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While browsing the aisles of Ulta, I wandered aimlessly through the hair section seeking out volumizing and thickening products that I haven’t already tried. So, when I stumbled across Drybar’s Southern Belle Volume-Boosting Root Lifter, I thought: Why not? I hadn’t tested a mousse since middle school and was intrigued that it specifically targets the roots. And after my first use, I was cursing the fact that I hadn’t bought it sooner....

Of course, shopping smart doesn’t mean thrifting things you don’t need. Instead, it’s about being savvy with the purchases you do need (or at least really want) in order to save you money—we’re talking about saving hundreds to thousands of dollars, especially if the items on your shopping list are as major as a house or car. Simply buying a used car can save you enough money to bulk up a few months of living expenses for an emergency fund....

Earlier this year, probably amid a tense week of playing “whose turn to wash the dishes this time?,” a friend came through with a recommendation that would prove revelatory. Scrub Daddy is like a sponge, but better, and I liked its cheeky name and smiling countenance right off the bat. Scrub Daddy The Original FlexTexture Sponge To buy: 4-pack for $16 (was $29); amazon.com The stout, round yellow scrubber is made of polymer foam using proprietary technology called FlexTexture, meaning it changes firmness depending on the temperature of water you use....

Worn by celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, and Gabrielle Union, the bags have quite the following. As you might have guessed, they’re not exactly cheap; however, their superior quality and sharp looks make their hefty price tags well worth it. Senreve doesn’t typically offer its bags at discounted prices, but right now, it’s having an incredibly rare sale on gently handled merchandise (think bags used in photoshoots or displayed in showrooms), so you can scoop up a high-quality purse for a fraction of its usual price....

The Macy’s After-Christmas sale will save you 20 to 60 percent on looks for the new year, winter accessories to help keep you cozy, and more, and score an extra 20 percent off select items with code JOY. You’ll find exclusive deals on brands like Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Lancôme, MAC, DKNY, Cole Haan, and Calvin Klein. We spent hours sifting through deals to put together a list of the best offers we could find....

But now, it appears that the market is starting to cool off—and buyers may be gaining the upper hand again. For example, a recent Redfin survey reveals that the bidding-war rate has dropped to the lowest level since April, 2020. This is due, in part, because of the increased mortgage rates, which have influenced more buyers to put their plan to own a home on hold. With the shifting market, exactly how much leverage do buyers have?...

In fact, a July 2022 report by Attom, a property data provider, reveals that profits for home sellers surged in the midst of a new round of price spikes, and median home prices are up in almost every U.S. metro area. With homeownership becoming more out of reach, some millennials and members of Gen Z are looking at other ways to purchase a home—such as getting assistance from parents and grandparents....

We came up with six delicious ways to work the sweet side of your machine. Sure, you could make similar versions in the oven, but the slow cooker provides a slow (duh) even heat that, for some cakes, is far superior to the traditional oven treatment. Our Slow Cooker Cheesecake, for example, sets up with a delectable custard-like texture, with no water bath required. And we suggest scooping the Chocolate Pudding Cake straight from the slow cooker into the dessert dish....

“They wanted a home that looked like adults lived there: warm and inviting, and a combination of their personalities and interests,” AbouZanat says. “This couple has a large collection of record albums, books, clothes, and shoes, so creating and designing extra storage space was essential, too.” The galley kitchen was enclosed in its own corner, and the original parquet floors were in bad shape. The living area and bedroom were spacious, thankfully, and the solitary bathroom had enough square footage for two....

“There should be at least two or three elements in each space of our homes that bring a smile to our faces, serving as a constant reminder that in the grand scheme of things, everything is and will be alright,” says Quarles (pictured, above). Add pattern with wallpaper (or paint your own) To make the most of the natural light that floods the dining room throughout the day, Quarles went with white paint, and originally had plans to use wallpaper for an accent wall....

“This home was built in 1907, and had historic details like wainscoting, high ceilings, and white paneling,” Gutierrez says. “It also had lots of windows that let plenty of light into the home.” The owners had lived in San Francisco for over a decade when they called Gutierrez and Richardson for help, and they envisioned this Bernal Heights address as the place where they would eventually start a family. The couple wanted to hold onto its longstanding charms, but hoped to integrate that history into a modern design of striking yet approachable style....

