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Questions to Ask About Their Finances The Big Question: Do You Have a Will? A will determines the future of not only money and property, but also pets and even token mementos. When someone dies without a will, their estate is divided in probate court, where a judge decides who gets the assets. “This can cost thousands of dollars and take months,” says Christina Lesher, a Houston-based elder-law attorney. “Even if the deceased told a loved one her wishes before she died, a verbal statement won’t hold up in court....

According to the professional journal SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), among U.S. workers aged 61 to 66, a mere 29 percent say they plan to take some sort of phased approach to retirement. Meanwhile, the share of organizations offering select employees a phased retirement approach (on an informal basis) has risen in recent years, reaching 15 percent among employers that responded to a 2019 SHRM benefits survey. The roll-out of more formal phased retirement programs, which are broadly available to all employees, has stalled at around 6 percent....

Tretinoin, a type of retinoid frequently used to treat acne, is getting new life as an anti-aging ingredient, and dermatologists say it can be extremely effective in reversing signs of aging like fine lines and dark spots. To understand why (and to determine if it could be for you), you first need to know how it works. “Although people often think of retinols and retinoids interchangeably, they are not exactly the same,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City....

Feng shui triggers your subconscious brain to make new choices according to what you want to bring into your life. Whether you seek money, balance, happiness, or a renewed sense of clarity, feng shui can help. Using Color An easy way to feng shui your home is to employ color. According to feng shui expert, Ashley Cantley, “Color has a profound effect on how you behave and on your energy level—it can increase or decrease it....

So what does that possibly mean? Flexitarianism is a hybrid, personal diet, which varies based on the person following it. That is to say, someone may strictly adhere to Meatless Mondays or be completely vegan before dark, or only eat meat or dairy (or both) on special occasions, and all of these people fit into the flexitarian diet. The commonalities is that the intention behind a flexitarian diet is to eat fewer animal products, whether for environmental, ethical, or nutritional reasons, or an amalgamation of all three....

Printable Super Bowl Squares Game When I was working full-time my office would always do a little Super Bowl Squares game for Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not the only one. It’s one of the most popular things to do on Super Bowl Sunday! I mean other than eat all the spinach artichoke dip and chili (you’ve gotta try this Cincinnati chili recipe if you haven’t already)! It’s a fun game that keeps things interesting for everyone even if your team isn’t playing or your team isn’t playing well....

I’m a huge fan of scavenger hunts if you couldn’t tell from my Christmas scavenger hunt, my birthday scavenger hunt, and my Halloween scavenger hunt. Or any of the other ones I’ve created for all the holidays so far. So it’s funny. I actually created this scavenger hunt for my oldest son, but you could easily use it for a boyfriend, husband, or significant other as well. There’s nothing really that makes it kid specific so feel free to use it for whoever for Valentine’s Day!...

What to Do If You Can’t Sleep According to findings from a 2016 study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (presented at the SLEEP Conference in 2016), getting out of bed when you can’t sleep—instead of staying in bed and trying to sleep—can prevent 70 to 80 percent of acute insomnia cases from turning into chronic insomnia. For the study, researchers tracked the time spent in bed and the sleeping habits of 416 people over the course of a year....

What do you think when you heard the word wassail? Do you think of the song about going wassailing or do you think of a warm, flavorful, and aroma filled drink like this one? It’s both but in all cases, it’s a fun holiday tradition! (And it’s the answer to one of my Christmas Jeopardy questions!) I personally love wassail and make it every year. Sometimes I use different recipes but it’s almost always the same staple flavors – apple, orange, cinnamon, and other holiday spices like cloves....

Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Hair Every Day The scalp produces oils that travel down the hair shaft, locking in hydration. Shampooing too frequently washes away these oils before they go anywhere, leaving your hair dry. “Excessive dryness then leads to significant breakage,” said Dr. Michelle Henry, MD of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan. How Often You Should Wash Your Hair Based on Texture Vernon François, celebrity hairstylist and founder of the Vernon Francois Collection, says the answer depends on both hair texture and lifestyle....

