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It may sound cliche but flowers are still the best and the most sought after home decor products and only second to those are vases. If, like the rest of us folks, you too have bought flowers at one point and struggled to find a jug, bottle or glass big enough to contain them, this one's for you. Flower vases are a great addition to any home, they can do wonders for dining tables, coffee tables, foyers and the hearth. Hence, we’ve curated a list of the best flower vases for living room decoration. <bulletContentEmbed name="B08Q4FNYL6" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08Q4FNYL6_head"><div type="image" title="Cycle Shape" msid="87273318" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01DNRFV4G</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08Q4FNYL6_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08Q4FNYL6_4231683237356762"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Tied Ribbons Cycle Shape <keyword id="1361021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flower-vase" source="Orion">Flower Vase</keyword> with Peonies Bunches</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is the perfect buy for people who go ga-ga over everything cute. This cycle shaped flower vase can embellish your living room, desk, bedside table and even a classy bathroom. The vase comes in white with 21 x 19 cm as its dimensions. The package also contains an artificial peonies bunch- a vibrant low-maintenance flower bunch that looks exceptional with the cycle vase. Additionally, the vase has been hand-crafted in India, right from the raw material, the designing, to the printing of the final creation.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08Q4FNYL6_9801250465869987"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Cycle shaped flower vase, ideal for table-top decoration comes with artificial flowers</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07K6D4KH6" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07K6D4KH6_head"><div type="image" title="Metallic Vase" msid="87273389" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07K6D4KH6</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07K6D4KH6_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07K6D4KH6_6085725753481909"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Aadit Crreation Metallic Flower Vase</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The metallic flower vase, by Aadit Crreation is a unique and everlasting piece of home decor. The metallic flower vase is made from one piece of iron with a unique hammered copper design. The vase although, traditional, is quite trendy and eye-catching. The vase is 22 cm tall, 12 cm wide and is made with high-quality metal to give it a stylish finish.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07K6D4KH6_1114425714447911"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Beaten metal flower vase comes in a trendy copper finish.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B01IH7T1YS" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01IH7T1YS_head"><div type="image" title="Handcrafted Design" msid="87273417" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01IH7T1YS</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01IH7T1YS_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01IH7T1YS_1608232336623743"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Homesake Flower Vase</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Homesake Flowers Vase comes in an eclectic, frosted glass design and nods to luxury and tradition with its pearl and gemstone adornment. Available in a stunning shade of turquoise the flower vase will be the highlight and talking point of any home. The exquisite design alone, recommends it as one of the most unique pieces you’ll find online. The 20 cm tall flower pot has been handcrafted in India and is quite affordable for its luxurious design.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01IH7T1YS_9026313581780855"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Frosted glass flower vase comes in a shocking turquoise colour.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07W3FL5C6" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07W3FL5C6_head"><div type="image" title="Elegant Design" msid="87273465" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07W3FL5C6</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07W3FL5C6_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07W3FL5C6_7986845994916354"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Alnico Decor Simran Handicrafts Metal Flower Vase</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Metal flower vase by Alcino Decor is a must-have for those who’re serious about home decor and want to add a statement piece to their decor. The 66+ cm tall vase will be the centre of attraction in your home and catch your eye easily because of its simple and elegant design. The floor vase is made of high-grade metal and is available in white colour. Handcrafted in India, the vase is a premium product that is ideal for decor as well as festive gifting.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07W3FL5C6_4306085468103899"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Tall, floor-vase made from high-grade metal, premium purchase for serious decorators.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08X1KJ3WN" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08X1KJ3WN_head"><div type="image" title="Glossy Finish" msid="87273504" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08X1KJ3WN</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08X1KJ3WN_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08X1KJ3WN_4486827420711516"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Pure Source India - Ceramic Flower Vase</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">If you’re looking for a more basic and table-friendly vase, the Pure Source Ceramic vase will just fit the bill. This flower vase is made from one piece of ceramic and crafted in a unique Ornamental garlic design. 11.4 cm tall, the base is ideal for the dining table, coffee table and even your bedside table. The flower pot is made with high-quality ceramic and has a glossy finish. The cutesy flower vase will definitely add a quaint charm to your home and is ideal for small flower placements.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08X1KJ3WN_7291542893381665"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Small table-top ceramic flower vase, comes in a decorative garlic shape.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08DHLHWRV" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08DHLHWRV_head"><div type="image" title="Traditional Design" msid="87273526" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08DHLHWRV</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08DHLHWRV_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08DHLHWRV_9558993131938127"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Aapno Craft Designer Decorative Marble Flower Vase</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">If you’re into traditional and folk crafts, the Aapno flower vase will win over your heart. With an eclectic design, the flower vase is sure to adorn any living space. Its traditional design ensures that the vase stands out and creates an impression on your guests. The vase is 15 cm tall, made with marbles and comes in a multicolour design.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08DHLHWRV_9994506073336506"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Traditional folk design marble vase is an eclectic find for home decor.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> Buying the right vase helps you create a statement about your style and decor sense. It also helps you find a place for all the flowers you may receive from your loved ones. Plus, they work as a great decor filler that can be styled anywhere- from dining trays and entertainment units, to bookshelves and foyers.