Dairy and Staples Hummus Keep tubs on hand, plus bags of baby carrots. The combo is a low-fat, high-protein snack alternative to hunks of cheese or a fistful of cookies. Cheese Replace mellow, soft cheeses with sharp, harder ones. A small amount packs lots of flavor, saving you both dollars and fat grams. Look for aged Cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Eggs Keep eggs in their carton on a lower shelf to guard against the loss of carbon dioxide and moisture....

For the study, originally published in Translational Psychiatry, researchers set out to understand how meditation and exercise would affect depression symptoms for 22 participants with clinical depression and 30 participants who were mentally healthy. Tracey Shors, professor in the Department of Psychology and Center for Collaborative Neuroscience in the School of Arts and Sciences, knew from animal studies in her lab that aerobic exercise can increase new brain cell production, while “effortful learning keeps a significant number of those cells alive....

The answer from the Food & Drug Administration is pretty clear: All shelf-stable products, including sunscreen products, typically have a life of three years from their manufacturing date. This can be tricky to remember since most brands conceal expiration info in a light-colored font on their bottle. When in doubt, Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, recommends writing the date you purchased that best sunscreen on the bottle with a permanent marker so you can keep up with the three-year time frame....

I haven’t really done a ton for 4th of July in past years. I mean I did a nautical 4th of July like ten years ago and of course this 4th of July party back in Texas was a hit. But 4th of July just isn’t really my thing. This year was different and it felt like 4th of July needed to be really celebrated after the year we’ve had....

Since your time is too valuable to spend hours scrolling through thousands of online deals, we did the heavy lifting for you. Kitchen items, vacuums, electronics, clothing, and home goods are all on sale, and these deals are too good to miss. Keep reading to shop our 10 favorite picks below. Best Spring Target Deals: Shark Robot Vacuum, $250 (was $400) Keurig K-Slim Single-Serve Coffee Maker, $100 (was $130) Opalhouse Oslari Wood Writing Desk, $119 (was $170) TCL 50-Inch Classic Four-Series Smart Roku TV, $360 (was $470) Opalhouse Designed With Jungalow Botanical Leaf Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper, $21 per roll (was $34 per roll) A New Day Women’s Sweatshirt, $13 (was $18) Bose SoundLink Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, $100 (was $130) Glasslock 10-Piece Glass Storage Container Set, $30 (was $39) Universal Thread High-Rise Slim Straight Jeans, $27 (was $30) Threshold Designed With Studio McGee Sunnyvale Woven Accent Chair, $150 (was $250)...

Asian Lady Beetles vs. Ladybugs You can identify a ladybug by its markings and size. There are several different species, with most sporting red shells and various numbers of black spots. Their heads tend to be black with small white “cheeks.” Ladybugs are typically rounder and smaller than Asian lady beetles if you look at them side-by-side. Asian lady beetles also have larger white “cheek” markings and have more white on their heads overall....

Michael Benevides, Vice President of Portugalia Marketplace, says there are certain factors you should consider before you decide on a gift basket. “[This includes] the recipient’s interests and taste, the theme (e.g., should the food be sweet, savory, or both?), the quantity of products (e.g., a basket with few higher-priced items or one with many less expensive ones?), whether there will be perishable offerings, and how the gift will look when the recipient opens it,” he says....

“The most important factors when deciding on a grill are the types of foods you hope to cook, the fuel type you would like to use, the cooking surface you would like to cook on, and your budget,” said Paul Kindem, owner of Original Grills. Because there are so many grills on the market, it can be difficult to decide which is the best grill for your backyard. To help, we researched the best grills out there, keeping in mind the type, size, cook surface size, heating power, and any bonus features....

“You need to consider what fabrics make the most sense for your couch,” says Jung Lee, event architect and founder of Fête, Jung Lee NY, and Slowdance. “For example, if you have pets, you need a fabric that is pet-friendly.” Couch covers are available in various sizes, fabrics, and colors to fit any couch, loveseat, or chair. No matter what type of couch cover you’re looking for, this list has plenty of options to provide some extra protection and style....