Normal as we know it will continue to shift and change in the coming months, but if you have the funds to do so, there are effective ways to help stimulate the economy (even locally) as an individual. All too often, regular consumers are unaware of the impact their everyday spending and contributions have on the overall economic health of the nation. Here, financial experts and entrepreneurs recommend easy ways we can all give the dollar a fighting chance....

Oh, food trends. What’s not to love (and hate)? To celebrate 15 years of Yelp, the restaurant review site’s data science team looked into top food and diet trends from the past 15 years. To compile their results, Yelp pulled trends from all reviews—close to 200 million!—from the year for which each phrase or group of related phrases peaked, in terms of frequency of mention in reviews of businesses in food and restaurant categories....

Thankfully, bleeding gums is a highly treatable condition that is usually not permanent. We reached out to several dentists to determine the most common causes of bleeding gums and what you can do to prevent the issue. If you suspect an underlying health concern, contact your doctor to get help fixing the problem. “You might be surprised to learn that even a temporary lapse in otherwise stellar oral hygiene sometimes causes bleeding gums,” says Lana Rozenberg, DDS, a board-certified cosmetic dentist at Rozenberg Dental NYC....

It can be difficult to navigate and decipher the long list of ingredients on most beauty product labels. Thankfully, there are sites and apps that can help make the process easier. EWG’s Skin Deep database allows you to search for cosmetic ingredients and products to see if they meet the non-profit’s strict criteria. There are also apps, like Yuka, that allow you to scan a product to find out if it contains any endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, allergens, or irritants....

On the first day of Christmas, a fun idea came to me – a 12 days of Christmas party! For some reason I’ve had the 12 days of Christmas song stuck in my head all year long, so I decided to create my own version of the song and use it for a Christmas party theme. I started it out by sending the invite above that I designed and had printed on Shindigz....

As cold weather becomes a thing of the past over the next few weeks, there is a distinct thrill in the air about wearing something other than your favorite jeans. What better way to switch up your style than with a brightly colored dress? After all, just like jeans, dresses can transition from day to night with the right shoes and accessories, and they’re also great to wear when you want to feel stylish during days filled with outdoor fun....

While we may love every minute, all the activity can become stressful if your kitchen is cluttered with so much stuff you can’t find what you need or even have room to roll out a pie crust. Now is the time to prep your kitchen so you are ready for the holidays. These 12 spots in your kitchen are the key things to declutter before the holidays. 1. Countertops Does anyone have enough counter space during the holidays (or any time of year, to be honest)?...

It seems like all year long I’m looking for simple ways to say thank you to someone for something. Thanks for watching my kids while I went to a doctor’s appointment. Thanks for coming up with awesome Christmas party ideas. Thanks for being an awesome teacher (use these teacher appreciation free printable tags for that one) – you get it. And I love being able to say thank you to someone....

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; average well-drained soil Size: 6-10 feet high; 3-6 feet wide Native Range: Eastern North America If you’re short on growing space, try the cultivar ‘Little King’ (Fox Valley), a dwarf form that grows between 15 and 20 feet tall. ‘Heritage’ varieties sport cinnamon, salmon, and brown bark that peels off in expansive sheets. It’s the peeling bark that makes this a standout tree for winter....

If you’re just starting out, remember that the backbone of a good bar starts with six basic spirits: the clear and brown foundational bottles. For clear spirits, always have a tequila, gin, and vodka on hand. For darker spirits, consider stocking your bar cart with scotch, bourbon, and rum. No need to use super premium bottles for cocktails, but always keep quality top of mind. And whatever you do, stay away from any sugary pre-packaged mixers at the grocery store....

