14 plants to try for a sweeter-smelling backyard
When selecting plants for an outdoor space, it's easy to let your eyes do the picking. While pots of bold, colorful flowers always cheer up an outdoor space, don't overlook another key sense: smell. Scented plants perfume the air, attract pollinators and can help you relax. Here are some easy-to-care-for options to help you enjoy those lazy, sunny days.
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Wall Street Journal
44 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Want a Better Relationship With Your Teen Children? Exercise With Them.
There is a magical place where my teenage children are invariably pleasant, we all happily engage in healthy activities and no one is glued to a screen. I'll let you in on the secret: this magical place is the gym. Well, 'gym' in the expansive sense of any space where we can exercise together: it could be the paved strip along the Hudson River, a tiny hotel gym, the choppy waters of the Atlantic or even the space in our entryway roomy enough to accommodate a couple of mats.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I Found a "Nap Couch" That's Comfier Than My Bed—And It's Pet-Friendly Too!
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Growing up, my family had regular movie nights and watch parties for every sport you can think of. I will personally pick a rom-com over a football game any day, but regardless of what was on, there was always more than enough room on the couch for the four of us and all our friends when we were hosting. Now that I live in a much smaller space in New York City, I'll admit I miss having the space for a massive couch. I have found products that work beautifully in my tiny Manhattan apartment, like my three-piece 7th Avenue sectional and magical Transformer Table, but I still yearn for the day when I can comfortably get together with more than three people for a movie night in my own space. That dream is already a reality for my sister, Brittany, and her husband, Caleb, who just bought and began renovating a house in St. Louis, Missouri. Their 800-square-foot open-concept living area was begging for furniture, and knowing that I would be staying with them over the holidays for the foreseeable future, I happily jumped at the chance to recruit them as testers for Sundays Get Together sectional.$5990.00 at Sundays Get Together sectional comes in various sizes and configurations, from a two-piece love seat to a six-piece, U-shaped sectional. All configurations are available in two seat depths: standard 25" or large 32". Depending on which style you select, the price ranges from $3,300 to $9,400. The brand also offers six different fabric options that vary in color, material, and feel. Brittany and Caleb were looking for a large sectional to match their 10 x 14 Ruggable rug (which they're obsessed with), and the 4-piece Get Together sectional in the ottoman configuration, size large, was the perfect fit. At 129" x 91", it leaves about 20" of the rug exposed on all sides. And spoiler alert: the sectional is a hit, and I won Sister Of The Year. But don't take my word for it. Ahead, Brittany discusses her experience sharing the Get Together with her husband Caleb, their dog Winnie, and many friends and family members (myself included!). Sundays offers free delivery and assembly for all orders in the U.S. and Canada. White glove delivery is an additional cost for many furniture brands, so this is definitely something to consider if you're debating between Sundays and its competitors. Once Brittany and I decided on the right size and configuration for their space, the order for the sectional was placed on October 1, and the estimated arrival time was November 6 to 21. It arrived within the window as promised on November 19. The four pieces of the sectional were delivered all at once, and it only took the movers around 10 to 15 minutes to assemble with two people. One thing to note: the covers were already on the sectional during delivery, so they did collect some dirt during shipping, which was a bit disappointing. Thankfully, the fabric can be spot cleaned and is also machine washable, but we actually ended up swapping out the original cream linen covers for one of the chenille options because the linen was harder to maintain with a dark-haired dog (more on that below). Although the sectional was assembled upon delivery, Brittany, Caleb, and I have all had experience with disassembling and reassembling it since then. Once, the week of my sister's wedding, when we had the original cream linen covers drycleaned, and a second time when the new chenille fabric covers arrived. The assembly process is relatively easy, especially if you have two people. Having