33 Last-Minute Gifts That Look Nothing Like Last-Minute

While I’d like to think that I work better under pressure, there are times when procrastinating is just plain stressful—like holiday gifting. There’s nothing worse than finding an amazing, thoughtful, unique gift just to dilly-dally on buying it and ul…

While I’d like to think that I work better under pressure, there are times when procrastinating is just plain stressful—like holiday gifting. There’s nothing worse than finding an amazing, thoughtful, unique gift just to dilly-dally on buying it and ultimately finding it’s out of stock or the delivery date is mid-January. The backup plan is usually some generic gift card or a hand drawn IOU that I try to pass off as a joke.

This can’t possibly be a just-me thing, so we’ve got 33 last-minute gifts that are personal, thoughtful, and most importantly, will arrive by Christmas when you see family and friends for gift exchanges. From subscription boxes to digital e-gift cards to tech that ships really fast, these last-minute gifts won’t make you look like the procrastinator that you really are (don’t worry, we won’t tell).

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30 Gifts Under $30 That Anyone (Everyone) Will Love

When shopping for holiday gifts, deciding how much to spend on each person can create a headache. How much do you really want to spend on Aunt Susan who never fails to give you unsolicited advice on your love life? And should you splurge on your brothe…

When shopping for holiday gifts, deciding how much to spend on each person can create a headache. How much do you really want to spend on Aunt Susan who never fails to give you unsolicited advice on your love life? And should you splurge on your brother-in-law because you like him more than your sister (sometimes)?

Over the last few years, I’ve found a way to work around that painful exercise: fix a single budget across the board—an outer limit, if you will. This year, I’ve landed at $30 and I think that might just be the magic number. A gift around $30 is more than a stocking stuffer, but not quite an investment item. You can afford something substantial and thoughtful—a present that’s more original and less fleeting.

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7 Reasons to KonMari the Heck Out of Your Home This Holiday

It’s been almost a year since Tidying Up with Marie Kondo exploded into our living room. The Netflix show, in which the queen of decluttering uses her signature method to help families pare down their homes (and lives), suddenly became what everyone wa…

It’s been almost a year since Tidying Up with Marie Kondo exploded into our living room. The Netflix show, in which the queen of decluttering uses her signature method to help families pare down their homes (and lives), suddenly became what everyone was talking about. Between the eight television episodes and Kondo’s bestselling books, the KonMari Method managed to turn even the messiest folks into decluttering evangelists.

But if you’ve never given KonMari a whirl, or you’ve just accumulated some joyless items since the last time you simplified, the holidays are actually the perfect time to try a seasonal cleanse. The way I think of it, you’re likely going up to the attic or out into the garage to retrieve boxes of ornaments, decorations, and other komono (Japanese for small, miscellaneous items) anyway, so you might as well sort through those and the rest of your packed away items while you’re there.

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These 13 Enchanting Holiday Markets Have Us Rushing to Make Glühwein

In many countries around the world, holiday season stretches leisurely across the last two months of the year. But it’s the weeks leading up to Christmas that get particularly cheery, with sparkly decorations, evergreens outfitted with twinkling lights…

In many countries around the world, holiday season stretches leisurely across the last two months of the year. But it's the weeks leading up to Christmas that get particularly cheery, with sparkly decorations, evergreens outfitted with twinkling lights, festive music—and holiday markets.

For centuries, holiday markets have distilled the very best of the holidays—a one-stop Christmas cheer shop. The earliest markets, in late 1300s Germany, started by selling only meat, but eventually evolved to peddling seasonal treats, and putting on performances. In modern-day markets, you'll find everything from local crafts, food, and wine to ice rinks and more.

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10 Candles That Smell *Exactly* Like Fall

As a New Englander living in Los Angeles, there aren’t a ton of things I miss about the East Coast. Southern California offers all the sunshine, hiking trails, and beaches I could ever want. And you can bet I never bore of the desert getaways, palm tre…

As a New Englander living in Los Angeles, there aren’t a ton of things I miss about the East Coast. Southern California offers all the sunshine, hiking trails, and beaches I could ever want. And you can bet I never bore of the desert getaways, palm trees, or wineries. The only thing the City of Angels doesn’t have is fall.

