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There’s little more satisfying than a freshly vacuumed carpet, but she struggles with chronic pain and fatigue. “In order to keep up with cleaning, I need lightweight tools that make tasks as easy as possible so I don’t totally zap my energy on one chore,” she told me. “I recently made the switch to a robot vacuum for everyday maintenance, reserving my beloved Dyson stick vacuum for deeper cleans. But for small, quick messes like stray litter box crystals and crumbs on the kitchen floor, it’s a bit of a hassle to get out the Dyson—even though it does convert easily to a handheld....

Tip: For year-round access, use thick cedar treads on the stairs that can handle occasional winter salt. Tip: Create a uniform look using the same materials throughout the space. Here, marble windowsills match the kitchen countertops. Tip: Add character and save money with DIY features. Each flower-shaped cabinet knob in the kitchen was handmade. Tip: Get a built-in look for less. The refrigerator is an inexpensive model with a faux-steel front tucked in a surround made of salvaged cypress....

Just as certain paint colors can make your home look dirtier and different paint brands offer varying color quality and durability, certain paint finishes can ruin the spotless (or close to it) look of your home, while others can actually help your home look cleaner. Picking the right paint finish could mean the difference between daily cleaning stress and a cleaner-looking home with less effort. Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors says the general rule of thumb when selecting a paint finish is that the higher the gloss (or shine), the greater the durability and the easier it is to clean....

Parsley has also garnered a healthy reputation for being among the top disease-fighting herbs, recognized by the CDC as a powerhouse plant for its high nutrient density and ability to help ward off chronic illnesses. Curious to know more about this deeply green garnish? We’ve broken down some of parsley’s top health benefits below and made it easy to add to your diet with some of our favorite recipes....

Packaged in a lipstick-like tube, Peace Out Skincare’s Retinol Eye Stick has a balm-like texture that can be applied directly to the undereye area to target dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles. Reviewers say it’s easy to use: “I can definitely see a difference in my fine lines and brighter under eyes. Love that you can just swipe it under your eyes. Very low maintenance and effective,” wrote one, while another added, “I have hereditary dark circles and this is the only eye cream I found that helped diminish them significantly....

Seriously, it’s genius. People have strong feelings on the matter—so much so, in fact, that American Pecans launched The Super Safe Pecan Debate, which they deemed “the partisan issue you can passionately argue without risking your invitation to next year’s family gathering.” To settle this once and for all, American Pecans called on pecan fans from across the country to cast their vote for “PEA-can” vs. “puh-CON.” The debate ended in November 2020, with puh-CON a clear winner with 66 percent of the votes....

Enter: period skincare, also known as cycle syncing. The first step to stopping hormonal acne is to track your menstrual cycle, which you can do via apps like FLO. The idea is that your skin undergoes a series of changes as your hormones ebb and flow throughout your approximately 28-day cycle, and therefore your skincare routine should change to accommodate this connection between your skin and hormones. This might mean using alpha hydroxy acids in the week before your period when estrogen drops (cue excess oil production) or using hydrating face oils the week of your period, when low hormone levels result in a duller complexion....

“Delivery services work in one of two ways,” says Janet Alvarez, executive editor at Wise Bread. “The first is they can be affiliated with your pharmacy: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, grocery store pharmacies—any of these now have drug delivery services.” Going with a trusted pharmacy to deliver the drugs to you so you don’t have to spend time making a regular trip and waiting in line is a great way to start....

Both quartz and granite offer beautiful texture and long-lasting durability for kitchen and bathroom surfaces. If you’re unsure which of these materials is best for you, use this simple quartz vs. granite guide to help inform your decision. We compare the differences between quartz and granite in price, appearance, durability, and maintenance to choose the right countertop material for your space and lifestyle. Appearance of Quartz vs. Granite As with any material, the visual differences between granite and quartz are a matter of taste....

Ranch Water is rumored to be the brainchild of a rancher in West Texas, who invented it about six decades ago. In its present form, this pleasantly uncomplicated drink is made with just three ingredients—tequila, plenty of fresh lime juice, and Topo Chico. While some may say any carbonated water will do, Ranch Water aficionados claim that Topo Chico, which is more carbonated than your average seltzer, is key to making Ranch Water so deliciously refreshing....

