CATEGORIES

Summer Chillers

Tasty granitas, tangy shrubs, fun floats and fancy ice cubes that look as good as they taste. Cheers!

GOING BLIND Helped Me Discover the POWER of OPTIMISM

How one writer learned to make the most of unexpected circumstances

Your 8-Week HEALTHY HABITS Plan

We get it - the very word \"habits\" can bring flashbacks to when you felt as if you didn't have enough willpower. But it's not about that at all, experts say.

Brilliant Built-Ins

Adorn a blank wall with sky-high shelving, a sunny window seat, a hidden storage spot and more.

Living (& Loving!) the Car-Free Life

These families are bikers, walkers and experts in public transit-and wouldn't have it any other way.

Pet Care THAT'S WORTH THE Money

We asked the experts what services and gear are best to buy.

MONEY 5 THINGS CREDIT SCORE EXPERTS WANT YOU TO KNOW

For one, the so-called perfect target number doesn't really need to be the goal. Also: Credit card limits are kinda tricky!

NERDING OUT PLANT POWERS

The greenery all around us is way smarter than we realize.

Shades OF Celadon

Named after a character in a 17th-century French romance novela shepherd who always dressed in green-celadon is neutral without being boring. The color of spring leaves and pale jade, it's a sophisticated choice for a room that you want to feel soothing. The key to landing a shade that skews more elegant than Easter egg pastel, says designer Joshua Smith, is to seek out options with gray or taupe undertones

playing to the crowd

Amy Thielen's new cookbook, Company, shares a blueprint for hosting a Fourth of July party with fresh takes on all the classic fixings and none of the stress

Park & Rec

A pair of vintage aluminum RVs joined by a platform deck create an unexpected work-from-home, play-from-home bonus Space

The Chill Host's Guide to Summer Entertaining

A cookout should be fun for everyone, including you-the lovely, thoughtful person who invited folks over for great food and company. Just read this story and pick out the bits you need. You know the rest: Keep the grill fired up and carry on.

BETTER FOR YOU MOCHA SMOOTHIE

It's like the beloved frosty coffee treat, but with fruit, protein, and fiber. Good morning, indeed!

Rest, Recharge & Reset

We're officially in the lazy, laid-back season-but in case your scurrying brain didn't understand the assignment, we've got a few ideas for mini mental breaks (sort of like vacations you don't have to plan!). Get ready to tune out the chaos and delight in the small joys of summer-for an afternoon, an hour, or even just a minute.

what to COOK

RECIPES FOR REAL LIFE

Blue-Sky Thinking

A clever use of space, plenty of hometown support, and gallons of blue paint made it possible for this young couple to remake a little cottage into their dream home

Sweat IT OUT

Perspiration the good, the bad, the sweaty. Surprising facts and helpful tips to manage your most moisture-prone state

THINGS COOKS KNOW FRESH & FRUITY

Crumbles and crisps, grunts and slumps! These jammy baked desserts are some of summer's greatest pleasures. But what's the difference? And what's the best fruit for a pandowdy? Read on!

FROM THE GROUND UP

Take a background in biology, add some serious building skills, sprinkle in a lot of love, and what you end up with is a garden. Over the past four years, Ashlie Thomas, a health coach and graduate student in nutritional science, and her husband, Tyler, a fourth-generation builder, have approached gardening with zeal. Together, they’ve transformed their oak-studded yard in North Carolina into an oasis overflowing with fruits and vegetables

Honor SOCIETY

The thrill of the hunt was never truer for Rhode Island writer Elyse Major than when she embarked on a quest for self-service farm stands and serenity

Plantings BASIL

The delicious heat-loving herb is a no-brainer in the summer garden. This vear, plant several types so you can sample its range of flavors

DRINKING WITH JENNA Pitcher This

Want to throw a party and not have to play bartender all night? Just mix up one of these fruit-forward, big-batch cocktails in advance.

CLEAN THIS Gas & Charcoal Grills

Contrary to popular belief, lingering crud on your grates is not there to add flavor to your next batch of burgers. Let's scrub those racks-and everything else.

Modern Manners Advice for Your Social Quandaries

IDA ASKS...My neighbors' kids, ages 9 and 6, have made a habit of playing in my front yard. I let it happen for a bit, thinking it was going to be temporary, but it has become very frequent-and irritating and loud. I've talked to the kids and the parents, and they still come back. I don't want to be known as the cranky neighbor. How do I get them to stop?

PETS SPLISH, SPLASH

Before you let your pup dive into the deep end, read these tips to help her get on swimmingly in the water.

The Books List Top Picks for Book Club & Beyond

STUFF WE LOVE

SWEET THING RASPBERRY-MANGO ICE CREAM CAKE

Serve up a slice of summer with this stunning (but easy to make!) treat.

HEALTH Let's Talk About Your Pelvic Floor! Again!

It supports vital organs, it stabilizes your core-and it's often misunderstood. We're giving this critical muscle group the explainer it deserves.

TRAVEL PLAN THE ULTIMATE (UNCROWDED!) SUMMER TRIP

During the height of tourist season, summer vacation can feel like a full-contact sport. Here's how to bypass the hordes and take a trip that leaves you relaxed, not raggedy.

Open-Door Policy

This home near the sea blurs the lines between indoors and out with a laid-back surfer vibe and sliding doors that open wide to create the ultimate family home