Virtual reality meditation is a thing — and it’s actually good

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March Mindfulness is our new series that examines the explosive growth in mindfulness and meditation technology — culminating in Mashable’s groundbreaking competitive meditation bracket contest. Because March shouldn’t be all madness. Read more…


FlowVR
$3.99 for the Oculus Go app
The Good

Easy to make into a habit • especially with short sessions • Can meditate anywhere you have the headset • Calming and approachable

The Bad

Limited choices that don’t update — after a while you want more than the six options • Doesn’t take full advantage of VR

The Bottom Line

FlowVR is a great place to get comfortable with the idea of meditation — and feels like a mini-vacation.

⚡ Mashable Score
4.0
😎 Cool Factor
4.0
📘Learning Curve
4.5
💪Performance
4.5
💵 Bang for the Buck
3.5

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Lovehoney’s huge sex toy sale is here: Save 30% on vibrators and more

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Valentine’s Day pretty much goes one of two ways:

You’re in a relationship and about to wined, dined, and….you know — or you’re single and wish you were getting that treatment.

But one thing everyone has in common? There’s no way your night couldn’t benefit from a little spicing up. 

Lovehoney (better known as an online wonderland of sex toys) wants to ensure that you feel damn good regardless of your relationship status this year — so they’re offering 30% off of customer favorites for Valentine’s Day.

(We really could have used this deal during our Masturbation Week.)

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19 romantic Valentine’s Day gifts that defy clichés

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It’s not that there’s anything wrong with a box of chocolates or flowers on Valentine’s Day: Some things are clichés for a reason, and who doesn’t love being the envy of the office when a surprise bouquet of flowers is delivered to your cubicle, or getting to binge-eat a massive heart-shaped box of sweets? 

But flowers die, and chocolates get eaten. (Probably pretty quickly, if we’re being honest.) Even a gourmet meal, one of the cornerstones of the holiday, lasts only a couple of hours. 

Luckily, there are tons of incredibly romantic gift ideas out there — gifts you can keep enjoying without an expiration date. We’ve scoured the web for the best of the best, keeping in mind that not all couples define “romance” the same way. For some people, nothing says “I love you” like a gift that literally says “I love you.” Others prefer the same message spelled out in other ways, like through an activity that can be done together, or an item that shows you really know their personality. Some people embrace their inner cheeseball year-round, lavishing their significant other with adorable gifts on a weekly basis. Read more…

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Sexy Valentine’s Day gifts: R-rated ideas for couples tired of the mushy stuff

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Let’s not beat around the bush here: A lot of Valentine’s Day gift guides are just plain boring. 

Sure, we can all appreciate a good bouquet of flowers or piece of jewelry — the heartfelt stuff is nice once in a while. Once in a while. Not every damn year

It’s pretty archaic to assume that every couple thinks Valentine’s Day means mush to the max, and whether or not we want to admit it, our primal urges are constantly lurking in the shadows. Congrats on being human.

It’s time to stop ignoring the fact that Valentine’s Day is the sex holiday. And hey, sometimes spicing things up in the bedroom is the most romantic thing you can do.  Read more…

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Best gifts for grandma: Gift ideas for your nana, abuela, yia yia, or grams

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Grandmas are often portrayed as frail and ignorant things, but the grandmas we know? They’d wallop you upside the head with a purse full of Werther’s Originals just for thinking such narrow-minded thoughts about your matriarchs. 

When shopping for grandmothers, folks generally tend to think about their particular intersection in life (older, woman) rather than their personality. And we are here to tell you that is just plain wrong.

SEE ALSO: 50 unique gifts for under $50 (AKA the only gift guide you’ll ever need)

The most important part about shopping for grandma is to think of the stuff she actually likes. Don’t know what that is? Well it’s high time you found out! Grandmothers can be into anything —technology, science, even powerlifting. It’s up to you to find a gift that supports those hobbies, one that’ll really make your grandmother feel seen and heard.  Read more…

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Best gifts for your mom: Gift ideas for the woman who brought you into this world

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When it comes to buying gifts for your mother, don’t shy away from technology, gadgets, and trends. There’s an unfortunate narrative afoot that suggests that everything your mother might want can be placed in a kitchen cupboard or encircled in an embroidery hoopWhile embroidery is rad, don’t let the standard mom gifts put your favorite lady in a box. It’s time to help your mama branch out. Make sure your gifts are actually gifts for her and don’t all have to do with serving others, an all-too-common issue with the more standard mom gifts. 

SEE ALSO: These are the best gifts for your dad

Your mom should revel in her own glory with gifts that make her feel smart, sophisticated, and valued. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments.  Read more…

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Best gifts for your wife: Gift ideas for the most important woman in your life

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When it comes to shopping for your wife — AKA the love of your life — any old gift isn’t gonna cut it. Sure, you could go the whole “diamonds are a girls best friend” route and get her something sparkly. But it’s the gifts that show you’ve taken the time to understand her and her needs that really hit home. (And remind her that she married the right person.) 

It’s the thought that counts, after all — and luckily, a little thought is gonna take you a long way. And you know what they say: happy wife, happy life y’all.

Thinking about your wife’s daily routine, needs, and hobbies is a great place to start. Try to remember the little comments she makes about things she likes or dislikes. Has she mentioned she wants to get more active? Is she someone who appreciates some much-needed self care? Pay attention to any new hobbies she’s developed. Perhaps she’s been really into The Great British Baking Show and would like to flex her own cooking skills. Or maybe she’s been reading a particular book that could prompt a gift idea, or is planning a trip somewhere and could use a few upgrades. Read more…

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Best gifts for your girlfriend: Gift ideas for your number one girl

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Getting your girlfriend a gift that she really loves is an awesome feeling. (Nothing like seeing your girl’s face light up when she finds out what you got her, amirite?) 

But the process of figuring out what gift to get can be a tricky one. You want to end up with a gift that shows your girlfriend how much you care. Duh. But there are *so* many factors that go into picking the right gift, which can sometimes get overwhelming. For example, the length of time you’ve been together is definitely going to play a role in what gift you get (you don’t want to go with something too fancy for someone you’ve only been seeing a few weeks, but you’ll probably want to step it up for someone you’ve been seeing for a long time.) There’s also the originality factor. You want to avoid getting her something generic, but you also want to make sure you get her something she actually Read more…

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Best gift ideas for people in long-distance relationships

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Long distance relationships are the definition of bittersweet: Being away from your boo is basically torture, but the corny “absence makes the heart grow fonder” stuff is too true, and it’s probably making you wonder when your life turned into a rom-com.

While these relationships can be stressful, there are tons of tips and gadgets out there that can make the separation a little more bearable — especially if a trip to see each other isn’t in the cards (or the budget) right now. Until teleportation is a thing, fill the void with these nifty gifts that can make you feel more connected and keep that spark alive, regardless of the miles between.  Read more…

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