Life

Being an adult isn’t easy. The demands of balancing bills, budgets, and a busy schedule can often be downright exhausting and trying at times, to say the least. That’s why like all things related to personal growth, acting like a grownup requires a lot of patience and practice. Needless to say, the art of maturity is a difficult one to master. To help, we’re taking a closer look at the seven basic skillsets of adulting and providing some useful resources along the way.

I’m one of those visitors that cat owners probably dread: I can smell a litter box a block away, and I’m not charmed by a cat doing its business in plain sight of the dinner table. Any of these attempts at making the litter box more discreet will go a long way towards endearing your darling cat to guests like me… TOP ROW: 1. Here’s the first of my three favorite IKEA hacks, this time from Bella Pop. IKEA should really get into the litter box game. 2.

These days I live in mild San Francisco, but I spent the first 23 years of my life in Chicago, a city where a windchill of -20ºF (that’s -29ºC) turns waiting for the bus into an extreme sport. I’ve learned a few things over the years… I like to keep my apartment as cold as possible while I’m sleeping, but even if you don’t, the transition from under-the-covers to real world can be a brutal one.

When that luxurious velvet sofa catches your gaze for the first time, it’s easy to think, “I can totally do this, Fido will learn that he is not allowed up. Simple as that.” We’ve all been there, but let’s get real. Even if you become the dog whisperer and are indeed successful in keeping him off the sofa, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will stay clean.

Pallet projects, in every possible form, were early guests to the DIY party and have stayed around ever since. Using them for the reclaimed wood certainly has its risks (more on that later), but you can’t beat the price (which is usually free). Here’s a guide to everything you need to know: finding, choosing, cleaning, and breaking down one for use. Once you know the what’s what, you can decide for yourself if they are worth the effort.

During the first half of my life growing up in New York, snow days meant waking up early, gripping the radio in hope that my school’s name would be called out so I would get to spend the day playing in the snow with my friends.The second half of my life has been on the West Coast where snow and winter became foreign words. Until last year that is when I moved to the Pacific Northwest and entered the world of seasons once more.

Old apartments have so much character, don’t they? The solid walls, the carefully crafted architectural details, the two power outlets in the whole place… yikes! If you’re loving your pre-war apartment, but hating having no place to plug in your hair dryer, check out if one of these five solutions can help.1. Install New OutletsYeah, this might not work for everybody—especially renters.

A day off is a gift and in today’s hard-working world, a thing to be savored. For some of us, that means a recuperating and revitalizing opportunity — a day without any goals beyond recharging batteries. For others, the idea of an “extra” day to accomplish a home-based goal, whether crafting, cleaning, decorating or renovating is simply too good to let pass by.

Cambria has recently mentioned her affinity for bowls in the home and I have to wholeheartedly agree. They’re perfect for use all around your space, not just for a bowl of cereal! Here are a few suggestions on how to get more from your bowls:Now admittedly the bowls in the photo above aren’t the greenest of nature but they still convey the point we’re looking to illustrate below. See where else you can put them to use (besides your tool chest) from the tips below!1.

The small pillows that came with my sofa upon purchase didn’t really accent anything as their name might suggest. I wanted something a little brighter and jazzier. Instead of keeping those pillows shoved in the back corner of the linen closet, try putting them to use with one of these 5 ideas:1. Remove The Covers: By removing the pillow covers, you can switch them out to be any color, pattern or style you want. It seems obvious, but is an easy one to forget.2.

This is self care in the time of coronavirus.

Architect and urbanist Vishaan Chakrabarti and his firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) believe that taking cars off the streets of Manhattan is a necessary step toward that better future.

Cozy reading nook and all.

The doggy aging process is a lot weirder than we thought.

Ever been caught dancing in the background of your partner’s Zoom call? Me neither. My husband Michael and I live in a 750-square foot loft with twelve-foot ceilings and a large east-facing window in Brooklyn. We couldn’t be more in love with our place—it’s airy and spacious, but the open-floor plan makes it tricky for his traditional office job and my work as a content creator to co-exist.

Your productivity and health will thank you later.

Some former and current IKEA employees dish about the most annoying things that customers do.

It's a definite step up from a tray table and you can still fold it away at the end of the day.

I joined a local mask-making group on Facebook, where a small army of amateur sewers gathered online, dusted off their sewing machines and did what we could with all our hearts.

It’s one of the largest expedition vehicles in the world at 40 feet long.

