Life

While we can’t bug Santa’s chair to hear all the answers, we did the next best thing and asked Santa at Macy’s.

Here are the 19 home buys that earned the most buzz from our contributors and readers in 2019.

Yup, we're talking about Amazon.

If you stored away vintage Nintendo games and video game consoles, you could be laughing your way all the way to the bank.

We really can't get enough.

Gone are the days that a candle is looked at as a last resort gift. But how did we get here?

Thanks to a viral Reddit post, a Trader Joe’s plant has gained recent attention for allegedly not needing much attention at all

And it's full of perfect gifts!

Like the Grinch's heart, it may grow with love and care.

And anyone else who's worried about flu season.

If you happen to have a new, in-box Barbie from the early years or one of the rare special editions that’s never been played with, you could be in for a mega payday.

Thank you yet again, Anthropologie.

It solves so many issues!

These eight products are the core of my Trader Joe's shopping list, and heaven help me if the company discontinues them.

The live version of glow-in-the-dark stars.

I've been to my local TJ's more than I care to admit lately, and on a recent visit, I picked up the store's two seasonally-scented travel candles.

The Enneagram is helpful in understanding strengths and growth opportunities—and, apparently, how to outfit your home.

I'm an adult Disney fan, so when I learned that my second favorite place in the entire world, Target, would be hosting Minnie—er, mini—Disney Stores in select locations, it was like Walt himself finally heard my wishes upon stars.

It's our new favorite place to shop budget.

Because dogs and cats are adorable monsters.

For those who have been patiently waiting since 2017 for OFF-WHITE's Virgil Abloh and his millennial-focused collection to drop, the wait is almost over.

Fall is in the air, and nowhere is that more true than at Trader Joe's. The grocery chain is famous for its seasonal products, and luckily for us, they are already popping up in stores.

Marshalls is officially online, which means so are we.

Because you just can't anymore.

Plus we found some Trader Joe's insiders to share how they go about selecting new cities.

Be ready and don't get duped by the massive selection of scented candles that are everywhere this time of year.

If you have fiestaware packed away somewhere, it's time to bring them out because they could be worth hundreds.

Allow us to introduce you to The Couchlet.

Here at Apartment Therapy, we’re big fans of Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” show and the mid-century style seen throughout its late 1950’s-inspired design set.

Catch some ZZZs between meetings.

From the Eames House to the Guggenheim.

Get out your galleons, because you're going to want everything.

It's organic, sustainable, and chemical-free.

Who doesn’t like surprises? Marshalls teamed up with the Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco to give shoppers a hidden surprise in stores across the country on Friday, August 16. The retailer announced that shoppers will have the opportunity to find a “Surprise Box” filled with goodies, hidden in a secret location across all stores.

After all, standing on your tippy toes will only get you so far when you’ve got short legs and a tall apartment.

No need to pore over endless reviews for a solid co-sign on home goods companies that have been hiding in plain sight: the people of Reddit have already done the legwork.

Don't call the moving truck just yet.

Forget hot plates—Macy’s recently found itself in hot water. On Monday, the department store became embroiled in a social media firestorm after CBS correspondent Alie Ward tweeted a photo of a set of plates she spotted in their New York store.

Beanbag beds, ottomans, faux mink sleeping bags, and more.

We found clocks for people who always need more sleep and people who are always raring to go (so annoying!).

Prepaid gift cards are great, but once the balance is down to a small amount, your once-coveted cash alternative inevitably accumulates dust in your wallet. Don't let your precious pennies go to waste.

Amazon workers at a warehouse in Shakopee, Minnesota are set to hold six hours of strikes on July 15th, when Prime Day begins, over working conditions.

It takes BYOB to the next level.

They don't make it exactly obvious or easy, but Amazon does let you review your spending totals. Just in case you're not into combing through credit card statements or digging through email receipts.

In case you're trying to outsmart a nosy partner, or just want to make sure Amazon understands that cat lady tote was a one-time gag gift.