a second person to help guide the metal connectors on the sectional bases into place speeds up the process significantly. The frame covers are lined with velcro, which makes them a breeze to attach and remove. However, the most challenging part of assembly is getting the large base cushions into their slip covers. The week of my sister's wedding, my mom and I practically sumo wrestled the cushions back into their dry-cleaned covers. After lots of trial and error, we discovered that folding them in half was the easiest way to fit them into the covers. This, too, is a much faster process if you have a partner. The back cushions and pillows, however, are very easy to fit into their covers. After some practice, Caleb and Brittany can now put all the covers back on in five to ten minutes. My sister estimates that she and Caleb spend an average of two to three hours per day on their Get Together sectional. Personally, I call B.S., since my sister loves a nap. She even admitted to me that she "once slept on it for two naps and a night's sleep in a row" and asked me not to quote her on that (Sorry, Britt!). I've also spent an ungodly amount of time on this sectional with her, our family of eight (five humans, three dogs), and by myself over the last several months. For these reasons, I decided to break our reviews into several categories based on the scenario you would find yourself enjoying this sectional in: alone, with company, and of course, asleep. Although Brittany and Caleb chose the 4-piece sectional with hosting in mind, most days they are lounging alone or with their dog Winnie, so there is more than enough space to sprawl out. "This sectional is huge and better for lounging than our bed," Brittany says. "Lying on the sectional portion in the corner is the best spot, and Caleb and I argue over who gets to sit there." I can attest that I have seen said argument and also try to claim this spot whenever I'm in town. The last few times I've visited Brittany and Caleb, it's been a full house, and this sectional was up for the task. Thanks to the extra-deep seats, five people (and three dogs!) can comfortably lounge on this couch. Last Christmas, my mom, dad, Caleb, Brittany, and I spent the majority of the day binge-watching No Good Deed, and we were all incredibly cozy and content. Brittany has declared this "literally the best nap couch," and I don't think there is anyone more qualified to make that claim than she is. "Every time you lie on it, it puts you right to sleep," she adds. "We've both slept on it overnight multiple times, sometimes preferring it over our king bed." As a frequent napper myself, I enthusiastically agree, and would go so far as to say I've had the best nap of my life on this sectional. Like many sofas on the market today, Sundays LiveLife fabrics are stain-resistant and moisture-repellant, which is a blessing for anyone who has ever spilled something on the couch. As a dog mom, I'm not proud to say that my pup had a little accident on Brittany and Caleb's sofa, but thankfully, it was truly repelled off the fabric, and I could clean the mess up in seconds. Most spills can be soaked up with a paper towel, but for tougher stains, the brand recommends washing with mild soap and water. "I use different products for spot cleaning depending on the type of stain, but fabric cleaner or a Tide pen is my go-to," Brittany says. The covers are also machine washable. Sundays recommends using cold water on a delicate cycle, then hanging them to dry, since a dryer could damage the covers. However, the machine washing process might not be convenient for you, depending on the size of your sectional. "The covers are so large that it takes several loads to wash them, and laying them out to dry takes up a lot of square footage," Brittany says. "Plus, it's hard to find a perfectly clean spot for them to dry, especially in a home with a pet, so we ended up sending the cream linen covers to the dry cleaner." Although the fabric is safe for dry cleaning, this was a more expensive option due to the size and quantity of the covers. Brittany's more affordable solution is to wash specific covers after a spill or stain instead of doing a full wash of the covers. After about eight months of living with the Get Together sectional, Brittany says the couch has remained "very comfortable" for the whole time and there has been "no sagging whatsoever." While taking the photos for this article, she actually did a sag test: "I jumped on the couch and took a picture five seconds after, and it was like nothing happened." Although Brittany and Caleb did have a hard time keeping the original cream linen covers pristine due to their dark-haired dog, the new fabric they received in April has been a game-changer for their lifestyle. "The fabric is absolutely stunning," Brittany says. "It has a slight shimmer to it in the sunlight and gives cozy, homey vibes." She also adds that she never sees any dog hair on the sectional—"His hair is practically invisible!"