Life

Harry Potter was different from other children—magical and muggle—for many reasons: Obviously there’s the whole “destined to defeat the Dark Lord and save the world” thing, but there are some other, less dramatic differences, too. Harry Potter did not look forward to his birthday and he dreaded coming home from school for the summer. Both of these facts make sense when you consider that Harry was (not) celebrating his birthday and living with the Dursleys.

Being healthy can feel like a chore—you think that you have to cook special food or try trendy fitness classes to achieve any healthy goals. However, when I talked to some really healthy individuals—from the founder of Whole30 to a sleep doctor—none of them brought up any scary superfoods or crazy workout routines. Turns out, being healthy is just about making a few very simple, but very good, choices.

Your grandma may still give you a card with a twenty dollar bill stuck in it, but things are bit different over at Buckingham Palace. According to the Daily Mail, the Queen has offered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a luxurious property to add to their growing collection… of luxurious properties. This one is Adelaide Cottage, which is less of a “cottage” and more of a “sprawling mansion.

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.

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.

Attention crafters, makers, DIYers, and creators of all sorts of thingamajigs: there’s a magical new TV show called “Making It” that will delight you more than a trip to the craft store. “Making It,” NBC’s new crafts competition reality show, embraces all things handmade and it debuts on NBC on Tuesday, July 31 at 10/9c.

The rumors keep flying about a Spice Girls reunion. And while that may or may not happen, this new exhibit is serving up some serious nostalgia and has me digging in the back of the closet for my patent leather platform boots. A post shared by Suzana Carrascosa Storolli ☆ (@suhzana) on Aug 9, 2018 at 4:02am PDT The SpiceUp exhibit opened in London on July 28 to be followed by the Manchester opening on August 24.

The long-awaited Gilmore Girls revival came out on Netflix almost two years ago, but from the minute that national binge-watched happened over Thanksgiving weekend, rumors have been flying about getting even more time with our favorite Connecticut brunettes. In July, the latest official Netflix comment on more Gilmore Girls came from the Television Critics Association when Cindy Holland, VP of Original Content, said the streaming giant is still a big fan of Stars Hollow.

September is fast approaching—don’t let Labor Day pass without catching these great beach reads. Amazon MEM by Bethany C. Morrow 18 Buy now Let’s start with a book that showed up around Memorial Day weekend, and now you can read it over Labor Day. In this inventive dystopian story, a scientific breakthrough means humans can have memories removed from their brains. These extracted memories, also known as Mems, experience that memory on loop until they expire.

Whether you’re on an eternal library waitlist for this year’s hottest novels, or you’re already through 2018’s most popular books, the reading doesn’t stop there. In fact, if you liked what you read this year, you’ll be happy to know that many of this year’s buzziest authors have written before! I’ve rounded up a few favorites.

Talk about the name that keeps on giving to its Muggle fans. Just in time for Halloween, Insight Editions is releasing new Harry Potter books that will add to the ever-growing brand. However, these aren’t just any ordinary books (as none of them are), but unique reads that you’ll love to make room on your coffee table for. Amazon Harry Potter: Creatures: A Paper Scene Book 29.

Great news, Potter fans: You no longer have to attend Hogwarts to feel like a wizarding student. Following the success of last year’s PBteen Harry Potter collection, Pottery Barn has announced its official home decor expansion that involves the company’s entire trifecta (Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen). The new whimsical products have us spellbound, to say the least.

In this muggle world, there are Harry Potter fans, and then there are Potterheads. And in the case of third grade teacher Tressa Bargella, her classroom layout makes it very clear where her wizarding loyalty lies. This year, Bargella decided to transform her classroom into Hogwarts 2.0, ultimately making her lucky students wizards-in-training. When approaching the classroom, you feel like you’re walking through Platform 9 3/4 with brick exterior and luggage perched in the corner.

Years before all of America fell in love with Making It‘s romantic, sensitive, and highly skilled quiet man Khiem Nguyen, the master craftsman who captivated judges and fans alike on Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman’s new TV competition for creatives on NBC, I was lucky enough to get to know Khiem and his now-wife Amanda McKeever as fellow DIYers, dog parents, and Boston to Austin expats.

