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In years past, Target waited to debut its lowest prices of the season until the hours leading up to Cyber Monday. But this year, it’s launched some of the best deals well in advance—and that means you can already dive into shopping. But before you do, I highly recommend making a list. This way, you won’t forget what you actually hope to purchase while the site inspires plenty of other ideas, especially if you’re searching for holiday gifts....

The Sun Ninja Sand-Free Beach Blanket is made from 100 percent nylon that’s triple stitched to prevent wear and tear. It’s water- and rip-resistant and is 10 by 9 feet to fit up to seven adults on one sand-free surface. The thin and lightweight blanket has a carrying bag attached to the seams, so it’s super portable without taking up too much space in your beach tote. Bonus: The bag even comes with a bottle opener, so you can enjoy happy hour without thinking twice about whether the bottles are twist-offs....

And now, yet another housing trend has emerged: purchasing a second home while still renting a primary residence. Vanessa Famulener, president of homes at the real estate technology company HomeLight, says that a poll conducted by the company in the summer of this year found that 64% of real estate agents reported a growing trend of buyers purchasing their second home first. But, trending or not, is this a smart strategy?...

Round out dinner with a slice of crusty bread for sopping up any steak juices, and a spicy, earthy red wine like syrah, grenache, or malbec. Once complete, you’ve got an amazing meal fit for many occasions, whether it’s date night, a dinner party, or just a plain old Tuesday. Related Video

Regardless of how you acquire your leftovers, it’s best not to let them go uneaten. Not only do Thanksgiving leftovers taste just as good (if not better) than the initial meal, but tossing leftovers helps contribute to food waste, which is harmful to the planet. Luckily, there are seemingly endless ideas for how you can take just about any Turkey Day leftovers and transform them into another tasty meal. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich or even some Thanksgiving egg rolls, we’re partial to a piping-hot bowl of soup....

We spent hours researching planners to find the best options while considering factors such as layout, size, length, and extra features. We also spoke with Megan Sumrell, time management and productivity expert, and Erik Pham, CEO of the health and wellness publisher Health Canal, for insight and tips on what to look for when buying a new planner. “When shopping for a new planner, it’s important to consider what features are most important to you and what type of layout you prefer,” says Pham....

In the same way that hiring a personal trainer isn’t going to help you reach your health goals unless you put in the work, downloading a home organization app isn’t going to make a clutter issue disappear without some effort from you (and anyone else who lives in the home). Fortunately, helpful organizing apps make the process easier; they can even offer personalized tips and tricks along the way or help refine and polish an already successful organizing system....

Finding the right cleaning solution for your home’s specific needs, though, can be a challenge, since there are so many types of products available with many different variations on use, strength, longevity, and more. To make your shopping experience a little bit easier, we’ve narrowed down the best tile and grout cleaners there are, doing thorough research on the category and considering factors such as type, formula, and application. We also spoke with Melissa Maker, founder of Clean My Space, to get an expert’s take on what to look for when shopping for these products and how and what they’re best used for Tile and grout cleaners are essential to tackle issues like “hard water and soap scum and body oils left behind after a shower,” explains Maker....

To find the best bamboo sheets, we tested 22 sets in our Lab and evaluated them based on quality, texture, breathability, durability, and value. For expert advice on what to look for when shopping for bamboo sheets, we spoke with Jeffrey Kambak, CEO of U.S. operations at The Trident Group (a textiles manufacturer) and vice president of the Home Fashion Products Association. We also received tips from Jolanda Thomas, associate product development merchant at The Company Store, who says the main characteristics of bamboo sheets are “silky, soft, and cooling....

We tested 27 electric leaf blowers in our Lab and evaluated them on their effectiveness, battery life, ease of use, portability, noise level, and value. For expert insight, we spoke to Gary McCoy, Lowe’s store manager. “An electric leaf blower is a low-maintenance machine that is both lighter and quieter than gas-powered models,” says McCoy. Our top pick for the best electric leaf blower is the Ryobi 18V One+ 280 CFM Jet Fan Blower because it’s lightweight and easy to handle, while still providing lots of leaf blowing power....

To find the best mold removers, we spent hours researching products, considering factors like type, ingredients, and compatibility with different surfaces. We also received tips on how to choose and use mold removers from Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse and author of The Mold Medic. “Using a cleaning product to tackle mold typically depends on the type of surface in question, which can be porous, such as fabrics and carpet; non-porous, such as finished wood and sealed countertops; and semi-porous, such as leather furniture and some types of plastic,” says Rubino....

As with most much-loved dessert recipes, nailing any homemade apple pie recipe comes down to two things: technique (find the best method according to Chef Thomas Keller) and top-quality ingredients, meaning the apples you use. Growing up, I was always under the impression that Golden Delicious was The One for pie. “They don’t taste great raw,” my mother would say, “but that soft, mealy texture is ideal for baking. Who wants to crunch into a crispy apple when eating pie?...

To buy: $9 (was $18); amazon.com. “I love these sweatshirts! It’s a nice loose fit overall, it’s soft, the neck is wide enough to easily go over your head, and it doesn’t shrink,” shared a shopper who called the sweatshirt a “great buy” and noted that they already own three sweatshirts and plan to buy more. “This sweatshirt is extremely soft on the inside and comfortable to wear,” added another reviewer....

To buy: $20; amazon.com. “This small jewelry box is perfect for travel or to just keep a few favorite pieces of jewelry handy on the dresser. The velvet covering is nicely done, and the compartments inside the box are a good size,” wrote one five-star reviewer who is planning to give two boxes as holiday gifts. The exterior of the case is made from faux velvet for a luxurious look and feel, and the interior of the case has seven rolls that are ideal for storing rings or hoops, three sections for bracelets or statement earrings, a built-in mirror, and a separate hook compartment for necklaces (located behind the mirror)....

To buy: $12; amazon.com. “I was keeping the caps on a shelf, and typically they fall off or get covered up. The hangers are an ingenious way to keep them together and organized,” shared a five-star reviewer. “This was the perfect solution to organizing my hats. I like that I can hang different types of hats, easily see and access each one, and it takes up little room,” wrote a shopper....

To buy: $29 with coupon (was $35); amazon.com. “The fabric is extremely comfortable and the material is not see-through. I love any dress or top with pockets, so that is another plus for this casual dress,” shared one five-star reviewer. “Such a flattering and comfortable fabric,” wrote a different shopper who added that they “love the pocket depth.” The scoop neck and elastic waist only add to the comfort of the swing dress, and it’s worth highlighting is how easy it is to put on: The dress simply pulls on over your head....

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Salt lamps (sometimes referred to as Himalayan salt lamps) are a perfect example of a wellness product with a controversial reputation. While it’s one thing to enjoy a salt lamp’s soft pink glow in your home, believing that they posses healing properties—or taking it a step further and attempting to use it as a treatment for a medical condition—is something else entirely. Here’s what to know about what salt lamps can actually do—versus what medical marketing claims they can do....