Tiny apartments are the running joke of New York City real estate. If you live in one, you know that every little square foot counts. So making it a functional yet still open space does require some creativity. Don't have a closet? Find a slim clothing rack. Have a tiny kitchen? Maximize your shelf space. And so on. To find some inspiration for creating order within the confines of a small living area, we talked to some of the people who would know best: Laura Cattano, a professional organizer in New York City who lives in a small, 335-square-foot alcove studio; Mecca James-Williams, a stylist and the proud renter of @itsapt4; interior desig …

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Instead of an app or gadget that claims to jump-start your productivity, this year, you should invest in a good paper planner. After all, there's plenty of research showing that actually writing down your to-do list and schedule for the day - rather than typing it out on a laptop or your iPhone - makes you feel more engaged in the task at hand. And though we've written about some of our favorite planners in the past, like this Japanese option, we wanted to find the best planners available. So we reached out to productivity experts, life coaches, and people who just love stationery and know how to get things done and asked them about their fa …

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For all the debate over whether the best coffee comes from a Chemex or a French press or an AeroPress, sometimes you just want to turn on a machine and let it do all the work. We asked 14 coffee experts - baristas, roasters, food-industry professionals, and just plain coffee snobs - what coffee makers out there will give you a good, simple at-home brew without all the fuss. Below are their eight favorite machines for people who think the best part of waking up is having a gadget make their cup.

Best overall coffee maker

Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker

According to our research, the Bonavita Connoisseur is respected industr …

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My husband and I have flown with our twin sons since they were infants. I've breastfed them next to a couple of middle-aged men who were on their way to a golf vacation. They've slept cradled in our arms, across our laps, and against our chests, La-Z-Boy style, as we've crisscrossed the country. Whatever the position, I'm not sure any of us were ever really comfortable - especially those two golfers.

For our most recent trip, however - a flight from our home in Denver to DC for my cousin's wedding - we tested the JetKids by Stokke's BedBox, a kid-sized rideable carry-on that converts an economy-class seat into a makeshift bed. Even though m …

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Over the course of my career as a writer, I have probably spent the cost of my son's future college tuition to have physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and crystal healers (sorry, I live in LA) all tell me a version of the same thing: "You sit wrong while you work." My job is a literal pain in the neck - and frankly, my top left shoulder, too. When I am on a job that expects me to work outside of my bedroom (which is where I work from home), I can find a little relief from the fancy standing desks that lots of writers' rooms are furnished with. But I work from home a lot, and a standing desk would never work for me at home, b …

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If hourly news updates on the spread of the coronavirus have you constantly reaching for the Purell - and your Xanax (or anxiety remedy of choice) - you've probably wondered if it's time to buy a face mask. Currently, the CDC only recommends that doctors and nurses treating patients who are, or may be, infected with the virus wear N95 respirator masks - the face masks certified to filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles. Residents of impacted cities in China have been encouraged to wear masks in public, too. While no such recommendation has been issued for those in the US, that hasn't stopped many panicked people from buying up …

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Looking for eco-friendly condoms is complicated. Kim Marks, the owner of As You Like It, a nontoxic and environmentally conscious sex shop in Eugene, Oregon, describes the concept as a Catch-22: "Condoms are onetime use, but we need them for safe sex," she says. Matthew Nolan, the co-author of the Oh Joy Sex Toy book series who runs a website of the same name, agrees. "Condoms are super tricky," he says. "Almost all condoms are made from latex or a latex derivative - stuff that takes forever to degrade. The best thing you can aim for is a cruelty-free, considerate condom manufacturer." And there are a handful of companies that go the extra m …

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Whether you're heading to Tokyo for two weeks or simply doing a few days in Montreal, a crossbody bag is a very practical thing to pack for a trip. Unlike a slippery tote, a crossbody will stay on your shoulder while you remove your shoes and simultaneously scramble for your boarding pass at security. And once you reach your destination, a crossbody feels like a slightly more secure way to carry around important items, like, say, your passport. While the words "crossbody travel bag" might bring to mind a stodgy nylon number with a few too many zippers, that doesn't have to be the case. We talked to nine travel editors, trip planners, and a d …

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If you're an avid coffee drinker and you're toying with the idea of a zero-waste (or lower-waste) lifestyle, your first step should be bringing your own thermos or mug to your local java spot. Trading your daily paper to-go cup for a more eco-conscious reusable mug isn't just about sustainability. Experts like Natalie Slavutsky of Brooklyn Diamond Coffee agree that coffee actually tastes better out of ceramic, glass, or stainless steel than paper or plastic. "You're just getting a better cup of coffee than in a paper cup," says Slavutsky.

If that doesn't convince you to make a change, "many cafés reward customers who bring in reusable drink …

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Whether you have a top-of-the-line laptop tricked out for gaming or video editing, or a cheap, bare-bones machine for basic word processing and internet surfing, the last thing you want is to drop or spill something on your computer and end up spending hours - and lots of cash - at the Genius Bar. A sturdy case or sleeve goes a long way to keep your laptop safe from accidental damage. To find out which cases are best for different types of users, we asked some stylish people in tech as well as three computer-repair experts who know all too well the dangers of not using a case.

Best hard-shell cases

HDE clear MacBook Pro 13-inch case

A hard- …

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