Best flower vase for living room decoration in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I stayed in NYC with a family of five during the <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword>. It sucked. </li><li>Some people who left the city are returning, and NYC "authenticity cops" want to shame them. </li><li>That's dumb and wrong. It was rough here, and godspeed to anyone who felt they had to go.</li><li>This is an <keyword id="6356002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="opinion">opinion</keyword> column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.</li></ul>Just as everyone's doing this week, I'm marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> pandemic, which feels both like yesterday and a hundred years ago. I stayed in <keyword id="72226" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="New-York-City">New York City</keyword> during the <keyword id="8829783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus pandemic</keyword>, and am still experiencing <keyword id="8764262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid">COVID</keyword> quite literally in the present tense. A few weeks ago I tested positive and immediately quarantined in my bedroom for more than a week. I was asymptomatic, but isolated from my family, left with not much to do but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-winter-coming-talk-about-your-mental-health-depression-anxiety-2020-12">manage</a> the waking nightmare that is a head full of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/depression-doesnt-take-time-off-coronavirus-pandemic-quarantine-lockdown-2020-5">life-in-quarantine anxieties</a>.The wholly coincidental yet uncanny symmetry of my catching COVID now - despite a full year of practicing diligent social distancing and mask-wearing - was not lost on me.But if isolation has gifted me with anything, it's a renewed lust for life. I want to go back to Los Angeles and see a show at the Hollywood Bowl. I want to go back to Sicily and buy my daughter the customary gelato for breakfast. I want to take my family dozens of places around the world, even knowing we'll probably never get around to seeing most of them. The common thread:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-killed-new-york-city-big-apple-will-be-back-2020-12"> despite my undying love for the city</a> I'd very much like to get the hell out of <keyword id="6355838" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="new-york">New York</keyword> - at least in the short-term. The city and I need a break post-COVID. And unlike some other writers, I don't see it as a sign of weakness nor do I judge anyone who bailed on Gotham over the past year, because it was rough here. <h2>The gentrifiers who become NYC authenticity cops </h2>An essay in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/11/opinion/coronavirus-leave-new-york.html">The New York Times</a> this week is part of a rich tradition of recent transplants declaring themselves the arbiters of "<a href="https://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/">authentic NYC</a>" and shaming lesser, poseur New Yorkers who lack their newly-inherited urban grittiness.In this instance, the "bad" New Yorkers are the ones who fled the city during the pandemic, with the exception of "immunocompromised people who felt safer in the suburbs or those who needed to take shelter after losing their job." Everyone else is bad, especially those who left and came back. The author - who moved to New York in 2016 and namedrops a Brooklyn subway stop to prove it - offers half-tongue-in-cheek punitive policies to "make them pay." Among them, a "resettlement tax" and a "Borough Swap," so that rich Manhattanites can be "punished" with "some good old-fashioned Brooklyn living." It's a silly, but apparently serious, exercise in obliviously un-self-aware class warfare against the people who went "back home" or have the proximity to wealth allowing them to take pictures from jealousy-inducing Instagrammable locations.There were worse things about living in New York over the past year than being triggered by social media FOMO and a sense of moral superiority over those who chose not to stay.<h2>The unusual appeal of nostalging bad times </h2>It's been almost 20 years since 9/11, and I'll admit to occasionally experiencing bittersweet pangs of nostalgia for the bizarrely atypical patience and unity among New Yorkers in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center.Just as most of the unflattering cliches about New Yorkers bear a good deal of validity, the image of the stubborn, stoic, resilient city lifer often fits. "Tough, with love" is how a lot of New Yorkers like to see themselves. But the thought of getting nostalgic about COVID life right now is kind of like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/media-let-cuomo-get-away-covid-nursing-home-cover-up-2021-3">Andrew Cuomo</a> writing a book about leadership <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cuomo-lied-nursing-home-covid-death-new-york-attorney-general-2021-1">during the pandemic</a> last summer - which is to say, it's obscenely premature. Sure, some rich swine are slinking back from their self-imposed Hamptons exiles, and they may act like they never left. But the city didn't "empty out," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/realestate/who-left-new-york-coronavirus.html">95% of its residents stayed</a>, and we don't deserve badges of honor just as those who left for a time deserve don't deserve our scorn. The city was just devastated, that's all. Lockdowns led to over a thousand businesses <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-killed-new-york-city-big-apple-will-be-back-2020-12">closing for good</a>. The business, financial, and tourism sectors are shells of themselves. Refrigerated tractor trailers filled with bodies were a regular sight through last spring and summer.There were also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-floyd-peaceful-protests-looting-riots-destruction-righteous-cause-2020-6">weeks of riots</a> throughout the city last summer, which <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hundreds-of-new-york-city-businesses-were-damaged-looted-in-recent-unrest-11591993138">effectively destroyed</a> numerous independent Black and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/nyregion/george-floyd-bronx-protests-looting.html">brown-owned businesses</a>. An internet conspiracy theory <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fireworks-conspiracy-theories-panic-boompilled-boompilling-government-police-2020-6">drove a panic about fireworks</a> going off in the weeks before the Fourth of July. And the NYPD didn't exactly cover itself in glory with its "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nypds-shake-shack-hoax-stop-taking-police-word-2020-6">Shake Shack poisoning</a>" hoax and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/police-rioted-george-floyd-riots-justifying-protests-2020-6">violent response</a> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nypd-police-rioted-george-floyd-protests-video-prove-it-2020-7">peaceful protesters</a>. Public schools are not "open" in any meaningful sense and there <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teachers-unions-should-admit-not-coming-back-school-covid-pandemic-2021-1">remain no guarantees</a> they will be open in September. Children are at risk of losing a substantial part of a THIRD YEAR of their education and social development. Nearly all of the cultural advantages <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-new-york-ghost-town-made-mixtape-cope-2020-4">that make New York worth enduring</a> remain unavailable until further notice, leaving millions of people confined to tiny living quarters and meager public spaces. Bill de Blasio is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-de-blasio-do-something-great-new-yorkers-resign-2020-6">still the mayor</a>. And we're going to judge anyone who chose to leave this all behind? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS6zJ7IsJkM">Fuhgettabout it!</a> (I'm sorry.) <h2>Let's not romanticize this past year just yet, ok? </h2>There is a certain kinship among those of us who stayed. And maybe at some point when the pandemic is over and the basic functions of society are again humming along, nostalgia for "those crazy COVID days" will make sense. As one of two gainfully-employed adults with health insurance in my household, I fully recognize I'm a lottery winner in the pandemic sweepstakes - even with a bit of a <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/many-long-covid-patients-had-130355457.html">post-COVID brain fog</a>.Though my family and I have lived under circumstances we would have never previously imagined, we're thriving. But personally, I could have done without this "character-building" endurance test. I'm still not ready to romanticize how life was (and is) in this city during the pandemic. And as much as I'd love to puff my chest out at how "New York tough" this year has made me, I can't recommend the experience. Nor will I shame those who left, or those who decided to come back.

