Life

(Image credit: Elizabeth Stark) From Kitchn → All the Things I Never Do to My Cast Iron Skillet

After you’ve tackled the big-picture savings tactics like canceling subscriptions, negotiating insurance premiums to lower rates, and reducing energy consumption, you’ll have to examine your micro-spending in order to squeeze any extra cash out of your budget. Even if you’re in good shape financially, there will come a week where you could use an extra hundred bucks—maybe before a big weekend?—to pad your budget with.

Anyone who grew up in the ’80s remembers Teddy Ruxpin. The talking bear with the cassette tape in his back hit the market in 1985, scared us all with his uncanny valley face and low battery voice, and faded into oblivion for awhile. Until now. In case you need a refresher: MommyandGracieShow got a look at the new Teddy at the Dallas Toy Fair and he’s ripe to terrify a whole new generation. Produced by Wicked Cool Toys, the biggest visual difference is in the eyes.

Getting together with friends shouldn’t be a fussy affair. If all you have the time and energy to do is send out an email, then offer to host a potluck dinner at your place and get the gang together for a night. Being the potluck host doesn’t let you off the hook completely, but it’s a heck of a lot easier than cooking for a crowd. The first step to a potluck is sending out the (informal) invitations. And the modern way to do that is online.

(Image credit: Tim Chin) From Kitchn → 15 Apple Names That Could Be Baby Names

(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → 10 Things the Smartest Grocery Shoppers Always Do

This Silver Lake rental has plenty of physical characteristics to be envious of: charming architectural features, big windows and eclectic furnishings. But it’s not the objects that make this house so special — it’s the trio of creative women who call this space home. Because I secretly wish I was their fourth roommate, I delved more into their home life. Spoiler Alert: They spend typical evenings building puzzles, playing guitar and making you want to be friends with them.

(Image credit: Maria Siriano) From Kitchn → This Is What a Dishwasher Actually Does to Your Knife

(Image credit: Courtesy of Universal Studios) From Kitchn → 5 Cool Getaway Lines So You Won’t Get Stuck at the Watercooler

(Image credit: Leela Cyd for The Kitchn) From Kitchn → 5 Rules for Hosting a Crappy Dinner Party (and Seeing Your Friends More Often)

(Image credit: Natalie Jeffcott) From Kitchn → The Best $20 I Ever Spent on My Kitchen

As a travel lover (and chronic over-packer), I’ve researched and prepared for many trips—from weekend getaways to months abroad—only to get so frustrated with myself when I realize (usually mid-trip) that I definitely didn’t need to bring that third pair of heels. Here are six things to ditch while packing for your trip. Think of it as the Kon-Mari method for your suitcase.

To any of you who need a bit of a fire lit under them to fire up the stove this fall, here are a few tips for easing your way back into the kitchen.

(Image credit: Catherine & Michael Frawley) From Kitchn → The Introvert’s Guide to Cleaning the Kitchen

Andy, Danielle and two cats share a 325 square foot studio in Chicago. Yes, you read that correctly: 325 tiny square feet. They not only do it stylishly, as evidenced by their house tour, but considering their big smiles (and the fact that they’re still living in the apartment together), they also share it successfully! I love this couple and their home, and had to ask them more questions about how they manage in so little square feet.

Not a couponer? Is that because you refuse to dedicate your Sundays to shuffling through the newspaper, literally clipping coupons to stash away in a tiny accordion file that you flip through as you’re walking down the aisles? Well, you’re living in the past. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. When shopping online—or even in person with your phone in tow (and whose isn’t?) — it’s easier than ever to coupon and only takes a few minutes.

