show Amanda Batula, Kyle Cooke are watching this medical show Though she's not a "repeat watcher" of the same comfort TV shows, Batula is a repeat viewer of the medical drama genre. "I've been into doctor shows," she says, noting Fox's "Doc" and Max breakout series "The Pitt" as recent watches. "Those are two that I keep going back and forth between. I'm obsessed with them because they release weekly, (but) I'm like, can you just give them all to me at once?" But, Batula jokes, if Cooke "ever watched anything without me, I would murder him." "He travels a bunch, so I'll be home over the weekend (and) I'll binge watch a whole season of something. If I think it's really good, when he comes back I'll say, 'Let's watch this together,' and I'll watch it a second time." 'No one did anything': 'Summer House' star Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover break up after 3 years Amanda Batula's Hamptons essentials As a Hamptons aficionado, Batula knows what to pack for the long haul from New York City to Long Island each weekend of the summer. "You will never see me out in the Hamptons without denim," she says, pairing jeans and denim shorts with a T-shirt or "a nice going-out top," with Zara as a recent go-to for her clothing basics. "Linen sets are a must again. They're a really easy thing for me to pair. I'll always have a pair of chunky sandals and a pair of very slim, sleek sandals and then sunglasses. … I love to put them up as an accessory, not even to wear on my face, almost more of as a headband. I'll always be out there with sunglasses." This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Katy Perry's Lifetimes tour will be fueled by espresso, 'California crunchy' diet, meditating
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set or on the road. As she prepares to embark on her first world tour in seven years, Katy Perry needs to gather a few performance prep necessities before hitting the road. "Actually, my rider isn't as crazy as some people think," the space-voyaging superstar says of the requests she makes when performing at a venue. Perry's Lifetimes Tour kicks off in Mexico City on April 23, over a week after her historic Blue Origin space flight with an all-female crew that included Gayle King and Lauren Sánchez. Before she goes on stage, Perry revealed in a recent sit-down with USA TODAY, her routine skews "California crunchy." But the night doesn't end after the "California Gurls" singer leaves the stage; as a self-professed "night owl," she also has some favorite post-concert activities that might surprise you. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. From transcendental meditation to online shopping, these are the pop star's must-haves for touring. Deep cuts, a changing 'special section': Katy Perry reveals what to expect on her new tour Katy Perry's favorite tour snacks are 'California crunchy' Perry's snack choices in her green room are "really California crunchy" and "very Santa Barbara," an ode to her hometown. "It's literally, like, avocados, Himalayan salt for the avocados, Bragg apple cider vinegar, Siete chips with a little hint of lime, OK? (And) hummus," she says. But Perry — whose tour will have her ping-ponging from North America to Oceania and back home over the next few months — is soliciting recommendations for local favorites, including breakfast burrito places. "I go out into the world; we ride bikes to the venue, we seek out the local things that people love and we want all of those submissions. So please — especially if they're tailored for a 5 year old," she says. "Please tell me where the best breakfast burrito is." Meditation is a must for performing — and parenting Perry promises her concert will be like "Disneyland on wheels," but things behind the scenes will likely be a calm before the storm. "We're pretty mellow backstage," she says. "We get to learn meditation before we go on tour, and I bring that transcendental meditation to everybody on tour if they want it. And then we do it at 6 p.m. before every show — and what a vibe it creates." Meditation gives her "so much energy, it's wild," says Perry, who wrapped her high-energy "Play" Las Vegas residency in 2023. "We do the meditation and then we always do our circle and that's really the extent of it." Meditation is not only for preparing for the stage but is also her secret "hack for mothering, too." A new addition to tour life this time around is her 4½-year-old daughter with Orlando Bloom, Daisy Dove Bloom. Perry is "excited that I get to bring her around the world on my first world tour with her," but it'll also be an adjustment. "Your sleep completely changes after you become a parent. And to get through that, I have meditated my way through being a mom," Perry says. Katy Perry downs espresso before going on stage, online shops to wind down Show prep might involve meditating and hanging out in yoga poses, like a lounging lizard, but it also means going from zero to 100 fast. Before she heads out on stage, Perry's routine involves a "double espresso at 8 o'clock," then it's curtains up. "Look, it takes me a little while to wind down because I have to really rev up. And I'll find (the post-show routine) pretty unique because I am getting up earlier now being a mom," Perry says. "But like anyone else, I'm adding to cart (online shopping). I am getting all the domestic stuff done. Checking in. I'm, like, on fire. That's my work time when everyone's asleep. I'm a night owl."