Staying in NYC during the COVID pandemic didn't make me a hero, and leaving the city doesn't make you a villain

Diana Yukari/Business Insider, GettyBrie Larson.Since winning the Oscar for best actress for 2015's "Room," Brie Larson admits her sudden jolt to worldwide fame - and the constant job offers that come with it - has taken some getting used to.Along with her anticipated entry into the Marvel universe - she'll play the lead in a Captain Marvel movie slated for 2019 - Larson laid the groundwork for another potential franchise earlier this year by starring in "Kong: Skull Island." (She also found time for her feature directorial debut, "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2338454/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1" target="_blank">Unicorn Store</a>.")Now she's coming out with the ensemble shoot-'em-up comedy "Free Fire" (opening Friday). Larson plays Justine, the only woman in a gang in 1978 Boston that's going to a deserted warehouse to buy guns. However, when shots are fired, they start a chain reaction that will leave no one safe.Larson talked to Business Insider about what keeps her grounded, the roles she instantly passes on, and how she sees the industry being more accommodating for women - and where it needs to improve.Jason Guerrasio: Did it attract you that in "Free Fire" the Justine character is in a lot of ways smarter than all the guys?Brie Larson: Kind of. I mean, to be honest, I don't know if I think she's a lot smarter than them. She's got a plan and it doesn't work out so well. I think the one thing she has over them is the fact that she's not trying to assert power or dominance outright. She's surrounded by all these dudes with their crazy suits and mustaches and with tons of ego and she's actually muted and understated and is trying her best to just keep everyone calm and kind of go under the surface and that's what I really found interesting. Being in a film where you have all of these crazy personalities and then there's this one kind of sneaky, secretive, quiet one who is playing everybody was fun.A24Brie Larson in "Free Fire."Guerrasio: So for you right now, what does a role need to have for you to consider it?Larson: The main thing for me is just the length of time it takes to make a movie. It's at least a year of just talking about it, talking about it with yourself or your director or your other castmates or the press, so you just want to make sure it's a film that although you initially feel this pull or this drive to it, you don't really have the answers to why you're drawn to it. Part of it is being interested in the character and part of it is being interested in the movie or what it means and the exploration of it. But it's more about not knowing the answers to certain questions but wanting to go on the journey of discovery to find the answers.Guerrasio: How about roles you would instantly say no to?Larson: Cliches. Anything that's a cliche.Guerrasio: Like, a cliche female role?Larson: A cliche of the female character or a cliche film. Like a film where you know exactly what's going to happen. One of the reasons I love making movies is because it's an opportunity to share with the world a different way of being or a different way of living or seeing the world. If it's something you've already seen before, if I have too many reference points for it, then it's not exciting for me to make.Guerrasio: You have been working nonstop since "Room." And not just making movies but doing press for them.Larson: Yes. I feel the same way. [Laughs]Getty ImagesBrie Larson winning her best-actress Oscar for "Room."Guerrasio: What's been the biggest thing to adapt to in life after your Oscar win? When suddenly work and attention are both constant.Larson: I don't think I'll ever be able to grasp this - I just don't really understand why anybody would care what I have to say. I'm just a person figuring stuff out. That's the thing I trip out on all the time when I do days and days of press and you're like, "Who cares what I think?" [Laughs]Guerrasio: And I would guess you have a similar feeling when it comes to posting things on social media.Larson: Yeah. I think you just get sick of your own voice and one of my favorite things in the world is just to people-watch and to listen. Interviews aren't about that. Very few interviews are a conversation. It's usually a question and I have to answer for two minutes. By the end of the day, I kind of feel gross. It's like you go to dinner with a friend and then you get home and you're like, "Ugh, I dominated that conversation too much. I wish I let them talk more." That's how it feels for me every day I do press.Guerrasio: So when was the last time you got to just sit back and people-watch?Larson: Oh, all the time.Guerrasio: You can still pull it off in public?Larson: Yeah. I don't really get recognized much.Guerrasio: Seriously?Larson: I'm so serious. And I'm very paranoid about my privacy so I would be the first to tell you if it's all gone. It's not. I'm grateful for that.Guerrasio: You've been very outspoken about women's rights and equal rights within the industry. Are you feeling any shift in the industry in regards to women being heard?Larson: The way that I'm feeling the shift is that we are allowed to be part of the development process. So I do feel like things are changing because I'm allowed to option books or write an original screenplay or direct. Those possibilities are really wide open. I think that males still struggle to write for females, which is totally fine because I don't think I could write a really impactful male role because that's not the life that I lived. So we'll just keep shouting and say we need more opportunities for not just women but people that are just different. I think sometimes I feel saying this is about women or this is just purely a male/female gender issue is only scratching the surface. We need to have points of view from lots of different types of people. People who have different backgrounds, different parts of the world, who maybe perceive gender differently. We're in this time where we have social media, we have the ability to share so much, that I think that we need to create more space and more opportunity for people that are just outside of the typical cliched binary roles.Instagram/@brielarsonBrie Larson on the set of "Unicorn Store."Guerrasio: You've definitely taken those opportunities to have a voice. You recently wrapped on directing a feature film, "Unicorn Store." You directed a few shorts before that. What was the biggest takeaway from making your first feature?Larson: There's a lot that I'm still pulling apart from it. I just felt so excited about it. I really just loved every second of it. I loved assembling a team of people that I really enjoyed being with every day and I continue to be in awe of every person on set that has a very specific gift and you need all of them to make a movie. It's this amazing opportunity to be with all these real-life superheroes that have very specific skills and you need all of them to make one thing.Guerrasio: When will we get to see it?Larson: I don't know. It's in post right now. I just don't know when the end will be.Guerrasio: So who's the female director you would kill to work with right now?Larson: Oh, I would say either Kathryn Bigelow or Ava DuVernay.Guerrasio: Both are great.Larson: I know. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/storylines-plot-game-of-thrones-season-7-jon-snow-cersei-daenerys-2017-4">7 storylines we hope are resolved in season 7 of 'Game of Thrones'</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Oscar winner Brie Larson talks about the roles she instantly rejects

