Life

It is finally spring! Springtime means we can enjoy the beauty of nature, now that those cold and dreary days of winter are behind us. Is there anything more refreshing than looking at flowers blooming after spending weeks on end surrounded by dull gray skies? Of course not! If you’re a fan of cherry blossoms, you’re in luck! You don’t need to drive all the way to Washington D.C. to enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival (though it is something incredible to see).

Now that we’re officially done with winter and spring has sprung, we’re headed toward better weather days. We can expect to see some beautiful flowers blooming shortly. However, before we get flowers, you know how the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” The rain isn’t too awful unless you have dogs. Every dog owner knows that with rain comes mud and with mud comes muddy paws.

Do you have a pretty deep love of your bed? Is it your hardest goodbye each morning and your fondest hello at night? Yeah, same here. We love to sleep and we especially love to be cozy in our beds. If sleeping for two months straight sounds like something right up your alley, then you might want to check out this opportunity from NASA. Yes, NASA, as in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Independent reported that NASA is looking to pay volunteers $18,500 for 60 days of work.

Imagine a realtor showing a modern home in 2019 with no dishwasher, no refrigerator, no infrastructure for a home security system. Imagine waking up in your apartment on a Saturday morning and having no easy way to brew a cup of coffee. That would be a home without women. It makes sense that women made such significant contributions to improving the efficiency, safety, and productivity of the home—that’s where they spent most of their time, given that other work options were limited.

Ever since “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” we can’t stop fantasizing about a dreamy getaway in Greece. This cozy Halkidki hideaway makes the ideal backdrop for your private Mediterranean adventure—musical numbers not required. This cozy wooden cabin is nestled on the Halkidiki, Chalkidi peninsula in Northern Greece off of Central Macedonia. The 365 square-foot tiny home is fully equipped with a plush double bed, cozy bathroom and kitchen, and an outdoor shower.

Do you feel like you can’t officially start your morning until you make your bed? Well, it turns out that there’s more anecdotal evidence that this simple task could contribute to your productivity. In a survey of 1,000 people, the company Best Mattress Brand determined how bed-making affects productivity and health.

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.

Calling all Harry Potter fans: the Hogwarts Express is real. You can actually board the train and go for a ride. Though, we cannot promise you that once you get off the train you’ll be in Hogsmeade. While the train exists, that doesn’t actually mean that Hogwarts is real. Though, we can keep dreaming. How many times have you fantasized about riding the Hogwarts Express?

Queue the ’90s Enigma and bust out your Swiffer duster pads, astral voyagers. March 20th’s Spring Equinox offers up a sparkly return to innocence, and an opportunity to get fresh and clean both inside and out. Ushering in the cosmic New Year, the spring equinox is a potent portal that takes us from the dark, interior wintry mix of claw-footed bathtubs and down comforters, and into the light bright of rolled-up blinds and new life emerging through the pavement cracks.

A healthy morning routine can truly set the tone for an amazing life. Starting each morning with intention and thoughtfulness can transform your relationship to the rest of your day. Morning routines have been linked to heightened productivity, lowered stress levels, and more effective time management. Sounds great right?

Here are some ways to honor the powerful silent types in your life this week—especially if that person is you.

You’re set to start saving for your future. You already put money aside for retirement every month, but you’re probably already wondering how you should invest it. Which type of retirement savings account is best for you? Should you start a 401(k), an IRA, a Roth 401(k), or a Roth IRA? What even are the differences? What about if your first home is your savings priority right now?

If you thought your dried-out mascara wands weren’t good for anything but the trash can, think again. Thanks to Reddit user marilynbmonroe, the web is abuzz with a surprising—and potentially life-saving—way to repurpose your old mascara wands when you’re done with them. The Wands for Wildlife initiative is asking supporters to recycle their mascara wands to help save the lives of wild animals.

‘Tis the season for filing taxes and more importantly, receiving your tax refund. But before you go and blow it all on a trip to Tulum or a pricey pair of shoes—guilty!—you may want to consider some more productive ways to use your tax refund. We called on financial advisor Douglas A. Boneparth, CFP and President of Bone Fide Wealth for advice on how to smartly use our tax refunds, no matter how big or small the amount. But first: savings.

We’re finally approaching the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The first day of spring is March 21 and it cannot come soon enough. To say we’re tired of all the snow and gloomy weather that winter has brought would be an understatement. If we could break up with winter, we totally would and we’d never call it back. With spring approaching, that means warmer weather, and with that, it means we’ll finally get to see some beautiful flowers!

Every dog owner thinks that their dog is the best. And they are right! We all have the best dogs in the world. If you’re obsessed with your dog, you are obviously not alone. In fact, nearly half of pet owners prefer to cuddle with their dog, rather than their human partner. For one couple, their love for their dog inspired them to do something big. Paul Jaszczenski and Lainie Pekich brought home their beloved German shepherd, Kaia, and never wanted to leave her side.