Turns out that Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London’s ‘Hogwarts After Dark’ isn’t the only festivity we get to look forward to this year. From November 17 to January 27, 2019, muggles and wizards alike will get to witness the Studio transform into a winter wonderland for the second year in a row, thanks to ‘Hogwarts in the Snow.

We’ve found the luggage to bring to Platform 9 3/4, the home decor that will make your corridor feel cozy, and even the books to read in-between classes. But one thing we’ve yet to cover is how you can determine what House you’re truly meant to be in—until now, that is. Target has introduced the Real Talking Sorting Hats for their wizarding shoppers to invest in.

Kelsey Miller never expected to have room for a home office in New York City—at least until she was “rich and famous.” However, she and her husband lucked out on the apartment front, and now she has a small writer’s retreat all to herself. The author of the forthcoming book “I’ll Be There For You” takes us on a mini tour of her workspace, and shares what it’s really like writing a book about everyone’s favorite TV show, “Friends.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are the epitome of a power couple. They rescue homeowners in desperate need of renovations through their TV show “Nate & Jeremiah By Design,” they started an exclusive furniture line with Living Spaces, and they are fathers to two kids, Poppy and Oskar.

I will be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water during the work day. It’s not for lack of good intention: I start the day strong, but by mid-morning I slowly start falling off track. I’m certain that the culprits (okay, excuses) are the same ones that plague you (i.e., not getting up from my desk enough to refill my glass, forgetting to keep a glass on my desk, or when I do, simply forgetting about it). No more excuses!

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.

We all know that it takes work (a LOT of work) to create a space that we can truly call “home.” It’s not only about the physical appearance, but the emotional response that occurs within the four walls. It’s the place that we retreat to after a long day, where we can truly be ourselves without an ounce of effort. And in order to gain such a great sense of home, we must first discover what that feeling of home is—a task that is not easy to achieve.

It turns out that “Home Sweet Home” goes far beyond just where you live. IKEA just released their Life at Home Report 2018 and the findings show that the traditional concept of “home” has evolved significantly in recent years. The annual report nailed down five core emotional needs that embrace the feeling of home: privacy, comfort, ownership, security, and belonging.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three of “Insecure.” In the finale of what Issa Rae calls a “starting over again” season of “Insecure,” our main character, Issa Dee, takes a look around her new-ish apartment on the night of her 30th birthday, unpacks those boxes sitting in the corner and finally starts to decorate her new space. Why now? Issa is finally starting to have clarity in a way that we haven’t seen before. Picture Issa Dee, season one.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Catherine Zeta-Jones has left little to no stone unturned in the acting world—from portraying Velma Kelly in the screen production of “Chicago” to starring in the critically acclaimed Broadway show “A Little Night Music.

Netflix knows that their users want to be scared throughout October—in fact, there’s a nearly 50 percent increase in horror viewing during the month. To help meet this need, they’ve made a terrifying calendar of nightmarish movies to get you through to Halloween. The calendar highlights new and classic titles coming to the streaming platform, including old favorites like The Shining, The Sixth Sense, The Conjuring, and more.

As the weather cools down, more candles start to light up. There’s nothing quite like your favorite candle flickering on an evening when all you want to do is crawl under your favorite blanket and cozy up to your TV for the evening. For those binge-watching Harry Potter movies any night that you get to do so, do we have the candle to lift your spirits as if Wingardium Leviosa was casted upon you.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. If you’re a longtime fan of Grace Bonney’s lifestyle blog, Design*Sponge, you’re in good company. In fact, the author recently launched a print magazine and a podcast called just that: Good Company.

It’s no secret that the Queen is a worldwide traveler. Ever since taking her rightful place on the throne, she has been jetting off to countries left and right to maintain good relations with the U.K. While the 92-year-old royal might not be crossing country lines as often as she used to, the years of experience have surely helped her gain a plethora of travel hacks and knowledge.

