Home office with dual monitors, orange chair, wooden desk, ladder shelf, and large plant by a window.
5 (Free) Apps that Will Guarantee You’re More Organized Next Tax Season
Tax prep can be a major drag. Along with gathering all of your W-2’s and interest statements, you have to organize a mountain of paperwork—think: receipts, expense reports, and so on—to file your taxes properly. Luckily, there are several smartphone apps designed to streamline the daunting process of preparing your taxes. From receipt organizers to mileage trackers, here are five foolproof (and totally free!) apps that will have you ready for tax season in no time.
May 3, 2019
10 Plant Paradises You Should be Following on Instagram
There’s no shortage of plant-obsessed accounts to follow on Instagram. The hashtag #plantsofinstagram alone produces more than 1 million posts, most of which come straight from the hands of plant parents across the globe. And if you’re anything like us, you depend on Instagram posts to help inspire and inform all of your gardening endeavors. So to ensure that your feed is always filled with helpful plant info, we rounded up 10 of the coolest plant accounts to follow on IG.
May 3, 2019
8 Eco-Friendly Things You Should Always Have in Your Bag
When you’re on the go all the time, it’s easy to be overly (almost accidentally) wasteful. Not-so-eco-friendly disposables—think plastic bottles of water, tissue, and shopping bags—often become the go-to when we’re running around in a rush. That’s why it pays to stock up on compact, eco-conscious items ahead of time, so they’re already in your bag in a pinch.
May 3, 2019
8 Streaming Documentaries That’ll Force Anyone to Watch Their Waste
A good documentary has the power to make you look at the world differently, and if it’s really impactful, might change the way you live your life. Case in point: Sustainability documentaries—like ones that educate viewers about the global effects of excessive trash and waste. Watch one stellar documentary about the importance of sustainability, and we can pretty much guarantee you’ll start thinking twice about all the stuff you throw away in a day.
May 3, 2019
10 Ways the Smartest People Spend Their Downtime
Life can get crazy. That’s why it’s important to take mental breaks from daily stress throughout the day. And while for some of us that might mean watching a mindless reality TV show or playing a silly iPhone game, there are also some more enriching ways to spend your downtime, when you feel so inclined. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by work or family, try calming yourself down with a more cerebral distraction.
May 3, 2019
8 Instagram Accounts That’ll Help You Save (Not Spend!) Money
Let’s be real: With all of the shoppable links and decorating inspo posts filling up our feeds, browsing Instagram usually makes us want to spend money more than save it. If your swipe-up-to-buy finger is itchy, you should add a few of these follows to your feed instead. Not only are they full of money-saving inspiration, they’ll also help you learn how to better balance and manage your bank account in the long run.
May 3, 2019
5 Secrets of People Who Give the Best Compliments
Whether it’s regarding an outfit, someone’s home, or a job well done, a good compliment can leave a big—and lasting—impression on its recipient. That’s why knowing how to give a stellar compliment is a skill that we can all stand to benefit from. Thankfully, we have Myka Meier, a former member of The Queen’s Household and the current etiquette expert behind Beaumont Etiquette to call upon for help.
May 3, 2019
7 Ways to Read Free Books Online (Without Leaving Your Couch)
Bookworms rejoice: There are tons of ways to read your favorite books online for free. From old-school classics to brand-new bestsellers, the web is brimming with books you can binge read from your smart device free-of-charge. We’ve rounded up some of the best places you can find books online for free. From Amazon to the Library of Congress, check out these seven awesome websites where you can read books for nothing—from the privacy of your own sofa.
May 3, 2019
You Need to See These Tiny Houses Decorated for the Holidays
The only thing better than a well-designed tiny home is one that’s dressed up in holiday decor. And thanks to the #tinyhousemovement—which advocates pared down living in small homes such as campers, Airstreams, and of course, tiny houses—sweeping social media, there’s no shortage of festively decorated mini-abodes to drool over on IG. Read ahead for seven tiny homes decked out in holiday decor we spotted on Instagram.
May 3, 2019
5 Thoughtful Secrets of the Best Gift-Givers
Whether it’s a holiday gift or a way to say thanks, a good gift can leave a big—and lasting—impression on its recipient. That’s why knowing how to give a stellar gift is a skill that we can all stand to benefit from. Thankfully, we have Myka Meier, the etiquette expert behind Beaumont Etiquette to call upon for advice. We asked Meier for a few strategies for giving better gifts and she had lots to share. Read on for five ways to up your gift-giving game this year.