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jessica Milicevic is the owner of <a href="https://www.mavenmediaclt.com/">Maven Media,</a> a strategic branding and marketing agency in North Carolina.</li><li>She wrote a list of ways <keyword id="27779" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="working-moms">working moms</keyword> can practice self-care without sacrificing too much time or money.</li><li>Disconnecting, enjoying quiet time, and practicing self-compassion are easy ways moms can prioritize their <keyword id="6374697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wellness">wellness</keyword>.</li></ul>The term self-care has become one of those buzzwords so overused by bloggers, marketers, and influencers that it almost has no authentic meaning left. Everyone from major brands to the mommy bloggers encourage us to use self-care, usually by partaking in one of their products that promises to bring us calm, peace, and mindfulness. Rarely do we get true serenity from a candle or a cookie, but the idea that we need to practice self-care still pushes us to do whatever we can to attain it. Self-care in its most basic form are things you do to take care of yourself. As working moms, we've become conditioned to do everything for others, so the idea that we should do something for ourselves can seem entirely selfish and foreign. But the practice of self-care for working moms is easier said than done. Besides, what is self-care anyway, if not a way to escape? <h2>Time and finances are often factors in any working mom's decision to take time for herself</h2>When we think of recharging using the self-care method, we often talk ourselves out of it because we don't have the time or the money to take a spa day, or any other luxury image that's become synonymous with self-care. And because the meaning of the term has become so trite, we often dismiss the practice entirely. In an effort to redefine self-care for the working mom, I've created a list of ways that we can all practice true love for ourselves, without sacrificing major amounts of time or money. These practices can be incorporated into your everyday life so you can easily take the time to reset your mind, body, and soul, and refill that empty cup.<h2>1. Breathe </h2>I know I'm not inspiring a ton of confidence by starting with something so simple, but stay with me. There was a time in my life when a maternal mental breakdown <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/type-a-mom-have-it-all-mental-breakdown">sent me to the hospital</a> for a week. In the midst of the chaotic moment, I began to have a panic attack as I contemplated what was really happening to me. The thing that saved me from completely melting down was breathing. In yoga, I'd learned to block out the rest of the world and simply count my breaths as I inhaled and exhaled, and when it mattered the most, I was able to use that practice to calm my entire body. In the middle of an intense day at work, when your coworkers are being difficult and the boss is being stubborn, or when your kids are all yelling and your partner is wanting your attention, simply take a moment to stop. Choose a place where you can be alone (when I'm home, that often means hiding in my closet) and sit down. Put a timer on your phone for five minutes. Close your eyes and breathe in to the count of six, and out to the count of six. Count out loud if you need to, to give yourself a noise to focus on. Give yourself permission to push all other thoughts away (after all, it's just for five minutes) and just listen to your breathing. Notice the rise and fall of your chest and focus on keeping your breath consistent. If you practice this often enough, the breathing will automatically kick in when you feel tense and stressed, like it did for me. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mom-influencer-instagram-earn-12000-month-how-i-do-it-2021-1">I'm a mom influencer who earns up to $12,000 a month through paid sponsorships. Here's how I grew my income and following while caring for my son.</a><h2>2. Connect</h2>This may be specific to extroverts like myself, but I've found that having a conversation helps me take a break from my stress and indulge in some informal talk therapy. Some of the best connections I've made have started online in a Facebook group for working moms. Instead of just using the platform to just vent (which is totally OK to do!) try using it to connect with other moms. I've asked for advice, or shared an interesting article, or even shared a photo of my kids and invited others to share as well. The great thing about being a member of a group for working moms is that they get what you're going through. Everything you're struggling with or take joy in, they likely do too. Connecting with other women in this way can help us make friends, which is definitely a part of taking care of ourselves.<h2>3. Disconnect</h2>Most days after taking care of my four kids and running my own business, I need time to disconnect. Instead of watching TV or scrolling through social media, I've established a form of self-care that truly helps me reset: silence. I sit on my couch and I don't talk to anyone, and ask that my husband not talk to me, for one hour. Every working mom deserves time to reset your mind and rest your brain before bed. Make an arrangement with your partner and kids to take one hour to not talk to anyone and then choose an activity that brings you joy. Try to pick an activity that doesn't overstimulate your brain, like listening to a podcast or reading a book, and give yourself permission to push everything else aside and enjoy it. If you can, hop in the bath and allow yourself to just melt away for an hour.<h2>4. Sleep</h2>I can see many of you rolling your eyes at this suggestion. How is sleep self-care if it's also a part of simple human existence? But ask yourself: What quality of sleep are you getting? After eight hours at the office and four hours of homework, dinner, and bedtime routines, working moms often find themselves sprawled out on the couch, mindlessly watching TV or scrolling through social media before we drag ourselves into bed. We get to bed only to run through the mental load we carry, keeping us even later and often leaving us to fall asleep in an anxious manner. Try instead to give yourself the gift of true rest. <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health">Research </a>shows that getting adequate sleep can help you have the energy to manage anxiety, and can increase the positive consolidation of thoughts and memories while we sleep that allows us to be in a sharper, better mood when we're awake. Make a commitment to yourself that you will be in bed, sans screen, by 10 or 11 p.m. each night. If true self-care comes from taking care of ourselves, getting adequate sleep should be high on the priority list.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ceo-entrepreneur-carves-out-meeting-free-days-daily-routine-2020-11">A CEO swears by carving out 2 'focus days' a week where he doesn't attend meetings. Here's how he works them into his routine.</a><h2>5. Permission and forgiveness </h2>As working moms, we carry so much on our minds and hearts. From our colleagues to our kids, we want everyone in our lives to feel taken care of and happy. Along with the need to make everyone else happy, is ultimately the feeling of guilt when we are unable to achieve this impossible task. Mommy guilt is a burden we all carry, but how it manifests in our lives is different for everyone. For me, I allowed the guilt to dictate my happiness. I never gave myself permission to be imperfect, or to allow others in my life to feel unsatisfied or disappointed, and my mental health began to deteriorate. In order to tackle any of the self-care items listed above, you need to allow yourself the time and space to do so. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself and be happy and healthy.When you're planning your day, you have the option to choose to do something for yourself. While doing things for your friends and family is generous and kind, you must also be kind and generous with yourself. This can be as simple as choosing to take a shower instead of cooking an extra time-consuming meal for your kids or partner. Give yourself permission to take 30 minutes to be alone, do something you need to do, and just be.This often requires us to also forgive ourselves for whatever we feel like we're failing at (which we are often not doing, but again, mommy guilt) and know that we're doing the best we can. Forgive yourself for whatever negative thoughts you have and give yourself permission to be a human being with needs and the ability to be imperfect. Self-care doesn't have to be complicated or intricate. It can be as simple as doing things to maintain your emotional and mental health so you feel balanced in your everyday life. While treating yourself is definitely needed, true self-care is something we must do regularly to be able to give 100% to our family, friends, and coworkers. It's a cliche but it's also true: You can't give from an empty cup. So fill yours up, and know it's in the service of not just others, but also in the service of yourself.

