Summer is such a casual time. The sun is out, the shoes are off, and plans come together seemingly at the last minute. You can (and should) be ready to grab and go – anytime, anywhere – by packing a bag stocked with the essentials. And what “the essentials” are, of course, depends on what you like to do this time of year. So while we definitely think everyone should have a summer bag switch ready at the helm, your summer bag all depends on your personality.

After yesterday’s tale of an oven-baked laptop, where a paranoid apartment dweller thought to stash his Mac in the oven to evade a potential burglar’s loot radar, we now know where not to hide our valuables. But the basic idea behind the plan is still smart: If you’re going to be away from home for a while, leave your expensive tech in unexpected places that burglars wouldn’t think to raid. Here are a few better ideas.Headed away for the holidays?

Whether being projected onto a big wall during a cocktail party, or played quietly in the living room during game night, a background movie can act as a conversation starter, art, music, and entertainment all in one. Plus it’s easy to pop a disc in the DVD player or call up a title from Netflix. The only hard part, of course, is finding just the right background film.

There's more than one way to create a home that feels comfortable and content—and a lot of it happens outside your own four walls.

If you’ve ever been asked by mall security to put your point-and-shoot camera away, you’ve probably questioned what US law governs photographers and taking pictures. The truth is, there is no single rule to live by as a photographer at any level. Whether you’re a family-historian amateur or a journalistic pro, the question of when you can and cannot take pics is a slippery slope.

Not since 4-8-15-16-23-42 have numbers been so confusing. Although these digits aren’t on a mysterious-island-based network TV drama, they’re on the displays and packages of sound systems as you walk through the aisles of your local big box retailer. 2.0 Stereo? 4.1 Surround? 5.1 Side? But what does it all mean, Basil? Here’s your quick guide.So What Does 5.1 Really Mean?

When is a book not a book? When it’s actually a tiny little bound packet of posters. Since we’re all about pieces that pull double-duty, I thought I’d share a few ready-to-frame poster books: titles you can grab at the bookstore to keep on the coffee table, and then tear pages from as needed to fill up the walls. I was recently gifted the book Swissted, a collection of vintage rock posters re-designed by digital artist Mike Joyce.

Lets face it: The days and hours leading up to a gathering like Thanksgiving or Christmas are usually a little hectic. So if you don’t have time to shop for the perfect gift for your holiday host this year, don’t fret. Here are 20 small gifts that can be picked up at your local supermarket—on the way to the party—for around $20 or less. Plus a few tips to make your gift a little more thoughtful. 1.

It’s true that old habits die hard, but it seems like it’s equally impossible to start a new one. No matter the goal–if you’re trying on a consistent gym regimen, or just wanting to make the bed everyday–there is one small tip that might help you get on track. Can you guess which day of the week sets you up for success in kicking off a new good habit?

You know all the conventional advice: Keep a dark room and lay off the snooze button. But for the stubborn sleepers–the ones who would sooner give up an arm than their snooze button–here are three hacks for getting a good night’s sleep that you might not have heard yet. Real talk: Your smartphone is ruining your sleep. Besides the fact that the last thing you see before bed is a bright lit screen, I have to imagine it’s also bad for your snooze habits.

Your brain is a pretty powerful thing, and yet, you can’t seem to remember where you left your keys last night. There’s a lot to be said for having a routine and keeping things in the same place every time (can you say “landing strip“?). But sometimes, you just need a good, solid memory trick.

Owning a dog has been one of the greatest joys in my life so far. My Boston Terrier, Bacon, is pretty much my best friend. He’s given me so much love, so many cuddles, and – if I’m being honest – has actually put a few things into perspective for me at home. The rug? It might get peed on. The pillows? They might get chewed. But they’re just things, and they can be replaced (which gives you an excuse to shop, so… wash?

Reliable internet is a necessity these days. I actually came really close to signing a lease for a perfect little apartment close to work a few years ago, but ducked out at the last possible second after discovering that I’d be locked into a crappy internet provider (a wise decision later confirmed by online reviews of said ISP). The point is, nothing should stand between you and a strong and fast internet, and your router placement has more than a little to do with it.

