Posts

The summer tops that caught our eye range from long sleeves to short flutter sleeves, and almost all of them are available in sizes ranging from XS to XL in a variety of colors and patterns. Plus, summer calendars are often filled with activities that can range from work to barbecues with errands in between. So, we made sure you can style each blouse pick with shorts and sneakers during the day just as easily as you can dress it up with white pants and wedges for a night out....

To buy: $21; amazon.com. “Such cute sandals and so comfy,” wrote one reviewer who added that “you can’t beat the price” and confirmed that the sandals are true to size. Another shopper, who said they had to wait to purchase them because they were sold out last year, added the same type of high praise: “[Possibly] the most comfortable, cute everyday sandals ever!” Each pair of the sandals is designed from a “leather-like” material, according to the brand....

To buy: $21; amazon.com In fact, one Swedish dishcloth can replace up to 15 rolls of paper towels. The package includes a total of 10 sponge cloths, which can be used up to 50 times each. And yes, that means they can be machine washed up to 50 times as well. These are more absorbent than a traditional 100 percent cotton dish rag, because they’re made of 70 percent biodegradable cellulose and 30 percent cotton....

Your best bet: Maintain antique rugs by vacuuming them regularly to remove dirt and dust, but leave the thorough washing to a professional. Depending upon the location of the rug, washing once every few years should be enough. The one exception: if you accidentally spill on the rug, it’s better to spot-clean rather than wait for a pro, or else the stain could set in permanently. A stiff clothing brush can also help remove lint, dust, and dirt in between professional cleanings....

Kitchen Sponges and Dish Towels Yes, it’s true, the germiest room in your home is likely your kitchen. And it gets even worse—studies have shown that your dish sponge is the germiest, most bacteria-filled item in your home. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. However, since microwaving sponges has proven ineffective at disinfecting sponges, the safest bet is to simply replace your sponge every week. And if your sponge hangs out in a holder all day long, don’t forget to disinfect that, too....

To buy: $7 (was $10); amazon.com. The helpful organizer from Magicool Hanger is made of sturdy stainless steel, and can be used to hang and consolidate all sorts of garments including tank tops, bathing suits, strappy dresses, sports bras, and more. The vertical bars also make it ideal for scarves, ensuring they won’t fall or slide. “I used to put my bras in a bin because I didn’t want them to get mangled in a drawer, [but] then I couldn’t see them on a bin, so I had to lay them out on a closet shelf—that took up a ton of room and the matching panties always got lost,” another reviewer wrote....

The popular vacuum for cars is so compact and easy to use, say reviewers who carry it around in their trunks for tough messes and quick cleanups alike. The “powerhouse in a little package” connects to your car’s lighter port as its source of energy, and although it is a corded device, reviewers say that the 16-foot length lets you vacuum your whole car. It sucks up dust, crumbs, leaves, hair—you name it, it cleans it....

They moved from Chicago to Charlotte about two years ago, and settled into a French chateau-style home in an eclectic neighborhood dotted with trees and ponds. But Maddie’s personality didn’t quite fit with that of her bathroom. “It was sad, beige, and dated,” Papier says. “It had fantastic crown molding, but other than that, nothing was salvageable.” It also had an oversized tub on an entire wall that nixed any square footage for a shower, and mirrors on all sides that reflected the dirty grout of the floor’s tiles....

Enter Invisawear, a discreet and fashionable way to send an SOS. Unlike other safety devices that are too bulky or display an obvious “panic button,” Invisawear accessories are ideal for everyday wear—in fact, we bet you can’t tell a difference between it and regular jewelry. The brand currently offers a wide selection of bracelet, necklace, and keychain designs. Here’s how it works: Each item holds a charm with a hidden button on the backside....

The Miessial midi-length dress is made from a combination of 80 percent cotton and 20 percent linen to create a comfortable, lightweight feel that’s ideal for summer’s high temperatures. The ease of the dress only continues with how you put it on: Just pull it on over your head. It even has a keyhole button closure in the back to add structure and style. Buy It: $42; amazon.com Two other standout features of this summer dress are the smocked top and ruffled cap sleeves, which together add a fun, flirty touch....

To buy: Agate Coasters, $55, onekingslane.com. To buy: Constellation Bias Doormat, $32, modcloth.com. To buy: Striped Sisal Basket, from $8, thelittlemarket.com. To buy: Cylinder Task Wall Light, $143 (originally $179), rejuvenation.com. To buy: Gilded Leaf Wall Hook, $24, leifshop.com. To buy: Arrow Stripe Mercury Glass Bowl, from $12, jamaligarden.com. To buy: Embroidery of Female Nude Figure, ebth.com. To buy: Bone China Plates, $25, fatherrabbit.com. To buy: Glass Orb Lamp, $189, lucentlightshop....

They’re not just convenient: Vertical gardens are also one of the top plant and gardening trends—interest in vertical gardens went up 287 percent in 2018, according to Pinterest. Plus, vertical garden ideas are actually doable at home. They don’t require overly fancy garden tools or specialty plants—you can buy plants online to fill your garden. They don’t even cost a fortune, though that depends on what kind of vertical garden frame you choose....

But did you ever stop to think about how much of each ingredient is in your go-to formulas? Brands are constantly facing the pressure to provide more affordable options with these trending ingredients, which has led to a practice called “fairy dusting.” “Fairy dusting is a practice throughout the beauty industry and involves brands claiming they use a popular ingredient at its proper concentration level when in reality, they’re using a low percentage or trace amount of an organic, natural, or sustainably sourced ingredient,” says Rebecca Hamilton, co-CEO of BADGER....

What exactly is skincare microdosing? “Skincare microdosing refers to using lower concentrations of certain active ingredients to help improve tolerability,” explains Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She adds that when using products at a lower concentration, you’ll still see results, but it reduces the risk of negative reactions—especially for those with fragile and easily compromised complexions, such as those with eczema or rosacea. “This can be especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin,” says Dr....

For people who aren’t experiencing the nausea-inducing emotions of facing seemingly insurmountable debt, opening bills might seem like a benign task. It could even be something you do absentmindedly. But for the 72 percent of Americans who have anxiety about finances, the bills can be a battle. “You just get to the point where you don’t open your bills and hope you’re paying the minimum,” says Andrea Pariseau, a 38-year-old mother of two who experienced a financial crisis recently after ending a long-term, financially dependent relationship....

It doesn’t have as much sugar, someone said recently at a socially distant happy hour. The group of 30-somethings nodded as if this were beverage gospel. Someone else swore natural wine didn’t give them as bad of a hangover. There were more murmurs of agreement. I took a sip of the cloudy elixir, a fizzy Pet Nat (that’s Pétillant-Naturel, or natural sparkling) more akin to kombucha than the crisp chablis I normally drank on warm spring nights....

What is arsenic, and what does it have to do with your food? What consumption, you ask? Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is “widely distributed throughout the environment,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), found in rocks, soil, air, and water. Arsenic is “highly toxic in its inorganic form,” WHO explains. Drinking contaminated groundwater or eating foods exposed to contaminated water (during irrigation or processing/manufacturing) are the primary ways humans can be exposed to inorganic arsenic....