According to Cassandra Rosen, a wine expert with Tussock Jumper Wines, pumpkin spice has a surprisingly solid taste profile for pairing with wines—a select number of varietals, that is. “Generally, varietals that work best with those ingredients are late harvest wines, or wines that have a little more residual sugar in them, due to being left on the vine a bit longer. Wines picked later usually have just the right amount of sweetness, and will pair nicely with that spicy, sweet flavor that we all love....

According to celebrity colorist and Redken ambassador Matt Rez, herringbone highlights weave a pattern of colors through fine sections of hair to complement and celebrate natural gray hairs, blending them into the hair color design rather than covering them up entirely. The aptly named technique mimics the palettes, tones, and patterns seen in various styles of herringbone wooden flooring to create seamless highlights that intentionally feature grays. “This herringbone pattern of highlighting will bring brightness to the collective color so there is a perfect balance of warmth and coolness, creating more of a vibrant neutral vibe,” he explains....

“I was searching for flights on Volaris (a budget airline out of Mexico) and the fare was advertised as $90 one-way,” says Lauren LaBar of Upaway, an app that provides 24/7 trip support like handling lost luggage and taking care of flight changes. “During the booking process, you go through three to six different ‘add-on’ sections, and the fees…bring the total cost of the round-trip flight to over $350.” The reality is we’re living in a time of outrageous airline fees....

One of the most fun parts of Halloween is dressing up in costume. Whether it be for a school costume parade, trick or treating, or a costume party – Halloween just isn’t Halloween without costumes! This Halloween dress up game is a fun way to incorporate the spirit of Halloween costumes in one of the most fun and hilarious Halloween games you’ll play this year! It’s kind of like a Halloween scavenger hunt but for Halloween characters and costumes!...

Barrymore has partnered with Grove Collaborative, a sustainability-oriented company that offers household cleaning products and other essentials, as the brand’s first-ever Global Brand and Sustainability Advocate. Grove has committed to being 100% plastic-free by 2025 with its Beyond Plastic initiative—among other planet-friendly efforts—an endeavor Barrymore is fully on board with. She’s swapped plant-based floss picks in for plastic floss and soap and shampoo bars in for liquids that come in plastic bottles....

Basic Rule of Thumb “The average person usually has a 6-foot tree,” says prop stylist and crafter Karin Lidbeck-Brent. “So an easy, general rule to remember is that for each foot of your tree, you’d want to use one strand of lights. I prefer the strands with 150 bulbs.” Other Considerations Still, that’s just a general guideline, says Lidbeck-Brent, who has decorated more than a thousand Christmas trees over the course of her career....

Asking Prices in a Seller’s Market When it’s a seller’s market, anything goes as far as pricing. “It’s not uncommon for buyers to submit offers for $50,000 to $100,000 over asking price, waiving appraisal contingencies, and paying $30,000 to $100,000 above appraisal,” says real estate broker Stephanie Williamson. But this might not be the best thing for your money in the long run. “In my opinion, this is a recipe for disaster if you don’t run your numbers....

How to Can Salsa All tomato-based salsas will be acidic, but recipes need to be formulated to ensure the acidity is at the right level for safe canning. Before you get started, make sure you’re using a salsa recipe created for canning. If you try to preserve a salsa recipe that isn’t intended for canning, it may not keep and therefore be unsafe to eat. Step 1: Setting Up To get started, you’ll need some basic canning supplies, including:...

Big life events, like layoffs, divorces, and deaths, can inspire you to evaluate your headspace because you know you should “feel the feelings” before moving on. But habitually getting in touch with your emotions—rather than burying them or willing them to change—can help you assess your mental state and improve overall well-being. There’s no better time to start than the present: Keep reading to learn the whys and hows of the self check-in....

One tip I’ve found the most helpful in this daily cleaning battle is to avoid the major stovetop cleaning mistake of letting the mess sit for too long. Once grease, sauce, and food dries on the surface, a quick wipe-down turns into an hour of scrubbing. But let’s just say you got caught up binge-watching your new favorite Netflix show, and now that grease is threatening to permanently adhere to your stovetop....

