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The good news is there are smart, simple ways to sweeten foods without adding sugar or artificial sweeteners. (Because let’s face it, liking sweet foods is what makes us human.) We sat down with Jennifer Tyler Lee, author of Half the Sugar, All the Love: 100 Easy, Low-Sugar Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, to learn the most effective ingredients for cooking and baking with less added sugar. “These ingredients, available in most well stocked grocery stores, preserve texture and add flavor so you won’t miss the sugar one bit,” says Tyler Lee....

Why Weighted Blankets Require Special Care Purchasing a heavy-duty blanket that perfectly suits your sleep needs is one thing, but storing and washing weighted blankets is a topic that’s slightly more complicated, especially if your blanket isn’t safely encased in an easy-to-clean duvet cover. Bulky blankets are anything but easy to fold, and the idea of simply throwing a 20-pound blanket in the washing machine sounds logistically impossible given their heft....

Despite their similar acronyms, these two accounts are different—though both have to do with healthcare. (Not confusing at all, right?) Read on to learn the difference between an HSA and an FSA. “Both of them allow you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis,” straight from your paycheck, says Katie Waters, CFP, founder of Stable Waters Financial, a Georgia-based financial planning firm. By lowering your gross income through HSA or FSA contributions, you ultimately save money on taxes....

If you’re not familiar, bouclé is a soft, nubbly woven material, which, when found in upholstery, creates the sensation of being in your own private marshmallow heaven: every surface pillowy and white, every angle gently curved and pert, and a feeling of peace and cleanliness in the air. But its origins are much more dynamic. “Interest in this type of fabric increased after Chanel started using it for [its] clothing,” Amina El Kadiri, an interior designer at Valyōu Furniture tells Real Simple, “Bouclé is a very elegant, French-style fabric....

My curiosity peaked when I tried the JLo Beauty Hydrafacial in Los Angeles this year (Lopez launched the JLo Beauty Booster, which was designed to supplement the traditional hydrafacial with added hydration). What resulted was four days of an unbelievably dewy, clear complexion (or that J. Lo glow, as they say)—and a desire to learn more about the rest of her line. After hearing J. Lo herself hype up the collection’s hero ingredient—the JLo Beauty Olive Complex (a four-part blend of squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract)—I had to try it for myself....

Highlights: “Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes for Exceptionally Scrumptious Sweets and Treats” received a starred review from Publisher’s Marketplace. “The Vintage Baker” was named one of the Washington Post’s best cookbooks of 2018. Numerous appearances on television shows across the country and in videos for Food Network Kitchen, the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family Show, and Food52, among others.

Remove the kale stems and tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. This will help prevent them from getting stuck around the blade. Chop the celery and banana into ½-inch pieces and really let ‘er rip for a minute or 2. Scrape down the sides of the blender as necessary and blend again for a straw-friendly sipper.

Not only does the plant add personality to a space, but you can play with placement. Suspend one as a natural curtain in front of a window or let it trail over the edge of a side table. As the plant matures, it will grow 2- to 3-foot-long tendrils. Already own a string of pearls? Add other trailing succulents to your collection, such as the string of fish hooks or string of dolphins (yes, these are real plant names!...

Because of the popularity of the microneedling technique, many companies have started to offer at-home microneedling products, but DIY microneedling is something skin doctors warn against. How come? Well, microneedling is exactly what it sounds like: tiny punctures made directly into your face. And wouldn’t you only want a professional to be in charge of wounding you in the name of beauty? Here, we asked dermatologists to explain the ins and outs of microneedling—and how to figure out if microneedling could work for you....

Nicholas is still adjusting to the new normal—and his changed financial outlook. “Now we have to think about how do we ensure that we can continue planning our own retirement and our own future, but to make sure that she feels that when she is of age, and when she decides that she wants to go to college—or whatever it is that she wants to decide to do—that she feels like she’s in a good place, too,” Nicholas says....

Highlights: Nicole has bylines in Real Simple, The Spruce, MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, and Kitchn.Prior to Real Simple, she was the commerce editor for MyDomaine; she was also on the commerce team at Apartment Therapy.She graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in English. Nicole is a shopping expert in the home space, and specializes in bedding, furniture, and decor. Since joining Real Simple her expertise has expanded to include cleaning, kitchen, beauty, and fashion products....

Although vitamin C serums are (rightfully) popular for their ability to do many great things to your skin over time, i.e. reduce the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles and protect against free radicals (like pollution and UV rays), I wanted some instant gratification to make my complexion brighter and better. After hearing a lot of buzz about OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Serum, I decided to try a sample on a whim....

To buy: $24 (was $30); paulaschoice.com. Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t just discover this product out of nowhere. It’s a beauty editor holy grail, a cult classic, and according to the brand, one bottle sells every seven seconds. That said, I have no problem following instead of leading in this case; the formula works so well, I’ve barely gone astray and used other chemical exfoliants since I first tried it....

“I am personally excited to see Pinners continue to value different areas of the home, and that really comes through from the trends we’re seeing in our Pinterest Predicts 2023 report,” says Jeremy Jankowski, creator management lead of Home & Design at Pinterest. “It reinforces the value our personal space holds.” Here are the top five home trends that Pinterest predicts will be strong next year. 1. Vintage Meets Modern Vintage isn’t going anywhere....

To buy: costafarms.com. Plus, its variegated, sword-like leaves make it a standout when paired with modern and eclectic design styles. Lovers of high humidity and consistently moist soil, a sunny spot in a bathroom could be an ideal environment for this leafy option. Place it in an area with bright, indirect light and away from heating or cooling vents, which can dry out its lovely fronds. Easy to propagate, spider plants often sprout smaller baby plants right on the parent plant....