That’s the big concern on the mind of this week’s guest, Viola (not her real name), a 39-year-old woman who recently was able to purchase a home in the Atlanta suburbs, thanks to a life insurance policy her mother had taken out before her death. Viola is hoping to make sure that she is able to give the family home to her son down the line. “I’m probably a little too hard on myself trying to leave that legacy for him,” Viola says....
What exactly is HIIT? HIIT—which stands for high-intensity interval training—is, simply put, a type of workout that alternates between hard (high-intensity) and easy work. “During this workout, you spike the heart rate to near max levels of exertion (70 to 90 percent of max heart rate) followed by a brief period of activity recovery (55 to 65 percent max heart rate) or complete rest,” says Mike Donavanik, certified strength and conditioning specialist and celebrity trainer in Los Angeles, and the founder and CEO of Sweat Factor....
Monk fruit sweetener is one such example of the latter. It’s been rising in the ranks of popularity right alongside the reduced-sugar, low-carb movement (and the keto diet craze). Like other sweeteners, monk fruit extract can be added to foods or drinks to enhance sweetness without excess calories. It’s often seen on the ingredient list in reduced-sugar beverages, baked goods, ice creams, and yogurts, though you can buy monk fruit extract as-is and add it to food and drinks on your own, as well....
While outdoor therapy has been a smart solution in recent years, particularly growing in popularity over the pandemic as it offered a safe, socially distanced alternative to meeting in person, it also has a number of physical and mental health benefits that make this type of service likely to stay for good. Here’s everything you need to know about outdoor therapy, including how it works and how it can be just as productive—if not more productive—than traditional talk therapy, in-office or virtual....
What is Pu-erh Tea? Pu-erh comes from Yunnan, a Chinese province nestled against the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. This fermented tea falls into one of three types: raw, cooked (also called ripe), or aged. Raw pu-erh has a lot in common with green tea. Cooked pu-erh, a more modern innovation that emulates aging through a “piling” process, tastes more like black tea. When making the third type, aged pu-erh, producers treat leaves to encourage fermentation to build next-level subtlety....
What is Vermicomposting? Vermi is Latin for worm, so vermicomposting is simply the decomposition of plant materials by worms. Worms consume the kitchen scraps that you feed them, and release castings (worm droppings), also called vermicompost. This is recycling at its best, transforming waste into a valuable resource for your garden. Vermicompost not only feeds plants, but it improves your soil’s texture, and may provide some protection against certain pests. It’s superior to traditional compost in several ways....
How to Defrost a Turkey There are three ways to safely defrost a turkey. One of the most common ways to achieve a perfectly thawed turkey is in the refrigerator, but plan ahead because it takes the longest (days!) and takes up a lot of space. Another go-to and quick-ish way to defrost a turkey is submerging it in cold water. It’s undeniably more hands-on since it requires changing the water every 30 minutes, but it’s the next best option if you missed the window to defrost the turkey in the refrigerator....
Leftover Pie Crust Churro Bites For a warm cinnamon snack that’s great for guests, we suggest making churro bites with your leftover pie crust. Start by rolling out the pie dough into a large circle. Cut into small rectangles, toss in cinnamon sugar (you can use the ratio from our cinnamon-sugar tortilla strips), and bake at 350°F until puffed and golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Serve on top of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt....
The Difference Between Pastry Flour and All-Purpose Flour Pastry flour is a low-protein, specialty flour ideal for baked goods. On average, pastry flour has an 8 to 9 percent protein count versus all-purpose flour, which contains approximately a 10 to 12 percent protein count. For pastries like biscuits, scones, pie crusts, and quick breads, a lower protein count means a lighter, flakier dough. Protein count is equated with the amount of gluten in flour; the higher the protein count, the more gluten in your flour, which will result in a denser dough....
Some people like a DIY approach that involves getting to know their body really well; others prefer kits that do the job for them. Either way, it helps to know more about what’s going on in there and why, and what all your options are for knowing when you’re ovulating and when your most fertile days are. What Is Ovulation? Your ovaries hold thousands of eggs, and ovulation happens each month when your hormones tell your ovaries to release a mature egg down the fallopian tube....