May 3, 2019
10 Cool Gym Bags That Don’t Look Like Gym Bags
The only thing better than a good workout session is having a stylish—and functional—gym bag to stash your gear in. Unfortunately, gym bags that don’t look like, well, gym bags, are few and far between. So we rounded up 10 of the sleekest athletic bags on the web for you to drool over. From a quilted denim duffle bag to a pretty floral patterned stunner, here are 10 sporty bags that are chic enough to carry outside of the gym, too.
May 3, 2019
10 Ways to Celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day
The holidays may be over but there’s another uniquely important day to note on the calendar: January 10 is National Houseplant Appreciation Day, which means it’s time to celebrate the joys and benefits of tending to an indoor plant. Along with improving the air quality in our homes, houseplants make wonderful roommates—they’re quiet, easy to care for, and fun to look at—and NHAD is all about paying homage to their awesomeness.
May 3, 2019
Relationship Experts Reveal 6 Secrets for Valentine’s Day Gifts that Don’t Suck
With all the corny gift guide clichés and tacky holiday-themed products available this time of year, picking the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your partner can be tricky. That’s why it pays to put a bit of thought into figuring out what constitutes a good gift ahead of time. To help, we called on two of our favorite New York City-based relationship experts: psychotherapist Lisa Brateman, and Dr. Jane Greer, author of “What About Me?
May 3, 2019
9 Rooms That Will Make You Want to Paint Your Floors
Caution: These stylish spaces may send you running for the nearest paint store.
May 3, 2019
13 Classic Kitchen Staples We’re Buying at IKEA for Under $10
The only thing better than a stylish kitchen utensil is one that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily, IKEA is brimming with inexpensive, Scandi-style kitchen essentials that probably cost less than your fancy morning coffee. From wine racks to colanders, here are 13 go-to kitchen wares at IKEA for under 10 bucks.
May 3, 2019
What It Actually Means When Someone Says a Home Has “Good Bones”
We called on a real estate expert to help us break it down.
Apr 27, 2019
Rest Easy, These 9 Stylish Nightstands Will Only Set You Back $70 or Less
From mid-century-inspired styles to sleek end tables, here are nine finds that won't break your bank account.
Apr 27, 2019
These Affordable Accessories Prove Jewel Tones Aren’t Just for Winter
If you thought jewel tones were best reserved for cold weather decor, you are sorely mistaken. Inspired by the natural shades of gemstones, such as amethyst, sapphire, and ruby, jewel-toned homewares are a colorful way to jazz up your space anytime of year. Still not convinced? We rounded up some stylish, jewel-toned decor items at Amazon to prove our point. From an emerald-hued serving tray to a canary yellow accent chair, here’s what we found.
Apr 19, 2019
8 Over-the-Door Organizers That Will Instantly Double Your Storage
A good over-the-door organizer can be a game-changer when you aren't working with a ton of storage space.
Apr 11, 2019
Organize the Fridge, Support Your Plants, and 8 Other Things You Can Do with Free Chopsticks
Chopsticks are wildly useful little tools to keep handy. And while most of us save our spare ones, or buy a more permanent pair, there are all sorts of clever ways to use chopsticks around the house. From cleaning crevices to stirring paint, read ahead for 10 genius things you can do with an extra set of chopsticks. Searching for a foolproof way to deep clean tough to reach nooks and crannies?
Apr 9, 2019
10 Instagram Accounts to Follow If You’re Obsessed with Tiny Houses
There’s no shortage of tiny houses on Instagram. Just enter #tinyhousemovement into your IG search bar and you’ll find an ample array of tiny house living accounts, offering an endless amount of (super) small space design inspo. And even if you know deep down you’ll never take the tiny house plunge, that doesn’t mean you can’t live vicariously through someone who does.
Apr 4, 2019
6 Confidence-Boosting Tips to Remember The Next Time You Need to Be More Assertive
Standing your ground isn’t always easy. No matter how confident you feel about something, being openly assertive with others when communicating your needs is an entirely different beast. So we called on Antonia Di Leo, licensed therapist and clinical director of Andrea Cornell Family Therapy for advice on how to be more assertive from day-to-day.
Apr 2, 2019
The Coolest Ways to Update Your Home Bar for $10 or Less
A good bar setup at home ensures that you’re always ready for happy hour. Luckily, Amazon is brimming with cute and clever bar accessories—many of which are priced for 10n bucks or less. Read ahead for seven items that will transform your bar cart—for cheap. Looking for an easy way to squeeze some fresh lemon or lime into your cocktail? This savvy spritzer has serrated teeth, so you can stick it straight inside a piece of fruit and then spray away.
