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In order to understand how this works, you have to be aware of how stress can impact digestion. Notice how you get butterflies in your stomach when you’re nervous? There’s a direct pathway from the brain to the gut—and it’s called the vagus nerve. Researchers from Switzerland find that stimulating the vagus nerve in certain ways can beneficially impact some psychological conditions like anxiety and depression. One way to do this is by breathing deeply and slowly....

Research published in 2019 confirmed a higher mortality risk among adults who engaged in minimal-to-no physical activity. Little changes, like taking the stairs between floors or walking home from the grocery store instead of driving, are easy ways to add some low-impact exercise into your daily routine. RELATED: This Quick Full-Body Stretching Routine Will Help Loosen Stiff Muscles Between-meal energy dips and cravings are a signal to reach for protein-packed, nutrient-rich munchies....

Below, check out all our favorite home decor trends spotted in the Real Simple Home, and get inspiration for your next interior design refresh. Take a Virtual Tour of the Real Simple Home Here! Checkerboard Checkerboard rugs, pants, and vases, oh my! Even though this pattern is anything but new, it’s undergone a massive revival throughout fashion and home interiors recently. Interior designer Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio has been loving the trend, and she added a neutral-toned checkerboard rug in the bold-colored guest bedroom to add pattern to the space without overwhelming it with another bright shade....

More benefits? The game-day classic tends to be heartier than most soups, freezes well, and is one of the easiest, most adaptable dishes you can whip up. Don’t like ground beef and tomatoes? Use ground chicken, chicken stock, and white beans to make a flavorful helping of white chili instead. Worried that the kale you bought last week is slowly withering away in your refrigerator? Toss it in your next pot of chili so you can use it before it’s too late....

The summer is all about the outdoors! Invite your friends and entire family over for the ultimate summer backyard bash for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or any of the days in between. There are so many different ways you could do this, but I’ve put together some of my absolute favorite recipes, activities, and decorations to help make it easy to host and make sure everyone has a fun time!...

1. Add Soft Whites One of the benefits of a neutral color palette is that it makes it easier to update your style from one season to the next. Decorating in white, cream, and ivory provides the perfect backdrop for adding fall accents. If you don’t have a neutral color scheme or prefer a little more color, simply decorate seasonally with neutral colors. Use white and cream elements like throw blankets, pillows, rugs, and even pumpkins to balance a more colorful background....

1. A Sturdy Coat Rack When guests come to visit, don’t just throw their coats onto the bed or the back of the sofa. Store them in style on a standing or hanging coat rack. This entryway coat rack is mounted above a bench, creating the perfect spot for removing coats, hats, bags, scarves, and other everyday items. Keep baskets or bins tucked away nearby to serve as a catch-all for odds and ends....

It’s normal to feel disenchanted and flat-out sad about Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve when we can’t spend time with people near and dear to us. While those feelings are normal and expected, it’s essential to find coping strategies to make the most of the season, no matter what. We solicited experts for their best advice for feeling connected and remaining positive during the holidays. To feel closer to loved ones, certified holistic wellness coach Kama Hagar suggests putting innovative spins on traditional routines: maybe a cook-off where every household recreates a classic dish and everyone votes on the presentation, or a cook-along where the family secret techniques and ingredients are revealed....

A variety of backyard lighting ideas can help you illuminate your hangout zone and add a magical element to your space. Achieving a bright and glowy look is also easier than you think. From a charming string of well-placed bistro lights to pro landscaping solutions, these backyard lighting ideas will make your outdoor space the ideal place to spend time and enjoy the company of loved ones. Highlight Architectural Elements Call attention to your home’s exterior in all the right ways with strategic lighting placement that highlights all the most stunning aspects of your abode’s architecture....

The family bathroom makeover was made possible with a game-changing update: A fixed glass panel was added to delineate a shower that fills the space of the original 1948 pink tub. To waterproof the stall, white ceramic subway tile over cement board runs floor to ceiling and wraps the edges of the window recess. What makes the new doorless shower work? Moving the controls to the opposite wall, mounting a pan-style showerhead on a curved arm, and protecting the surfaces with tile....