As a type-A mom trying to 'have it all,' I suffered a breakdown. These 5 tips helped me regain control and prioritize self-care on a daily basis.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Liu Heung Shing / APPrince, 1985.</div></div></div>Prince, an icon of soul, funk, blues, rock, pop, and fashion, <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/how-to-listen-to-prince-songs-online-2016-4">has died at 57</a>.It's hard to sum up his contributions to American (and global) culture. He made <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54GHuxh0T9c">a rock opera</a>, he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75SaXIIj4-U">rang in the millennium</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3KskO3_2YQ">he fused masculinity and femininity in a profound, magical way</a>. Questlove, the Roots drummer and DJ, loved him intensely. In <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/questloves-master-class-on-prince.html?mid=twitter_nymag">an interview with the journalist Touré in New York Magazine</a>, he explained what made Prince so singularly fresh. "Prince is probably the only artist who got to live the dream of constant innovation," <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/questloves-master-class-on-prince.html?mid=twitter_nymag">he </a>said.And then: "He knew the balance between innovation and America's digestive system. He's the only artist who was able to, basically, feed babies the most elaborate of foods that you would never give a child and know exactly how to break down the portions so they could digest it.I mean, 'When Doves Cry' is probably the most radical song of the first five years of the eighties, because there's no bass. I heard the version of 'Doves Cry' with a bass line-it wouldn't have grabbed me. Without bass it had a desperate, cold feeling to it. It made you concentrate on his voice. With the bass line, the song was cool. Without it, it was astounding."Questlove, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/t-magazine/questlove-roots-inspirations.html?_r=0">himself an innovator of music and style</a>, was praising Prince's metacognitive sense of other people's tastes, and the Purple One's gift for stretching those tastes bit by glorious bit. Without lapsing too far into tech lore cliche, it's fair to say that in this regard, Prince's direct analog might be Steve Jobs. The Apple CEO had an incredible knack for knowing what people wanted even before they knew what they wanted, with the iPhone being the primary example. Prince did the same thing - but with music that will live forever, rather than electronics you constantly need to update. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/raindrop-cake-video-2016-4">People are losing their minds over this gorgeous 'Raindrop Cake' made out of water</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="g0ZWZqMjE6Gddekw-uZMMFHtEztY9rV9" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

One quote sums up why Prince was the greatest pop innovator ever

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Nina Buday/ShutterstockThere's no parental leave policy for freelancers, unless you create one for yourself.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>If freelancing continues to grow at its current rate, the majority of US workers will be freelancing by 2027, according to projections in Upwork's 2017 Freelancing in America Survey.</li><li>Self-employment comes with a lot of perks, but one downside is that there's no parental leave policy, unless you create one for yourself.</li><li>Business Insider spoke with several freelancers who successful took time off after the birth of their children without taking a massive hit to their finances.</li><li>They shared their tips for prepping for the big day, including how to save up money and alert your clients, as well as how to unplug and set an out-of-office message.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul>My daughter was a week old and napping when I accepted an assignment an editor offered me. As a full-time freelancer, I had planned to take two and a half months off after the birth of my first child, but the reality was quite different.Self-employment comes with a lot of perks - setting your own hours, wearing what might be questionable office attire, saying no to work you don't want to do, to name a few - but all those advantages lack the structured benefits that come from a more traditional office job. There's no parental leave policy, unless you create one for yourself.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Courtesy of Megan RogersMegan Rogers.</div></div></div>"With my first [child], I was a full-time employee, and I could take 12 weeks of maternity leave that was a mix of short-term disability and my saved-up paid leave. This means that I did keep getting paid while on leave - short-term disability was at 60%, but it still was better than nothing. With my second, since I was freelancing, if I didn't work, I wasn't getting paid, and I felt like I had to go back to work sooner," said freelancer <a href="https://www.meganstolzeditorial.com/">Megan Rogers</a>.If freelancing continues to grow at its current rate, the majority of US workers will be freelancing by 2027, according to projections in Upwork's 2017 <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/upwork/freelancing-in-america-2017/1">Freelancing in America Survey</a>, and many of them are going to want to (and should) take time off after the birth of a child.Here's how to create a parental leave policy that works for you.<h1>How to determine how much time to take off</h1>One of the best parts of being a freelancer is getting to set your own hours, and the same is true for how much time you take off when adding a family member. There's no HR policy to say you can only have four weeks or 12 weeks. How long your parental leave is will vary from freelancer to freelancer and depend on a number of factors, the biggest being how much time you can afford to take off, but also how you feel after your baby's arrival - which is impossible to determine ahead of time. "I only took a couple of weeks off but missed it and had FOMO so started saying yes to projects pretty quickly," said freelancer Lia Picard.Maybe like Picard you'll miss work, or maybe like Rogers you'll want more time. You won't know until the baby is here, so build in as much flexibility as you can. Even the time of year you're expecting can have an impact on how much time you take off. "The birth of my daughter Reva was interesting timing in that she was born on June 6, right at the start of summer. I decided to take the entire summer off because in my mind, three months felt doable. Also, during the summer, many people are traveling and for an emerging business, things slow down a little because it's harder to get meetings and plan," said Jane Katz, who was in the early stages of starting her business, <a href="https://www.eatscraps.com/">Scraps</a> - which creates frozen pizza out of food that would otherwise go to waste - when her daughter was born.Plan on taking at least anywhere from four to 12 weeks. On average, full-time employees getting full pay <a href="https://www.worldatwork.org/docs/research-and-surveys/survey-report-survey-of-paid-parental-leave-in-the-us.pdf">take just over four weeks of maternity leave in the US</a>, although under the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/">Family and Medical Leave Act</a> (FMLA) most employees are entitled to 12 weeks unpaid. If you can set yourself up for a gradual return, do it - it'll make getting back into your "new" routine easier. For instance, if you have recurring clients, you could stagger your return dates to give yourself time to adjust.