Your RX bottles and vitamins togetherThis way you’ll have all medication information handy when you go to the doctor or an ER. A plant or flower you likeShow the picture to the staff at your local nursery. “You are here” maps at malls, parks, and subwaysYou’ll have a portable map as you keep walking. The drink menuSend it to a friend who’s running late to dinner. Yourself wearing different outfits in a dressing roomYou can compare the looks without trying on each item again. Location

Milky Way Pudgy PieMy favorite pudgy pies have Milky Way candy bars, graham cracker crumbs, and marshmallows. So irresistible! And buttered bread is a must. —Ashlan Potts Ontario, CanadaGet the recipe on TasteofHome.com Ham & Jack Pudgy PiePepper Jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty sandwiches. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, WisconsinGet the recipe on TasteofHome.com S’more Pudgy Pie“Simply sinful” is how testers described this fresh take on s’mores. —Joan

Fudgy s’mores browniesI combined the perfect, simple summer snack with my favorite brownie recipe to get a treat that’s sure to wow at your next big party. —Judy Cunningham, Max, North DakotaGet the recipe on TasteofHome.com S’MoreosMy son introduced us to this twist on classic s’mores when we were camping. Have a jar of Nutella around? Slather on the inside of the graham cracker halves before you build this one-of-a-kind treat. — Christina Smith, Santa Rosa, CaliforniaGe

Skee-ball in the sandNo boardwalk arcade at your beach? This sandy version is just as fun. Start by creating a sand ramp about 13 feet long and 3 feet wide. Draw a circle at one end (this will be your target) and use a beach bucket to move extra sand into it. Sculpt a few holes into your target mound and decide how many points each hole will be worth. Take turns rolling a ball up the ramp and toward the target. For a less building-intensive target practice, draw a giant dartboard in the sand and

Case the roomDuring the November 2015 attack on Paris’ Bataclan concert hall, a security guard led a group of people to safety through a fire exit left of the stage. But there won’t always be a guard to help. Whenever you plan on spending a lot of time in a public place, make a point of identifying emergency exits for yourself. The more prepared you are before an incident, the more quickly you can react if the time comes. First, run from danger. Then …In its report on “dynamic

For tangle-free necklaces: tapeStore all your necklaces in one pouch and you could end up with a tangled mess. To keep jewelry in control, cover the chains with tape before packing them to prevent them from making knots. For makeup: pencil caseThrow a loose pair of stockings into your luggage and they could end up with unsightly runs. Keep them safe from catching on unruly objects by storing rolled-up pairs in a pencil case when you’re packing. Pencil cases also make handy containers for makeup.

Cut the clutterOne big reason that we love hotel rooms is their emptiness. They’re free of the refuse of everyday life—the bills, stray socks, and soccer balls—leaving them full of possibility. While it’s impossible to eliminate clutter entirely from your home, you can make sure you have enough places to stow away most of your belongings. And remember: Storage isn’t just closets and dressers. Don’t forget about trays, which hotels rely on to corral smaller items. There are no junk drawers in hot

Keep things familiar“Travel is inherently stressful,” says Seth Kaplan, managing partner of Airline Weekly and father of a 16-month-old girl. “You can’t change that travel is different from the bedroom at home, but to the extent that you can make it familiar is helpful.” He suggests keeping kids busy with books, tablets, and other portable playthings they’re used to seeing at home. Pick your plane seat strategicallyLetting your kid take the aisle seat on a plane will make standing up and down ev

Ride with a passengerWith the exception of teen drivers, crashes are statistically less likely when there’s a passenger in the car. Set up a carpool with a coworker or bring your partner along when running errands. You’ll have another set of eyes on the road and someone to chat with while you drive. This is what successful people do on their commute.ⓘ Pick the right playlistA British survey found that drivers who listen to rock, hip-hop, or heavy metal were more likely to tailgate, speed,

1 / 12Provide all the necessitiesKeeping toiletries—sealed toothbrushes, coordinating shampoo and conditioner, razors, cotton swabs, and a hair dryer—in your guests’ bathroom will be a relief when they don’t need to approach you to ask about extras. “Those things you’d forget to bring—I try to provide all that,” says Jennifer Dyer, interior designer and principal of Jeneration Interiors. “It’s like if you went to a hotel and needed something.” 2 / 12Prepare guests for when you’re not homeIf you

