Posts

Cash back credit cards are a good pick if you don’t want to pursue travel rewards and prefer to reap your rewards in cash back statement credits or bank deposits. “Deciding between card types depends on your lifestyle, individual spending habits and personal preferences for how you intend to use the card and how you’d like to earn rewards,” says Jason Gaughan, credit cards executive at Bank of America. For example, he says, if you don’t drive much, a card that offers gas rewards as its main perk won’t be of much use to you....

Classic Italian lasagna features pasta, tomato sauce, cooked ground meat (usually beef and/or sausage), and layers of cheesy mozzarella and creamy ricotta; finished with a final sprinkling of Parmesan and bright parsley. While this basic recipe is so well-loved, cooks and creative culinary types have ventured into other flavor profiles, putting their own spin on this layered favorite. What about creamy béchamel sauce instead of tart tomato sauce, or sautéed squash and leafy greens in place of meat?...

“With the passing of time can come additional health concerns and needs. Staying on top of medical visits can help you keep track of and address bodily changes, minimizing the risks or complications of chronic, debilitating illness,” says Janine Darby, MD, a double board-certified physician in family and obesity medicine. The good news is that there’s still time to take control of your health. Here, experts help us break down the most important appointments to make—and keep—in starting in your 40s and 50s, what to expect, how to make it count, and how often to visit the doc....

These 10 life-changing gadgets and accessories will help your spring be the cleanest, most relaxing, and best organized yet. Shop them all below. “This sand anchor is a must,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “Digging the umbrella into the sand is no easy task, and most of the time, you can’t get it in far enough for the umbrella to stay. This anchor really helps out tremendously… Everything is plastic so you don’t run the risk of the salt from the ocean rusting anything—perfect for many days at the beach....

“A golden rule is that you don’t have to be brilliant―just nice,” says Bernardo J. Carducci, Ph.D., director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, in New Albany, Indiana. “If you start with simple, even obvious comments, that makes it easier for others.” Learn the secrets of how to make small talk with style and grace to help you more easily navigate your next party. “As I drive to a party, I try to come up with two or three things to talk about in case the conversation runs dry,” says Debra Fine, lecturer and author of The Fine Art of Small Talk ($15, amazon....

Vinegar appropriately takes its name from the French term vin aigre, or “sour wine.” It’s made by adding bacteria to any type of alcohol—wine, hard cider, beer—or sugars, which are then fermented and converted into acetic acid. The time it takes for the vinegar to ferment depends on what it is made from. Every type of vinegar has an individual flavor profile and often a unique purpose outside the kitchen....

Pumpkin spice, which doesn’t necessarily contain pumpkin in its ingredients, is typically made from a combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Whether you wait all year for the monumental return of the pumpkin spice latte or prefer to get your fix in foods, it’s unquestionably the most festive fall flavoring. From coffee and crumb cake to Pop Tarts and pasta to lip balm and chewing gum, this spice seems to pop up in nearly every fall-themed sweet and product....

For example, in December 2021, Trader Joe’s unveiled the newest variation of its Pound Plus Milk Chocolate Bar imported directly from Belgium. This one, which weighs a whopping 17.6 ounces, is filled with caramel, pretzel pieces, and sea salt. Though the massive chocolate bars can be eaten on their own, many Trader Joe’s shoppers opt to break them up into pieces and bake those chunks into cookies, brownies, and even bread pudding....

Whatever you do, don’t forget to use good bread, add an element of acidity, and get creative with your toppings. Looking for a few other easy tips for building a better sandwich from scratch? Check out our guide to sandwich making here.

To buy: For a similar product: $60, macys.com. To buy: For a similar product: $295, nordstrom.com. To buy: For a similar product: $168, nordstrom.com. To buy: For a similar product: $107, nordstrom.com. To buy: For a similar product: $134, macys.com. To buy: For a similar product: $60, macys.com. To buy: For a similar product: $102, bloomingdales.com. To buy: For a similar product: $188, jcrew.com. To buy: For a similar product: $79, macys....

Thanksgiving Staples Easy Dinner Ideas Pumpkin Desserts

Setting time aside for your money doesn’t have to be boring or scary. Light some candles, grab a snack, take some deep breaths, and think of it as self-care; changing your approach to budgeting is important to make the whole thing more routine. Here are some expert tips that will have you budgeting like a pro in no time. “A lot of people think that you have to have these complicated budgets, these complicated spreadsheets—and you grow to that,” says Tonya Rapley, millennial money expert and founder of the financial education and lifestyle blog My Fab Finance....

But when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and stroke. On the upside, food is one of the key natural ways we can control inflammation in the body. There are plenty of healthy ingredients that fight inflammation, as well as a number of foods that worsen it. Here are the top foods to avoid in order to reduce your body’s anti-inflammatory response, according to health experts....

Second, “the illusion of volume is your best friend,” says Powell. Techniques such as curling or gently back-combing, along with products, such as a dry shampoo or dry texturizing spray, can make a huge difference when it comes to making it look like you have more hair than you actually do. More specifically, focus on creating that volume at the roots and crown. “This will make the hair appear thicker and fuller at the scalp, where hair loss and thinning tend to be the most noticeable,” says stylist Amy Abramite, creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago....

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with baking the contents according to the directions on the box and letting the kids go wild with decorating. But if the idea of straight-up sheet cake sounds boring to you or you’re just looking for something new to try out in the kitchen, check out some of these unique, kid-friendly ways to use up that cake mix and bring an element of celebration to even your most basic desserts....

“Eye creams are formulated specifically for the thinner, more delicate skin around our eyes, which is why they tend to be thicker,” notes Stacy Chimento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, Fla. “Eye creams also contain more oil than a facial cream [and often feature] active ingredients that target specific issues.” Whether you’re new to the eye cream game or have been dutifully slathering for years, take note of these common eye cream mistakes that might be sabotaging your anti-aging goals....

“We actually don’t do physical gift exchanges, even with my kids. So we’ve always focused on experiences—what I call presence with a C over presents with a T.” —Heather Greenwood Davis, travel journalist and founder of international, family travel blog globetrottingmama.com

Not all headaches are built the same; there are several types. Tension, one of the most common forms, affecting up to 70 percent of the population per the original WHO report, presents as pain located on both sides of the head in a pressure type sensation. Migraines, also common, affect 39 million people in the United States, and are severe, with throbbing pain on one side of the head and often accompanied by nausea and light or sound sensitivity....

We’re talking storage baskets, bins, woven hampers, flatware trays, and more. Whether crafted from 100 percent linen or woven from natural fibers, these home organizers look like they cost many times their price. Without any brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S., Zara Home may be one of the best-kept secrets in home decor. To buy: $26, zarahome.com. To buy: From $20, zarahome.com. To buy: From $23, zarahome.com. To buy: $26, zarahome....