Life

On the spectrum of Harry Potter fandom, I’m somewhere in the middle. Thanks to Pottermore, I know my houses (Hufflepuff and Horned Serpent at Ilvermorny, the American equivalent of Hogwarts), my Patronus (fox), and my wand (redwood, phoenix feather core, 12 and a quarter inches, pliant). I’ve read the original books and seen the movies, but I won’t win any trivia competitions, and I’m in no rush to sit through the five-plus hours of “Cursed Child.

Earlier this year, I wrote a 3-part series about my recent experiment with capsule wardrobes: why I did it, how I did it, and what I learned. While many of you seemed to like the idea of capsules and the posts themselves, a common comment was that you’d prefer to see real-life examples of what a capsule wardrobe looks like— i.e., my own wardrobe. Gulp. There were a few reasons I didn’t do this the first time around.

How much do you love bread? There are so many ways to enjoy bread, whether you’re eating a standard roll before dinner or enjoying a slice of avocado toast. We all have a favorite pizza place because of the dough used there. The same goes for bagels because we all know that some bagel spots reign supreme over others, anyone from New York or New Jersey would argue that to the death.

Bees are more important to the environment than most people realize. There are a lot more to bees than just their delicious honey. They pollinate 90% of the world’s plants by transferring pollen from one plant or flower to another. The average honeybee can visit up to 2,000 flowers in one day! But sadly, despite how essential honeybees are to our ecosystem, their populations have declined over the last 60 years.

There’s no question about it, IKEA is a great resource for affordable and stylish furnishings, but it can can sometimes feel like a hassle to shop at the Swedish retailer’s stores, especially when you are in a hurry. After spending some time at one of their stores this weekend, I have a few tips to help you get in and out faster.1. Pre-plan your trip.

Whether you’re trying to tighten the belt this year, or you’re one of those people who can’t stand the thought of paying any more for something than you have to, scouring the sale and clearance sections at your favorite stores is probably a habit.

As January turns into February, it would seem that the harsh cold weather is here to stay. One day we have temperatures in the 40s, and the next, it’s a frigid 5 degrees. With these fluctuating temperatures comes dry skin and brittle, damaged hair. The winter weather can even take a toll on those who don’t color or use heat tools, or those who already have silky hair. One way to combat dryness is using a hair mask to help keep your locks hydrated.

We did the math, and the benefits of being a Costco member actually work out in your favor on this one.

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.

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.

Warning/workspace/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block/atmedia-cloudinary-image-block.php82 This year, daring decorators are flipping the holiday decorating script and dreaming of a goth Christmas.

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.

We’re all for a good dupe. There is nothing better than finding something that works just as well (if not better) than a designer brand for a fraction of the cost. We often see this happen with different makeup brands, but it isn’t just for beauty products. You can find dupes for electronics, clothing, and more. Especially shoes! There are tons of shoe brands that design their styles based on high-end fashion retailers.

Earlier this year, Target revealed its new line Made By Design that is all about getting back to basics, selling everything from coffeemakers to closet organizers. But the brand’s latest addition supports endeavors of trekking outside the home: with its new luggage. The products are meant to deliver elevated quality and design while staying affordable.

If you’re anything like me, a.k.a. prone to compulsive late-night Amazon Prime purchases (especially after a couple glasses of wine), then boy do we have the solution for you. Amazon Allowance is a feature on Amazon that allows you to fund your shopping (or someone else’s) with gift card credits you set aside ahead of time—so you can shop to your heart’s content without ever sharing your credit card info.

It is official, Amazon is the one-stop shop for literally all of our needs. You can buy clothing, books, accessories, toys, tiny houses, lifehacks, food, and wine on Amazon. Yup, you can order wine from Amazon and have it delivered to your house! Don’t you just hate when you run out of wine on a Friday, because you swore you had a full bottle, but it was really only an ⅛ full? Us too!

What good home finds are waiting for you at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and HomeGoods? Um, to sum it up briefly, a lot! I have a fairly intense relationship with Marshalls. I grew up shopping their Bedford, MA, store and now I am lucky enough to live near a “really good one” outside Los Angeles. This is not just my personal opinion — I am quoting a very impressed gentleman I heard remark as he walked through it.

You know that saying, “Like mother, like daughter?” Well, there’s a reason it’s so widely used. Many of us recall thinking at a young age, I’m never going to be like my mother when I grow up. And yet, here we are, reflections of the very person we thought didn’t understand what we were going through—only to realize later on in life that they went through it, too.

Store-brand products aren’t usually something to get excited about. They’re cheap and … that’s about it. But Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand of products are a bargain-hunter’s dream because they are not only economical, but also often top-of-the-line.