(Image credit: Amazon) From Kitchn → Why Everyone Needs a Lemon Squeezer

(Image credit: Kelli Foster) From Kitchn → 10 Small Yet Mighty Shortcuts for Prepping Your Favorite Fruits

(Image credit: Brian C. Grobleski) From Kitchn → Why You Should Pay a Pro to Sharpen Your Knives

(Image credit: Rachel Joy Barehl) From Kitchn → What You Should Really Bring Someone Who Just Had a Baby

Joe and Keith’s Oakland apartment is impressive; it’s comfortable, stylish and full of cool art. But you know what is even more impressive? They make it work, day in and day out, living together in just 300 square feet. The guys generously gave us some of their tips on sharing such a small space… Yes Yes, not counting college dorms. Our good friends were living here before us and we had been over a few times for dinner.

(Image credit: Samara Vise) From Kitchn → 10 Places to Hang a Magnetic Knife Rack

(Image credit: Meghan Splawn) From Kitchn → Our Favorite Spatulas: 5 Spatulas Are Better than 1

(Image credit: Ellie Arciaga Lillstrom) From Kitchn → 5 Reasons to Start a Collection of Wooden Spoons

(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy) From Kitchn → 7 Lunch Box Ideas Kids Can Pack Themselves

(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → 7 Foods You Can Cook Straight out of the Freezer

(Image credit: Lana Kenney) From Kitchn → 10 Kitchens That Will Inspire You to Think Pink

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From Kitchn → 18 Summery Pasta Recipes to Eat on the Porch

The warm weather is winding down and the leaves will soon start to turn, but that’s not the only change in the air. If it feels like people are settling down everywhere you turn, don’t worry, it’s not just you—cuffing season is upon us. Not everyone feels relationship-ready come the end of summer, but if you find yourself wishing for someone to come home to, it might be time to overhaul your dating apps. With a few tweaks, you can reach profile perfection.

(Image credit: Kimberley Hasselbrink) From Kitchn → 25 Make-Ahead Summer Breakfasts

When done for pleasure, travel is almost always fun and exciting. After all, you get to see brand new places, try out new cuisines and maybe even relax a little. Business travel, however, feels a lot more like, well… work. Traveling for business purposes is fairly common in the U.S.: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics says that Americans rack up more than 405 million long-distance trips for business each year.

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton) From Kitchn → 10 Southern Sayings Everyone Should Embrace

Ahh summer vacations. We never want them to end. One of the highlights of returning home, however, is being able to infuse your space with some of those unforgettable memories. I’m a big fan of collecting travel treasures, but another way you can keep the vacation vibes going all year long is by allowing the local flavor of the destination itself to inspire your décor.

(Image credit: Sur La Table) From Kitchn → 4 Tools to Grind Spices for Better Flavor

When you read about a woman who makes only a Mason Jar worth of waste per year, it’s hard not to think you’re doing life wrong. We all want to do right by the environment, but getting started along the path to a more sustainable lifestyle can seem daunting. The good news is it really is easy being green. By making small modifications in your daily life, you can significantly reduce your waste output.

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton) From Kitchn → 31 Essential Ingredients for No-Cook Meals

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From Kitchn → 15 New Ways to Use Your Slow Cooker This Summer

There’s a common realization many remote workers are having, likely while sitting in front of a computer at home still in their PJs (I speak from experience). It goes a little something like this: “Hey, wait a minute… I don’t have to work from home. I could actually work from anywhere.

(Image credit: Melanie LaForce) From Kitchn → Appalachian Porch Parties Taught Me Mindfulness, Country-Style

(Image credit: Fab.com) From Kitchn → 9 Trays to Serve 9 Summer Entertaining Situations

Most students and teachers can’t help but feel a little sad about the end of summer, at least until it’s time for back-to-school shopping. There’s something thrilling about starting a new school year and taking the opportunity to refresh your life a little. But loading up on new clothes, decor, technology and school supplies can get a little pricey. Actually, really pricey. The good news: Many retailers offer discounts for students and teachers with valid school IDs or .

The Birthday Problem paradox suggests that if you put 23 people into a room, there’s a 50 percent chance that two of them share the same birthday (and that probability jumps to 99 percent chance with just 60 people). The math is based on the assumption that every date out of the 365 days a year is equally likely for a birthday, but apparently that theory is way off.