Everyone has that one TV show that just makes them happy, no matter how many times they’ve watched all of the episodes. For quite a few people, that show is “The Office.” The show is the most-watched TV program on Netflix, with nearly twice the views that “Friends” gets, according to data released in 2018.

Buying matching items with your best friend is exciting. But buying something to match with your four-legged best friend? That is so much better! Our collective obsession with our pets has led to the mass creation of products catered toward pet owners. From things like slippers that look like your dog to doggy leggings, there’s basically an endless supply of things to buy for your pet. Now, you can purchase a robe for yourself and a tiny one for your dog.

Longer days are great–until it's time to go to sleep and the sun's still shining.

Transitioning to life on the road is a huge undertaking but thanks to the numerous options for camper and van conversions, the process of pivoting to permanent #vanlife can be a little less harrowing. The latest home-on-wheels to catch our eye deserves an honorable mention based on its name alone: the Big Gigantic is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter build-out, courtesy of Washington-based Freedom Vans.

We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve packed up your life for a cross-country move, or you’re just on an extended business trip, sometimes you can’t help but feel a little homesick. How can you cope when you’re yearning to be home and more importantly, what do these feelings even mean? We called on clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., to help us break down everything we ever wanted to know about homesickness.

When my husband came home from work and told me that the next day would be his last at his job, we went into immediate emergency cost-cutting mode. And we quickly learned that the easiest place to slash the budget, in principle, was one of the most painful in practice: our food expenses. We love food—eating it, cooking it, talking about it, sharing it. And an embarrassingly large percentage of our budget went to food—good ingredients, kitchen equipment, eating out.

You know IKEA, right? Obviously, who hasn’t heard of IKEA! Most of us have spent many hours inside of IKEA, not exactly trapped, but shopping for so long, the store begins to feel like a maze we don’t actually know how to get out of. At least there are Swedish meatballs to snack on when you’re losing stamina during a shopping trip. Now, if you’re a big lover of IKEA, you surely say the retailer’s name often. Chances are, you’ve been saying it entirely wrong.

Have you ever wanted a limited edition item so badly, you were willing to fight someone for it? If you answered yes, you don’t need to feel too guilty for that, because you’re not the only one. Apparently, people are so obsessed with a new cup released in Starbucks in China, they’re actually getting into physical altercations in stores. Starbucks has many stylish mugs and tumblers available for sale at each location.

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” – Your cat, probably, telling the dog who is really in charge. If your cat seems to channel their inner Cersei Lannister on a daily basis, then we have the perfect gift for them. Every “Game of Thrones” fan has been sitting with bated breath since 2017, just waiting for the day new episodes will arrive. We only have a little over a month until season 8 premieres on April 14, 2019.

Have you ever looked at your cat and wished you could live their life? They get to spend every day lounging around. If they get up to move, it is usually from the comfort of your bed to spread out on the couch. Their food bowl is always mysteriously refilled without them having to lift a paw. They get treats whenever they want. The spoiled house cat honestly has the perfect life. Which means you might just have the perfect life too.

If you thought your library card was only good for borrowing books, then think again. Turns out you can score access to all sorts of awesome stuff with nothing more than your library card—usually for free. Don’t believe us? Here are eight things you probably didn’t realize you could do with your library card. Who knew your library card could also grant you access to some pretty cool streaming platforms?

Designing a cozy home isn’t just about on-point aesthetics. Have you ever thought about how your home actually makes you feel? Interior designers and therapists alike believe home design influences your well-being and emotions, and can even exacerbate your anxiety and stress levels. Whether you are facing clinical anxiety or situational stress, creating a peaceful living space is a great first step toward preventing—and managing—stressful emotions.

In between juggling film and TV roles, being a wife, mother and getting her zen on with the help of organization photos, Kristen Bell somehow managed to find time to launch a line of baby products with her husband Dax Shepard. This week, the couple announced a collection of baby goods named Hello Bello, an adorable moniker that pairs well with Kristen and Dax’s reputation for being unbelievably cute at all times. There’s even a nod to K-Bell’s favorite animal—the sloth.

Life is stressful enough as it is—so make this the weekend you stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself when it comes to hosting. Does your house need to be impeccably clean with a three-course dinner planned and a carefully crafted evite in order to have a good time? No. Is it easy to get swept up in appearances and pretend it does? Absolutely.

We all work so hard to make our homes beautiful, relaxing spaces where we can host our friends and family. So what if I told you that by merely uttering one little word, you could derail all the positive, beautiful attributes of your home in the eyes of your guests? Please, lovelies, never say this! “Sorry about the mess.” “Sorry it’s so hot in here.” “Sorry, we’re out of milk.” Sound familiar?

