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8+ years as a professional writer and editorFounder of the travel site justpacked.comBachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary After transitioning to an in-house content role at a fashion brand, she entered the world of freelance writing, focusing mainly on travel and eCommerce. From there, she founded the travel website justpacked.com, which publishes packing lists and product recommendations. Lydia’s writing has appeared on several of Dotdash Meredith’s sites (including: Travel + Leisure, Brides, InStyle, Real Simple, Shape, and PEOPLE) as well as those outside the company (including: Condé Nast Traveler and Garden & Gun)....

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Tonight’s trigger? Olivia wasn’t making eye contact with me. I tried to connect, but they were looking at their sister while answering my open-ended questions. (I’d planned them!) I felt that familiar tingle of despair and thought, “Liz, don’t take it personally.” I reminded myself that, developmentally, it was normal for teens to pull away from moms. I was alarmed by the intensity and rawness of my reaction. These weren’t the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was stressed, scared, and sad....

Founded on a mission to connect people over the intimacy of a home cooked meal, L.A.-based Our Place delights in making mealtimes fun. Accordingly, the Always Pan currently comes in six vibrant colorways: sage, a dusky pink, gray-blue, charcoal, soft purple, and a berry pink (developed in collaboration with Selena Gomez). To buy: $99 (was 145); fromourplace.com. The Always Pan is lightweight at only 3 pounds, making its versatility even more impressive....

The Staple: Cream Cheese Jammy Pastries It’s actually quite simple to make these nostalgic treats. Just top rectangles of ready-made pie crust with a layer of cream cheese and your favorite jam. You’ll finish each pastry off with a layer of icing for an indulgent treat that will take you back. Easy Cheesy Baked Pasta Here’s a pro-tip for a truly decadent pasta: stir in some cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese!...

One of the simplest questions we face when attending a holiday event—from Christmas smorgasbords to annual Friendsgivings—is what to bring the host. Idon’t cook or bake, so it’s typically a grab-and-go bottle of Merlot for me. This year, I’m going a more personal route with farm-fresh, festive bouquets from Bouqs that get delivered right to my hosts’ doorsteps—especially because they’re all $20 off now through November 28. This farm-to-doorstep service offers a diverse and unique curation of flowers for any occasion....

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....

Will a pinch of chipotle powder, ground turkey, or some artisanal bread liven up your lunch box? We’re sharing a few of our favorite sandwich recipes that take your turkey from bland to mouthwatering. Related Video

Curling iron options run the gamut from traditional clamp models to clampless wands to automated irons that create perfect curls at the touch of a button. To determine which type is right for you, take the advice of Katelyn Ellsworth, a natural color and extension specialist and the founder of San Diego-based salon The Roslyn: “Get a tool that you will actually use. Learn how to use it correctly, and your hair will always look great....

To determine the best women’s robes on the market, we spent hours researching different types of robes by material, style, and use. We also spoke to Sapna Palep, CEO of Journelle, as well as ​​Angela Rosen, owner of Penelope and the Beauty Bar in both Seattle and San Francisco, about how to shop for a robe and what to look for in a quality robe. Our top pick, the Frontgate Resort Collection Plush Robe, is super plush and soft, as well as absorbent enough for post-shower use....

The only problem? “Curtain shopping can be so confusing unless you’re a designer,” says Mary Beth Christopher, founder and principal designer of MBC Interior Design. With thousands of different options to choose from, finding the right curtains can get overwhelming. But knowing where to turn makes the process easier. To streamline your search, we spent hours researching stores that sell curtains, assessing their selections based on size, variety, and price....

“Try to focus on his hobbies, likes, and interests and go from there,” suggests Lindsay Roberts Schey, gift expert and founder of TheGiftInsider.com, an online gifting resource. But if he’s particularly hard to shop for, you can try what Schey calls “elevating his essentials.” “Think of the things he uses every day and go with a more design-friendly or updated version than what he currently has,” she says. “Does he have scattered receipts and change in an old box on his bedside table?...

To determine the best steak knives, we tested 20 of the most popular options in our Lab, evaluating them on design, size, performance, cleaning, and value. In addition to Delecroix, we spoke to Aaron Foster, owner of Foster Sundry, Sheila Patinkin, owner of Vermont Wagyu, and Howard Kalachnikoff, chef at Rolo’s in New York City. We recommend the Material Table Knives for their effortless ability to cut through steak, balanced feel, sturdy construction, and more....

“Factors to consider when choosing a cookware set include your cooking preferences, culinary techniques, and the types of dishes you prepare most often,” says Hector Ruiz, the President and Founder of BBQ Grill Academy. “The equipment you most often use to cook on should also be considered.” Alison Cayne, cooking expert and founder of Manhattan cooking school Haven’s Kitchen, believes that when it comes to how many items your cookware set should have, less is more....

Although you should absolutely use Black Friday and Cyber Monday to do your holiday gift shopping, there’s no reason you shouldn’t treat yourself, too. And anyone who loves keeping a clean home neat and tidy will think of these vacuum sales as the gift that just keeps on giving. Sure, the holiday season is a magical time of year, but is there anything more magical than a cleaning device that does the work for you?...

Completely revamp your wardrobe with all the great pieces in this sale, like this polo sweater that comes in four colors. To prepare for winter, be sure to check out this cute collared puffer coat and this fun, brightly-colored scarf. It looks so cozy, you won’t want to take it off all season. Find even more deals on sweaters, jeans, dresses, and more below. Best Abercrombie Black Friday Deals Notch-Neck Sweater Polo, $49 (was $70) Essential Oversized Sunday Half-Zip, $56 (was $80) YPB Active Puffer, $112 (was $160) Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean, $62 (was $89) Ultra Classic Puffer, $126 (was $180) Ribbed Polo Midi Sweater Dress, $63 (was $90) Cropped Sherpa Shirt Jacket, $63 (was $90) LuxeLoft Oversized Spliced Crew Sweater, $56 (was $80) Slim Fluffy Button-Through Cardigan, $49 (was $70) Chunky Fringe Scarf, $35 (was $50)...

Everything But the Leftovers Seasoning Blend You could spend Thanksgiving morning chopping herbs and rummaging through your spice cabinet so you can craft the perfect blend, or you can stock up on this versatile Trader Joe’s buy. This seasoning blend, which contains dehydrated onion, sea salt, black pepper, turmeric powder, dried celery seed, ground sage, rosemary powder, dried thyme, and dried parsley, can be used to add flavor to roasted vegetables, stuffing, and even turkey....

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Your need for a post-meal nap may be due to the simple act of overeating. “The more you eat, the more your body has to divert resources away from your brain and muscles to do the work of digesting all that food,” Stephenson says. “The discomfort of a stretched stomach can cause fatigue. What’s more, high-protein meals as well as high-carbohydrate meals cause many people to feel sleepy, and Thanksgiving dinner typically is both high-protein and high-carb....