When bullet journaling blasted onto my radar a few years ago, it was because of all the Instagram-perfect Pinterest fodder from folks who were creating stunning works of art masquerading as calendars and trackers in their impeccable dot grid notebooks.

Last month, I found myself yell-whispering at my iPad. I had flipped on HGTV and stumbled upon an episode of House Hunters during a flight to Ohio. The house hunting couple decided to move to Costa Rica because the husband saw a YouTube video about sloths. So naturally, he wanted to have a sloth as a neighbor along with an ocean view as they searched the market for their budget-friendly dream home.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. What comes to mind when you think of Olivia Wilde? It might be her role as Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley on the well-known series “House,” or her job as chief brand activist for natural skin care brand True Botanicals.

If you think buying a gift for one person is tough, try finding the perfect present for two.

If you’re thinking about throwing out those old Beanie Babies stuffed in the back of your childhood closet, stop right there. Turns out those plush toys might be your ticket to making an online fortune (if they’re in good condition, of course!). Despite the growing popularity of other e-commerce sites (read: Amazon), eBay has remained the go-to place to buy and sell rare goods, including Beanie Babies.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Since the “Sister, Sister” days, actress Tia Mowry has kept busy in both her professional and personal life. For one, Mowry has starred on her own TV series “Tia Mowry at Home” that has aired on the Cooking Channel since 2015.

What is it about succulents that makes them so addictive? Every time we go to Home Goods or Whole Foods, we wind up buying a new succulent, without having anywhere to put it. Our windowsills are lined with them, the coffee table has at least three, so does the dining room table, and don’t get us started on our dressers. Succulents are one of the cutest home trends out there. Did you know that besides coming in different shaped pots, there are actually different types of succulents?

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. If you were a fan of the original “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” then you should immediately recognize these two members of the OG Fab Five, Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia.

We didn’t have any particular license to do a retrospective on 2018’s most joyful moments. But at the end of a pretty grim year, we felt like it. So we gave ourselves an excuse and decorated a whole bunch of miniature holiday trees in honor of them. Here are eight of the moments that made us pause, laugh, and connect. The result is a little weird, a little funny, and a little beautiful. Let us know what you think (and what you think we missed) in the comments below.

I am a naturally tired person. Therefore I love coffee in the mornings, tea (and sometimes coffee) in the afternoon, and coffee with Bailey’s in the evening. One thing I do not love about drinking warm liquids is that sometimes they are mean and tricky fiends. They hurt you if you’re too eager! They turn cold if you take your time! How rude! This is not really a Problem, but it is an Annoyance. Every time I burn my tongue on too hot liquid, first I think “Hmm… Ouch!

Today was an emotional roller coaster, to say the least: Everyone thought “Friends” was going to be ousted from Netflix starting January 1, 2019. But now the country can rest easy, because the popular sitcom is going absolutely nowhere. The rumored deadline was going to fall on the sitcom’s fourth anniversary of when it was first available on the streaming service, and fans expressed their outrage all over social media.

While “Bob’s Burgers” and “Friends” maintains the monopoly on Thanksgiving stories, other shows crafted and perfected the sitcom holiday episode. Chief among them may be NBC’s “The Office,” which ran for nine seasons and celebrated Christmas for seven of them. It’s true that this show has not aged well since it aired.

You know how they say never meet your heroes? Well, they were certainly not talking about Tim Gunn. You’ll be pleased to know that the affable mentor from “Project Runway” is just as lovely in real life as he is on TV. But you might have to wait a little while before he returns to your screen; Gunn, along with host and executive producer Heidi Klum, announced their exit from the fashion competition show in September to develop a new series for Amazon.

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.

Maybe you want to pay off debt or cushion your savings in 2019. Perhaps you want to get to that yoga class you’ve been meaning to go to, or try to cook healthier meals. No matter what your New Year’s resolution is, now’s the time to be proactive in planning: A whopping eighty percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Want to make sure you stay disciplined and dedicated to the goals you’ve set for 2019?