Though they’re pretty ubiquitous now, the first guy to tote a U-shaped travel pillow on a plane probably got a few sideways glances. Alas, it’s not a perfect design, and many gadgets have since hit the market to try to maximize comfort during increasingly uncomfortable flying conditions. Here are five such products, silly though they look, that might just let you get some sweet, sweet sleep.

Amazing news for those who can’t get enough Harry Potter (is there such a thing?): four new Harry Potter reads will be coming to an online store near you this summer. But before you get too excited that we’re getting a new look at Hermione and Ron’s adult life together and the houseplants they do (or don’t) successfully keep alive (surely they’d get Neville’s help with that, though, right?

Their videos will make your day.

What are the biggest furniture stores you can think of off the top of your head? IKEA, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel? Those were the ones that immediately came to my mind, so I was really surprised when I opened Furniture Today’s 2011 Retail Planning Guide and found a list that included some humongous stores I’d never heard of. Nebraska Furniture Mart? Badcock Home Furniture? Having lived in big northern cities for my whole life, these places have stayed outside my radar until now.

Have you heard of the “4-7-8” breathing method? I hadn’t until references to it kept popping up in my Facebook feed. I ignored them at first, but the positive endorsements from friends and friends of friends (“works for me every time!”, “did it last night and it worked!”) were a siren song that I couldn’t resist.

Thrift stores carry a lot of, eh, “interesting” pieces on their racks. Bedazzled evening dresses from the ’80s rub shoulders with floral sundresses from the grunge era; sweater vests mingle with mom jeans, and Peter Pan collars throw you back into a time where Twiggy ruled the magazine stands.

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).

It seemed like only recently, the limited options in the wedding dress world were all fitted, strapless balls of white chiffon. Thankfully, designers have caught up to what real brides want: Dresses that look and feel more like the things they wear every day. (Your favorite stores might even have started bridal collections.) These three different bridal trends are rooted in reality. And as for how to pull them off, here’s the secret: There is no secret.

The third episode of Girls saw one of the major characters, Shoshanna, relocating to Japan for a new job. This led to some interesting new storylines, and, of course, lots of interesting fashion and design. From the opening scenes with the taking alarm clock and that incredible, playfully designed apartment building, it’s not hard to see why Shoshanna loves Japan. We’ve tracked down some of the best pieces from the episode so you can experience it too.

When investing in a healthy home, one of the most important purchases you can make is a water filter.

Unless you’ve been living under the floorboards with Lane Kim’s CD collection, you’re probably aware that the Gilmore Girls is coming back in November (!!!). In an attempt to prepare you for your dress-code-enforced viewing party, we’ve dissected each character’s iconic wardrobe so you can be the best fast-talking, tack-sharp Stars Hollowian you can be.

Strong fashion trends are hard to recognize when you’re in the midst of them. However, give them a decade or two, and what once was funky fresh is now just…funky. Fortunately for mom jeans, what’s old is new, and everything comes back around. We’ve chronicled the typical outfit decade by decade from the 1950s to the early 2000s, so you can spot the least attractive style to model your 2017 wardrobe after. A simpler time, indeed.

Laurel Kinney’s personal styling business is much more than just the superficial. With a background in social work, she believes “fashion should support you, be an enjoyable creative outlet that makes you feel confident, and the process of shopping for a wardrobe you love shouldn’t be a rule-filled pain, but a fun and easy endeavor with positive results.

I’ve been thinking about getting a projector. The thought of curling up on my couch and recreating the movie theater experience in my own home is very appealing. But I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what to buy. And I sure as heck don’t know how to get the most bang for my buck. Thankfully, three real people in real homes were more than happy to share why they’re #teamprojector for life—and it just might inspire you to make the switch.

There’s nothing plain, boring, or basic about modern wedding bands for the minimalist bride. Whether you’re after something beautifully crafted, ethically sourced, or perfectly embellished, we’ve got you covered. From simple silver bands to more sophisticated, and dare we say, even a bit sparkly options, there are terrific rings across the minimalist spectrum.