More time at home means more Netflix binges.

One company created an entirely new line of cane upgrades that fit perfectly on IKEA pieces you already own.

They take a no-nonsense approach.

HGTV "wanted to choose a town, which as well as meeting all of the necessary criteria, faced down major adversity and persevered."

These tiny pool coolers will make your space feel like a beach oasis this summer—that is, without the crowds.

“Hamilton” is exactly the kind of joy I'm looking for during this global pandemic.

Fans of HGTV’s "Good Bones" are going to want to plan a trip to downtown Indianapolis in the future.

As a dog guardian, there are things that you can do to support your dog being a good neighbor.

Perhaps the only library in the world where eating, making a mess, and chirping loudly is allowed.

The point of watching a show together is to watch the show *together*.

The ramifications of housing discrimination in mid-1900s continue to affect home-buying today.

Summer reading has never been cooler.

When it comes to honing in on your budget, you’re probably quick to look around the house for ways to save. Just as important, however, are the things costing you money outside your door. Needless expenses around the yard add up, causing your wallet to take a hit. Some are avoidable money-sucks. Others are small investments that’ll save more money later.

With picnics, festivals, and large gatherings cancelled due to COVID-19, how can we honor this monumental holiday during a time like this?

You might mark the change in season with a decluttering or organizing project that sets you up to enjoy summer to the fullest. Or, your inaugural summer activity might look less like work and more like a party.

"Change starts with the gate keepers to opportunities."

If you're looking for your next “nice” show, we've got you covered.

Because we could all use a laugh.

The fourth season of HBO’s “Insecure” has officially wrapped, and Sundays just won’t be the same without it. The past few months have been incredibly difficult due to the coronavirus pandemic and the senseless killings of Black Americans at the hands of police, but Issa Rae’s comedy series has been offering tiny doses of sweetness, 30 minutes at a time. Season 4 of “Insecure” was arguably the best so far.

Here is a shelf’s worth of important books by Black authors, read and recommended by these book lovers.

If you can’t go to the beach, let the RV—I mean, er beach—come to you.

Aurora James, designer and creative director of Brother Vellies, is asking big box stores to take the pledge. Here's what that means.

And there's one thing you won't find.

I’ve already used it several times.

Time to brush up your video call interviewing skills.

What's better than a new plant baby delivered to your door every month?

It may take a little time and strategy, but those glorious hours of shut-eye are worth your while.

If you’ve ever Googled around for hypoallergenic cat breeds and come up with exactly zero results, that’s because hypoallergenic cats don’t really exist.

As with many things, one of the best places to start is with a book.

The designer touched on how to embrace these moments.

Disney+ only launched in November 2019, but it’s poised to become the second most popular streaming service after Netflix by 2025, according to Digital TV Research projections. And it’s hardly a surprise the platform has been so successful. After all, Disney is the comfort food of the entertainment industry.

Then, you can put the money toward an actual trip in the future.

Here are four period dramas that you can stream right now.

Like their human teenage counterparts, the dogs in the study seemed to get noticeably more rebellious during their teenage years.

It's saving you money.

Here's how to prevent it.

From soap pancakes and waffles “topped” with berries, cream, and powdered sugar, to soap cakes and pastries, they all look truly delectable.

To bring tourism back to Japan once the outbreak has subsided, the government is considering paying for a portion of tourists’ travel expenses.

Even if it never actually happens...

Cash in on these classics.

There's a built-in rainwater collection system, too!

The festival is the result of a collaboration between 20 of the world's largest film festivals, including the Cannes, Venice, Tokyo, Berlin, and New York film festivals.

We could all use a little more Julia Child.

So while visiting Japan in person might not be so easy in the near future, with a little imagination, and a stable WiFi connection, you can get pretty close.

Whether you're concerned about scratches, cost, temperature, or just what's easiest to clean, look no further than these expert-backed options.

Sometimes you just need a good cry.

What makes it unique among flora is that it has “windows” on the margins of its leaves, allowing light to pass through for photosynthesis.

Virtual personal assistants are in demand.

Bee-lieve it.

I saw people panic about how difficult working from home may be, and part of me thought, “OK, I’ve got this handled.” But then... I didn’t.

How Jess Day, Liz Lemon, and others might be taking their Zoom meetings.

"Getting out of your head" is sometimes the best remedy for a looming anxiety spiral. But I, for one, don't want to miss what my thoughts might be trying to teach me.