On January 1, anything seems possible. A brand new year is a clean slate and an enticing opportunity to embark on ambitious goals. Unfortunately, we all know that a few weeks or even days later most New Year’s resolutions usually fall by the wayside—but maybe 2019 can be different. Instead of tripping up on your lofty New Year’s resolutions, why not be proactive and book a trip that will help you stay motivated?

January is looking to be a great month for books—so much so that I’m preordering six novels right now. Here’s a little mystery, a little family drama, and a little dystopia to keep you occupied during your winter hibernation. There is a solar eclipse in Iran in 1979 and in France in 2012, and those two timelines run through the novel.

For many, a new year means a new reading list that you’re determined to get through in 365 days. To help you with your 2019 goals, some of our favorite celebrities shared what they read this past year—giving you an inside look as to what you should stack on your nightstand next. Regardless of whether they like eBooks or the real deal, almost all the well-known personalities we’ve spoken with are burying themselves in a good read.

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.

Legendary organizational guru Marie Kondo is back in our homes thanks to the release of the Netflix original series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” The show’s debut on New Year’s Day came at the exact time when so many of us have resolved to be better versions of ourselves, because what better way to feel like a new person than (finally) decluttering your space?

Every Harry Potter fan has been sorted into a Hogwarts house at some point in their life. And if you haven’t, thanks to Pottermore, you can easily find out what house you belong in if you don’t already know if you’re a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff. Each of the Hogwarts houses has a specific set of traits that explain why they were sorted into that house. Gryffindors are known for their “nerve, chivalry, daring, courage, bravery and determination.

Who hasn’t spent a day or two on the couch bingeing home improvement shows? Whether it’s HGTV or the DIY Network, we’ve all been sucked into the renovation zone via our TV screens. Now, the folks at Joybird have analyzed data to determine which programs are the most popular across the country. It may or may not come as a surprise, but HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” scored the number one slot.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be completely dedicated to love, however, sometimes the sky-high expectations often lead to jitters, anxiety, and ultimately disappointment, when it’s supposed to be a relaxing day spent with your nearest and dearest. Well, interior design wizard Bobby Berk is here to save the day.

Parenting is hard. It’s also a lot of other things, but a truer three-word sentence has never been uttered. We’re all learning as we go—reading parenting books as we encounter the challenges that make us realize why we need parenting books, and spending every evening after the kids are (mercifully) in bed wondering if we’re doing it all wrong.

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?

Whether it’s “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” or “The Seven Year Itch,” the combination of lighthearted romance and witty banter between potential soulmates is intoxicating. Though while it’s a popular and fun form of escapism, romantic comedies stray far from the truth. Relationships rarely start with a meet-cute, and thanks to heightened airport security measures, it is really hard to reconcile at the gate.

It’s one thing to go down the line of your classic romantic comedies and pick your favorite couples, but what about the great debate over who had the best digs? Here to settle the score is the definitive ranking of romantic comedy heroine’s apartments. From Bridget Jones to Vivian Ward, here’s who decorated it best.

Let’s all be honest: The best place to spend Valentine’s Day is on your couch. Whether that means snuggled up with someone special, snuggled up with a half gallon of ice cream, or there by yourself because you are perfectly happy being single, it doesn’t matter. Plop down on that comfy couch turn on some holiday appropriate television and voilà—the perfect Valentine’s Day. Need some options as far as what to watch?

For the second time in the past several months, the internet is abuzz with an awful lot of *feelings* regarding the possibility of “Friends” leaving Netflix.

There are so many things to love about Trader Joe’s, and their affordable flowers are a big one. So if you’re looking to save a few bucks on this floral-heavy holiday, we’ve asked our editors—and even the grocer’s plants and flowers team—their secrets to getting the most gorgeous bouquets for a bargain. We chatted with the people who brought us the perfect combination of wine and succulents to get the insider scoop.

There’s no denying it. We all watch romantic comedies for one reason and one reason alone—escapism. Sure, maybe you and your S.O. actually did have a meet-cute, or perhaps you really do have a best friend whose only purpose in life seems to be helping you find yourself.