Have you heard of Eurogames before? It’s a subgenre of board games classified by two major features: their attention to design and theme, and focus on serious strategy. Competetive folks, take note: Put away the Scrabble set and try on one of these board games for size. Besides the great artwork and complex mechanics, another defining feature of Eurogames is that nobody is ever knocked out of the game (looking at you, Monopoly).

Nothing about planning my nuptials gave me sticker shock quite like looking at the cost of a wedding cake. So… we scrapped it. Traditionalists might balk at the idea of having a wedding without a big white cake, but I’m here from the other side to tell you: It’s totally OK if you’d rather have donuts or cookies or–like me–popsicles instead. Your wedding is a chance to choose a dessert that speaks to your unique taste.

Calling all bookworms: You can have a wedding that reflects the things you love to do. You just need to find creative ways to work your interests in. If you can say “I do” in a library, that’s great. If not, here’s the next best thing: A beautiful, elegant invitation suite inspired by classic literature. A note: I’ve included starting prices here, but the costs for each style can go up or down depending on customizations (like paper choice) or quantity.

As a life-long dog lover, I need not tell you that I am assertedly pro-pets-at-weddings. Furry friends are a part of the family! They’ve been there for so many milestones in your relationship, so why shouldn’t they be part of the big day, too? If you can swing it, the best way to get pets involved in the wedding is to invite them. Ines and Wes, above, were married poolside at a private home in Texas, so it made sense that their cocker spaniel, Gatsby, got in on the fun.

I sense that I’m in the minority here, but I’m quite fond of seeing children at weddings. The smaller the better. Because even if they cry during the ceremony or interrupt the first dance, you at least get some really adorable pictures of tiny children in formal wear. So… even? If you’re planning a wedding, you can use these pictures as inspiration for flower girl and ring bearer outfits.

It could be argued that your wedding ring is the most important piece of jewelry you’ll ever own. After all, nothing else in your wardrobe will ever get quite as much action as the ring you pledged to wear every day as a symbol of your love. So when you go out in search of the perfect engagement ring or wedding band, remember this: Your rings should be an extension of you.

The mind is a powerful thing. Instead of agonizing and cursing your way up the 64 dreadful, tiring stairs to your walk-up apartment, you jovially tell yourself that you’re getting a great workout. That you’re in way better shape because you climb these flights to get back home every night. It makes the trek up and down each day–actually, a few times a day–way more bearable. But is it true? Trying to convert steps climbed to miles walked or run is an inexact science.

Planning a wedding can bring about conflicting emotions. On the one hand, your romantic side finds warmth in the idea of being surrounded by the people you love, on a truly beautiful day that appeals to all your stylistic sensibilities. But your practical side remains firmly rooted in the grit, reminding you that it’s just one night of your life and not worth taking out a loan the size of a luxury vehicle. But you can have both. And these ten couples will prove it to you.

Let’s pour one out right now for all the personalized matchbooks and mesh-wrapped Jordan almonds of the world. They get left behind on wedding reception tables and probably tossed in the trash at the end of the night. Not what you had in mind for your gift to your guests, huh? Here are nine better ideas for wedding favors that your guests will love to take with them. The most important thing when choosing wedding favors is this: Know your guests!

My usual date for a Saturday night in is something mindless like Keeping Up With the Kardashians (reserve your judgments, people). But every once in a while, I’m reminded that it can be just as fun to watch something with more substance. It elevates a cozy weekend night into something really fulfilling and educational. Even when I polish off a bottle of wine as I watch.

It’s oft-quoted that the average cost of a wedding in the United States is around $30,000. While that might be true, you have to imagine that the seven-figure Vergara-Manganiello nuptials of the world might skew that number quite a bit. Real weddings are expensive, but maybe not as expensive as you think.

Etiquette is rooted in tradition. Its role is to tell you what’s expected of you in a certain situation, based completely on what the people before you have done. But times change, of course, and we need to give etiquette some room to catch up. Case in point: How you should address wedding invitations today is a totally different ball game from when your parents did it 30 years ago.