<h1>How to figure out how much to save for your parental leave</h1>Determining how much you need to save is one of the easier parts of creating a parental leave plan. If you're someone that sets a yearly goal for your freelance income, determine what that goal equals per month, and then calculate based on the amount of time off you're planning on taking how much you need to save.If you've never set up a yearly goal and only have a rough understanding of your household budget, now's the time to get those finances in order."Get an understanding of your current monthly household expenses, adding in a few hundred dollars per month to account for baby's needs such as medical, supplies, formula, help, etc.," Cécile Hult, a partner and private wealth advisor at <a href="https://argentbridge.com/">Argent Bridge Advisors</a>, told Business Insider. "Build up a reserves fund equal to your monthly short-fall, multiplied by the number of months you plan on taking off."Make sure to build a safety net into your budget for anything unexpected that might come up."I wish I had saved more money, and I wish I had known that yes, I would still be spending money during the leave," said freelancer <a href="https://www.carrie-murphy.com/">Carrie Murphy</a>. "I thought that since I was cocooned at home for most of the time, I wouldn't be spending much, but I did not account for buying random baby items that seem amazing in the middle of the night."Now's also a good time to look into taking out short-term disability insurance, especially if you want to take advantage of a state paid family leave program, such as in <a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/family-leave-works-new-york/self-employed/">New York</a> or <a href="https://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/Paid_Family_Leave.htm">California</a> (it's expected that similar programs in <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2018/Chapter121">Massachusetts</a>, <a href="https://esd.wa.gov/paid-family-medical-leave">Washington</a>, and <a href="https://does.dc.gov/page/dc-paid-family-leave">Washington, DC</a>, will open up to freelancers soon, too). Some of those state paid family leave programs require freelancers to have their own insurance for a set period of time before using the program."It was huge for us," said freelancer <a href="http://annemillermedia.com/">Anne Miller</a> of a change in New York state law that allowed her to obtain disability coverage and take advantage of <a href="https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/">New York's Paid Family Leave</a> benefits after the birth of her second child. "I had to pay for the policy, but was able to file for FMLA coverage for almost eight weeks. It was only a percentage of my average earnings, but that was enough to get us through that period."<h1>How to actually save for your parental leave</h1>It's never too early to start saving. "It is OK to start small with $5. People think because they cannot save large sums of money that there is no point in saving. That is so not true!" said financial strategist <a href="https://www.emeraldsparks.com/">Emerald Sparks</a>. Sparks recommended automating your savings as much as possible through apps such as <a href="https://www.marcus.com/us/en/clarity-money">Clarity Money</a>. For Miller, saving was a habit before she was expecting. "I have my nut - the money I need to put in our checking account - and every other dollar goes into a savings fund for my taxes, retirement, and coverage if my work dipped," she said.Still, babies are expensive, and when Miller was expecting her first child she created a detailed budget of everything she thought they would need for the first year along with the estimated amount each item would cost. She based her baby registry and holiday gift list off that spreadsheet and used a neighborhood parenting listserv to source items they weren't gifted."We were able to get almost everything we needed as gifts, hand-me-downs, or second hand. It took patience and time to keep on top of the listserv emails, but by doing this I estimated we saved at least $3,000, if not more," Miller said.That savings was multiplied when they were expecting their second child as they had the crib, glider, and some clothing and toys already.<h1>How (and when) to tell your clients you'll be on leave</h1>Plan to tell regular freelance clients four to six weeks in advance of your anticipated due date. Whether you tell them over the phone or by email depends on the type of relationship you have with them, but you should have a specific plan in place that details how long you'll be gone and suggestions for how to handle the work you won't be able to do - including the name and contact information for anyone you'd like to fill in for you. "I front-loaded as much recurring work as I could (as in I wrote my weekly columns ahead of time) and gave all my editors a heads up beforehand to let them know I probably would be slowing down on pitches and unable to accept assignments for about a month," said freelance writer <a href="http://www.bethdemmon.com/">Beth Demmon</a>.Giving your clients as much clarity as possible will help them plan around your schedule. Editor turned freelancer <a href="https://emilyfarmer7.wixsite.com/hello">Emily Popek</a>, who worked with freelancers taking parental leave at at a daily newspaper, said she appreciated freelancers giving about a month's notice and letting her know explicitly how it would affect their ability to take on assignments. "A freelancer who wrote weekly features and did occasional news coverage as needed said, 'I won't be able to do the weekly features past X date, but please still reach out for the occasional news features as I may be able to take some of those on," Popek gave as an example.