Yes, we know: Everyone says you have to read “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” before its adaptation arrives in theaters this August. But in case you’re looking for others, here are a few more to get through before they hit big (and small) screens near you. West’s hilarious and intelligent essay-collection-slash-memoir is being turned into a Hulu series starring SNL’s Aidy Bryant, coming out on March 15.

It’s about that time for your Netflix queue to come in like a lion and out like a lamb. This is what’s new on the streaming service for March, and what’s getting dropped. Catch Bradley Cooper in his most perfect role (outside of Jackson Maine), alongside other faves like Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, et. al. in this classic camp movie. Can you believe??

If you’re a loyal fan of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ve probably gotten into a duel or two over which novel is best in the series. While each individual has their opinion, we got an inside look at the most Googled Harry Potter book by state—and the results might make you Moody, pun intended. Furniture brand Joybird released a study that showed the highest searched Harry Potter title in each state throughout the U.S.

We have strong feelings about a lot of things, but until recently, towel quantity wasn’t one of them. In a hilariously earnest social media post, writer Yashar Ali tweeted about bath towels, specifically the number of towels adults should ideally own. Fortunately, Yashar doesn’t have quite as many towel categories as Monica Geller, but he did start what became a wildly popular towel meme based on his suggested that there should be 50 towels per adult couple.

If your kind of a vacation involves a whole lot of HGTV inspiration, then do we have the dream retreat for you. Frequent fans of Waco’s wonder duo, Chip and Joanna Gaines, are probably familiar with the couple’s collaborator, Jimmy Don Holmes. Holmes often participated in “Fixer Upper” renovations, putting his special touch on the projects with his intricate metalwork.

There’s always that friend. You know, the one with 76 unheard voicemails, 150 unread texts, and—gulp—15,964 unread emails in her inbox. (Or maybe that “friend” is you.) Either way, keeping your inbox uncluttered or even reaching Inbox Zero can feel like impossible feats of #adulting. But digitally cleaning house doesn’t have to be your least favorite chore.

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.

If you’re like me, you subscribe to a bunch of streaming services. While they’re not particularly expensive, those monthly fees can add up. But there’s some good news for the multi-streamers among us: Spotify Premium members can get Hulu for free. Yep, totally free. If you’re already paying the $9.99 to listen to Spotify ad-free, there’s a new perk. The Verge reports that you can bundle the basic Hulu plan into your account for no extra monthly charge.

“The Simpsons” is in its 30th season—and now holds the title of the longest-running primetime scripted series. Over three decades, we’ve seen hundreds of versions of the opening theme, ending with the family together on the couch, in a home most Americans would probably recognize. That said, Springfield (and its surrounding areas) has some other pretty awesome places to live. So here’s a selection of the coolest pads in “The Simpsons” universe.

Reroute your owls to deliver The Daily Prophet to your new address because you’ll never want to leave this Harry Potter rental. Located in Salem, MA, this private room can fit two guests, and ideally those who can revel in the extra attention to detail. Just one mile from the train station, this room was crafted by a host with experience in the toy and games industry.

These days, it’s hard to come across a person who doesn’t already have a side hustle, whether it’s running an Etsy store, driving for Uber or Lyft or renting out a spot on Airbnb. But most of those take a lot of work. A far more flexible way to earn some pocket change would be something like Indeed’s Job Spotter app. Instead of uploading selfies to Instagram, Job Spotter gives you more than just likes and follows.

They say that a dog is man’s best friend, but having a pet can wreak some serious havoc on your interior design game. From hopping on your pristine couch to chewing on the leg of your dinner table, even the most house-trained pets don’t know how to care properly for your home. Nobody wants to live in a space that’s half-chewed up or covered in dirt, but what’s the alternative? Getting rid of precious Fido? Absolutely not!

Have you ever been forced to defend your TV viewing habits? One of the most grating examples of this is trying to explain why you keep watching the same shows over and over again. Honestly, if you don’t already know why I’m dedicated to rewatching “Nurse Jackie” every few months, then you might want to check out a new study from the University of Chicago. Long story short: Rewatching stuff you’ve seen a million times before just makes you feels good.