News

Have you ever been forced to defend your TV viewing habits? One of the most grating examples of this is trying to explain why you keep watching the same shows over and over again. Honestly, if you don’t already know why I’m dedicated to rewatching “Nurse Jackie” every few months, then you might want to check out a new study from the University of Chicago. Long story short: Rewatching stuff you’ve seen a million times before just makes you feels good.

Since announcing their engagement in November 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been nonstop busy with traveling the world, making public appearances, and building a life together. And with a baby coming around the corner (as in this month!), the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lives are about to get a whole lot busier—and they just made it a million times easier for us common folk to follow along with their new Instagram account.

I think it was the famous father, donut lover, and American prophet Homer Simpson who said, “Mmm, I’m a toasty cinnamon bun,” while wrapped up in his bedsheets one morning. While that does sound delicious, when you do wrap yourself up in sheets like Homer did, you’re really more of a human burrito, right? That’s why I’m sure Homer would be the first in line (or online?) to buy the latest food-based item going viral: a literal burrito blanket.

Just south of San Francisco, close to the idyllic Highway 1 views of California’s picturesque cliffs and beaches, lies a tiny mushroom dome cabin in the woods. It’s one of the world’s most popular Airbnb listings and, for just $130 a night, it could be yours to sleep in. The Mushroom Dome cabin is in Monterey Bay and is surrounded by 10 acres of woods that make perfect hiking trails.

What we might love most about Airbnb‘s existence is the astounding variety of stays travelers can now experience. If you can dream up a lodging scenario—anything from a treehouse to a mansion—you can likely find it on Airbnb. And yes, that includes the former homes of celebrities. There’s no denying the allure of being physically present in a space that one of your heroes once called home.

“Game of Thrones” may be coming to an end, but the most-licensed program in HBO history can live on in the memories of superfans with a serious case of wanderlust. Throughout the years, the show has filmed in 10 countries, including Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, Malta, Spain, Croatia, Iceland, United States, Canada, and Scotland. Hotels.

Much of the appeal of watching “House Hunters” is playing detective, tuning into side comments and reactions that hint at what the ultimate house will be. You’ll be tempted to learn the secret to predicting the outcomes, like me. However, you might sincerely regret it once you know because all future “House Hunters” viewings will be forever changed. Consider yourself warned, far more than I was before embarking on this experiment, which began with a Reddit thread.

If you can dream it, you can find it on Airbnb. The vacation rental service gives you the chance to stay in some truly remarkable spaces. You can rent homes once owned by famous celebrities, stay overnight in converted train cars, and get cozy in the tiniest tiny houses you can imagine. If you like your vacation rentals to be an experience, we found your next destination: an alpaca ranch.

In the southwest of England lies a tiny house in Salisbury, a medieval cathedral city near Stonehenge. Two guests can cozy up in the studio-style space with a bed meant for stargazing. The hut includes a tiny wood-burning stove in the corner of the main living area that’s equipped with bench seating and a wooden table, plus kitchen appliances (tea kettle definitely included). Every morning, guests are treated to fresh bread, marmalade, granola, and muesli.

Brace yourselves, die-hard Fixer Upper fans: One of the show’s former contestants says the HGTV series’ opening scenes are fake. So, hearing that a portion of a reality show is staged isn’t the most outrageous thing to stumble across our thresholds.

Few activities feel more gratifying than successfully piecing together a complicated jigsaw puzzle, or maybe we’re just easy to please. Either way, they’re great for the brain and they put considerably less strain on our eyes than the incessant scrolling of social media feeds. But what about a puzzle that doesn’t have a definite finish line?

Q: I live in a condo with a concrete structure, so the soundproofing is pretty good. Unfortunately, I hear everything that is going on in my upstairs neighbors’ kitchen, through the range hood vent. Whenever I’m in my kitchen at the same time as they are, I turn the range on so I don’t hear them, but it is a little bit annoying and loud in the morning. I’m also wondering if they can hear me from their kitchen… Does it happen to anyone else?

The design world is ripe for dad jokes — you know dad jokes, don’t you? They’re a particular brand of clean, G-rated jokes that almost always result in the listener groaning and rolling their eyes? They usually involve puns, too. Like that guy who walked around IKEA, torturing his girlfriend with product puns — total dad joke master.