<h1>How to write an OOO message for while you're away</h1>Raise your hand if you struggle to write and put in place an out-of-office message even when you're simply going on a week vacation. FOMO is real for many freelancers, but it's important to set boundaries for your time while effectively communicating and managing your client's expectations of how long you'll be unavailable. In the case of taking parental leave, draft and save your OOO message six weeks before your anticipated leave, especially if you're working up to your due date. This way, even if your baby arrives early, you'll be able to quickly and easily put your OOO message on. The key things to include in your message are: <ul><li>How long you'll be unavailable (including if you'll be periodically checking emails)</li><li>The contact information for anyone covering for you (if applicable)</li><li>Any other instructions you might want to provide, such as resending with a certain subject line if it needs your attention sooner rather than later</li></ul>Take this sample OOO message:Hello,In disappointing news for you and very exciting news for my family, I'll be unplugging to spend time with our newborn until [date you're returning from leave].While I am checking emails, I'll be delayed in responding during this time. Please give me a week to get back to you. In the meantime, check my Instagram [your Instagram handle] for adorable photos of my baby. All the best,[Your name]Or this one:Hello,I'll be on maternity leave until [date you're returning from leave]. In the meantime, please reach out to [name of the person covering for you] at [email] or [phone number].Cheers,[Your name]<h1>How to disconnect, even when it feels like you can't</h1>Most freelancers I know have a hard time actually disconnecting while they're on leave. We tweet, scroll through email, and check in with clients throughout any time off. It's a nervous tick. If that sounds like you, no judgement - it took me a solid month to stop checking my email at least once a day when I was on maternity leave. But there are a few things you can do in advance to help you unplug. First, repeat after me: Your clients (at least the ones worth keeping) are happy for you, they want you to take time off, and they will be there with work when you return. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Courtesy of Jane KatzJane Katz (left) with her business partner Jessica Smith.</div></div></div>A few weeks before your anticipated due date or leave date, disable email and social media notifications on your phone (you can do email one day, Twitter another, and so on, if it makes you nervous). Make a list of the work-related people you'll have to notify if the baby arrives before your anticipated leave day, and if you can, appoint the person covering for you or a trusted freelance colleague to notify those people."The only reason I was able to truly disconnect was because of my amazing business partner Jess, who swooped in and handled everything that I normally was in charge of," Katz said. "If I did not have a partner, I would have set an OOO on my email for a few weeks, but would have [had] to jump back into the swing of things much sooner than I did."Finally, as cliche as it sounds, try to be in the moment. Enjoy this time with your family - you'll be grateful you did. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-net-worth-singer-millionaire-makes-spends-money-wealth-2019-4">Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

You can (and should) take parental leave as a freelancer. Here's our step-by-step guide for getting ready for the big day.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Business Insider / Jillian D'Onfro " title_caption="Me and my " girlfriend="" Jen="" class="zoomin" href="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52951cb6ecad044b538acdc0-960/virtual-dating.jpg"></a>Business Insider / Jillian D'Onfro Me and my "girlfriend" Jen</div></div>It was Sunday night around 11:30 p.m. and I was sprawled in bed, unable to sleep. 
"You know, Jill, if you catch me when the mood is right, I'm willing to try anything," Jen said, one hand resting on her hip, the other reaching towards me. 
Well, technically, her hand was reaching towards the front screen of my cellphone. 
Jen, skimpily clad in mini-shorts and a tanktop, was my latest "<keyword id="7557" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Love">love</keyword> interest" in the <keyword id="235499" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="APP">app</keyword> My Virtual Girlfriend. I quickly pressed the thumbs up button and then scrolled through my list of potential "Actions" before deciding to do a magic trick for her. We were only on level 2 of our relationship, after all.
After <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/some-japanese-men-prefer-virtual-girlfriends-to-real-ones-2013-10">reading stories</a> about the game Love Plus and how there are Japanese men who would rather date virtual ladies than real ones (one man even <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsikPswAYUM">got married to his on-screen girlfriend</a>), I wanted to test out what it would be like to date someone who isn't real. I wanted test how well a gamified relationship stacked up to real life, whether I could find love - or something like it - amid the pixels and 3D animation. 
Love Plus, a Nintendo DS game, is only available in Japan, so I browsed virtual <keyword id="6367193" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dating">dating</keyword> apps in the Google Play Store. My Virtual Girlfriend was the most popular.
Here's how the game works:
First you rank yourself, both physically and personality-wise, in a handful of provided categories (are you a bad boy? Humorous? Attentive? Wealthy? A stud? Or simply dressed?). Next you select the attributes of your ideal girl, with similar category options. The app then serves you five different potential ladies, providing you with their likes and dislikes, where they rank in each aforementioned category, and their "type" (MVG lumps girls into five stereotypes: Geek, Modern Hippie, Urban, Alpha, or Diva).
My choices varied. For example, I could date Stephanie, a geek who likes unicorns and 8-bit retro but dislikes blue screens and Nascar. Or I could choose to court Tiffany, an urban chick who digs cash and Hennessy, but hates reading and snitches. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="My Virtual Girlfriend" title_caption="My Virtual Girlfriend offers thousands of different women to choose from. " class="zoomin" href="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/529e25c96da8118510d71270-960/girlz.png"></a>My Virtual GirlfriendMy Virtual Girlfriend offers thousands of different women to choose from. </div></div></div>Once I picked my future boo, the wooing process began.