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.

Because staying focused isn't always easy.

WHOA.

Get your Easter list prepped and ready, you’re going to want to head to Target before the holiday comes. Chip and Joanna Gaines’s Hearth & Hand with Magnolia at Target has an Easter collection launching February 24 and you’re going to want every item for sale. The entire collection can help you craft the perfect holiday Instagram.

Essential oils, which are essentially (see what we did there?) concentrated plant parts used for aromatherapy, are ultra-trendy for a reason. Not only do they smell good; essential oils can be used around the house to clean, soothe, and set the mood. Having a hard time sleeping at night? Studies show lavender might help. Tummy problems? Grab your peppermint oil. Looking for a non-toxic way to de-germ your countertops?

It is official! The next ride to hit Universal Orlando’s Wizard World of Harry Potter has been unveiled. For the last year, people have been speculating what exactly would replace the closed Dragon Challenge and many theories have been thrown around. Now, some of those theories have been proven to be true! The next ride to open at Universal will be Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

We need 5 cups of their coffee potion ASAP.

When you’re not feeling well, it doesn’t matter how old you are, it is nice to snuggle up with something soft and warm. If that happens to be a stuffed animal, there is no shame here, there’s a reason everyone loves stuffed animals! They can be extremely comforting and soothing. Experts have even said it is totally normal for adults to sleep with stuffed animals, as they are considered transitional objects that can give us a sense of comfort.

It starts with good intentions. How many of us have, in an effort to shake off the stress of the workday, ended up in a daze on the couch? Whether you spend your evenings bingeing on Netflix or mindlessly scrolling social media, the post-work lull can compromise productivity and, in the end, keep you from truly relaxing. So why not set your post-work self up for success? All it takes is a little intention.

Did you grow up thinking your hometown was kind of boring? Or maybe you thought the name was silly and hated it? Well, at least you didn’t grow up in a town that is literally named Boring. That’s right, Boring is a town name in the state of Oregon. Can you imagine telling people that is your hometown? Thanks to Estately, we now know some of the weirdest named towns in the U.S. Estately is a national real estate company.

Set sail in 2020!

The most magical place on Earth is about to go intergalactic: Word on the design streets is that a Star Wars hotel is coming to Disney World in Orlando, and this collision of fantasy worlds undoubtedly has space geeks and theme park enthusiasts pumped. The new luxury resort at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park will be the first of its kind, and true to form, Disney has plans to go all out (of this world) with the hotel design.

If you’ve ever commuted by train, bus, or bike or regularly hike with your dogs, then this genius new hybrid to-go container will no doubt solve one of life’s pressing problems—by combining your water bottle and travel coffee mug in one. No longer do we have to literally juggle beverage containers while trying to channel an octopus, or choose between life-giving caffeine and hydration.

Everyone shows love differently. The Five Love Languages, developed by counselor and author Gary Chapman, sum up the most common ways we give and receive love. Chapman’s theory is that every person has a primary “language” for loving, which is how they naturally show their affection to the people closest to them. Curious how your roomie or partner’s love language comes out at home?

We’re seeing more and more dream jobs where the lucky employee gets paid to travel the world. There’s usually some unbelievable perks, and most require skills like photography and social media content creation—but this gig is different. That’s why the latest dream job we spotted really stands out. One woman is hiring a personal designer to travel the world by her side.

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.

Do you take roughly 500 photos when you go on vacation? And then spend the following 10 weeks after your trip sharing “TBT” pictures on Instagram? No shame here, we all are guilty of doing this, at least once. Everyone likes to show off their best side on the ‘gram. If this is something you think you’re a pro at, you might just be able to get a job out of it.

Everyone hates baggage fees, whether they’re unexpected or not. But clearly, the airlines know how to make a bundle off them: In 2017, US airlines collected $4.6 billion in checked baggage fees. Enter: LugLess, a new travel startup that offers a cost-competitive alternative to checking bags. The company is hoping that customers are willing to part with the traditional baggage-checking model in order to score cheaper luggage shipping rates.

If you live in a tiny home, you’re faced with living a full life with less space—and less stuff. This makes going to Target a difficult task for tiny homeowners, because, well, they’re just as tempted by all the cute, quirky, and cool things in the aisles as you are (the Target effect is real, y’all!) But it also means that these residents are experts at cutting through the clutter to find the best problem-solving products while shopping.

There are your basic campers, and then there’s the Draper RV by Land Ark. If you’re familiar with the company, that means you’ve probably already fawned over the previous model, the all-black, super sleek and, dare I say, sexy Drake RV. Founders Brian and Joni Buzarde model all Land Ark designs after their tiny house, and their signature homes on wheels prove that you don’t have to sacrifice sophistication just because you’re working with a smaller space.