Popularity According to Houzz’s 2022 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study, kitchen islands are one of the most sought-after upgrades for any culinary corner. The study found that a whopping 57% of renovating homeowners either add or upgrade an existing kitchen island. That number doesn’t include the non-renovating homeowners that would love to add an island if they could afford it or feasibly alter their existing layout. “We see thousands of kitchen renovations at Sweeten, and an island is often on the ‘must-have’ list,” says Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten, a platform that matches homeowners with vetted general contractors....

An Avengers Party My family is a little superhero obsessed, so you can probably imagine how many Avengers parties I’ve hosted in my lifetime. Movie nights, pre-movie release parties, just want to get together with friends Avengers parties – you name it, and I’ve probably done it. When the original The Avengers came out in theaters my family went and watched the full movie marathon on Thursday night leading up toThe Avengers movie at midnight....

When selecting house numbers, first consider the architectural style of your home. For a contemporary home, consider a streamlined house number design; cottage-style homes, on the other hand, often benefit from unique house numbers with a little more flourish. Decide on the style that best suits you and your home as you gather inspiration. House Number Materials Many materials can be adapted for creative house number ideas. Consider choosing a material already somewhere else on your home’s exterior, such as metal or wood....

These foam dinosaurs are one of the easiest dinosaur craft ideas for kids, perfect for an afternoon playdate, preschool, or just a kid who loves dinosaurs! It’s time for another edition of #MakeItFunCrafts and this month our challenge was using FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Eggs to create a kids craft. Since my two-year-old is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs these days, we decided to turn our eggs into fun foam dinosaurs....

There are some foods that are just nostalgic because we grew up eating them. Things like pizza rolls, spaghetti-os, and grilled cheese come to mind for me immediately. That and of course my still favorites pizza loaf and striped delight. And then there are the nostalgic treats that everyone loves so much – moon pies (this homemade moon pie recipe is way better), Little Debbie snack cakes of pretty much every kind, and of course Dunkaroos....

If you gave me a choice of a treat – so we’re not talking about a dessert like pumpkin delight or pumpkin crunch cake, but more a cookie or a bar – I would choose a homemade rice krispy treat every single time. Homemade rice krispie treats are my weakness. When they’re good – the ones that are soft and a little gooey – rice krispy cereal treats are so good....

Featuring playful, minimalistic packaging, the collection stars 33 skincare, haircare, and wellness products, including moisturizers, shampoos/conditioners, and gummy supplements to help with all your stress and sleep woes. The skincare collection currently consists of cleansers, scrubs, moisturizers, and face masks, which you can already view—and purchase—on the brand’s website. Each product is formulated specifically for your unique hair and skin type, including oily, dry, and sensitive skin, and a range suitable for “all” skin types....

“After a shower, your clean pores will open in the steam, making it the perfect time to apply your perfume,” says Vince Spinnato, a celebrity fragrance developer, “certified nose,” and CEO of TurnKey Beauty Ltd. “However, don’t apply the perfume while your skin is still wet as it will only rub off when you dry yourself.” “Dry skin will not hold on to your fragrance as long as moisturized skin will, so moisturize, moisturize, moisturize,” says Cordelia Smith, fragrance expert and founder of Formulary 55....

According to National Geographic, “Noise pollution impacts millions of people on a daily basis. The most common health problem it causes is Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Exposure to loud noise can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress. These health problems can affect all age groups, especially children.” For those living in bustling towns, the ideal option might be to move to a quieter locale....

To carve the pumpkins: We carved five flame-design pumpkins for this project. Build the Campfire with Pumpkin Flames When your carved pumpkin flames are ready, build a log base for your faux campfire. We made ours from cut log pieces used for firewood. Layer the log pieces directly on the ground in a circular shape. To make the pumpkin tower, stack the largest carved pumpkins on the bottom, and then work your way up with progressively smaller pumpkins....