Professional baker Vallery Lomas, author of Life Is What You Bake It, has the perfect plan to help you set up your pantry perfectly, no matter what your budget is. The first rule: Think about what you want to make. If you’re not a baker, there’s probably no need for a big bag of flour or a big bottle of vanilla extract—but if you are, you might save money buying those in bulk....
Step 1: Make sure your books are clean, dusted, and ready to be stored. Then find clean boxes that are the right size. (Avoid ones that were previously used to store food, as they might attract mice or bugs that will destroy your books’ paper pages.) Your best bet? Waterproof plastic containers. Step 2: Fill your boxes, wrapping each book in a paper towel or bubble wrap to prevent damage to the cover (or books sticking together), and stack the heavier books on the bottom....
On this week’s episode of Money Confidential, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez explores our very best advice from financial experts on how to talk money with your partner effectively. To begin with, couples need to understand that differences in financial approach (and arguments about them) are all too common—thanks to different upbringing around finances, according to Brad Klontz, PsyD, CFP, a clinical psychologist and certified financial planner. He suggests that those differences could actually work in your favor, as your partner can help you “gut check” spending and avoid frivolous purchases....
The good news is there are smart, simple ways to sweeten foods without adding sugar or artificial sweeteners. (Because let’s face it, liking sweet foods is what makes us human.) We sat down with Jennifer Tyler Lee, author of Half the Sugar, All the Love: 100 Easy, Low-Sugar Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, to learn the most effective ingredients for cooking and baking with less added sugar. “These ingredients, available in most well stocked grocery stores, preserve texture and add flavor so you won’t miss the sugar one bit,” says Tyler Lee....
Why Weighted Blankets Require Special Care Purchasing a heavy-duty blanket that perfectly suits your sleep needs is one thing, but storing and washing weighted blankets is a topic that’s slightly more complicated, especially if your blanket isn’t safely encased in an easy-to-clean duvet cover. Bulky blankets are anything but easy to fold, and the idea of simply throwing a 20-pound blanket in the washing machine sounds logistically impossible given their heft....
Despite their similar acronyms, these two accounts are different—though both have to do with healthcare. (Not confusing at all, right?) Read on to learn the difference between an HSA and an FSA. “Both of them allow you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis,” straight from your paycheck, says Katie Waters, CFP, founder of Stable Waters Financial, a Georgia-based financial planning firm. By lowering your gross income through HSA or FSA contributions, you ultimately save money on taxes....
If you’re not familiar, bouclé is a soft, nubbly woven material, which, when found in upholstery, creates the sensation of being in your own private marshmallow heaven: every surface pillowy and white, every angle gently curved and pert, and a feeling of peace and cleanliness in the air. But its origins are much more dynamic. “Interest in this type of fabric increased after Chanel started using it for [its] clothing,” Amina El Kadiri, an interior designer at Valyōu Furniture tells Real Simple, “Bouclé is a very elegant, French-style fabric....
My curiosity peaked when I tried the JLo Beauty Hydrafacial in Los Angeles this year (Lopez launched the JLo Beauty Booster, which was designed to supplement the traditional hydrafacial with added hydration). What resulted was four days of an unbelievably dewy, clear complexion (or that J. Lo glow, as they say)—and a desire to learn more about the rest of her line. After hearing J. Lo herself hype up the collection’s hero ingredient—the JLo Beauty Olive Complex (a four-part blend of squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract)—I had to try it for myself....
DIY Incredibles Shirts Okay so let’s start at the very beginning when I was invited to an Incredibles 2 press event at Pixar in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. Of course the first thing I did was say yes then I proceeded to watch The Incredibles like ten times over the course of the past two weeks. Fast forward one week to the big announcement that Cricut is now offering 9 different packs (3 different designs in each) of game-changing patterned iron on vinyl!...
Highlights: “Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes for Exceptionally Scrumptious Sweets and Treats” received a starred review from Publisher’s Marketplace. “The Vintage Baker” was named one of the Washington Post’s best cookbooks of 2018. Numerous appearances on television shows across the country and in videos for Food Network Kitchen, the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family Show, and Food52, among others.
Remove the kale stems and tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. This will help prevent them from getting stuck around the blade. Chop the celery and banana into ½-inch pieces and really let ‘er rip for a minute or 2. Scrape down the sides of the blender as necessary and blend again for a straw-friendly sipper.
Not only does the plant add personality to a space, but you can play with placement. Suspend one as a natural curtain in front of a window or let it trail over the edge of a side table. As the plant matures, it will grow 2- to 3-foot-long tendrils. Already own a string of pearls? Add other trailing succulents to your collection, such as the string of fish hooks or string of dolphins (yes, these are real plant names!...
Because of the popularity of the microneedling technique, many companies have started to offer at-home microneedling products, but DIY microneedling is something skin doctors warn against. How come? Well, microneedling is exactly what it sounds like: tiny punctures made directly into your face. And wouldn’t you only want a professional to be in charge of wounding you in the name of beauty? Here, we asked dermatologists to explain the ins and outs of microneedling—and how to figure out if microneedling could work for you....
I’m a big fan of mini foods – finger foods, whatever you want to call them. From mini calzones to mini pumpkin rolls, I just love little mini things. This mint cheesecake recipe combines a number of my favorite things – Oreos, cheesecake, and mint flavoring – into one delicious bite-sized treat! I love using mint flavoring with its natural green color for St. Patrick’s Day desserts, but you could also use these for Christmas or really any time you need a dessert....
Nicholas is still adjusting to the new normal—and his changed financial outlook. “Now we have to think about how do we ensure that we can continue planning our own retirement and our own future, but to make sure that she feels that when she is of age, and when she decides that she wants to go to college—or whatever it is that she wants to decide to do—that she feels like she’s in a good place, too,” Nicholas says....
Highlights: Nicole has bylines in Real Simple, The Spruce, MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, and Kitchn.Prior to Real Simple, she was the commerce editor for MyDomaine; she was also on the commerce team at Apartment Therapy.She graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in English. Nicole is a shopping expert in the home space, and specializes in bedding, furniture, and decor. Since joining Real Simple her expertise has expanded to include cleaning, kitchen, beauty, and fashion products....
