Life

While we can get swept up in all the holiday cheer, it’s possible to forget that not everyone is having a jolly happy season. Non-profit organization Option B is sharing ways you can help out your friends and family who are having a hard time during the holidays. Option B is an organization started by Sheryl Sandberg that’s meant to help build resistance in the face of adversity, such as grief, discrimination, or assault.

My mom ends every phone conversation with me “drive carefully.” I could be sitting on the sofa in my living room (frankly in most cases I am) and those will still be her parting words to me. On New Year’s Eve – and most other holidays—that salutation gets even more emphatic given all the alcohol flowing this time of year and the heightened potential to encounter drunk drivers on the road. In fact, a new analysis from Alcohol.

One pet hotel in India is completely redefining what “pampered pooches” actually means, with amenities for your doggos during boarding or day care that take “lap of luxury” to the next level.

Losing your luggage can be a living nightmare. On top of not having access to your stuff while your traveling, you have the daunting task of filing claims and filling out lengthy reports to look forward to—and even then, the safe return of your luggage isn’t guaranteed. It’s no surprise then that more and more travelers are signing up for traveler’s insurance—i.e.

Amidst the planes to catch and parties to attend, it’s easy to forget what the holidays are really about—expressing appreciation and gratitude. Doing this is known to warm our hearts more than any gift under the tree, seasonal dessert, or festive fête. Getting in touch with the true meaning of the season doesn’t require a massive check or hours spent in a soup kitchen (though these are great options, too).

When we first visited illustrator Lisa Vanin’s Toronto studio apartment a couple of years ago, I was so impressed by how she made 390 square feet so livable. Cozy colors, vintage finds, a distinct living room and bedroom area—Lisa’s clearly a small home arranging wizard. But can living in such a small space be sustainable — mentally or physically — for the long haul? Can one thrive in under 400 square feet for years and years?

If you’re a politically minded person settling in for a long holiday break of doing not very much and you’re ready to get your stream on, you may find yourself facing a dilemma. You want to watch something good, or at least entertaining, but you don’t want to support the work of, well, creeps (pause while I cover my bases— alleged creeps).

(Image credit: Michael Gordon) shutterstock From Kitchn → Here’s What a Costco Food Court Looks Like in France null

New year, who dis? We can’t believe it’s almost 2018, and Netflix is cementing that fact by letting us know everything that’s due to hit the streaming service next month. After a month of holiday parties and cheer, it’ll be a welcome distraction to cuddle up and dig in to some new—and old—favorites. Here’s what we’re looking forward to.

(Image credit: Coco Morante) From Kitchn → 4 Things You Should Never Clean with Baking Soda null

Way back in 2014, Mindy Kaling and her TV show alter ego graced us with one of the most punny holiday decor items to ever exist: A wreath decorated with photos of Reese Witherspoon. A Wreath Witherspoon, if you will. Well, the style statement is back—perfect for the big year both women have had. To recap: In season 3, episode 11, aptly titled “Christmas,” celeb-obsessed Mindy Lahiri arrives as boyfriend Danny Castellano (played by Chris Messina) is decorating the tree.

(Image credit: Kitchn Video) From Kitchn → Watch Marie Kondo Organize Things in the Kitchen null

They may be a couple of royal tykes, but Prince George and Princess Charlotte may never really call Buckingham Palace home, according to Marie Claire. The younger generations of England’s monarchy seem to have a different view royal life, that doesn’t include actually residing in the 775-room estate.

Jennifer Aniston isn’t on Instagram, but today, her house was. The A lister is popping up on SmartWater’s feed and stories, as the brand spent the day at her house in Bel-Air. jen making the most out of her day. ☁️? A post shared by smartwater (@smartwater) on Dec 4, 2017 at 8:08am PST There’s a peek at cozy, yet minimal living room, featuring a curved gray sofa, a fuzzy pillow, and some brass… lighting? Wall decor?

(Image credit: Jessica Isaac) From Kitchn → Why I Will Never Switch to an Open Kitchen null

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman) From Kitchn → This Unexpected Way to Clean a Burned Pan Is Ridiculously Simple null

After photos of Carrie’s home went viral, we asked her to share her feelings about it. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Think about some of the comments you’ve heard while touring people through your home. Chances are good that guests have said things like, “Oh, I love your art collection,” “That sofa is amazing,” or “Your home is so cozy and bright!

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.

At a time of year when family tensions run high, and travel stress and politics can make you lose your faith in humanity, we’re grateful for these Instagram dogs whose Thanksgiving posts are just too pure for this world. Yes, I am one of those “dog moms” who created an entire Instagram account for her pups and their rescue (@KeepAustinWhippet, if you’re so inclined).

Last week I asked a number of stylish, smart people who happen to live in teeny tiny homes to share their advice for hosting holiday dinners and gatherings. Their tip and lessons were enormously helpful! In this post, I asked them to tackle the subject of overnight guests — something I struggle to deal with in my small-ish one-bedroom apartment.