—and when she does occasionally lint roll or vacuum the covers, the dog hair doesn't get stuck in the fabric like it did with the linen, which makes it a great choice for pet owners. So far, there hasn't been a stain that can't be tackled with simple spot-cleaning, and Brittany says the covers still look brand new.$5990.00 at As mentioned, if I had the space, I would one thousand percent buy this sectional, and Brittany and Caleb wholeheartedly agree. "When researching the couch for our first home, our overall goal was comfort and lounging," Brittany says. "Our previous couch was cheap and extremely uncomfortable to sit on, and especially to lie on. As someone who loves napping, it was an extremely difficult time for me. This couch absolutely surpassed what we were hoping for and is the ultimate nap couch. It is better than a bed. But even better than that, it looks beautiful. It does not look frumpy or too large, and we hardly ever have to fluff the cushions. Absolutely recommend."$500.00 at at at at at at Follow on and . You Might Also Like 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
We found the best early Amazon Prime Day clothing deals on summer styles and beyond
From summer dresses to affordable swimsuits, CNN Underscored editors count on Amazon deals to keep our summer wardrobes (and the rest of our closets) up to date. With Prime Day mere weeks away, we're not-so-patiently anticipating what fashion scores we can scoop — and we already have eyes on a number of early deals that you can shop now. Dokotoo Babydoll Tunic Dress Take 20% off this easy-breezy tunic dress with an empire waist and smocked sleeves. It comes in 17 colors too, so there is sure to be something that suits your style. Skechers Beverlee Tiger Posse Sandals Skechers already has a handful of women's and men's styles marked down. These wedge sandals, now up to 33% off, are perfect for getting your steps in comfortably this summer. The Drop Ilana Poplin Maxi Dress This stylist-approved white dress will keep you comfortable, thanks to its relaxed fit and smooth cotton poplin material. Calvin Klein Straight-Leg Classic Business Casual Pants Shop smarter during Prime Day by stocking up on wardrobe essentials, like these classic work pants from Calvin Klein, which are at the lowest price (in certain sizes) we've seen them this year. Kate Spade New York Carolina Slingback Flats Prime Day is a great time to take advantage of designer deals. Save $60 on these cute slingbacks that will carry you through the seasons, or opt for this under-$50 lookalike pair that are also on sale. Colorfulkoala 6-Inch High-Waisted Biker Shorts With Pockets Biker shorts are a perfect athleisure style for summer dressing, and this pair comes from the editor-loved brand Colorfulkoala. Grab them up to 40% off now and thank yourself later when temperatures rise. Amazon Essentials Men's Chinos These five-pocket chinos are highly rated by reviewers for their comfortable fit and accessible price point. Columbia PFG Super Slack Tide Camp Shirt This performance shirt will keep you cool and protected for any outdoor adventure with its moisture-wicking, sun-protective material. It comes in more colors and patterns than we can count, and this fun shark print is nearly 50% off. Reef Cushion Phantom Flip-Flops Reef has shoes for the whole family up to 66% off. These men's flip-flops, now $20 off, are a reliable pair for backyard hangs and beach days alike. Lacoste Stretch Cotton Paris Polo Every man's summer closet needs a few polo shirts, and it doesn't get more classic than Lacoste. This one comes in a bunch of different colors and is up to 50% off. Adidas Kaptir 3.0 Shoes For guys that want to stay light on their feet, these comfy, cheap sneakers are also light on your wallet. With knit uppers and cushioned, Cloudfoam midsoles, they're great for active days. From basics like polos and work pants to trendy designer clothes and accessories, Amazon's fashion department has plenty of deals for men, women and kids. Just like the main Prime Day event, many of the early deals you'll find are limited-time markdowns, so it's smart to grab the discounts while you can. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Our team covers every major sale and is committed to finding the best deals for readers. Fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw has covered Prime Day clothing and fashion deals for years, so she is tapped into what deals are actually worth adding to cart.