Why You Should Trust Us When we recommend a product on Real Simple, we are doing so independently and without any outside influence. We occasionally accept products from brands and PR agencies, but all of our opinions on these products are entirely our own. That means we never accept products in exchange for a positive review, and we’re transparent in our articles about which products we received for free. We treat every product the same, whether it’s a gift or something we purchased ourselves, and we’ll only recommend a product if we think it’s worthy of a spot in your home....

Being a lover of both skincare and the smooth- and even-looking complexion that makeup gives me, I was immediately intrigued by this honey-infused hydrating and soothing face mask that shoppers say makes their skin so soft and glowy, they’re “ditching foundation” altogether. The Oak Essentials Restorative Mask is made with hydrating and anti-inflammatory organic honey (which the brand points out is a natural humectant, aka something that keeps things damp) and free radical-blocking avocado oil, which is rich in vitamin C, too....

“We deeply value our associates, customers, business partners and the communities in which we operate, and this is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve,” Pier 1’s CEO, Robert Riesbeck, said in the statement. “This decision follows months of working to identify a buyer who would continue to operate our business going forward. Unfortunately, the challenging retail environment has been significantly compounded by the profound impact of COVID-19, hindering our ability to secure such a buyer and requiring us to wind down....

We waded through those seemingly endless sales to find some of the very best, based on star ratings and reviews. These 18 products are designed to create a tidy solution to a disorganized part of your home that’s been bugging you for longer than you’d like to admit. Together, they have over 130,800 five-star ratings from shoppers who say their bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, home offices, entryways, and more are now places they actually like to be....

Tula Skincare’s Instant De-Puff Eye Renewal Serum is one of those smart eye products that comes with two rejuvenating methods: The first via its refreshingly cool metal applicator, and the second from its thoughtful, anti-aging formula. The ingredient list is stacked with a potent mix of skin helpers that puts the eye creams of yesteryear to shame, including probiotics and prebiotics to help your skin barrier function at the best of its abilities, sea algae extract to diminish wrinkles, and pink silk tree extract to knock down puffiness and dark circles....

The experts we spoke to all agreed that there are major benefits to pre-planning and even pre-paying for a funeral now, no matter what your age or health status is. Here’s what individuals and families need to know to plan ahead and make the best decisions, financial and otherwise. The benefits of pre-planning Most deathcare professionals agree that funeral pre-payment has valuable benefits for people of all ages and health statuses....

You wish. Finding kitchen cabinets that fulfill all these requirements and are relatively affordable—a 2017 study found that most people budget and spend between $25,001 and $50,000 on their kitchen renovations. It can be daunting, and doubly so when you consider how quickly kitchen design styles shift. So when it’s time to update your kitchen, whether for functional or aesthetic purposes, you have to decide: Will you refinish or replace your kitchen cabinets?...

“[Sleep anxiety] is a lay term that most closely fits a diagnosis referred to as psychophysiological insomnia,” says Virginia Runko, PhD, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist and psychologist in Washington, D.C. “It’s characterized by physical and cognitive manifestations of anxiety that are caused by and can cause trouble sleeping.” In other words, it’s characterized by common anxiety symptoms that interfere with you getting sleep, including racing thoughts, worrying specifically about sleep, and dreading going to bed, fearing it will be an unpleasant experience....

Try these small front porch decorating ideas to make the most of every little square inch. Choose Your Porch Furniture Wisely Even with a small front porch, you can probably offer a place to sit, whether it’s a cozy bench or loveseat or a couple of chairs for hanging out. Keep it smaller scale You don’t want to fill every square inch with your furnishings, so look for smaller-scale options....

Snacking is necessary—and encouraged—to keep you fueled and focused, satisfied and stable, so you can not only survive busy days but thrive every day. But as with anything, there’s an art to healthy snacking: finding wholesome foods that will quiet your hunger, reward you with powerful nutrients, and provide the motivation you need to tackle whatever the day brings. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with snacking. It’s the type of food you snack on that can help you maintain your mood, mental clarity, and metabolism—or break them,” says Amy Lee, M....