But office happy hours have turned into endless Zoom calls, and the days of catered lunches, free snacks, using the company gym, and other office amenities seem like a thing of the past. If you’re new to working remotely, you might find yourself needing some support with how to focus at home, as well as drawing boundaries between work and your personal life. Since many companies are adjusting to having employees work remotely, you and your coworkers may need to talk to your HR department to implement changes that are more conducive to remote work....

Topsoil Myths & Misunderstandings These four common assumptions about topsoil can trip you up. But knowing these basics will help you successfully create the best environment you can for your plants. Topsoil Myth 1: All Topsoil Is Pretty Much the Same Topsoil can differ dramatically, even in the same yard and from one garden bed to another. All the earth in your yard is made up of sand, silt, and clay in various amounts....

Make it five stars: The surefire way to make a Wednesday night shower feel more spa-like? Buy a towel warmer ($140, bedbathandbeyond.com) that will make your towel toasty in less than 20 minutes. Make it five stars: Take another tip from boutique hotels and keep a cozy spare blanket on hand, either draped across the end of your bed or tucked into a basket nearby. Make it five stars: Keep a bottle of scented fabric spray ($17, bloomingdales....

Keeping pet hair from overtaking the couch can seem like an insurmountable task, and indeed, it does require regular work. Fortunately, there are plenty of inexpensive tools and clever techniques to help keep Fluffy’s fluff at bay, with no plastic coverings required! Understanding Your Sofa Type Couch manufacturers developed a cleaning code or legend that’s important to seek out before you clean your couch in any way. The code, which appears on the care tag that is sewn onto an inconspicuous area of the sofa (usually the underside of the seat) will appear as one of four letter symbols....

Native populations have declined by between 22 and 72% over the last decade, according to the IUCN, mainly because of habitat destruction and the impacts of climate change. Now, the species known for flying nearly 3,000 miles during its annual migration across North America is on the edge of extinction. While the news that the migratory monarch butterfly is officially endangered is a jarring one, it has served to raise awareness of the plight of these gorgeous butterflies, says Mary Phillips, the head of Garden for Wildlife from the National Wildlife Federation....

Throughout the day, we naturally use and lose water—we sweat, we pee, we exhale—and can’t actually produce more of it by ourselves. Therefore, we rely on external sources to replenish properly. When you lose more water than you take in, you’re considered dehydrated. But you probably don’t track whether you’re dehydrated by keeping tabs on your water intake and output—you more likely wait until you feel thirsty. But here’s the kicker: “If you’re thirsty, you’re already mildly dehydrated,” Dr....

Whether your nail care is a form of self-care, an indulgence, or just routine maintenance, keeping your nails in tip-top shape is a worthwhile investment. And here’s the good news: Healthy nails require an investment of time, not money. The best route to stronger, longer nails is mostly through simple lifestyle habits, not pricy nail tools. But getting healthy nails also means kicking some bad habits, such as using your nails as a built-in pocket knife....

Add Peel-and-Stick Tiles Protect your walls from dripping detergent and drying laundry with peel-and-stick tiles. This backsplash solution is a quick weekend update and easier to install around existing cabinets and appliances than grouting and setting real tiles. Available in a variety of styles like classic subway tile and rustic wood planks, there’s likely to be something to match your home decor or provide the perfect opportunity to try a new look....

Transform your home into a winter wonderland this season with the flick of a switch—or an automatic timer if you’re the techy type. The front yard is an extension of your home, so it deserves just as much attention as the interior. Outdoor lighting elevates a home’s aesthetic, highlighting charming architectural or horticultural features and adding a nostalgic holiday feel to your home. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the best Christmas light options at a variety of price points and gathered our favorite outdoor light ideas for Christmas....

1. Ambiance “Music makes everyone feel at ease and creates an instant vibe,” Revels says. “For Sunday BBQs, we love My Girl Radio on Pandora. For Saturday nights, we may kick it up a little.” Pair the casual playlist with breezy decorations to set the atmosphere of your gathering. Revels pairs simple touches (like a blanket over the back of a chair to combat a cool after-dinner breeze) with more elaborate place settings to create a gorgeous party set-up that doesn’t take hours to create....

Typically, the lights start at $36, but we have an exclusive discount code for Real Simple readers. Enter 13DNHIYX at checkout and receive an instant 15 percent off. To buy: From $31 with code 13DNHIYX (was $36); amazon.com. Shoppers say the lights are “easy to assemble,” and that they’re “quite bright.” One wrote that they’re “well worth the money,” and that they’re “sturdier” than other pathway lights they’ve purchased in the past, adding, they would “definitely buy these lights again....

Matcha, a Japanese green tea, has origins that date back to the Tang Dynasty (the 7th to 10th century). The drink has become increasingly popular recently thanks to its bright color, its unique flavors, and an increased overall focus on health and wellness. As a good source of antioxidants, matcha offers a range of wellness benefits. Some people also prefer the less intense buzz compared to espresso, along with the fact it doesn’t make you crash....

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Plants differ by care needs, and plant delivery services allow you to narrow down your plant search based on factors like light level, water needs, and more. While some services may ask for your level of expertise, others may focus on your home life, like whether you have a pet or live in a dry or moist environment. Not to mention, pricing, delivery speed, quality, sustainability, and assortment will likely play a significant role in your plant buying process....

Less Is More Carefully read recipe directions and descriptions of how the dough will look. For the right texture, your dough may need to be on the sticky side and your recipe will note that. Use the least amount of flour possible to allow you to knead the dough, and use your bench scraper to help lift and fold the dough. The Consistency of Doughs BHG bread recipes include descriptions for the dough (or batter)—soft, smooth, ragged, sticky, lumpy—to help you under stand how it will look and feel....

While Cariuma’s sustainably-made sneakers rack up huge waitlists, we expect the first non-shoe product to sell out even quicker. The JJ Backpack is made from 100 percent recycled nylon, and the straps and buckles are constructed from recycled post-consumer products and production plastic waste. The Global Recycled Standard-certified backpack is large enough to hold your everyday staples including 13- to 17-inch laptops, notebooks, pens, extra clothing, and accessories. It also comes with a side water bottle pouch, too....

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