If you are one of the many workers who have moved closer to family, moved to less crowded or less expensive areas, or tried a “workcation” for a change of scenery, your taxes might look different this year. This is especially true if you worked while living in a different state than where you’re employed or have your permanent residence. Ahead are a few top tax tips that all remote workers, particularly digital nomads, should keep in mind....

Reader question: Can you explain how to apply fake lashes and make them look natural? —Reagan Fowler As someone who has clearly loved all things beauty for a long time, I will say that the thing that took me the longest to learn was falsies. Those hairy strips are the most frustrating buggers when they don’t go down—or stay down—the way you want them to (those ends are cursed), not to mention the fact that sticking glue so close to your eyeball feels downright terrifying....

But when it comes to choosing an eco-conscious wine, things can get a little complicated. Unlike our fruits and vegetables, the FDA doesn’t regulate terminology or certifications on wine, leading to confusing labeling and undefined language. So how do you find a bottle that’s up to your standards? First, you need to know the lingo. There are four main terms used to communicate everything from how the grapes were grown to how the wine is made: Organic, Biodynamic, Natural, and Sustainable....

Since citrus fruit season typically lasts from November to June each year (though that window may change based on where you live), now is the perfect time to brush up on your orange knowledge, including how to pick out a ripe orange, and how to properly store oranges at home so they stay fresh for as long as possible. Once you’ve got a bunch of ripe oranges in your possession, you can use them to make fresh-squeezed orange juice, homemade orange marmalade—the secret to stellar orange chicken and an orange crostata—or save ’em so they can help zhuzh up a cocktail....

How to Clean a Microfiber Couch What You Need Vacuum with upholstery attachmentStiff fabric brush (optional)Microfiber clothBaby wipes (optional) Step 1: Vacuum or Brush the Couch Take care of your microfiber couch as you do your carpet; a good rule to follow is to vacuum the couch every time you vacuum the floor. If possible, try to enlist a “no pets on the couch” rule to help control pet hair....

To cook: A frisky lobster (which is how you want them) can make cooking a horrifying experience. There are two ways to slow it down. A few minutes in the freezer will stun it, or you can try to “hypnotize” it. Hold one by the base of the carapace (back), where it meets the tail. Stand the creature on its “nose” on the counter and stroke its back up and down....

A Halloween tree is exactly what you’d expect: A faux Christmas tree decorated in festive Halloween shades like orange and black rather than the traditional Christmas red and green. Instead of beads and ornaments, these trees are decorated with all kinds of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. More than 54,000 posts on Instagram are tagged under #halloweentree, and the images are incredible. We’ve rounded up our favorite Halloween trees to inspire you with ideas for how to decorate a Halloween tree, whether with skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, or witches....

How to Deep Clean Your House As you go through each room in your home, begin with these deep cleaning tips to streamline the process. 1. Declutter Before Deep Cleaning Find a new place for (or better yet, get rid of) any visible clutter that does not belong in the room. Save the stuff behind closed doors for another day to help simplify your deep cleaning checklist. Clearing clutter makes deep cleaning easier and seeing those tidy surfaces can help boost your motivation to keep going....

So how can you avoid “face mask face”? We consulted a dermatologist, tanning expert, and senior researcher at Medicare to find out how to handle uneven lines without compromising your safety. How to Avoid Face Mask Tan Lines Like a lot of skin issues, face mask tan lines can be prevented with good SPF practices, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen. Apply facial SPF before putting on your mask, and reapply religiously throughout the day....

To make matters worse, pimples share some similarities with cold sores (especially in terms of appearance), which could easily elicit confusion in someone who’s suffering a breakout. The good news? Pimples and cold sores actually have very little in common, making them pretty easy to distinguish from one another once you know exactly what to look for. And although battling blemishes around your mouth might seem like an uphill battle, there are methods you can take to tackle the nasty buggers along your lip line....