Keurigs (and all drip coffee machines, for that matter) can harbor harmful bacteria and mineral buildup in their inner workings. This can affect the machine’s performance, yes, but failing to clean—also known as “descale”—your coffee maker is unsafe. So if your Keurig hasn’t been performing its best, your coffee tastes off, or you can’t remember the last time you cleaned it, it’s definitely time to learn how to descale a Keurig....

Before Getting Started Cleaning an air purifier is a two-part process that involves both the exterior of the machine and the filter. Start by cleaning the exterior with a soft cloth or sponge and mild soap and water to remove any dirt, dust, or debris collected on the unit, says Walter E. Bennett of Green Leaf Air. Next, consult the user manual before cleaning the inside of the air purifier. If you can’t find it, look for the serial number on the device and search for its user instructions online....

Bathroom rugs are a magnet for hair and dust, and depending on how well-ventilated your space is, they can also be a haven for mold and mildew. (Ew!) Not to mention, they pick up anything your shoes track in on the way to those last-minute mirror checks. All the more reason to clean your rugs and bath mats at least every three to four weeks. To learn how, follow our step-by-step guide for the best way to clean bathroom rugs and mats....

How Often to Clean Your Earbuds “Unless you sanitize them [regularly], your earbuds have probably accumulated a great deal of dirt and bacteria,” Whittier Hospital Center explains in a blog post. “So the moment you put them in, your earbuds can introduce dirt and bacteria into your ears and also increase ear wax build-up,” the medical experts say. “Excessive wax build-up leads to impacted ear wax that can affect your hearing....

RELATED: The Sneaky Way I Learned to Love Washing Dishes What You’ll Need: Dishwashing liquid Bottle brush (like this one) Straw cleaners (like these) Bleach (optional) Vinegar (optional) Water bottle cleaning tablets (optional, such as these) Paper towel or clean dish towel Follow These Steps: For daily cleaning: Wash your reusable water bottle at least once per day. Fill the bottle with warm water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid....

Learning how to cook acorn squash begins with its easy prep. It’s a breeze since there is no real need to peel the squash, as the flesh separates easily from the skin and can be eaten directly from the shell once cooked. (Eating the skin is a personal preference but it is edible, just be sure to wash and scrub well). You will always want to start by halving the squash through the stem to remove the seeds and stringy bits and using a sharp chef’s knife and a stable work surface to do so....

How to Choose Asparagus Size isn’t an indicator of quality or flavor; thick asparagus is just more mature than the thin variety. Instead, look for bright green or violet-tinged spears with firm (not limp) stems. Make sure the tips are closed and compact. When the bunch is squeezed, it should squeak. Also, be sure to avoid stalks that appear woody. Thick vs. Thin Asparagus Spears Thin spears, thick spears―both can be sweet and tender, as long as they’re fresh....

How to Cook Oatmeal on the Stove Making a pot of oatmeal on the stove is incredibly simple. You’ll have to stir often, which is a low lift since rolled oats cook so quickly, but if you’re using all milk for a super-creamy result watch the pot closely to make sure there are no spills. How to Cook Oatmeal in the Microwave It really couldn’t be easier to cook oatmeal in the microwave and it’s a shortcut worth taking for a speedy breakfast with no pot to clean....

“When we don’t have enough information about the future—when things are uncertain—it makes perfect sense to be anxious,” says Amelia Aldao, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City and the founder of Together CBT, a clinic specializing in group therapy for anxiety, OCD, stress, and depression. “Anxiety makes us worry about the future so that we can plan for scenarios. It increases our vigilance of our surroundings and engages the fight-or-flight response in case we need to defend ourselves physically,” she says, adding that “it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious when things are uncertain....

During the early pandemic, I took on a leadership position unexpectedly. When my department finally hired a new director, I requested a promotion to manager because I had proven my leadership skills. And you know what? I got it. You never know when an opening will arise at your current company or your dream place of work. While “girl boss” terminology is so 2014, it’s time to level up for more senior positions....