This April we will be celebrating our 15th birthday. For me, it will be a celebration of growing, doing better and better work over the years, and staying true to our mission.

There is an interesting belief that people are either dog people or cat people. But any general animal lover knows the more the merrier! Why limit yourself to just one species when you can appreciate them all? However, some people do tend to stay away from cats for a somewhat valid reason, though I personally ignore it. Cats can really aggravate allergies. You’ll meet people who cannot even go in the same room as a cat for 30 seconds without practically bursting.

Is there anything that smells worse than a wet dog? Probably, but it is not a smell that you want to linger in your house. After a bath, every dog has a moment of intense “zoomies” where they sprint around the house and get their wet dog smell on just about everything. As much as we love to watch our dogs run around and act a little crazy, there is a way to avoid this smell getting on your couch, bed, and carpet. Now, your dog obviously can get wet from more than just a bath.

Harry Potter fans, get ready to dip into your little sacks of money and pull out all of your Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons. You’re going to need some money for the newest addition to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. It is official, you can now visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank! Warner Bros. Studio Tour London opened “The Making of Harry Potter” back in 2012, as a way to preserve set pieces from the Harry Potter films for fans to experience for many years to come.

Looking to make a major lifestyle change? It’s as easy as clicking your mouse–thanks to the many prefab houses available on eBay. (Okay, maybe you’ll need to send a couple e-mails back and forth and send in some paperwork.) Here, five modern-looking tiny houses you can buy on eBay right now, which encourage a minimal lifestyle and are typically eco-friendly to boot. And just a quick caveat: know what’s included when you buy (and what’s not).

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.

According to well-traveled individuals, it takes a bit of skill to ensure that you sleep well on sleeper trains, but one way to avoid those problems is to try catching some ZZZs in a vehicle that doesn’t move like a fabulous train car tiny house. Anyone who suffers from motion sickness (plus those who don’t) will be happy to board Platform 1346, a former World War II-era troop car-turned-vacation rental near the Smoky Mountains in Maryville, Tennessee.

We did the math, and the benefits of being a Costco member actually work out in your favor on this 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. If you watched the Golden Globes, you witnessed Darren Criss hitting a major career milestone when he won Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film, beating out big names like Hugh Grant and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The first big storm of 2019 hit over the weekend, some areas saw inches of snow, while others saw freezing rain. The weather plummeted to far-below freezing, with areas in the East Coast getting slammed with temperatures below 5 degrees and with the wind chill, it felt even colder. It officially means that winter is here and we’re in for a brutal one. You might want to rethink your definition of freezing after looking at this picture.

We’re too busy laughing to use the KonMari method right now.

Who didn’t love Polly Pocket growing up? It was one of those toys you could play with for hours on end. If someone pulled out a little Polly Pocket set right now, that would be the easiest way to tell who the ’90s kids are in the room. The Pocket name comes from the fact that the dolls came inside of pocket-sized compacts. Once you opened the case, it formed a dollhouse that the tiny figurine could fit inside. Along with the dollhouse, Polly Pocket had a huge wardrobe.

It looks like Midge was ahead of the millennial pink trend!

Booking my trip to Aspen ASAP!

We’re not sure – does this spark joy or no?

Planning to head to Target this weekend to aimlessly wander the aisles? If you’re a parent, that aimless Target run is actually going to benefit you tremendously. Everyone knows that babies are not cheap. They are growing every day, spitting up on their clothes, and bursting through diapers left and right. Infants go through onesies in the blink of an eye. It would seem that Target understands just how much it costs to raise a child.

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.

When two of the most popular home building trends collide, you can expect nothing less than stellar results. Guaranteed to put stars in your eyes is this absolutely charming two-story shipping container house from CargoHome. Its stylish tiny digs are roomier than your typical micro home, plus it smartly incorporates the perpetually cool concept of upcycling shipping containers into its chic living spaces.

If you have Airbnb envy, you’re not alone. After all, it seems so simple: Rent out your place and reap the rewards. But contrary to popular opinion, it’s not that easy—and there are definitely things that can go awry (and they will!).

There are glamping tents and treehouses, teepees and covered wagons. But the latest trend in unique vacation rentals? Shipping containers. If you’ve been curious about the tiny house trend—but want something a teeny bit bigger—take one of these eco-friendly homes for a spin. They may be small, but at $100 or less per night, they’re big on value.

It’s official: 2019 is here and it’s time to get your money right. We called on Priya Malani, co-founder of Stash Wealth, a financial planning firm for millennials, for advice on how to better handle our money in the New Year. From setting up a different savings account to signing up for automatic withdrawals, here are five money-savvy tips to jumpstart your 2019 financial goals.