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While parents of younger kids figure out childcare and activities for their school-age children, college students and their families are facing an uncertain fall semester, after a heavily disrupted spring semester. Some colleges have announced all virtual classes and will not open campuses to students; others are attempting a complete return to campus for all students, while more are working toward a hybrid of remote and in-person learning. Paying for college isn’t easy, and unfortunately, many institutions aren’t making it more affordable right now: At some schools, tuition remains the same even if only remote learning is offered or only a select number of students will be allowed back on campus each semester....

Sponsored by: Tidal. All opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. My family loves Halloween with all of its spooky fun, candy, costumes, and Halloween games! But one of the things that I’ve found lacking at most Halloween parties is a good playlist full of Halloween party songs....

1. Need: Measuring Cups and Spoons You can’t bake without measuring cups—both liquid and dry—and measuring spoons, so having these tools handy is a must. And check that you’re using them all correctly, so your recipes turn out well (for instance, don’t use dry measuring cups for liquid ingredients, and vice versa). You really only need one set of each, though, so if you have extras, and you’re trying to declutter, toss the ones you’re not using....

He notes that it’s important to wrap the curls in a brick lay pattern throughout the entire head, and leave the paper towel rolls in for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. “With this method, the paper towel draws in the moisture from the atmosphere and creates an organic wave.” During this process, feel free to spritz some salt spray to emphasize the beachy texture. (Note: If you don’t want crimpy hair all over, you can create two braids flanking either side of middle part....

Approach these so-called therapy apps cautiously. “An app can only go so far in helping you boost your mood,” says registered psychologist Vanessa Lapointe, from British Columbia, Canada. “Most of our thoughts in a depressed or anxious state can be ultimately reduced to fears related to separation, loss, or disconnection. Which means that connection is an antidote to anxiety and depression.” For that type of connection, a smartphone app—even if it’s presented as an app for anxiety or depression—may not be the ideal solution....

To prepare for Mother’s Day, we looked at how moms are honored worldwide. We are often so familiar with our holidays that it can be easy to assume everyone else’s is similar. However, countries around the globe have unique traditions and fascinating histories. You might even want to borrow a few of these ideas for your Mother’s Day plans. Many of these traditions can be easily adapted for virtual celebrations if you can’t be together in person....

Familiarize yourself with the breaker box in your house or apartment (if you have access to it). Open the cover and look at the grid of breakers. One might now be switched to “OFF” or may display a red marker window that indicates it’s been tripped. Turn off all the lights and appliances connected to that breaker. Then, flip the tripped breaker to the “ON” position (some models will need to be switched fully off before turning them back on again)....

So, like many, I started trying out new recipes, from baked mac and cheese with pesto and peanut sauce-topped crispy tofu, to pecan pie muffins and cucumber sorbet. And not to downplay the importance of high-quality ingredients or proper cooking techniques (not to mention plain old practice), but what’s really helped to build my confidence in the kitchen throughout the pandemic is acquiring the cooking tools I didn’t know I needed....

“As humans, we often choose the path of least resistance by ignoring the cues designed by our bodies and minds to help us learn from our history and each other,” says Paula Pavlova of Pavlova Wellness. “We use substances like drugs, food, and alcohol to drown our worries, pick little fights to avoid feeling our feelings, point out others’ flaws and hold grudges instead of looking closely at ourselves.” The trouble comes because many of these unhealthy coping habits only provide temporary pleasure or relief....

Beer and cider options are way more expansive than you might realize Like a true sommelier, Tuttle says that wine will always have his heart, but if you’re looking to try something new, there has never been a better time. “Ciders and beers are in a revolution of experimenting with other non-traditional ingredients to enhance their products," he says. “Beer and cider traditionally are fairly neutral in aroma and flavor, resting on the laurels of the subtle differences of the hops, yeast, malts or fruit you’re using....

The end of summer is fast approaching, so don’t forget to stock up on any last-minute seasonal necessities before it’s too late. Now is the ideal time to take advantage of the best savings of the summer and prepare for the upcoming season, too. Best Home Appliance Deals You’ll want to make sure your kitchen and home are equipped with the right appliances if you’re having guests over this Labor Day....

More than 90,500 five-star ratings point to the standout Danjor Linens Bed Sheets. These sheet sets are beloved by shoppers because they’re made out of microfiber materials with an impressive 1800-thread count, making them soft and breathable for a true cooling experience. The moisture-resistant fabric wicks away sweat while you sleep and will stay as luxurious-feeling as the day they arrive at your home. The brand says that, even over time and multiple washes, the sheets won’t ever pill....

With the worldwide pandemic, Nintendo Switch games have seen a major spike in popularity. In fact, it’s been nearly impossible to get your hands on the desirable console since March, with bundles sold out across the board at every major retailer. According to Nintendo, a lot of this can be attributed to the popular game Animal Crossing: New Horizons ($60; amazon.com), which has snagged the number-one best-selling game slot on the Nintendo store for the last several months....

Most people will experience some bout of this all-too-common mental health condition at least once in their life, if not many times. To help manage anxious feelings, find solid ground, and ultimately feel better, it’s important to recognize and understand anxiety symptoms and their sources. We chatted with mental health experts for their advice on identifying the most obvious signs of anxiety—which can help provide a smoother road to recovery....

Should everyone take a multivitamin, regardless of age and health status, or are these tablets only providing a false sense of security about our health? And how do we go about choosing the right vitamin for our needs if we decide to use supplements? We tapped Baltimore-based internal medicine physician Vivek Cherian, MD, to gain insight into the complicated multivitamin conundrum. Are Multivitamins Good for You? Nearly half of adults in the U....

New Year’s Eve Games for Adults New Year’s Eve Games: Choose the Right Resolution Prep: Before the party, print and cut out these resolution cards, fold in half once, and place in a basket. You can print out the resolution cards by clicking on the image below and printing the PDF document that pulls up. How to Play As guests walk in the door, have them pick one of the printable resolution cards from a basket....

Bananas should be part of a healthy, balanced, produce-filled diet. There are many nutritional banana benefits you may not know about, like its metabolism-boosting fiber and hydration-supporting potassium content. Read on for some convincing reasons to make bananas a recurring staple in your diet. Nutrition Facts “Your typical banana contains about 30 grams of carbohydrates and 14 grams of sugar, which is about double what you’ll get with a cup of raspberries,” says Tanya Zuckerbrot M....

Although bathleisure attire may seem unrealistic for actually leaving the house, Rihanna showed us all how it’s done when she wore a bright towel on her head, along with a bright yellow jacket, on the cover of Vogue Paris. Since then, celebrities like Rita Ora havewalked the red carpet in robes and shared their very own “bathleisure” shots, inspiring one writer to delve into the complex American history of the headwrap....

In addition to large plant variety and easy accessibility, plant delivery services offer a few extra bonuses to sweeten the deal. For those on a budget, there are services that offer cheap plant options and free shipping, saving you plenty of bucks. If you’re in need of plants ASAP and can’t wait for standard shipping times, there are also a handful of plant delivery companies that offer same and/or next-day delivery....

The powerful Bissell vacuum will instantly become your go-to cleaning device for every pet—and human—mess. The ingenious brushroll is designed with various bristle sizes to effectively loosen and lift up dirt and debris from your floors before sucking it up with 8 amps of power. The vacuum has a clever scatter-free feature that picks up larger bits like food kibble without pushing it out of the cleaning path (and under hard-to-reach furniture)....