If you're willing to spend some time digging, you can find some pretty special deals.

10 things that say home to the blogger and Food Network star.

It’s only just about to be summer, but Chip and Joanna Gaines are already thinking about back to school. The former Fixer Upper stars’ latest collection of Hearth & Hand with Magnolia pieces at Target are perfect for upgrading your (or your kids’) workspace. “I love this collection because it has something for everyone and every workspace,” Joanna tells A Bullseye View.

I know what I’m using all summer!

Attention all doggie mums and dads: FUNBOY and BARK have teamed up to create the ultimate summertime accessory for you and your furry companion. The luxury floatie brand has introduced a dog-sized version of their most popular floats—the retro pink convertible and the yacht—available on barkshop.com and funboy.com. HEY YOU, DOG PERSON! Wanna win a Pimp My Float Bundle and a whole bunch of BarkShop toys to cruise around with? Just mosey on over to the link in bio to enter!

What’s not to love about CVS? Not only is it brimming with affordable beauty products and home essentials, it’s by far one of the easiest drug stores to save money at while shopping. Don’t believe us? We did our research and dug up nine awesome money-saving secrets for shopping at CVS that you probably didn’t know about. Read ahead to find out how to score even better deals next time you raid the local drugstore.

Amazon is trying to become the coolest place in the world. They bought Whole Foods. You can have things delivered to your house in an hour. You can watch TV from basically anywhere using Amazon Prime. Honestly, is there anything bad about Amazon? Well, if you think it is great to be an Amazon customer, it sounds like being an employee is even better. The Amazon headquarters are even more pet-friendly than any other office in the world What could make any workday better? A dog, obviously.

Airbnb is awesome – until it’s not. Ten years in, face it, it’s still a leap of faith as a traveler to go stay in a stranger’s home. You roll the dice and could land in a place that makes all your dreams come true — I’ve found some absolute treasures like that. Or maybe it’s not horrible but it’s a boring corporate rental.

Some are long retired, but some are still there on the shelves for you to take them home right now. Make sure you're ready for the commitment!

Oh, the joys of online shopping. Not only can you bypass crazy long checkout lines and cramped dressing rooms, you get all the stuff you ordered delivered straight to your front door. The only drawback: Returning items that don’t work for you can be trickier when the post office gets involved. That’s why it pays to know ahead of time which stores have stellar return policies, so you can have a totally worry-free online shopping experience.

We love Costco — and its famously generous return policy — but is there a point at which consumers abuse their rights to, well, always be right? Does a woman in California returning her dead Christmas tree in January fall into the category of shameless retail returns that should not be refunded?

If you fly a lot, it makes sense to get a credit card with airline rewards. Now, if moderately priced Swedish furnishings are your thing, IKEA just released a card for you. The retailer announced back in January their plans to launch a branded credit card in the United States that will also provide additional financing options for “major home projects,” as initially reported by trade publication Chain Store Age.

Did you know that you can find incredibly stylish, modern jewelry on Etsy? You can, if you just know where to look. We’ve rounded up a few of the best pieces, to save you the trouble of hunting. Any one of these would make an excellent gift for a friend or loved one, or even for yourself — we’re not telling. It’s always nice to have a few statement necklaces to reach for to add a little something else to an outfit, and this geometric piece fits the bill perfectly.

In case you missed it: Last year, everyone’s favorite Swedish flat pack palace IKEA purchased TaskRabbit—a major player in the “gig economy” that connects people who are willing to exchange money for small tasks. You know, things like cleaning around the house, filling test tube shots with vodka (that’s a real task) or, you know… assembling IKEA furniture.

That Amazon Prime membership may become even more valuable soon: IKEA just announced that it’s going to start selling its products on websites other than its own beginning in 2018.

Never sure what to snatch up when you’re out thrifting? Or what to put back down? With so much STUFF to see (and potentially purchase) when you’re out second-hand shopping, it can be tough to make the best buying decisions. While everyone’s decor needs are different, it never hurts to hear what the experts are always on the hunt for (and what they would never take home).

Not everything is imported nowadays. There are plenty of companies out there – even some really, really massive ones – who are still making their products domestically, right here in the U. S. of A. In fact, these nine American-made brands might surprise you. But first, a caveat. There’s a difference between something that’s made and manufactured in the USA, and something that’s made in the USA with foreign parts.

Imagine getting ready to curl up inside your humble and comfy little abode. You’ve popped in a DVD and made your way to the kitchen to gather up some delicious treats and crack open a frosty brew. But when you sit down with your grub, you find yourself sitting through what seems like endless and unskippable movie previews and piracy warnings—what a buzzkill. If only you knew the remote-control trick that works on nearly every DVD Player (Hint: It’s not the menu button.