Posts

But that doesn’t mean your gifting has to come with a side of guilt. There are a ton of eco-friendly gift-wrapping options out there, whether you go with recycled or recyclable paper, gorgeous fabric wrapping that will live on year after year, vintage finds, or even a gift wrap that’s part of the gift itself, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about recyclable gift wrapping, along with our favorite gift wrapping options to make this holiday truly green....

But beyond the dishes you already know you can cook on your barbecue, you may be surprised to learn how many foods you can grill that you haven’t yet considered. Indeed, many foods cook perfectly on a grill, even if they require just a step or two of extra preparation. What’s more, these surprising grilled foods are especially flavorful and delicious with the hint of smoke and char that a quick turn on the grill imparts....

One of the most popular (and simplest) ways to classify cheese is to do so based on texture. This method allows you to include everything from Brie—a French staple—to America’s own Colby cheese, which has roots in Colby, Wisconsin. The number of cheese categories that exist depends on who you ask, but generally speaking, there are around five to seven, and they include cheeses of various textures, those made from the milk of different animals, such as cows, goats, or sheep, and those made with mold....

From small upgrades (a coat of mascara can do wonders) to big priorities (yes, sunscreen is really that important), read on as a range of cosmetic, hair and skin experts, and entrepreneurs share the life-changing products and processes they learned from their moms and continue to put into practice today. “My mom is a total beauty guru and it shows. She’s in her 60s and looks amazing, so I would do anything she says....

Benjamin Moore: Raspberry Blush Last year, Benjamin Moore selected a soft, sage green as its 2022 Color of the Year, sitting comfortably among the huge trend of “new neutrals.” This year, however, with the 2023 pick, Raspberry Blush, Benjamin Moore opted for a bold push outside of the paint color comfort zone. The color is a vibrant red-orange shade that can add a burst of energy to the walls of a living room or dining room—basically, anywhere you need a conversation-starting wall color....

A Cookie for Every Craving Chocolate Linzer Cookies These gorgeous and sophisticated holiday cookies will be the highlight of any dessert spread. Get the recipe. The Best Sugar Cookie Way more than just a blank canvas for icing and sprinkles, this sugar cookie is delicious all on its own. Get the recipe. Marbled Cookies These gorgeous cookies are perfect for Hanukkah, or if you’re just going for a snow-globe vibe. Get the recipe....

A Cookie for Every Craving Chocolate Linzer Cookies These gorgeous and sophisticated holiday cookies will be the highlight of any dessert spread. Get the recipe. The Best Sugar Cookie Way more than just a blank canvas for icing and sprinkles, this sugar cookie is delicious all on its own. Get the recipe. Marbled Cookies These gorgeous cookies are perfect for Hanukkah, or if you’re just going for a snow-globe vibe. Get the recipe....

Halloween Family Feud Game Last year I made a Thanksgiving and Christmas family feud game and it was so popular, I thought I’d make Halloween family feud questions too! Other people apparently love Family Feud as much as I do. I mean I’ve only watched like every episode ever. That and every episode of minute to win it. What can I say? I’m a gameshow junkie. I asked my email list as well as my Facebook fans to give their first answer to a number of Halloween family feud questions and the answers were kind of hilarious in some cases and surprising in others!...

Know your USDA Hardiness Zone. Use it as a guide to avoid planting trees, shrubs, and perennials that won’t survive winters in your area. You’ll also get a better idea of when to expect your last frost date in spring, so you know when you can plant vegetables, fruits, and annuals outside in your area. Not sure when to prune? Prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, and large-flower climbing roses, immediately after the blooms fade....

One of my all-time favorite party games is name that tune. Maybe it’s because I love music, maybe it’s because it’s something my family played all growing up (along with Christmas bingo), or maybe it’s just because it’s just plain fun. The way we always played name that tune was playing songs and then whoever guessed the song first won a point for their team. It’s so fun but can be a bit tricky for people who don’t necessarily know song names, artists, or just can’t yell things out that fast....