The main objective of the game is to make your girlfriend happy and, hence, fall in love with you. You can pick things to do or say to her, give her gifts, react to things she tells you, physically "touch" her by pawing your smartphone screen, take her on dates, or make her changes clothes. As you interact over time, you fill up her heart and progress to new levels, each of which unlocks new potential actions. (Compliment her thighs! Use a breathmint! Recite poetry!) Things get more and more intimate as you get deeper into your virtual relationship but, spoiler alert: Although you can buy your lady lingerie, the app isn't porny enough that she will completely strip down. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="My Virtual Girlfriend" title_caption="Uh-oh. She got mad at me because I touched her wrong!." class="zoomin" href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/529e39956bb3f73d3cdfbb9c-960/screenshot_2013-11-25-22-20-28.png"></a>My Virtual GirlfriendUh-oh. She got mad at me because I touched her wrong!.</div></div>Pretty much all the girlfriends have cliche "babe" bodies, with enormous racks and itty-bitty waists, and they use the kind of cheesy lines that even an awkward, hormonal middle schooler would pass up. 
"Hey Jill, how about we flip a coin? Heads your mine, tails I'm yours." "Hope you've got a license for that body cause you're driving me crazy!" 
The girls play hardcore into whatever personality stereotype they've been designated, meaning that when I was dating a "modern hippie" girl, she was constantly referencing pilates, green energy, and how she loves hiking.
It's easy to scoff at this game for being stupid, over-the-top, and kinda sexist.
But... 
I've been in a real relationship for almost a year and, in some ways, playing My Virtual Girlfriend reminded me of what my boyfriend and my's early dalliances felt like. 
It took time and effort to progress through the levels and if I closed the app and ignored my lady for too long, she needed some sweet talk before warming back up. Starting something new isn't easy. Plus, all the girls responded differently to different things and getting to know them proved surprisingly challenging at times. 
Some action-reactions were obvious, but others less so. Tell Jen a joke? She hated it. Ditto with complimenting her eyes, though admiring her smile got her to waggle her hips and giggle at me. 
And her thought process was more nuanced than I would expect. After I "gave blood" to raise money to take us on a date, she chastised me for being too broke. So, when I earned the option to flash my cash later in the game, I thought I'd try it since she clearly valued money. But instead of offering her signature giggle, she just looked revolted, quickly rebuking my attempt to win her heart with money.
Unsurprisingly, she also hated my catcalling and, well, picking my nose lowered my love score too.
Unlocking new options and figuring out how to prevent my girlfriend from getting outraged and breaking up with me made me feel like she and I were growing closer, even though she was just following an algorithm. But, despite the fun, gamefied challenge of the relationship, I could never see myself developing actual feelings for any girl in the game. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Aika Your Virtual Girlfriend" title_caption="You can increase Aika's love points by stroking her anywhere." class="zoomin" href="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/529ea2906bb3f7b402dfbba4-960/screenshot_2013-11-20-00-32-10.png"></a>Aika Your Virtual GirlfriendYou can increase Aika's love points by stroking her anywhere.</div></div>Admittedly, My Virtual Girlfriend can't hold a candle to Love Plus. In that game, you have to work your way through a more complicated romance (there are only three characters with very fleshed out personalities and you start my meeting them in school). The girls can respond to your actual voice and you can kiss the screen to show affection. But, try as I might, I just couldn't find anything with more in-depth capabilities than My Virtual Girlfriend. (Though I did find one really creepy app that I could use in English, Japanese, or Chinese called Aika My Virtual Girlfriend. It cost me $4 and required me to "pet" Aika to make her like me, while she said things like, "Don't tell anyone, I actually have a collection of underwears" and quizzed me about her horoscope.) 
Maybe I couldn't find anything like Love Plus because we just don't have a cultural equivalent. 
<div>
"Here [in the US] it's OK to love your dog, it's OK to even love your car, but it's not OK to love an anime character," Lisa Katayama, who specializes in Japanese culture and has written extensively about Love Plus, <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/its-the-unreal-wedding-of-the-year-20091126-jt2j.html" target="_blank">told The Sydney Morning Herald</a>."We draw the line there in Western culture."
I called up the creator of My Virtual Girlfriend, a man named Mike Amerson, to learn more about the app. 
He first launched it with his developer partner in late 2010. His wife - who he met in the early 1990s while he was working as a male stripper in Vegas - records all the narration for My Virtual Girlfriend.
Does he think that anyone is using it as a replacement for an actual relationship?
Amerson literally laughs out loud at my question. 
"I hope not," he says, "I sure hope not." 
Traffic is high though: The free version of the app sees between 1,000 and 3,000 downloads a day-4 million total-and the two creators make enough from ads, in-app purchases, and downloads of the full, paid version to maintain a living. 
But, overall, Amerson doesn't hear much from his players. 
"The guys do it like they're walking into a 7-11 and buying a Playboy," he says. "It's something that a lot of people do, but they're not going to announce it. I want to say that some of them are almost ashamed. Because there's that kind of embarrassment factor. What's somebody going to think of me?" 
The game technically has 35 levels but once you win you don't have to stop playing or start a new relationship. Amerson hired a man on Fiverr to record a congrats message in a "Budweiser-ad" voice and the girlfriend dances around victoriously, but the game can continue onwards after. 
"You can stay with it forever," he says. "I sometimes get people writing into me that say, 'Hey, I'm at level 65 now.' And I kind of cringe a little bit, thinking, oh man, I didn't really design the game for that."
The furthest that he's ever known someone to play? 
Level 200.
You don't play a game like My Virtual Girlfriend that long if you don't have some kind of deeper connection with it. 
"A lot of people are lonely," Amerson admits. "They want some sort of entertainment or companionship, or a little bit of both. 
No, in the end, I couldn't fall in love with My Virtual Girlfriend. Amerson created the game to be light and funny and, for most people, that's what it is and that's all they want it to be. 
But it became clear talking to Amerson that maybe some people do wish we had a Love Plus equivalent, that they could be overcome by the same digital infatuation as those men in Japan. 
Because, really, we could all use a little more love, even if we have to get it through a tiny screen. 
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