Posts

Apparently, it’s not just me. This “do I really look like that?” phenomenon has been dubbed “Zoom dysmorphia,” because, while it’s not what you look like IRL, it is what you look like in the breakout room. While most of my trouble spots have been easy to disguise with makeup and lighting, my neck area is still an issue. “We use the phrase ’tech neck’ to describe the creping, sagging, and wrinkling of the skin around our neck and décolletage that is exacerbated simply by our positioning when we’re using our phones and computers,” explains Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City....

The Bissell spin mop is one of the most clever powered options on the market because it’s designed with two durable rotating pads that scrub sticky substances, dirt, and pet accidents with the push of a button. The spin mop comes with two sets of microfiber pads to customize your cleaning: a coarse, scrubby option and a soft, plush one. Once assembled, the pads rotate in opposite directions to buff out mud, pet stains, and scuffs, per shoppers....

So, what can be done to remedy this besides bombing the place with air freshener? Enter the simmer pot. It’s simply a pot of warming water with herbs, extracts, and other good-smelling additions that work quickly to create a naturally better-smelling home. Think of it as a DIY scented candle but with fresher ingredients, a further reach, and more staying power. Even better, you likely already have many of the key ingredients and can quickly pop them on the stove before guests arrive....

I’m definitely swapping my breezy summer bedding for more cold-weather-friendly flannels and weaves (hello-o heathered cashmere!), and adding a neutral, elegant wool throw to the end of my bed. As a bonus, new customers also get 10 percent off its entire site; automatically applied at checkout. And Brooklinen’s not just top of line for bedding. It also has spa-worthy robes, silk pillowcases, weighted blankets, diffusers, and more. Each of these add to a comfy, warm atmosphere that makes it oh-so-difficult to leave my apartment....

Eliot, who was first introduced to meditation at the age of 9, is the expert you want on your side when it comes to feel-good breathing exercises. After facing several near-death experiences—including almost drowning and surviving the Thailand tsunami in 2004—Eliot came back to yoga and meditation, leaning on these two practices—both of which are deeply connected to breathwork—to center himself once again. But can his work and techniques actually change your body’s temperature?...

You’re supposed to replace your mattress every few years, I know, and my mattress is certainly getting close to the end of its life. Until last summer, I’d been hoping that my mattress would last just another year or so, until my next move, when I had planned to replace it. I woke up day after day with an aching back, though, and when even the best lower back stretches didn’t help, I knew I needed a quick solution....

Since I had zero experience painting furniture, I chose a paint that would essentially be fool-proof: chalk paint. It’s a type of paint that adds a fully matte, chalky appearance to any piece of furniture, but it can also be used on other surfaces, such as brick, glass, and cement. It can be distressed with sandpaper for a vintage, worn-in look, or left alone for a smooth, solid wash of color....

While washing your hands with soap and water is better than using hand sanitizer, for those times when you’re on the go and simply can’t get to a sink, here’s how to mix up your own DIY hand sanitizer. But 20 seconds feels longer than you think—it’s the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Want some more modern musical inspiration? CNN has recommended hand-washing tunes for every decade....

If you decide that window curtains are right for the room, we’ll guide you to pick the right fabric, curtain rod, and tiebacks to complete the look. Then, consider blackout curtains for a sleep-friendly bedroom or long velvet curtains for a luxe look in the living room. Not sure if curtains and drapes are the right choice? Find out when blinds are your best bet, how to measure for them, and where to buy them....

Major success: cotton candy grapes are seedless bite-sized morsels that taste exactly like the hand-spun sugary treat you used to eat at the carnival as a kid. Understandably, cotton candy grapes have seen some major success the past several years at grocery stores like Costco, Whole Foods, Publix, and Wegman’s. They’re typically only available in late summer (August and September), but this past weekend we were floored to hear they were spotted back on shelves at Trader Joe’s....

Everyone always talks about doing holiday cookie trays full of yummy things like Christmas tree brownies, chewy molasses cookies, and maybe even a cherry cheesecake cookie. The thing people don’t talk about that often is holiday desserts. They don’t get nearly the love that homemade apple pie and no bake pumpkin pie get during Thanksgiving. This red velvet cake deserves all the love, especially when topped with sugared cranberries. It’s beautiful, delicious, and surprisingly easy to make!...

For example, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (that’s about 21 to 43 minutes per day) or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week for able-bodied adults. But how do you know for sure that your movement of choice really is vigorous enough? Is your level of aerobic activity too vigorous?...