Looking for a small escape from winter? Luckily, there’s a charming resort in Sarasota, Florida that has a fleet of tiny houses just ready to be booked. Tiny House Siesta near Siesta Key Beach has eleven such homes for rent in all shapes, sizes, colors, and themes.

In the latest data-analytics news from Captain Obvious, one new report has quantifiably named New York City the dirtiest city in America — by far. Leading the top 40 cities in the U.S. on combined filth factors as collected by the EPA, the U.S. Census, and the American Housing Survey, the Big Apple was considered especially rotten for its above-and-beyond litter and rodent issues.

You may know David Burtka through a number of accomplishments. It might be his theatrical performance in productions like “The Play About the Baby,” or his appearances in episodes of “How I Met Your Mother,” or his current profession of being a successful celebrity chef. (And yes, of course we know he’s married to the wonderful Neil Patrick Harris.) A graduate of Cordon Bleu, Burtka now runs his own catering company, Gourmet M. D.

Happy World Book Day!

Have you ever wanted to tell people how you’re feeling before you even see them? We’ve all had those days. The ones where you’d much rather communicate with a series of eye rolls and grunts than by speaking actual words. They tend to always happen before coffee has been dispensed. Well, if you like to make your feelings very clear, but also love designer things, you’re in luck. Thanks to Hypebeast, we now have more details on the Virgil Abloh x IKEA collection.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you haven’t bought something yet, you should probably work on that ASAP. Moms work so hard to make our lives manageable and happy, they deserve everything we can give them. Have you ever got your mom a gift and instantly known she didn’t like it? She’s too nice to say it, but you just knew when you saw her face. Well, if you’ve been stuck on what to get your mom for the big day, you can get an answer now thanks to Reddit.

Not that we ever doubted it for a second, but magic does exist. Harry Potter fans know this to be true, but now we have proof to share with others! Fans of the series can actually spend a night in a replica of Hagrid’s Hut. How magical does that sound? Hagrid is easily one of the most beloved characters in the entire series.

Going to the zoo is a very popular American past time. Every little kid has gone on a school field trip to the zoo at one point or another. Still, as adults, many of us are fascinated with going to the zoo to see all of the animals. Some people fear that going to the zoo isn’t perpetuating the containment of animals, but that isn’t the case. A vast majority of zoos and aquariums in the U.S. are AZA accredited.

Dear Alice, Since we’ve moved in, we’ve learned the hard way that one of the downsides to the new construction is really poor sound absorption, it’s so bad to the point that we can hear their dogs claws on the floor. Anytime their kids run around (which is fairly often) it sounds like a stampede and it’s genuinely disruptive. For example, if we’re watching TV we actually have to increase the volume so we can hear it!

I am buying this for everyone in my life.

I’m 27 and my mom still gives me an Easter basket every year. When I make it home before zooming off to my cousins’ house for a massive “Greekster” celebration (lamb on the spit and all), my sister (who’s 31) and I are both showered with little surprises in colorful baskets as though we haven’t aged at all. As I’ve gotten older, the presents themselves matter less than the love my mom still puts into them—they’re part of our family history.

Is your best friend your soulmate, your person, your #1 cheerleader, and everything in between? Of course, they are, as they should be! Best friends are the reason that we get through the tough moments in life. Obviously family and significant others contribute to this, but our BFFs are the people we go to for everything under the sun. If you and your best friend are the textbook definition of obsessed with each other, listen up!

That is if you can hide from your boss while doing so.

Do you enjoy being right? Of course, you do, who doesn’t? If you love to make bets with your friends about the endings of your favorite TV shows and movies, you’re going to want to check this deal out. If you’re a “Game of Thrones” fan, chances are you’ve already put a lot of thought into who will sit on the Iron Throne. Every GoT fan has spent quite a bit of time debating with their friends about who will rule Westeros.

When it comes to air travel, it seems as though there are polarizing issues just about everywhere that divide passengers. Do you stand up well before it’s your aisle’s turn to exit or not? Do you prefer the window or not? Do you only travel with a carry-on or not? And, of course, one of the most controversial questions: do you recline or not recline? And moreover, how do you go about reclining when you do?

Laptops? Flat-screen TVs? Jewelry? Nah. In rural Kentucky, the thieves are going for barn doors. And some are laying the blame on “Fixer Upper’s” Chip and Joanna Gaines. A story in Tuesday’s Courier Journal revealed that barn wood thieving is a significant problem, particularly in Kentucky, where there are more old barns per square mile than any other state. So far, theft cases have been reported in at least 13 Kentucky counties.

