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De-Clutter the Kitchen Step one: clear the kitchen counters. Even if you don’t have time to scrub the stovetop or tackle the dishes in the sink, decluttering the countertop will give the impression that your kitchen is neat and organized. Remove everything from the counter to start, then wipe it down with multi-purpose cleaning spray to remove dirt and crumbs. Next, try the tray trick, recommended by our Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello: Grab a decorative tray (consider a metallic one for extra sparkle) and use it to corral anything you want to leave out on the counter, like salt and pepper and your go-to cooking tools....

“It’s important to teach your kids about credit early on, because establishing good credit takes time,” says Erin McCullen, head of consumer deposit products at Bank of America. “Building credit from a young age through responsible habits can help pave the way for major purchases and life moments, since credit impacts future living arrangements, the ability to purchase a car, and even employment opportunities.” Here are ways you can teach your kids about credit so you can set them up for financial wellness and security down the line....

Thankfully, the grow-out period doesn’t need to be miserable, but you do need to have a plan. First, take a look at the type of bangs you have (curtain, side-swept, choppy, etc.) so you know what you’re dealing with. According to Williams, the hardest style of bangs to grow out are blunt or baby bangs, so be prepared to be a wee bit frustrated as you won’t have enough length to style them differently while you wait for them to grow....

Think of it like Road Trip Scrabble—but instead of taking turns, just yell when you see one and come up with a word. The other person can challenge you by creating a longer word with those same letters. To up the stakes, stipulate that the letters have to be in the exact order to make the word, and can’t be scrambled. Two extra points for those who spot a vanity plate....

Also, if you hire a landscaper, let them know if you’ve recently seeded or overseeded the grass, so they can adjust the fertilizer they use on it.

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According to Alex Bruno, certified sommelier with Tri-Vin Imports in New York, you’ll want your wine to have enough body and structure to match your cookie. If it’s a simple cookie, go for an equally uncomplicated wine with enough acidity to balance the sugar in the cookie. Another rule of thumb is to pair sweeter wines with sweeter cookies. Typically, a wine that is as sweet or slightly sweeter than its food counterpart, with complementary flavors (citrus, spice, chocolate, berries, and so on), will create a great pairing....

Most people are more stressed and unhappier than ever before, a 2021 Gallup poll showed. In the poll, 44 percent of respondents said they frequently encounter a lot of worry or stress. And all that stress manifests in both physical and emotional signs. Here are just a few of the ways your body may exhibit the symptoms of stress. And this advice can’t completely cure your stress, but remember to stay well-hydrated every day....

These days, it’s the perfect excuse to get outside for some springtime air and watch kids young and old search for hidden treasure. Whether you’re stepping up to host the annual Easter hunt extravaganza for the first time, or you’re plotting a small-but-spirited at-home hunt for the little ones in your immediate family—just follow these easy steps for pulling off a classic Easter egg hunt like a pro. 1. Set the Date for Your Egg Hunt Of course it’s traditional to have an Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday, but it’s certainly not required....

Most workout clothes today are made with synthetics, a relatively new fabric, and properly cleaning new fabrics means following some new laundry rules. Sticking to old laundry rules for new fabrics can even damage them or shorten their lifespans, according to experts at HEX, a hypoallergenic laundry detergent designed to properly clean synthetics and other fabrics. (You can always stick to the old rules with your 100 percent cotton sheets and silk blouses....

If you love to cook and have friends and family over for dinner, a table and chairs set is great, while a less formal bar-inspired high-top set might work better for drinks and snacks. And for cozier spaces, we love Parisian-inspired bistro sets. Outdoor furniture can be pricey, but tons of options are available for under $300 at Walmart. Below, we picked out nine stellar options for parties and yards of all sizes....

Though they may not seem like the go-to way to spend time with your family, there is an abundance of video games available that your entire squad will love, even if they’re non-gamers. You don’t need to be a Mario professional to enjoy them, and these entertaining games we’ve rounded up are sure to bring joy to your family’s faces during these troublesome times. Available on the Nintendo Switch Available on the Nintendo Switch Available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch...

“If you’re only exercising for an hour or less at lower intensity, you wouldn’t need to fuel, especially if you had eaten a meal three to four hours prior—but you should still hydrate,” says nutritionist Leslie J. Bonci , MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN. Many people also find that working out with food in their stomach—even if it’s just a small snack—can lead to cramping or gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Those people will delight in learning that more and more research is showing the benefits of working out on an empty stomach, as it allows the body to burn fat (not the carbs you just ate) for fuel....

They can even handle even edgier style choices, such as just covering the wall space directly behind the sink. This utilitarian, near-industrial decision would pair well with the exposed pipe shower trend. With so much variety, though, comes a difficult situation: How can an average homeowner (or renter, thanks to peel-and-stick backsplashes) even hope to make a bathroom pop with the just-right arrangement of bathroom tiles? How does one decide if this bathroom décor idea should go just behind the bathroom sink or vanity, the traditional spot for a bathroom backsplash, or if it should extend all the way around the room?...