That first crisp day after a muggy summer cannot be beat. Neither can scarves and knit sweaters, apple picking and leaf peeping, or spiced cider and cinnamon doughnuts. When I can’t get any of those seasonal luxuries, there is one magical thing that transports me to Connecticut in late September—a candle that smells like autumn personified.

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A Simple Way to Make Your Towels Feel New Again (& 3 Other Tricks)

One of the best things about flying home to the Northeast is the promise of soft, fluffy towels when I arrive. Compared to the rough, frequently damp variety I have in my Los Angeles apartment, my mom’s towels feel like I’m being wrapped in clouds. Whe…

One of the best things about flying home to the Northeast is the promise of soft, fluffy towels when I arrive. Compared to the rough, frequently damp variety I have in my Los Angeles apartment, my mom’s towels feel like I'm being wrapped in clouds. When I ask her how she keeps her towels so fluffy, she replies, only half-joking, “I buy expensive towels.”

Since the cost of the clouds isn’t in my budget just yet, I set out, instead, to find the best tricks to revive my thoroughly used, average quality towels to the level of plushness they had the day that I purchased them.

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The Ultimate Guide to Winter Squash (for Your Front Stoop & Your Stew!)

Fall is finally here, which means dropping temperatures; nature preening in shades of gold, orange, and red; and gathering around for the holidays. It also means decorating, and cooking with, the seasonal produce family known as winter squash.

The sci…

Fall is finally here, which means dropping temperatures; nature preening in shades of gold, orange, and red; and gathering around for the holidays. It also means decorating, and cooking with, the seasonal produce family known as winter squash.

The scientific Latin name for the group is cucurbitaceae, which includes plants like cucumber and watermelon, as well as the ones colloquially identified as gourds, like squash, pumpkin, and zucchini. Here, we’ll discuss the ones that are specifically in their prime through fall.

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7 New Bedding Brands You Should Definitely Know About

Do you ever wonder why sleeping in a hotel bed feels so luxurious? Yes, it’s the plush, pillowy mattresses that probably cost more than your monthly rent, but that extravagant comfort also has a lot to do with crisp, high-quality sheets.

Until recentl…

Do you ever wonder why sleeping in a hotel bed feels so luxurious? Yes, it’s the plush, pillowy mattresses that probably cost more than your monthly rent, but that extravagant comfort also has a lot to do with crisp, high-quality sheets.

Until recently, shopping for great bedding was confined to department stores. In the past few years, though, there has been a disruption in the home industry in the form of direct-to-consumer companies that cut out the middleman and sell straight to the customer themselves. Bedsheets, like furniture, are a welcome product of this disruption.

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15 Best Meal Delivery Services for Off-Duty Weeknights

I’m not the best cook. Nothing I make tastes bad, but I tend to cook a variation of the same dinner every night, aka, my weeknights are a recurring bowl of whole grains, vegetables, and lean meat like ground turkey.

This is the case for a few reasons….

I’m not the best cook. Nothing I make tastes bad, but I tend to cook a variation of the same dinner every night, aka, my weeknights are a recurring bowl of whole grains, vegetables, and lean meat like ground turkey.

This is the case for a few reasons. I like to eat a balanced meal on weekdays so that I can indulge on weekends. Plus, once I mastered this single easy, delicious meal, I decided to stick with it. It saves me time in the grocery store, and in the kitchen, because I know exactly what to buy—and how to make it.

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7 Decor Ideas From Restaurant Bathrooms That Get It *So* Right

Whenever I try a new restaurant, I closely observe everything. From the menu offerings and dish execution (obviously) to the timeliness and attitude of the service, every detail contributes to the quality of the experience. Spatial design plays a major…

Whenever I try a new restaurant, I closely observe everything. From the menu offerings and dish execution (obviously) to the timeliness and attitude of the service, every detail contributes to the quality of the experience. Spatial design plays a major factor, creating ambiance and vibe with light, color, and texture. So does decor—an uncomfortable chair could ruin it all.

The pivotal judgement, however, occurs away from the table. I always make a point to visit the bathroom—even before I need to—and it’s where I’ll often stay for far longer than necessary. After all, it’s where restaurants exercise their creativity the most. Once you get through a serpentine line—none a match for my enthusiasm—there’s no telling what you’ll find in there, from bright wallpaper to lush amenities, and the anticipation is half the fun.

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