The 4-7-8 breathing technique stems from the ancient yogic tradition of pranayama, which refers to the practice of consciously controlling your breath, and includes many different breathing patterns and techniques. Practiced in Eastern cultures for thousands of years, yoga and pranayama made their way into Western culture in the 1800s, steadily gaining popularity over the following 200 years. Intentional breathing techniques—like slow breathing, deep, belly breathing, and single-nostril breathing—are used to offset an overactive sympathetic nervous system (the stress system), regulate anxiety, and promote a state of deep relaxation....

Shopping tip: Pick two, equal-sized birds so they cook evenly and at the same rate.

For homeowners, now is also a great time to renovate or add on, since chances are good the market will support that investment you’re making in your house. But the very process of renovating invokes risks that may or may not be covered by your home insurance. Here’s why—and how—to update your home insurance coverage now, so you know you’re covered if things go awry. Do an annual home insurance review....

A mezzaluna (an Italian word meaning “halfmoon”) is shaped like a contact lens: like a bow without the arrow. From the halfmoon’s tips project handles of two or three inches each, often plastic and easy to grip, sometimes with finger molds. To use a mezzaluna, wrap your fingers around these handles as you would the pole of a beach umbrella—thumb curled around to touch your fingers. The blade faces down and its curve bumps out (convex)....

We’ll take any excuse to throw together a solid cheese platter, so here’s an expert guide to pairing wine and cheese like a pro. To ensure our list was legit, we consulted Wisconsin Cheese-certified expert Elena Santogade. Here, she dishes on the wine and cheese combinations to have at the ready when entertaining—or not. “Pairing artisanal cheese with the right wines can elevate the flavors and take your tasting experience to the next level, so be sure to select varieties that complement each other for optimal indulgence,” Santogade says....

Step Up to the Snack Bar Mix Made with pub snack favorites such as honey mustard pretzel pieces, chili lemon corn sticks, honey roasted peanuts, and even the brand’s very own Trader Joe’s Cheddar Rocket Crackers, this snack mix is beloved for a reason. “This is a great example of something greater than the sum of its parts… everything is good,” Sloan gushed. Stepping It Up Spicy Snack Bar Mix If you like spice, you might want to purchase this snack mix (which comes in an apropos red canister) instead of the one mentioned above....

A recent study by Merrill reported that while women’s confidence in nearly all other financial matters is equal to or greater than men’s, when it comes to investing, we dramatically underestimate ourselves. Just 52 percent of women say they are confident about investing, compared to 68 percent of men. The study also notes that failing to invest is the top financial regret among women. These statistics are especially troubling when you consider that when women invest, they outperform their male counterparts, according to a new study by Fidelity that analyzed more than 5 million customers over the last 10 years....

If there’s anything that can be as mind-numbingly frustrating as figuring out what is in a 628-page Congressional bill, it’s shopping for health insurance. It’s worth digging in on this, though, because it could be real money in your pocket. The extra cash comes from subsidies on premiums that are available when you purchase health insurance through federal and state-run health insurance marketplaces, such as on HealthCare.gov. Part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the idea of the Marketplace is to make health insurance available to anyone, rather than relying on policies through an employer....

On the flip side, intentionally dying your hair gray or silver is another, “super hip, contemporary trend,” according to Fleming, and also extremely popular, as seen on both social media and celebs of all ages. Regardless of which way you’re going gray, there are a few important things to keep in mind. If you’re transitioning to natural gray, be patient, particularly if you’ve always colored your hair in the past, advises Fleming....

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Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O2). It’s a natural disinfectant that bubbles when it comes into contact with an enzyme called catalase. Catalase is found in most cells, including blood cells and some bacteria. Since catalase is not found on the surface of human skin, hydrogen peroxide only bubbles on broken skin. Those bubbles are a reaction that releases oxygen gas. Hydrogen peroxide has a shelf life of approximately six months after opening and should be stored in a cool, dark place....

The style has been on our radar since late 2020, when Pinterest reportedly saw a 100 percent increase in searches for “Japandi” from October 2019 to September 2020 compared to the previous year. Now, over 90,000 Instagram posts include #japandi and TikTok videos with the same hashtag collectively have more than 9.6 million views. “I think the style is becoming increasingly more popular because it reaches people who may love and appreciate the modern vibe but don’t want their space to feel cold,” says Leia T....

Another thing we love about pesto is that you can make it yourself (and even tailor your homemade version so it matches your dietary preferences). Or, if you’re tight on time, you can use a jar of the store-bought stuff that tastes just as good. A third option, which will likely come in handy during the winter months when fresh basil may be trickier to come by, is to make a big batch of pesto and stick it in your freezer for later use....

14 Fun Christmas Gift Exchange Games Try one of these fun and unique gift exchange ideas this year to break the norm. Almost every holiday party I’ve been to in the past ten years has had a very similar gift exchange along with other Christmas party games. Everyone brings a wrapped gift and gets a number. The first person chooses a gift and unwraps it, the second person can steal that gift or choose another, and so on....