Pack powders tightlyAvoid a broken palette fiasco by packing powders with care. To do so, place a cotton ball between the makeup and the mirror of the compact (you can also use a makeup sponge or tissue). The added cushion should provide enough shock absorption to keep things secure. If the powder does break, don’t freak. Drop a bit of rubbing alcohol into the compact and press the pieces back in place. The makeup should dry as good as new. Try these tricks to make your beauty supplies las

What you can take: soapIf there’s one thing most hotels reliably have in their rooms, it’s soap. And according to Ousman Conteh, general manager at Claridge House Chicago, these mini bottles are OK to take from your hotel room. “Often hotels receive negotiated pricing for items from another brand,” he says. However, Curt Asmussen, managing director of ObieHospitality, notes that it’s not encouraged to take these items—but guests aren’t penalized in any way if

Icy windshields messing with your morning?Who likes scraping off ice—especially when you’re in a hurry? Save yourself the trouble and rub a raw onion half on your windows and windshield the night before a big freeze; this strange little car trick will keep frost from forming on the glass. Another way to avoid ice? Cover your windshield with rubber bath mats.ⓘ Wiper blades frozen to your windshield?Soak a soft cloth with full-strength rubbing alcohol and wipe each blade. The alcohol w

If puffins could talk, this is what they’d tell us.They’d want to share the inspiring story of how one scientist—assisted by the efforts of many other people—followed his dream and helped restore this adorable aquatic bird to the islands of America’s northeasternmost state. (Btw, the sound of a puffin “talking” most closely resembles a chainsaw.) Meet Stephen Kress, a man with a planHere is a recent photo of Stephen W. Kress, PhD (in the green beanie) with researche

The top spots to go apple picking in AmericaThere’s a reason fall is the preferred season of so many people. The crisp air, fall foliage, and Halloween festivities make people count down to the first day of fall with anticipation.  Another great fall activity people look forward to? Apple picking, of course.There’s something about picking apples that gets us in the fall spirit. We love going to an apple orchard, picking our own apples, and using them to bake delicious apple treats. P

1 / 26Fall in love all over againThere are many different versions of romance. Some of us envision sitting by the fire at a cozy log cabin overlooking a lake. For others, the perfect romantic escape is rooted in history, with a visit to a turn-of-the-century resort that has set the scene for some legendary love stories. Or maybe a clothing-optional, adults-only couples resort is more your jam? Whether you’re planning your honeymoon, an anniversary trip, or a quick romantic weekend getaway,

No surprises on your billFor a luxurious vacation at sea that won’t deliver a shocking bill on disembarkation day, focus your search on all-inclusive cruises. While most of the best cruises can, at times, feel all-inclusive if you eat in the main dining room and drink only tap water on the rocks, that’s not always the case. Many restaurants on the bulk of cruise ships, even on the most trusted cruise lines, carry an extra fee (anywhere from $30 to $100 per person, per meal), and soda

1 / 51The perfect places to pick a pumpkinBuying a pumpkin from the grocery store isn’t nearly as much fun as a visit to a local pumpkin patch on a crisp Autumn day during the fall season. At the best pumpkin patches in the country, you can pose for postcard-perfect photo ops, make your way through corn mazes, pet animals, and more, and of course pick the perfect pumpkin during this quintessential fall activity. After you bring it home, it’s time to check out these clever pumpkin car

The land of lost bagsEvery year, thousands of suitcases go missing after they’ve been checked at the airport. Most suitcases are eventually returned to their owners, but for the less than 1 percent that aren’t, their final destination in the United States is Unclaimed Baggage, the nation’s only retailer of lost luggage. UB’s team of experts sort, clean, price, and sell the best of the 7,000 items they receive a day from around the globe (at a discount!).We rounded up some

Hit the open roadWhile the vaccinated among us can once again fly to certain exotic foreign destinations, the allure of the American road trip remains strong! In fact, there has never been a better time to plan road trips to see, do, and drive to all the best sights and cities scattered around the continental United States. Here are the 16 best road trip cars for 2021, from a living room on wheels that’ll fit your kids and their friends to a sporty two-seater for when you and your better h