(Image credit: Faith Durand) From Kitchn → 20 Salads Worth Packing for Lunch

Summer is slowly coming to an end, which means it’s time to get serious about crossing things off your summer bucket list. If you haven’t already taken a summer vacation, make that a top priority. Yes, sunshine-drenched days at the beach and lounging by the pool sipping margaritas are limited, but there’s still plenty of time to plan an epic end-of-summer getaway. Here are seven reasons why now is actually the perfect time to indulge in a delicious summer vacation.

Wondering why birthdays and babies always seem to reach a fever pitch as summer turns to fall? According to data collected by the New York Times, September 16th is the most popular birthday for babies born between 1973 and 1999. Actually, all 10 of the top 10 birthdays fall in September. And August isn’t too far behind in the rankings. → See all the birth date data: How Common is Your Birthday? Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

(Image credit: Hayley Kessner) From Kitchn → 10 Ways to Make a Staycation Your Best Vacation Ever

(Image credit: Bag: Courtesy of Trader Joe’s) From Kitchn → 10 Things I Buy from Trader Joe’s for No-Cook Dinners

(Image credit: [Stone] Tanglewood picnickers circa 1947. Photo by Erika Stone.) From Kitchn → Our Love Affair with Picnics — The Moveable Feast

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From Kitchn → 5 DIY Tutorials to Get into Shibori

(Image credit: Husman Hagberg) From Kitchn → 5 Ideas to Steal from This Tiny Stockholm Kitchen

(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) From Kitchn → Why You Don’t Feel Like Cooking Tonight, and How to Fix It

(Image credit: Beekman 1802) From Kitchn → 11 Edible Summer Hostess Gifts Under $30

(Image credit: P.O.S.H.) From Kitchn → Nothing Could Be Finer than Eating on This Diner Dinnerware

(Image credit: Bridget Pizzo) From Kitchn → 5 Questions Everyone Still Has About Party Etiquette, and the New Answers

(Image credit: Kitchn Video) From Kitchn → Recipe Roulette: What Should I Grill Tonight? Kitchn

(Image credit: Desserts: Natalka Dmitrova) shutterstock From Kitchn → Match Your Snack to Your Zodiac Sign

(Image credit: Jacob Lund) shutterstock From Kitchn → 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Taking a Day Trip

Like getting out of bed without your knees cracking, making friends is something that gets tougher as you get older. But here’s the thing: Everybody’s out there looking for new friends. Yep, even that really cool, funny gal you met at the supermarket checkout. So how do you go from small talk about kale to your first friend date? It’s as easy as 1-2-3: One of you has got to plant the seed that it might be fun to meet outside of the checkout line.

(Image credit: Faith Durand) From The Kitchn → 5 Small Ways to Make Your Salad More Interesting

(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From The Kitchn → 5 Quick Meals for Couples Who Loathe Leftovers

(Image credit: Dutch Boy) Style Starters: Color on the Rise

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Purple Love: 10 Painted Kitchens That Get It On with Eggplant

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Great British Bake Off) From The Kitchn → 20 Words and Phrases to Know Before You Watch The Great British Baking Show

(Image credit: raifu/shutterstock) From The Kitchn → 5 Ways to Fall in Love with Eggplant

(Image credit: Michaela Cisney) From The Kitchn → 25 Ways to Eat Salad for Dinner Tonight

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → 7 Things Nearly Every French Cook Has in Her Fridge

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton) From The Kitchn → 25 Creative People Share Their Favorite Pints of Ice Cream

(Image credit: Wanchai/Shutterstock) From The Kitchn → 7 Tips That Will Help You Grill Like a Pro

(Image credit: Lauren Kolyn) From The Kitchn → 8 Ways to Create Extra Counter Space in a Tiny Kitchen

(Image credit: Sergey Ksen) shutterstock From The Kitchn → A Guide to Chilling Your Red Wine

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.