Now the good news: The tide is finally turning. A new study from Fidelity titled Women and Investing reveals some very promising changes emerging. Some of the most exciting highlights include: Women are investing in record numbers. Two-thirds of women (67 percent) are now investing savings accumulated outside of retirement and emergency funds in the stock market. That figure represents a 50 percent increase since Fidelity first started conducting this particular study in 2018....
While some benefits have income limits, others can be used no matter what your family makes. So whether you’re just looking to upgrade your appliances—or you want to make updates that’ll add up to big energy savings for your entire home—here’s how you may be able to save big. Switch to electric appliances If you’re in the market for new appliances, you could score significant rebates on new electric stoves or cooktops, water heaters, and dryers—and even help covering any electrical work required to make the switch from gas to electric....
The line includes armchairs, loveseats, sofas, and tables in two styles: one called the Savannah and another called the Pablo. Both designs feature weather-resistant cushions, lightweight, rust-proof aluminum frames, and acacia wood accents. But where the Savannah is defined by a black frame, dark wood details, and beige cushions, the Pablo has a white frame, light wood details, and gray cushions. Mix and match the pieces to create a setup that works for your unique space....
Fall books come in as many varieties as the changing leaves. You can read a campus novel and relive your glory days at school, or you can find a book with vivid descriptions of foliage and the frost nipping the air. But in October, it’s time for a different kind of chill: Pick up a literary horror classic to put yourself in the Halloween spirit. Campus novels and other education-themed stories are a literary tradition....
I was asked by Disney Parks to show you how to create a Disney Kids themed preschool playdate and since my son’s birthday party was last month, we decided to skip the playdate and go all out with a birthday party instead! Any of the tips in this post will work for a birthday party or a playdate! For my son’s 4th birthday party, we decided to come up things to represent some of my son’s favorite things from our Disney World vacations over the past two years....
Even though today’s the last day to score big during the Prime Early Access Sale, there is so much in store, so you’ll need to start shopping before the deals end by 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. Sure, the 48-hour sale is exclusive to Prime members, truly anyone can shop and save. The benefit of signing up for a Prime membership? You’ll gain access to select unique sales, Prime Video, and of course, that coveted free two-day shipping....
Technically, air fryers are mini convection ovens, meaning they use convection fans to circulate hot air around foods (think: french fries, chicken wings, crispy Brussels sprouts). This gives them an irresistible fried-like texture with almost no oil. Air fried foods won’t taste exactly like their deep-fried counterparts, but they’ll have a crispy exterior thanks to the maillard reaction. What’s that? The maillard reaction is the scientific name for the reaction taking place between amino acids and/or proteins and sugars when they’re heated and transformed into something more delicious, usually meaning the food has browned or become crispy....
Many of these credit card perks go beyond the travel or cash-back rewards many cards tout. Sometimes they go hand-in-hand, but for the most part, you may have great credit card perks even if you don’t have a rewards credit card. The opposite is also true: That rewards credit card may be doubly worth the annual fee (if it has one at all) if it comes with extra perks. Picking a credit card requires considering all the financial details—the APR, annual fees, whether it uses deferred interest for an initial signing benefit—but if those factors seem acceptable and the card comes with great perks, that card might be worth signing up for....
Whether you’re looking for fall festival games or ones to play at home, they’re great for all ages. It’s time to fall in love with the fall all over again with these fun fall games! Hilarious Fall Party Games People keep saying the summer is over, but our 90 degree weather begs to differ. Yesterday it was so muggy I thought I was in the deep south in the middle of summer....
Test Garden Tip: Keep in mind that you’ll cut back ornamental grasses close to the ground in early spring, so there will be a month or two while your grasses are growing when you won’t have a screen. Test Garden Tip: To create the most dramatic effect with grasses, look for the unexpected. Try contrasting colors (such as golden grass in a blue pot), textures, or shapes and sizes. Test Garden Tip: Maximize the effect by planting several different grasses in the same landscape....