Dear Readers, You may not realize it, but Apartment Therapy Media is a kind of weird and quirky corner of the internet. We got started back in the good old blog days when you could just roll your thoughts, ideas, and musings down a page, throw in a bad photo or two, and then open up this starkly empty box at the bottom called Comments to see what people would say in return. Over the years, as we added more writers with more perspectives, more readers came along for the ride.

How much do you love bread? There are so many ways to enjoy bread, whether you’re eating a standard roll before dinner or enjoying a slice of avocado toast. We all have a favorite pizza place because of the dough used there. The same goes for bagels because we all know that some bagel spots reign supreme over others, anyone from New York or New Jersey would argue that to the death.

People often debate whether cats or dogs are better. We don’t have any definitive proof which animal is better, but one might better for you. According to a new study, dog owners are happier than cat owners. Who can be unhappy when their dog gives them kisses? Now, this isn’t to say that cat owners aren’t entirely unhappy, but it would appear that dog owners are happier.

An ABCs print or poster is a popular piece of nursery decor, but some parents really go all out when it comes to displaying those essential 26 letters. Here are 25 creative examples, from wood and cardboard letters to decals to string art and much more. Row One: 1. McKenzie’s Modern Traditional Mix 2. DIY Feature Wall Baby Nursery on Project Nursery 3. Jude’s Nautical Big Boy Room 4. Lincoln’s Easy As ABC Room 5. Baby G’s Elegant Gender Neutral Nursery Row Two: 6.

It is that time of year again, Disney fans! The new Disney mugs from the Starbucks “Been There” Series Pin Drop Collection have arrived. Somehow, Disney and Starbucks continue to release new mugs that have us throwing our cash right at them. Do we really need six mugs? Of course, we do! Disney travelers that frequent Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California know that these mugs are sold in the Starbucks franchises located inside the parks.

It is finally spring! Springtime means we can enjoy the beauty of nature, now that those cold and dreary days of winter are behind us. Is there anything more refreshing than looking at flowers blooming after spending weeks on end surrounded by dull gray skies? Of course not! If you’re a fan of cherry blossoms, you’re in luck! You don’t need to drive all the way to Washington D.C. to enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival (though it is something incredible to see).

Now that we’re officially done with winter and spring has sprung, we’re headed toward better weather days. We can expect to see some beautiful flowers blooming shortly. However, before we get flowers, you know how the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” The rain isn’t too awful unless you have dogs. Every dog owner knows that with rain comes mud and with mud comes muddy paws.

Do you have a pretty deep love of your bed? Is it your hardest goodbye each morning and your fondest hello at night? Yeah, same here. We love to sleep and we especially love to be cozy in our beds. If sleeping for two months straight sounds like something right up your alley, then you might want to check out this opportunity from NASA. Yes, NASA, as in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Independent reported that NASA is looking to pay volunteers $18,500 for 60 days of work.

Imagine a realtor showing a modern home in 2019 with no dishwasher, no refrigerator, no infrastructure for a home security system. Imagine waking up in your apartment on a Saturday morning and having no easy way to brew a cup of coffee. That would be a home without women. It makes sense that women made such significant contributions to improving the efficiency, safety, and productivity of the home—that’s where they spent most of their time, given that other work options were limited.

Ever since “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” we can’t stop fantasizing about a dreamy getaway in Greece. This cozy Halkidki hideaway makes the ideal backdrop for your private Mediterranean adventure—musical numbers not required. This cozy wooden cabin is nestled on the Halkidiki, Chalkidi peninsula in Northern Greece off of Central Macedonia. The 365 square-foot tiny home is fully equipped with a plush double bed, cozy bathroom and kitchen, and an outdoor shower.

Do you feel like you can’t officially start your morning until you make your bed? Well, it turns out that there’s more anecdotal evidence that this simple task could contribute to your productivity. In a survey of 1,000 people, the company Best Mattress Brand determined how bed-making affects productivity and health.

Bees are more important to the environment than most people realize. There are a lot more to bees than just their delicious honey. They pollinate 90% of the world’s plants by transferring pollen from one plant or flower to another. The average honeybee can visit up to 2,000 flowers in one day! But sadly, despite how essential honeybees are to our ecosystem, their populations have declined over the last 60 years.

