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Meditation can also stabilize your stress, as numerous studies show that regular meditators have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their brains versus non-meditators. When the mind or body is stressed or in fear, your body will release cortisol. In the short term, elevated cortisol levels are necessary to help the body focus through temporary emergencies, but long term, excess, lingering cortisol levels can wreak havoc on body systems, harming memory, immunity, blood pressure, and more....

Enter: the capsule wardrobe. This small, curated collection of clothes—usually 30 to 50 pieces in size—has the potential to unlock many long-term benefits, including eliminating decision fatigue. Once you’ve pared down your closet to a more manageable list of versatile favorites, you’ll begin saving time and money, while gaining clarity and having a positive impact on the environment. “Keeping only your favorite things is not a sacrifice,” says Courtney Carver, founder of Be More with Less and inventor of the capsule wardrobe challenge Project 333....

Step 1: Slice Around and Twist Apart Wash your avocado. No, we don’t eat the skin, but according to the FDA, one in five avocado skins can carry harmful bacteria like listeria or salmonella, so go ahead and give them a good rinse before you prep them. Use a knife to make a lengthwise cut around the seed, cutting through the skin and fruit. Holding the avocado in your hands, gently twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate them....

Would it be easier if people, businesses, and publishers could share links directly in their post captions? Probably. But we need to work with what we’ve got. Which is why, instead of being able to click directly into a website URL within a post caption, Instagram directs you to the “link in bio” to view the rest of the article, photo gallery, recipe, or what-have-you, in its entirety. The meaning, at least, is pretty literal: Click into the account’s bio (or main profile) to find an external link to something on their (or another) website....

Need a little help? Try these tips, and pick up a few party games and activities to have on-hand for the next soiree. With this guide, your guests are sure to have a ball. Pick Your Playlists Music-streaming services make it simple to keep a playbook of playlists. DJ Taiga of Remixologists, an events company in New York and Philadelphia, recommends the playlists “Indie Dinner Party,” “Jazzy Dinner,” and “Feel Good Dinner” on Spotify....

Considering how frequently we use olive oil, it makes sense that so many home cooks keep the bottle right next to the stove within arm’s reach. Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in regards to keeping your favorite ingredient fresh. Olive oil deteriorates and turns rancid more rapidly when exposed to light, heat, and air—so storing it next to the hot stove (and under the bright overhead lighting) is just about the worst place possible....

The French press is a low-lift way to make a delicious cup of coffee at home, and we’re willing to bet you already have one stashed away in your kitchen cupboard from that time your in-laws insisted upon buying you one years ago. The press pot offers direct infusion for full-bodied coffee, and is an ideal companion for dark roasts. Here are step-by-step instructions for making a rich and complex cup of French press coffee, according to Patrick Main, the beverage innovator at Peet’s Coffee....

You have already created the “reality” in which you exist via the thoughts, habits, and actions you’ve repeated over and over throughout your life. You will experience whatever you believe. And you will believe whatever you repeatedly tell yourself is true. This is why ditching those types of mantras and consciously creating (and endlessly repeating) ones that are aligned with what you’d like to experience and who you’d like to become is a powerful way to change your life....

Updating doors with all-new hardware can get expensive. But that’s not the only way to change the finish for a more modern look. You can quickly refresh dated brass or basic nickel hardware with just a few coats of spray paint, which typically costs less than $10 a can. By painting instead of replacing your door hardware, you can achieve the exact look you want for a fraction of the cost....

What You’ll Need: ScrewdriverPlastic bag Drop cloth Palm sander Sandpaper (80-, 120-, and 220-grit)Anti-vibration glovesTack cloth (or damp cloth)PrimerPaintPaintbrush (A high-quality 2-inch brush is an excellent default, but having a range of small, medium, and large brushes can come in handy)Sealant What’s the Best Paint for Furniture? The best paint for furniture ultimately depends on how you’ll use the piece, as well as the aesthetic you want to achieve. Matte finishes are on-trend right now, and create a soft appearance....