Mar 30, 2019
8 Superhero Cleaning Brushes That Save Time (and Effort!) All Over Your Home
Still using the same basic brushes to clean all the nooks and crannies of your apartment? You should know there’s a whole world of superhero brushes and scrubbers with all kinds of special features that will help cut your cleaning time in two. From soap dispensing dish brushes to a rechargeable spinning scrubber, here are eight cleaning brushes that will put your current basics to shame: Consider this soap-dispensing sink brush the Cadillac of dish brushes.
Mar 30, 2019
6 Stylish Accent Tables You Can Get on Amazon for Less Than $50
Accent tables can do a lot to make a room feel finished, but for such a small piece of your room, they can end up being surprisingly expensive. Fortunately, one of our favorite online retailers, Amazon, offers an impressive assortment of accent tables that are both super stylish and inexpensive. From a pair of nesting end tables to a two-tiered coffee table, here are some of the best accent tables under $50 on Amazon. The only thing better than a sleek and space-savvy end table is two of them.
Mar 13, 2019
Don’t Throw Away Your Old Mascara—It Could Save a Baby Duck!
If you thought your dried-out mascara wands weren’t good for anything but the trash can, think again. Thanks to Reddit user marilynbmonroe, the web is abuzz with a surprising—and potentially life-saving—way to repurpose your old mascara wands when you’re done with them. The Wands for Wildlife initiative is asking supporters to recycle their mascara wands to help save the lives of wild animals.
Mar 11, 2019
4 Smart Things to Do with Your Tax Refund, According to a Financial Planner
‘Tis the season for filing taxes and more importantly, receiving your tax refund. But before you go and blow it all on a trip to Tulum or a pricey pair of shoes—guilty!—you may want to consider some more productive ways to use your tax refund. We called on financial advisor Douglas A. Boneparth, CFP and President of Bone Fide Wealth for advice on how to smartly use our tax refunds, no matter how big or small the amount. But first: savings.
Mar 10, 2019
How to Deal With Being Homesick
We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve packed up your life for a cross-country move, or you’re just on an extended business trip, sometimes you can’t help but feel a little homesick. How can you cope when you’re yearning to be home and more importantly, what do these feelings even mean? We called on clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., to help us break down everything we ever wanted to know about homesickness.
Mar 6, 2019
8 Unexpected Perks of a Library Card
If you thought your library card was only good for borrowing books, then think again. Turns out you can score access to all sorts of awesome stuff with nothing more than your library card—usually for free. Don’t believe us? Here are eight things you probably didn’t realize you could do with your library card. Who knew your library card could also grant you access to some pretty cool streaming platforms?
Mar 1, 2019
7 Celebrities That Prove Living In the Midwest Is Incredibly Cool
Celebs—they’re just like us! Except that, well, they’re usually multi-millionaires with McMansions in Hollywood to match. That’s why it’s so fun to stumble upon superstars living more low-key lives outside of the greater Los Angeles area and in relatively down-to-earth areas, like the Midwest. From the former Commander-in-Chief to one of the richest rappers in the world, here are seven big names who call the “Middle America” home.
Mar 1, 2019
8 Rooms That Just Might Make You Abandon Your All-White Bedding
For as clean and unobtrusive as all-white bedding can be, it’s also a bit, well, boring. So we searched our home tours high and low for eye-catching bedding–that isn’t plain white—to show just what a little color and pattern can do in a bedroom. Here are eight bedrooms that might make you rethink your all-white bedding. A little color goes a long way in an all-white room.
Feb 27, 2019
10 Smart Ways to Improve Your Attention Span
Because staying focused isn't always easy.
Feb 24, 2019
The Small Space Dweller’s Guide to Designing a Functional Living Room
According to the experts.
Feb 8, 2019
The Smart Reason Some People Are Putting Zip Ties on Broom Handles
We have a storage trick for your brooms, mops, dusters, and other handheld housekeeping tools.
Feb 3, 2019
7 Decorating Mistakes We All Make in Our First Homes
Few things are more exhilarating than moving into your first real home. But as fun as decorating it can be, it’s also easy to make a lot of rookie mistakes. So to help make the process of decorating your first home go a little smoother, we called on a few of our favorite designers to share the mistakes they (and their clients) seem to always make. From awkward furniture arrangements to picking the wrong paint color, these are the decorating mistakes we all make in our first homes.
Jan 29, 2019
8 Open Concept Layout Mistakes We Should All Stop Making
Here's how to overcome the daunting task of forging distinct areas inside a lofty, wall-less space.