Since I was a young girl, I’ve always loved shopping. Back in the day, I may have had more…extravagant takes (I gravitated toward everything pink, sequined handbags, feather boas and kitten heels…topped off with plastic clip-on earrings), but the love for style was already there, albeit it a little misguided. Nowadays I’ve updated a few things here and there, but I can’t say the road to the aesthetic I have now has always been smooth.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at IKEA? With stores that resemble mazes and tons of products everywhere you turn, it’s sure to be just as much of an experience working there as it is shopping there. And of course, those who do work there just may be able to give us IKEA civilians a little helpful shopping advice.

As much fun as shopping can be, having to buy the same item over and over again is no bueno. That’s why it pays to know which products are actually worth the investment, especially when it comes to hardworking items for the kitchen. The commenters at Reddit know all about the importance of buying quality appliances up front. They started multiple “Buy It for Life” threads for this very reason.

IKEA is a many-splendored place. Along with rows and rows of inexpensive but stylish furnishings, the mega-retailer also boasts a pretty impressive “as-is” section—filled with broken items, custom returns, and of course major markdowns. However, the only problem (like most hassles related to shopping at IKEA) is timing: figuring out the best day to show up to peruse these oft-ransacked shelves.

There’s no faster way to look more put together and elegant than having a closet full of well-tailored clothes. But if you have a hard time finding pieces that fit you properly—from struggling with long pant hems or boxy blazers—know that there’s an easy fix for that: A tailor! Bringing your clothes into a trusted seamstress to be nipped and tucked can make all the difference, especially considering you can change the details that you don’t find flattering.

Hello stranger! It’s time for another installment of Beauty Bucket List, a series in which we roll up our sleeves to do some hard and fast testing of cult beauty products, because just hearing about how great something is isn’t good enough for us.

Amazon’s new original series darling, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, just took home two Golden Globes, and this weekend, you can watch the accoladed series for free – with our without an Amazon Prime membership. Per the retail and streaming giant, anyone can watch the series at no cost starting this Friday at 12:01 a.m. local time, right up until 11:59 p.m. local time Monday.

I like to think I’m a pretty savvy Amazon shopper. I regularly surf for Lightning Deals and take full advantage of Subscribe & Save and no-rush shipping discounts. So I’m a little shocked I didn’t know about this well-kept secret sooner. Have you heard about Amazon Trade-In? Amazon’s Trade-In program lets you turn in used items in exchange for Amazon gift cards and discounts.

I recently spent hours examining every yogurt label I could find to determine which yogurts have the least amount of sugar. I was focusing on toddler yogurts for this story for Kitchn about low-sugar yogurt brands, but it got me thinking about the yogurts I eat, too. It was shocking, truly, to discover most yogurts have a ton of added sugar. I had frequently heard this was the case, but I assumed it was the “dessert” yogurts like strawberry cheesecake or cookies and cream.

Waking up with linen lines imprinted on your face is no fun, but it’s hard to resist the urge to snuggle into a soft, cozy pillow at night. Especially since you’re, you know, asleep. But sleep-you doesn’t necessarily know what’s best, which is why she needs awake-you to be the voice of reason. And for both your sakes, it’s time to pull out those satin pillowcases you stuffed inside the closet long ago.

More nights than I care to admit, I work into the wee hours of the morning, slinging words so I can pay for important things like Netflix and magnetic eyelashes. When I finally drag my tired body toward the bedroom, I have just enough energy left to brush my teeth before crashing. But as I fall asleep to the symphonic range of my husband’s snoring, I often wonder just how bad it is for me to skip washing my face. Is the good skincare fairy going to come down and bop me on the head?

Period sex is a highlight of what I, personally, consider the most miserable 3-5 days of the month. Because of my birth control, it’s been about a year since I’ve had an actual period, but the previous fifteen years of intermittent anguish are burned into my memory: cramps, mood swings, anxiety attacks, ruined underwear, bloating, acne, and spotted sheets, to name just a few symptoms. But sex on my period?