“What customers love about working with our designers is that they can create multi-functional spaces—one example is building a wall bed into a home office. This allows for ‘zoom by day, guest room by night,’ which comes in handy when grandparents come to visit.” Another option: in a small space, like the side of a living room or guest room, this convertible desk (pictured) from California Closets’ The Everyday System can be adjusted to different heights....

A few smart tips to keep in mind: First, remove all excess moisture from the butternut squash fries before coating them with cornstarch. “This will help them to get more crisp in the oven,” Jawad says. Also, make sure to cut the fries as evenly and thinly as you can to help them get more browned and ensure that they cook through evenly. And lastly, avoid over-crowding your pan with the cut fries....

For this recipe, chili powder adds a ton of flavor with a blend of garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried chilis. Chopped onion ensures that the patty is flavorful but not bland or dry. Finally, the burger is topped with lime mayo and sliced avocado. Once you try it alongside the seasoned potato wedges, you might never return to traditional beef burgers. 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 pound ground turkey (preferably dark meat) ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion ½ cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon lime zest, plus 2 Tbsp....

Kindly, a new sustainable intimates label, created the world’s first plant-based bra after three years of research, testing, and going through 30 iterations of designs. Today, a variety of the eco-friendly bra styles are now exclusively available in stores and online at Walmart. Products range from classic T-shirt bras and wireless bras to casual bralettes. Each is made from at least 75 percent recycled material and includes bra cups that are more than 70 percent plant-based....

Maybe you have spent the past few decades saving or you haven’t given it much thought, but either way, it’s never too late. “If you are 10 years from retirement right now and have done no planning whatsoever, it is not too late to start,” says Ryan Cicchelli, founder of Generations Insurance and Financial Services. Cicchelli says he has helped plenty of people in this situation who were still able to start saving and get on track for their retirement goals....

Fireflies are predators of many garden pests and essential pollinators, so it’s crucial to find out if their numbers are growing or shrinking. That’s why Mass Audubon, a nonprofit that protects over 38,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, asks people to spend 10 minutes per week counting firefly flashes. Even if you don’t see any, that will still provide valuable information to scientists. If you want to participate in the project, keep an eye out for fireflies before they usually come out in your area....

Cover Crop Benefits Cover cropping can benefit any garden, says horticulture educator Chris Enroth with Illinois Extension. In addition to crowding out weeds, it puts down roots that feed the soil’s community of living organisms—including fungi, bacteria, and earthworms—that provide nutrients to future plantings. A cover crop’s roots and organic materials also loosen compacted soil and produce binding agents. These help soil filter water to plant roots and hold some of it there for later rather than pooling it on the surface or letting it run off, taking soil with it....

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a type of savings account with a fixed interest rate and fixed time period. CDs typically have higher interest rates than other savings accounts—meaning you can get more out of what you put in—but they often require you to lock money in for a set period of time (often between three months and five years) and have an early withdrawal penalty. Depending on your individual goals and needs, CDs can be a great way to optimize your savings, or you may be better off opting for another option....

What is a rain chain? Originally called kusari-doi, rain chains started in Japan, where they are still used to keep water runoff away from roofs and foundations of homes. Beautiful and highly functional, rain chains attach to gutters and guide rainwater down to the ground or to a water-harvesting receptacle. In Japan, they are used on homes, garden pagodas, temples, and other iconic settings. The popularity of rain chains has soared in the United States in recent years and it’s no wonder why....

What Is an Ube? Ube, meaning tuber in Tagalog, is a purple yam originally from the Philippines. Different than the purple sweet potato, it has an even sweeter, more mellow taste than its orange relative. Ube has a slightly nutty, vanilla taste and is popularly used in desserts in Filipino cuisine, often boiled and then mashed with condensed milk. Is Ube Healthy? Ube is often confused with taro, another similar root vegetable, but the two are distinct....

Kwanzaa brings together traditions from all the major religions by focusing on meaningful gift-giving and communal feasts. The celebrations take place from December 26 to January 1 every year. Each of Kwanzaa’s seven days honors a different principle: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). These principles are thought to have been crucial in the development of strong, productive African families across different countries....

To help with that effort, we’ve rounded up key points to bear in mind when embarking on child support negotiations—from top attorneys around the country. Because “the more information you have, the more prepared you will be to begin the process,” says Glen Levine, co-founder and senior partner at The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine. But first, one more thing that isn’t on the list below, because why not just get it out of the way before diving into gritty details: Do your very best to check your emotions at the door....

Even when considering that information, my proclamations to others about how I never want to own a home are routinely met with the same response: disbelief, followed by a monologue about the American dream (the one that I’m supposedly missing out on). The worst responses also include statements about my supposed financial irresponsibility as I skip out on the sound investment opportunity that is home ownership. But I don’t think I’m missing out on anything....

I learned about this blacklisted phrase from my very first boss. She mentioned in passing that getting “no problem” or “no worries” in reply to any request irked her. Completely taken aback, I started to panic. I’d never heard this opinion before. I said “no problem” numerous times every day and thought I was being pleasant, professional, and obliging! Now I worried that I had been rubbing important people the wrong way without even knowing it....

Part of the reason is that I was raised in Tennessee, where good manners—being exceptionally polite, deferential to a fault, even if you don’t mean it—are expected. If someone bumps into me, I will instinctively say, “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!” like it was my bad. This is the type of needless apology I’m supposed to disavow, I think. But it’s a habit. And life is hard. And people need compassion....

That’s why it’s an even better idea to shop a sale full of discounted comfy sneakers, like Zappos’ Spring Sale that is taking place now and includes more than 1,200 sneakers up to 50 percent off. A total of more than 3,800 shoe markdowns are currently live at Zappos—including boots, flats, and slippers—but with top brands like Adidas, Cole Haan, and the podiatrist-loved Vionic all marked down, the sneaker section is one you really shouldn’t miss....

This is especially true in the luxury market, where a luxury clothing item or piece of jewelry can be worth more years after its initial purchase. This isn’t always the case, and some people prefer to hold on to their luxury purchases and pass them on to friends or family members. But for those who consider shopping a form of investing—likely types who love being on-trend or even ahead of them, and who thus need to swap out their collection of clothing and accessories often—selling off items from luxury brands once they’re finished wearing them can be a lucrative endeavor....

The Tao of Raven: An Alaska Native Memoir In her first book, Blonde Indian, Ernestine Hayes, recounts her journey of returning to her Tlingit home in Juneau, Alaska after many years away. In The Tao of Raven, Hayes digs deeper into this experience, combining elements of memoir and fiction to express frustration at the prejudices still facing Alaskan Natives on their own land. Connecting time and space in the Indigenous worldview, Hayes reflects on her own life—graduating from college in her fifties and becoming a professor and writer—and the legacy she will leave behind to future generations....

According to data recently released by the Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Foods Association, vegan food sales are growing twice as fast as overall food sales, increasing by 27 percent in 2020, and 43 percent in the last two years. In fact, between 2018 and 2020, plant-based sales increased by 250 percent overall. Additionally, Whole Foods (yes that Whole Foods) released its first plant-based trends report in May 2021 and predicted a rise in vegan foods for kids—yet another indication that consumers want to cut back on the amount of meat and animal products they (and their families) consume....

1. Utilize Outdoor Space Summer is the time to get outside! Utilize your outdoor space to throw a summer dinner party under the stars, a pergola, or treetops. Update your patio space with wall decor, a DIY fire pit, or planters. Make sure there is plenty of outdoor seating for all of your guests. Oversize outdoor pillows tossed about the space is a super-easy way to create more seating that is unforgettably cozy....