Jan 27, 2019
This Cult-Favorite Costco Perk Pays for the Membership Fee—Twice
We did the math, and the benefits of being a Costco member actually work out in your favor on this one.
Jan 24, 2019
7 Tiny Ways to Fit Decluttering Into Your Morning Routine
Nothing is worse than coming home to a messy apartment after a long day, but finding the time to clean in the morning can be equally daunting. That’s why we put together a list of micro decluttering tasks that can easily be incorporated into your morning routine. Read ahead for seven super small ways to organize your space in the AM, so you can start the day off productively (and come home to a tidier place when it’s over). If you’re anything like me (i.e.
Jan 21, 2019
The Best Things to Buy With Your Target Gift Card—Whether You Have $5 or $100
The holidays are over and chances are you have a Target gift card or two burning a hole in your pocket. But before you go blow it all on one fun but frivolous item—guilty!—you might want to consider all the amazing home essentials you could spend yours on instead. To prove our point, we rounded up ten practical products to buy at Target, starting at just 5 bucks. From cleaning tools to luxury sheets, here are the best things to buy for your home using your Target gift card.
Jan 18, 2019
9 Cliché Decorating Rules We Should All Start Breaking
While some decorating rules of thumb are definitely worth paying attention to, others are made to be broken.
Jan 16, 2019
The Best Southwestern-Style Decor Items on Amazon Right Now
The New Year is here and it’s bringing a whole slew of cool new home ddcor trends with it. According to our friends at Etsy, overly lavish decor is on its way out and more earth-inspired styles, particularly Southwestern motifs like colorful woven textiles and desert-style art, will be taking over our homes instead. So to jumpstart your design endeavors for the New Year, here are eight stylish Southwestern-inspired home decor goods you can order right now on Amazon.
Jan 14, 2019
5 Ways to Be Better with Money in 2019
It’s official: 2019 is here and it’s time to get your money right. We called on Priya Malani, co-founder of Stash Wealth, a financial planning firm for millennials, for advice on how to better handle our money in the New Year. From setting up a different savings account to signing up for automatic withdrawals, here are five money-savvy tips to jumpstart your 2019 financial goals.
Jan 13, 2019
10 Side Hustles You Can Try to Make Extra Money in 2019
It’s a new year—and time to up your hustle. More and more people are turning their passions and creative outlets into profits, by making them their side gigs. In fact, according to Pinterest, searches for “side hustles at home” are up nearly 700 percent! So to make your moneymaking endeavors a little easier, we rounded up some of the best jobs you can take on in 2019 to supplement your income.
Jan 7, 2019
The Best Trivia Board Games to Play on National Trivia Day
Here’s some fun trivia for you: January 4 is National Trivia Day. And what better way is there to celebrate than to partake in a fun little pop quiz of your own? From classics like Trivial Pursuit to newer games like Wits & Wagers, here are 10 of our favorite trivia board games—for National Trivia Day, game night, or just a random night at home. This iconic board game is beloved by trivia purists and game-night lovers alike.
Jan 4, 2019
7 Under-$100 Area Rugs on Amazon That Only Look Expensive
Because anything that makes finding a rug easier is greatly appreciated.
Dec 27, 2018
7 Smart Wall-Mounted Storage Solutions You Can Buy on Amazon
Let’s face it: Finding the room to fit all your stuff in a tiny apartment is tough. Fortunately, one of our favorite online retailers, Amazon, offers an impressive assortment of wall-mounted furnishings that are both space-savvy and super functional. To prove our point, we searched Amazon high and low and rounded up seven wall-mounted storage solutions to help you make the most of your small bedroom.
Dec 16, 2018
Try This IRL Trick for Shopping Incognito on Amazon
Gift-giving season means we all have to be a little stealthier about our online shopping—especially if you share accounts with the people you’re trying to surprise. Or maybe you found the perfect thing to finish your shopping list, but don’t want to give your credit card info over to the Amazon machine to get it. Whatever your reason for wanting to shop incognito, we have the answer: Amazon Cash. Amazon Cash, my friends, the answer is Amazon Cash.
Dec 10, 2018
9 Unskippable Tasks that Make a “Deep Clean” Deep, According to a Professional Housecleaner
For as much as we tidy up around our homes, how often are we really giving our place a good old-fashioned deep clean? We called on housecleaning expert Jennifer Gregory, Brand Manager of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, for suggestions on what tasks you should absolutely cover to consider your clean a truly thorough one.
Dec 5, 2018