Do you cringe at the thought of how many holiday cards are tossed in the recycling (or worse, the trash bin) come January 1st? If you’re trying to be more waste-conscious, or have friends and family who are, you might want to consider alternatives to traditional greeting cards. After all, you’re not a grinch. But the struggle to maintain your waste-conscious lifestyle during the holidays and still join in the generous spirit of the season is real.

Next week marks the beginning of every traveler’s least favorite time to fly: the holiday season. Between busy airports where human beings are on their absolute worst behavior to flight cancellations and delays, it’s a stressful time to be on the move.

(Image credit: Rachel Joy Barehl) From Kitchn → 10 Things to Clean Now Before the Holiday Season Gets Going null

One of the keys to being a good host? Anticipating your guests’ needs. When friends or family come to stay with you, you make sure they have clean sheets and towels and know where the bathroom and the garbage is — so you’ve got the basic important things covered. But there might be a few things that you’re forgetting to tell them (and for some of them, they might be too embarrassed to ask) that they should definitely know.

(Image credit: Minette Hand) From Kitchn → What Having a Dog Taught Me About My Kitchen null

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman) From Kitchn → The Most Clever Solution for Storing Your Baking Sheets null

For many small space dwellers, the thought of entertaining over the holidays—inviting friends and family into a teeny amount of square feet—is plain daunting. Don’t let the challenge of hosting in a small home get in the way of your dinner party dreams this holiday season, though. Not only is entertaining in a small space possible, it can be downright pleasant! And these real small-space dwellers share their tips, advice, and lessons learned.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many people are starting to think about the things they’re thankful for. But sometimes—especially when things get stressful and you’re dealing with a major life change—it can be hard to get into the right frame of mind or even remember the things you’re grateful for.

Britney Spears is an undoubtedly an artist of her generation—and now she can claim that title in a more traditional sense. The pop star can add “painter” to her resume, and one whose work even sells for $10,000. All in the name of charity, of course. In early October, the pop star posted a video to Instagram spending a whimsical afternoon in her Southern California home.

(Image credit: Jacqueline Marque) From Kitchn → The Unexpected Way Going Back to Work Improved My Marriage null

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From Kitchn → The Best Wine to Pick Up from Aldi for Your Thanksgiving Table null

(Image credit: Minette Hand) From Kitchn → What Having a Dog Taught Me About My Kitchen null

It’s been over six weeks since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, and the island is still having major issues restoring power. That means (among many other things) businesses haven’t been able to reopen so that people can return to work. But employees at HomeGoods and its sister stores have one less thing to worry about.

If you wandered over to Instagram or Pinterest at all during October, you probably saw your share of carved pineapples instead of pumpkins (yes, this is apparently a thing). Not satisfied with just being a symbol of summer, the tropical fruit is also aiming to take over Christmas by standing in for your fir or pine.

As the holidays are approaching and the year is winding down, many people are starting to think about all the people and things they’re thankful for. Practicing gratitude is pretty standard during the holidays, but it’s also something you can do all the time to be more mindful and help you focus on more positive things even when you’re feeling down.

Nowadays whenever an airline is making headlines, it’s usually ranges from bad news to very bad news. But Southwest Airlines just released some news that is…good? Bad? It sort of depends on your general outlook; the airline will now offer surprise, pop-up, in-flight concerts.

As holiday party season quickly approaches, you may find yourself revisiting all of your party habits. Do you show up early, same bottle of wine in tow? Arrive late empty-handed but full of good cheer? Keep a series of excuses in a draft folder on your phone and just sit the whole thing out all together?

Do you typically reserve your usage of Google Maps for finding places to go and things to do that don’t scare the crap out of you? If that describes you, then a) welcome to the fearful fold, fellow reluctant Halloweeners, and b) you probably won’t be mapping any of the locations on this list of 31 haunted places to visit that the search engine has taken painstaking measures to compile.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo) From Kitchn → The Best Ways to Clean an Oven, According to Our Readers null

For an introvert and homebody like me, it takes a lot of energy to get psyched enough to head out to a party. Mainly because I just know I’ll get stuck in a conversation about something I’d rather not talk about, probably with someone I’d rather not talk to. In those situations — where a once-pleasant conversation takes a turn for the worse and I need a fast out — I find it helps to heed the Boy Scout maxim and “be prepared.

Let’s just get one thing out of the way: yes, I am completely aware that candy corn is just sugary wax. I will readily admit that it’s kind of gross when you think about it too much. I will even admit that it has a weird, fake taste. But guess what? I still love it. And that’s okay. During the rest of the year, I forget that candy corn exists. But every year, come September 1st, it’s like a light switches on and suddenly I’m craving it again.

(Image credit: Emily Billings) From Kitchn → Why Shallow Pantry Shelves Are the Best Shelves null

Check the attic.