Name: Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 6 feet tall Buy It: Avalanche Feather Reed Grass ($20, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Dwarf Ornamental Fountain Grass ($35, Lowe’s) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall Buy It: Little Blue Stem Grass (from $9, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Switchgrass ($3, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Buy It: Blue Oat Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Purple Majesty Millet Seeds Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist soil Size: To 7 feet tall Buy It: Cord Grass Seeds ($3, Walmart) Name: Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ Growing Conditions: Part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Buy It: Gold Japanese Forest Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 8 feet tall Buy It: Maiden Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 10-11 (usually grown as an annual in colder Zones) Buy It: Fiber Optic Grass ($14, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 12 feet tall Buy It: Ravenna Saccharum Plant ($14, GrowJoy) Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Purple’ Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall Zones: 9-10 (grown as an annual in cooler climates) Buy It: Purple Fountain Grass Test Garden Tip: Northern sea oats is a fast spreader, so plant in a container or other spot that will keep it in bounds....

“Home has become a sanctuary for many during the pandemic, and the kitchen is moving away from clean and modern, or what people typically think of when considering the future,” designer Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski says. “Kitchens seem to be moving toward a more livable, cozy, and approachable environment.” After months of profound uncertainty and vital flexibility, the post-pandemic kitchen will reflect a collective need for calm. But in the midst of relaxing and mood-boosting enhancements, these spaces will heed the lessons learned from this period, too....

The easiest way to contain wakame? Eat more of it. Luckily, while wakame may be bad news for the world’s oceans, it’s great for us in moderation. More specifically, the edible seaweed is packed with vitamins and minerals, and boasts several key nutritional benefits. Keep reading to find out more about wakame and what it can do for you. Where Does Wakame Come From? According to the National Park Service (NPS), wakame, or undaria, is a “notorious marine invader....

For instance, maybe after noticing your sleep quality diminish over a few weeks, you decide to make some changes to improve it. You read articles about how to sleep better and try to stick to these sleep rules. That’s great—but following them too precisely can sabotage your Zzzs. You may jump out of bed every time you’re not using it solely for sleeping since sleep experts encourage you to keep the bed a sacred sleeping space....

Best Party Foods There’s not a lot that’s more important for planning a party than coming up with good food and the perfect party menu! Okay, well maybe perfecting the guest list and planning party games are both important too, but the food – the food is a great way to make or break a party. So I’ve put together my top party food ideas that work at pretty much any kind of party you might be throwing because let’s face it, we all want the food to make, not break the party....

Squash, spices, and pumpkin have flooded the shelves of your favorite grocery stores, Trader Joe’s included. If you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s nearby, you’re lucky enough to snag these yummy fall foods. The only downside is that most of these items are limited time only, so you’ll need to act fast to get the items you want to try most and stock up on the ones you already know you love....

What it can tell you: Whether a cancerous breast lump or thickening is present. When to have it: Generally, your doctor should give you a manual breast exam starting in your early 20s. By the time you’re 30, you should have a manual, clinical exam every year. Recommendations for CBE vary slightly by health organization—here are a few to consider, in addition to consulting your doctor to determine when to start and how often to get a CBE....

The savviest Starbucks patrons know that the simplest drinks are often the least expensive. Perhaps you’re a fan of the sophisticated drinks, though. Fear not. We’ve developed a few alternatives to the more expensive drinks on the menu to satisfy both your caffeine craving and your wallet. Drinks Similar to Your Fave Starbucks Coffees and Teas* Iced Caffe Latte: $4.45 Instead of ordering the classic iced latte, save $2 by ordering two shots of espresso over ice....

Mangoes originated in India over 5,000 years ago, and mango seeds traveled to the Middle East, Eastern Africa, and South America as early as 300 to 400 B.C.E. Today, most of the mangoes we eat in the U.S. are grown in South and Central America, Mexico, and Haiti. Though mangoes are considered a stone fruit, they’re botanical cousins of cashews and pistachios (who knew?). Mango Health Benefits They are loaded with fiber....

Try incorporating these home-cooling design moves. By swapping out heavy textiles for airy fabrics and setting up effective cross-ventilation, you can create a cooler house without touching the thermostat. Here’s how to design your way to a chill, summer-ready house. Then, embrace a bare hardwood or stone floor, which is cooler underfoot. For those spots that need a rug, such as beside the bed or under the kitchen sink, swap in a flatwoven rug in a natural fiber, like this IKEA unbleached cotton area rug for just $4....