Calling all Harry Potter fans: the Hogwarts Express is real. You can actually board the train and go for a ride. Though, we cannot promise you that once you get off the train you’ll be in Hogsmeade. While the train exists, that doesn’t actually mean that Hogwarts is real. Though, we can keep dreaming. How many times have you fantasized about riding the Hogwarts Express?

We’re finally approaching the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The first day of spring is March 21 and it cannot come soon enough. To say we’re tired of all the snow and gloomy weather that winter has brought would be an understatement. If we could break up with winter, we totally would and we’d never call it back. With spring approaching, that means warmer weather, and with that, it means we’ll finally get to see some beautiful flowers!

Every dog owner thinks that their dog is the best. And they are right! We all have the best dogs in the world. If you’re obsessed with your dog, you are obviously not alone. In fact, nearly half of pet owners prefer to cuddle with their dog, rather than their human partner. For one couple, their love for their dog inspired them to do something big. Paul Jaszczenski and Lainie Pekich brought home their beloved German shepherd, Kaia, and never wanted to leave her side.

Everyone has that one TV show that just makes them happy, no matter how many times they’ve watched all of the episodes. For quite a few people, that show is “The Office.” The show is the most-watched TV program on Netflix, with nearly twice the views that “Friends” gets, according to data released in 2018.

Buying matching items with your best friend is exciting. But buying something to match with your four-legged best friend? That is so much better! Our collective obsession with our pets has led to the mass creation of products catered toward pet owners. From things like slippers that look like your dog to doggy leggings, there’s basically an endless supply of things to buy for your pet. Now, you can purchase a robe for yourself and a tiny one for your dog.

Longer days are great–until it's time to go to sleep and the sun's still shining.

You know IKEA, right? Obviously, who hasn’t heard of IKEA! Most of us have spent many hours inside of IKEA, not exactly trapped, but shopping for so long, the store begins to feel like a maze we don’t actually know how to get out of. At least there are Swedish meatballs to snack on when you’re losing stamina during a shopping trip. Now, if you’re a big lover of IKEA, you surely say the retailer’s name often. Chances are, you’ve been saying it entirely wrong.

Have you ever wanted a limited edition item so badly, you were willing to fight someone for it? If you answered yes, you don’t need to feel too guilty for that, because you’re not the only one. Apparently, people are so obsessed with a new cup released in Starbucks in China, they’re actually getting into physical altercations in stores. Starbucks has many stylish mugs and tumblers available for sale at each location.

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” – Your cat, probably, telling the dog who is really in charge. If your cat seems to channel their inner Cersei Lannister on a daily basis, then we have the perfect gift for them. Every “Game of Thrones” fan has been sitting with bated breath since 2017, just waiting for the day new episodes will arrive. We only have a little over a month until season 8 premieres on April 14, 2019.

Have you ever looked at your cat and wished you could live their life? They get to spend every day lounging around. If they get up to move, it is usually from the comfort of your bed to spread out on the couch. Their food bowl is always mysteriously refilled without them having to lift a paw. They get treats whenever they want. The spoiled house cat honestly has the perfect life. Which means you might just have the perfect life too.

If you thought your library card was only good for borrowing books, then think again. Turns out you can score access to all sorts of awesome stuff with nothing more than your library card—usually for free. Don’t believe us? Here are eight things you probably didn’t realize you could do with your library card. Who knew your library card could also grant you access to some pretty cool streaming platforms?

In between juggling film and TV roles, being a wife, mother and getting her zen on with the help of organization photos, Kristen Bell somehow managed to find time to launch a line of baby products with her husband Dax Shepard. This week, the couple announced a collection of baby goods named Hello Bello, an adorable moniker that pairs well with Kristen and Dax’s reputation for being unbelievably cute at all times. There’s even a nod to K-Bell’s favorite animal—the sloth.

WHOA.

Get your Easter list prepped and ready, you’re going to want to head to Target before the holiday comes. Chip and Joanna Gaines’s Hearth & Hand with Magnolia at Target has an Easter collection launching February 24 and you’re going to want every item for sale. The entire collection can help you craft the perfect holiday Instagram.

It is official! The next ride to hit Universal Orlando’s Wizard World of Harry Potter has been unveiled. For the last year, people have been speculating what exactly would replace the closed Dragon Challenge and many theories have been thrown around. Now, some of those theories have been proven to be true! The next ride to open at Universal will be Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

We need 5 cups of their coffee potion ASAP.