If glamour and camping equal glamping, that must mean floating while camping can succinctly be described as flamping, right? Who knows, but that’s our (really weird) attempt at describing The Shoal Tent by Smith Fly, an inflatable floating raft with a tent topper that allows campers to sleep on the water. Obviously, traditional camping rules don’t apply if you’re using this tent.

A lot goes into planning a vacation. Where should you go? When can you take time off? What gets you the most bang for your buck? Should you do a lot of long weekends or a few big trips? At times all of the run around and crazy planning can seem like it just isn’t worth it, how can you enjoy your vacation when you’re not doing it right. Luckily, science is here to remove some of the guess work.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 7 Brilliant Kitchen Storage Ideas to Steal from Real-Life Tiny Houses null

(Image credit: Elissa Crowe) From Kitchn → 10 Ways to Get Rid of That Awful Smell in Your Kitchen Sink null

Of course everyone’s favorite young adult thriller writer would share his office with a skeleton, a giant cockroach, and a real-life version of his famously homicidal ventriloquist dummy, Slappy. This week on the New York Times‘ video tour series The Daily 360, we get a peek inside R.L.

(Image credit: Eco Mama Hotel) From Kitchn → I Only Ever Stay in Hostels. Here’s Why. null

(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → Food Gifts to Start Preparing Now for the Holidays null

Minimalism, in modern culture, is a word infused with so much meaning that it doesn’t seem to mean anything any more. “Minimalism” is thrown around carelessly, and often offered (in the case of a book or an article, including many you might see on this site) without enough context to understand if we’re all on the same page. And often, we aren’t. It turns out there are many different ways to practice the same underlying, abstract foundation.

They may be HGTV tycoons these days, but that wasn’t always the case for Chip and Joanna Gaines. The duo, who recently announced that they’re ending their beloved home renovation show Fixer Upper, say they learned their best lesson about money over a decade ago, when Chip was tossed in the county jail after he was busted for having $2,500 racked up in tickets.

The Minimalists didn’t invent decluttering, but they sure are spreading the message. The popular duo are currently on a nationwide tour to help people purge themselves of stuff and the emotional baggage that goes along with it. Today, The Cut has an in depth feature on the Ohio bloggers, as well as the stories of people whom they have helped.

(Image credit: Hayley Kessner) From Kitchn → This $35 Swedish Hand Soap Is Totally Worth It null

Your emoji keyboard is about to get an update. Apple announced this week that iOS 11.1 will include 56 new emojis based on the most recent Unicode update. Unicode 10.0 was announced back in July, but now we know exactly what Apple will be including, and what they’ll look like.

(Image credit: Alicia Macias) From Kitchn → 10 Ways to Master Your Monday null

(Image credit: Jesse Morrow / Stocksy) From Kitchn → 10 European Etiquette Rules You Should Know null

(Image credit: Emma Fiala) From Kitchn → 5 Things to Leave Until Monday So You Can Enjoy the Weekend null

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 10 of the Smartest Small Kitchens We’ve Ever Seen null

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.

(Image credit: Federico Paul) From Kitchn → 8 Smart Ways to Create a Pantry in Even the Tiniest Kitchen null

(Image credit: Pexels) From Kitchn → When Our “Normal” Is Way Too Much null

(Image credit: Cambria Bold) From Kitchn → How I Organized My Kitchen Without a Single Drawer null

Decreasing the amount of energy you expend at home isn’t just good for the environment—it can be good for your bank account, too. According to a study from SaveOnEnergy, the average American spends a whopping $1,460 a year on electricity and $421 on natural gas; numbers that are expected to rise by 2 percent in 2018. Luckily, there are plenty of simple ways to reduce your daily energy use.

(Image credit: Jennifer Hughes for Elizabeth Lawson Design) From Kitchn → The Best Cabinet Paint Colors for a Happier Kitchen, According to Interior Designers null

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to traipse New York City and see its streets through the eyes — and stiletto-clad heels — of Carrie Bradshaw, then now is your chance. Sarah Jessica Parker has partnered up with Airbnb Experiences to offer four lucky fans the chance to shop and tour Manhattan for a day — not just alongside a legendary New Yorker, but with the actual actress who played Carrie Bradshaw (for six seasons and two movies) as your tour guide.

(Image credit: Image: Brother/ Design: Susanna Hopler) From Kitchn → 6 Things Professional Organizers Can’t Live Without null

(Image credit: Aldi) From Kitchn → Aldi’s Wine Advent Calendar Is Everything You Need This Holiday Season null

(Image credit: Maria Jordan) From Kitchn → This Incredibly Easy Kitchen Transformation Involved Some Paint, Sticky Tiles, and Little Else null

(Image credit: Janel Laban) From Kitchn → The Best Kitchen Shelves from IKEA null

(Image credit: Erika Tracy) From Kitchn → How To Remove Grease Stains null

(Image credit: Lauren Volo) From Kitchn → The 12 Slow Cooker Classics Every Cook Should Know null