Wall painting is pretty subjective, so white paint might not be right for your space or lifestyle; plenty of dark paint colors are just as beautiful on walls, trim, ceilings, and more. But if you’re considering white walls, these extra benefits might just push you closer to making that decision. (If that is the case, the next step is learning how to pick a white paint color.) Leigh Spicher, the national director of design studios for the homebuilder Ashton Woods offers some smart design facts about this vibrant color....

There’s just something about fresh berries, even just fresh fruit, that says summer to me, so I thought it would be fun to share a bunch of fourth of July recipes that are made with fruit! These are perfect for when you don’t necessarily want to serve all red, white, and blue desserts but you still want to share something sweet. And don’t forget to add this cream cheese fruit dip to go along with all of these recipes....

In an ideal world, we’d have a list of clever and funny Thanksgiving conversation starters on deck. We’d be equipped to defuse any awkward family tensions or change the subject quickly yet affably if a potentially controversial topic arose; we might even learn something new about our friends or family members. The following questions are perfect for Thanksgiving and will help prevent those dreaded silences. If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving this year, the icebreakers will also help everyone warm up to each other, especially if you’re bringing different groups of friends together....

While there are affordable alternatives to traditional financial advisors, such as robo-advisors and online financial planning services, independent financial advisors can be valuable for managing investments. They can help you set and reach money goals and even help with estate planning. More importantly, a study by investing platform Envestnet PMC estimates that an advisor can add 3 percent value on investments each year. However, finding a financial advisor you trust is crucial for reaping the benefits, and the process requires research and thorough vetting....

As a food editor at Real Simple, I dreamed of working on a pizza story, better yet, get home cooks to make restaurant-quality pizza right at home, in the comfort of their own kitchens. The challenge: a pizza dough recipe that could be used in different styles of pizza, but still keeping the process super-easy. Ideally, this one pizza dough recipe would be able to be shaped and baked into a Neapolitan-style pie, as well as a Detroit-style pizza, a grandma pie, and a Chicago-style pizza....

As an automotive educator and journalist (MechanicShopFemme.com), I’ve delved into the research and studied hacks on used car-buying. Because yes, you can avoid making mistakes with this significant purchase, and successfully save money by buying a car you love. Here are four strategies for finding that car, avoiding bringing home a lemon, and saving money along the way. Do your homework. Many of us think a used-car purchase begins with a visit to a car dealership, but that’s an easy way to become instantly overwhelmed....

“The foods that provide the best sources of energy are those with long-lasting carbohydrates and protein for steady blood sugar levels and nutrients that play an important role in energy production,” says Mario Spano, M.S., R.D., sports dietician and consulting sports nutritionist for the Atlanta Braves. So even though that morning coffee jolt may feel like the rev to your engine, it’s really healthy foods, high in certain nutrients, that give you a sustained lift....

The concept of cold skincare has actually been sweeping the scene for quite some time (see: ice facials). Beyond the aesthetics, chilling your skincare products can actually benefit your skin. First, the obvious: It’s a sensorial dream. In addition to jolting your skin awake, “the cold temperature dulls any sensations of pain, itching, or tenderness,” explains Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Eternal Dermatology in Columbia, Md. Although it’s not necessary if you’re storing your beauty products correctly (i....

Brain blips can be unnerving, but they’re completely normal. The good news is they’re rarely the sign of a declining mind. We tend to think of youth as a time of peak mental capacity and that once our child-prodigy days are gone, there’s no hope left. But the human brain is most likely at its best during midlife, when life experiences combine with decades’ worth of neural connections, resulting in peak intelligence and ability....

While all this advice is important, that last one—limiting what you touch—is especially challenging to remember while you’re out and about. Whether you’re going to the grocery store, picking up essentials at the pharmacy, or just spending time outdoors, you’re likely digging around in your pockets or bag for your phone, keys, water bottle, wallet, and more. Think about how many times you touch your phone in a day—and how many times you touch door handles, elevator buttons, gates, shopping carts, credit card pin pads, and more between touching your phone....