On this week’s Money Confidential, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez tackles wedding planning to help 30-year-old Jane (not her real name) come up with a realistic financial plan for her celebration. Jane is torn, balancing the financial burden of her wedding with the emotional experience of having all the people she loves in the same spot. “I don’t want to spend however many tens of thousands of dollars on essentially a six-hour party, but we also don’t want to sacrifice that really wonderful experience of having our families travel to Colorado and really get to meet one another,” she says....

What many people think of as the blooms of bougainvillea aren’t actually blooms at all. The showy paper-like structures are a modified leaf called a bract. These bracts hide the actual flowers inside, which are small and trumpet-shaped in whites and yellows. The showy bracts are typically found on new growth, with the showiest display following their winter dormancy. Normally, you’ll see the best blooms following a dry winter....

Where to Plant Periwinkle It seems like every garden has a tricky dark corner where no grass will grow and perennials fizzle out. Enter periwinkle. This tough-as-nails shade lover seems to look increasingly lush year after year without needing much care. With its vigorous sprawling habit, periwinkle can easily colonize any area. As periwinkle plants grow, they have a knack for laying down roots wherever their stems come in contact with soil....

Most of the time, muscle cramps go away on their own. But why do they happen in the first place? And what can you do to relieve a cramp the next time you get one? We talked to a couple of experts to find out. How and Why Toe Cramps Occur Cramps happen when one of your muscles suddenly and involuntarily contracts. These cramps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes....

How to Set a Thanksgiving Table Supplies Needed You’ll need one of every item below for each guest you plan to have at dinner. Placemats or chargersPlatesNapkinsNapkin ringsSilverwareWine glassesWater glassesBowlsBread plates Step-by-Step Directions With a few supplies and these how-to instructions, you can set a beautiful Thanksgiving table. Customize your Thanksgiving table setting with your favorite dishes and decor. Step 1: Plates and Napkins Before even setting down a plate on your Thanksgiving dinner table, consider chargers or placemats....

Recycle From A to Z This A to Z guide explains how to recycle batteries, light bulbs, and more. Basics, like paper, can typically just go in the recycling bin, while other items may require a little extra recycling effort. If it can be recycled (or otherwise disposed of using a zero waste method), you can learn how to do it here. A Aerosol cans: These are usually recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely....

“Muscle soreness is caused by micro-tears and inflammation in the muscle and is a response to physical stress from exercise,” says Kyle Gonzalez, NSCA, CSCS, CES, FMS level 1, a performance coach at Future, an app that pairs users with a remote fitness coach. “The micro-tears, increased blood flow, and inflammation cause mild swelling, which makes pain receptors more sensitive to movement. Soreness is a natural process, but without the right guidance it can be debilitating and lead to injury....

Before you begin, read through the steps and ensure you have all of the necessary cleaning supplies on hand. We used common household supplies, like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll also want to double-check what cabinet material you’re working with. The difference between wood and laminate, for example, can sometimes be tricky to spot. Consult your cabinet owner’s manual or speak with a cabinet professional if you’re unsure. When to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets We recommend a two-part cabinet cleaning method that incorporates both weekly and seasonal touch-ups to save time and energy....

So, how should you go about cleaning off your makeup so you can start anew tomorrow? We chatted with Nancy Satur, MD, board-certified dermatologist, medical director and CEO of Curology, to find out the right steps to removing your makeup at the end of the day. Do You Have to Remove Makeup Before Going to Bed? Ready for a little controversy? According to Satur, you don’t technically have to remove your makeup before bed, as long as you’re wearing the right kind....

“The sun’s UV rays can cause uneven pigmentation, brown spots, broken blood vessels, and white spots,” explains Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist. “It can also break down the collagen and elastic tissue leading to wrinkles and sagging of the skin.” While a full reversal of sun damage isn’t always feasible, there are a handful of treatments and products that can partially turn back the clock and curb future damage....