The small-in-size but potentially big-in-impact housing solution made big strides. If you’ve been living with roommates during the pandemic, 2020 might have felt like you were already living in a tiny house, just one you shared with other people you may have come to not like as much. Maybe you began to seriously fantasize about living in a tiny house on your own. The experience isn’t always as idyllic as tiny-house shows portray it . But if 200 square feet may not be the ideal amount of living space for everyone, it’s still true that smaller homes are a viable part of the solution for the challenges of affordable housing and homelessness. Here are a few of the ways that the field advanced this year. Read Full Story

Gift ideas include Lee Kum Kee XO Sauce, a Blackstone Griddle, a Maxi-Matic Air Fryer, and more. Most of us have been cooking at home a whole lot more during the pandemic—so chances are there’s someone on your list who would enjoy a food-related gift. To drum up some inspired ideas, we turned to the foodies at Chobani (the beloved Greek yogurt company that has expanded into oat milk , coffee creamers, and even cafes ) for some curated suggestions. These are the best food gifts they’ve given, received, or put on their wishlists. Bon appétit! Read Full Story

Posted by MiriamEllis “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.” — Fred Rogers This quote is one I find myself turning to frequently these days as a local SEO. It calls to mind my irreplaceable neighborhood grocer. On my last essential run to their store, they not only shared a stashed 4-pack of bath tissue with me, but also stocked their market with local distillery-produced hand sanitizer which I was warned will reek of bourbon, but will get the job done. When times are hard, finding helpers comes as such …

Google has an impressive resume of highly impactful, successful products. For instance, products like Google Search and Google Docs are used by millions around the world daily. But no business is perfect. Even the most inspired innovation can fail if the market just doesn’t get into it. That’s why, over the last few years, Google has started to cut their losses and kill products that never quite hit the mark. Google Play Music, Google Glass, and now Google Hangouts on Air have been retired, which may come as a surprise to users who relied on these products. Don’t worry, though—it’s not all bad news! While you may have lost your favorite live-streaming service, there are plenty of Google Hangouts on Air replacements. What Was Google Hangouts on Air? Google Hangouts on Air launched in 2012, with Google adding live-streaming and community elements to their already existing Hangouts platform. At the …

And he’s sharing files for these upgrades for free. Many of Ikea’s most enticing purchases have nothing to do with couches, tables, or other big-ticket furniture. It’s the budget-friendly accessories—such as lamps, cooking tools, and bathroom items—that can really transform your home into a living Ikea catalog. Read Full Story

Posted by MiriamEllis   Image credit: Robert Couse-Baker Before all else, gratitude to every delivery person, whether in-house or third party, doing the essential work of keeping households safer and supplied in these times. I’m dedicating today’s column to the manager of a nearby Sprouts grocery store who personally drove my order to my door when an Instacart driver just couldn’t get the job done. If your business or clients are weighing whether to fulfill delivery in-house or partner with a third party, my small experience is an apt footnote to the huge, emergent debate over last-mile fulfillment options. I’d searched all over town for scarce potatoes, finally arranging by phone with the local Sprouts market to hold their last two bags for me one morning, and texting the Instacart driver about where the spuds were being held. Next: For whatever reason, the driver chose not to retrieve them, …

Posted by MiriamEllis   Image credit: Robert Couse-Baker Before all else, gratitude to every delivery person, whether in-house or third party, doing the essential work of keeping households safer and supplied in these times. I’m dedicating today’s column to the manager of a nearby Sprouts grocery store who personally drove my order to my door when an Instacart driver just couldn’t get the job done. If your business or clients are weighing whether to fulfill delivery in-house or partner with a third party, my small experience is an apt footnote to the huge, emergent debate over last-mile fulfillment options. I’d searched all over town for scarce potatoes, finally arranging by phone with the local Sprouts market to hold their last two bags for me one morning, and texting the Instacart driver about where the spuds were being held. Next: For whatever reason, the driver chose not to retrieve them, …

Here are the cooking tools that the creator of The Stew, The Cookies, and The Pasta can’t live without. Chef, cookbook author, and writer Alison Roman’s viral recipes, first published in the New York Times and Bon Appeti t , have inspired a frenzy of social media posts with hashtags including #thecookies, #thestew, and #the pasta. As the coronavirus quarantine turns us all into home cooks, the prom queen of instagram shared her favorite kitchen utensils, whether you’re cooking up recipes from her bestselling books, Dining In and Nothing Fancy, or creating something entirely your own. Read Full Story

The comfiest, coziest, most practical footwear for inside your house—and maybe occasionally outside too. We’re more than a month into the new norm of working from our kitchen tables and couches, trading button-downs for what basically count as daytime pajamas , and living in joggers and leggings . And there is one essential piece of quarantine uniform that is crucial for keeping feet warm and comfy whether you’re on the couch or taking a spin around the block: house shoes. House shoes are more than your average slipper. They’re comfy but never sloppy. And despite their name, house shoes can handle a quick trip to the backyard or a walk around the block. If you aren’t wearing house shoes yet—or you aren’t totally in love with the pair you have on right now (assuming—probably correctly—that you are at home)—we’ve got some suggestions for you. Read Full Story

You can’t take your mom to brunch for Mother’s Day. From jigsaw puzzles to monogrammed stationery, these gifts are designed to bridge the gap between you and her. Mother’s Day is around the corner, but this year, it’s harder than usual to celebrate. I’m lucky enough to live 10 minutes away from my mother, but I haven’t seen her in person since the stay-at-home orders kicked in, except to deliver her groceries from a safe distance. Ordinarily, we’d go out for a fabulous brunch or have an elaborate home-cooked dinner at home. The best I can do under these circumstances is deliver a thoughtful present that will cheer her up in the midst of this seemingly interminable period of social distancing. Read Full Story