When you’re not feeling well, it doesn’t matter how old you are, it is nice to snuggle up with something soft and warm. If that happens to be a stuffed animal, there is no shame here, there’s a reason everyone loves stuffed animals! They can be extremely comforting and soothing. Experts have even said it is totally normal for adults to sleep with stuffed animals, as they are considered transitional objects that can give us a sense of comfort.

Did you grow up thinking your hometown was kind of boring? Or maybe you thought the name was silly and hated it? Well, at least you didn’t grow up in a town that is literally named Boring. That’s right, Boring is a town name in the state of Oregon. Can you imagine telling people that is your hometown? Thanks to Estately, we now know some of the weirdest named towns in the U.S. Estately is a national real estate company.

Set sail in 2020!

The most magical place on Earth is about to go intergalactic: Word on the design streets is that a Star Wars hotel is coming to Disney World in Orlando, and this collision of fantasy worlds undoubtedly has space geeks and theme park enthusiasts pumped. The new luxury resort at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park will be the first of its kind, and true to form, Disney has plans to go all out (of this world) with the hotel design.

If you’ve ever commuted by train, bus, or bike or regularly hike with your dogs, then this genius new hybrid to-go container will no doubt solve one of life’s pressing problems—by combining your water bottle and travel coffee mug in one. No longer do we have to literally juggle beverage containers while trying to channel an octopus, or choose between life-giving caffeine and hydration.

We’re seeing more and more dream jobs where the lucky employee gets paid to travel the world. There’s usually some unbelievable perks, and most require skills like photography and social media content creation—but this gig is different. That’s why the latest dream job we spotted really stands out. One woman is hiring a personal designer to travel the world by her side.

Do you take roughly 500 photos when you go on vacation? And then spend the following 10 weeks after your trip sharing “TBT” pictures on Instagram? No shame here, we all are guilty of doing this, at least once. Everyone likes to show off their best side on the ‘gram. If this is something you think you’re a pro at, you might just be able to get a job out of it.

Everyone hates baggage fees, whether they’re unexpected or not. But clearly, the airlines know how to make a bundle off them: In 2017, US airlines collected $4.6 billion in checked baggage fees. Enter: LugLess, a new travel startup that offers a cost-competitive alternative to checking bags. The company is hoping that customers are willing to part with the traditional baggage-checking model in order to score cheaper luggage shipping rates.

This April we will be celebrating our 15th birthday. For me, it will be a celebration of growing, doing better and better work over the years, and staying true to our mission.

There is an interesting belief that people are either dog people or cat people. But any general animal lover knows the more the merrier! Why limit yourself to just one species when you can appreciate them all? However, some people do tend to stay away from cats for a somewhat valid reason, though I personally ignore it. Cats can really aggravate allergies. You’ll meet people who cannot even go in the same room as a cat for 30 seconds without practically bursting.

Is there anything that smells worse than a wet dog? Probably, but it is not a smell that you want to linger in your house. After a bath, every dog has a moment of intense “zoomies” where they sprint around the house and get their wet dog smell on just about everything. As much as we love to watch our dogs run around and act a little crazy, there is a way to avoid this smell getting on your couch, bed, and carpet. Now, your dog obviously can get wet from more than just a bath.

Harry Potter fans, get ready to dip into your little sacks of money and pull out all of your Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons. You’re going to need some money for the newest addition to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. It is official, you can now visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank! Warner Bros. Studio Tour London opened “The Making of Harry Potter” back in 2012, as a way to preserve set pieces from the Harry Potter films for fans to experience for many years to come.

As January turns into February, it would seem that the harsh cold weather is here to stay. One day we have temperatures in the 40s, and the next, it’s a frigid 5 degrees. With these fluctuating temperatures comes dry skin and brittle, damaged hair. The winter weather can even take a toll on those who don’t color or use heat tools, or those who already have silky hair. One way to combat dryness is using a hair mask to help keep your locks hydrated.

The first big storm of 2019 hit over the weekend, some areas saw inches of snow, while others saw freezing rain. The weather plummeted to far-below freezing, with areas in the East Coast getting slammed with temperatures below 5 degrees and with the wind chill, it felt even colder. It officially means that winter is here and we’re in for a brutal one. You might want to rethink your definition of freezing after looking at this picture.

We’re too busy laughing to use the KonMari method right now.