The allure of a murder mystery party? It’s all about the drama. Guests get to dress up and pretend to be someone else in an alternate world for a few hours. The easiest way to organize a murder mystery is to hire someone who does it for a living. So we asked two such professionals how to go about using their services. Here’s how to host an unforgettable night with loved ones....
I’m neat. Correction: fanatically tidy. My husband, on the other hand, is a human typhoon who leaves a trail of debris in his wake. If it were up to me, I’d live in a pristine, minimalist dwelling. Tom claims he thrives in mess and finds comfort in his piles of periodicals and papers. He drops his clothes on the floor wherever he happens to take them off. Meanwhile, I get physically uncomfortable if our small Brooklyn apartment is the least bit out of order....
Use better bread. In most sandwiches, bread is the component that takes up the most physical space, so start with good bread. Investing in a $5 loaf (or baking one yourself) and slicing it right before you make the sandwich gives you a huge flavor and freshness boost relative to pre-sliced bread or a low-quality loaf. Keeping that bread kept out of the fridge and sealed will prolong the life of its flavor and bite....
Bra size is notoriously fickle between different lingerie brands; a C-cup at one store can easily be a D-cup at another, and some bra sizes can grow and shrink (especially in band size) over the course of a day or between washings. The best option is to know your bra size by taking bust measurements using these simple measuring instructions, which will ensure a perfect fit in band and in cup—and can even help you find the right amount of support....
When you land in the “real world,” there’s no travel guide waiting for you with a sign, telling you exactly where to go. After packing up your comforter, textbooks, and Polaroids, you typically head back to your hometown with the imminent question, what now? Some of your friends may have found a job at this point, or begun moving to a new city with their big dreams in tow. You may not know it based on their Instagram stories, but they’re facing the same reality as you....
How to Store Potatoes The key to making your potatoes last is to keep them in a cool, dry, dark place. Some ideal storing options include the pantry, a cardboard box, or a brown paper bag. If you want your spuds to truly thrive for as long as possible, keep them in a well-ventilated area that’s about 50 degrees, and make sure they aren’t exposed to sunlight. When potatoes get too much sun, they produce a toxic compound called solanine....
The solution: Keep those pores clear. “Avoid oil-based moisturizers and makeup,” which could potentially clog pores, says David E. Bank, a dermatologist and the director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, in Mount Kisco, New York. Choose oil-free lotions and a powdered mineral foundation instead. Exfoliate three to four times a week with a mild scrub or a washcloth, and after exercising (or on especially sweaty days), use a glycolic face wash, such as Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash ($39, sephora....
What is hormonal acne? Acne is caused by a combination of factors including—but certainly not limited to—excess sebum production, clogged pores, inflammation, and bacteria buildup on the skin. In some folks, however, hormones are the main culprit. As Joshua Zeichner, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in New York City, explains: “Hormonal acne refers to breakouts that occur in women around the time of their menstrual cycle, as the fluctuations in hormones stimulate oil glands, leading to acne flares....
But have you ever considered how many vitamins and nutrients go to waste when we discard perfectly viable parts of produce during meal preparation? The USDA estimates that food waste in the United States makes up about 30 to 40 percent of our food supply, which is inexcusable. “Root-to-stem cooking—a fancy term for fully using a fruit or vegetable—is a great way to both minimize food waste and maximize nutrition and flavor,” says Jennifer Patzkowsky, MS, RDN, LDN, Corporate Dietitian at Publix....
Why You Need to Wash Grapes Grapes belong to the Dirty Dozen—an annual list of produce with the highest levels of pesticides, compiled by the Environmental Working Group. The EWG recommends splurging on organic grapes, but not everyone can afford to buy organic produce, which can get quite expensive. If you opt for regular, non-organic grapes, take extra care when you’re cleaning them to remove as much pesticide residue as possible....
After finding my couch a lovely new home on Craigslist, I began my hunt for a beautiful, yet easy-to-clean replacement. As I debated upholstered cotton blends vs. tufted velvet vs. microfiber, one option surfaced on my Instagram feed that checked all the boxes: Article’s Sven Leather Sectional in Charme Tan. Was it durable? Check. Was it easy to wipe clean? Check. Was it beautiful? Double check. No one was more surprised than I was to find that this leather sectional was actually my dream sofa....
So I was thrilled when The Ted Lasso crew released the shortbread recipe they use for said biscuits–and realized they’re incredibly easy to make. (It’s been all over TikTok and the internet ever since.) Odds are you already have everything you need in the kitchen right now—it’s just 2 sticks of butter, a pinch of salt, ¾ cup confectioner’s sugar, and 2 cups of flour. The Ted Lasso biscuits were very rich and buttery, and simply divine fresh out of the oven with a cup of tea....
I’ll be the first to sign up to spend my day wandering around IKEA while snacking on Swedish meatballs and admiring every BESTÅ combo I pass. I’ve spent weekends doing just that, but when I found myself in a new apartment, in a new city, with no car, I realized that my preferred IKEA shopping experience just couldn’t happen. I turned to IKEA delivery, and I was ecstatic with the results....
I went through most of my 20s resigned to the fact that I’d be living more like a pauper than a prince—though I’d be rich in life experiences, right? I thought financial advisors and “wealth managers” were for the wealthy—trust fund kids and tech moguls. But the pandemic—and all of the career and financial uncertainty it brought with it—made me realize the importance of long-term planning and investing. I’ve socked money away over the years, but never with any concerted goal, and I never felt confident enough to invest in the stock market....
