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The Very Best Wedding Gifts, According to Our Newsroom

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In this edition of The Gift, our newsroom shares a few of the best wedding gifts they’ve received. Plus, more buy-it-for-life presents. My husband and I are not fancy people. When we got married nearly 26 years ago, we were really not fancy people. At the time, we shared a 15-year-old Subaru and enlisted the help of our friends to paint and sand the absolute dump we’d bought using every last penny we had between us. We thanked them with pizza and beer. When we registered for wedding gifts, I felt like my 9-year-old self carefully planning her dream bedroom, complete with a mauve eyelet-lace canopy bed (my childhood idea of perfection). I gleefully registered for all sorts of things, including claw-shaped lobster shell crackers (what?) and a set of tiny espresso cups , but sadly, no espresso machine. We weren’t interested in china or silver, but to this day, I regret not registering for a set of good everyday dishes, like these beauties . Nearly three decades and ...

Is the $1,700 Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet Worth It? What to Know Before You Buy.

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I began my test of the Snoo Smart Sleeper as a robotic-bassinet skeptic, certain that it couldn’t possibly justify its cult-like fandom in the parenting world. But this attitude didn’t last long. From the day I put my baby into his first Snoo swaddle and clipped him in, the Snoo proved to be effective at keeping him asleep longer than any other bassinet in our testing lineup. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/FpaO930 via IFTTT

Wire Grill Brushes Might Leave Behind Errant Bristles. Here’s What You Can Use Instead.

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Wire grill brushes are tried-and-true workhorses for cleaning your grates. Unfortunately, they can also shed bristles that might potentially wind up in your next backyard BBQ feast. Unappetizing, right? And also dangerous — according to a 2016 study , approximately 1,700 injuries due to ingested grill-brush wires resulted in trips to the ER between 2002 and 2014. In 2018, to make consumers aware of the potential danger, the American Medical Association issued a notice calling on the federal government to require warning labels on all wire-bristle grill brushes. In February 2023, a pediatric emergency medicine physician also raised the concern in a viral TikTok video , which has since amassed over 44 million views. Here's how you can reduce the risk of accidentally ingesting a wire bristle, while still keeping your grill squeaky clean. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/sWncQMF via IFTTT

The Best Setting Sprays

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Two years ago, I enjoyed a monthlong stay in Paris. It was October, it drizzled a lot, and the vibe was “always raining even when it isn’t.” Charmingly moody, sure — but hard on those of us who like our makeup to stay on our faces. I hadn’t packed setting spray, because back in the States I used it sparingly, mostly on special occasions. However, it took only one unfortunate photo of eyeliner running down my cheek to realize I needed to buy — and apply — a new one immediately. The following night, I forgot my umbrella but still walked around in the nonstop soft smattering of rain. Headed back to my flat, I was convinced I looked like a drowned rat. But lo and behold, when I wearily examined myself in the mirror, my skin tint, eyeliner, and blush were intact and as vibrant as when I’d applied them seven hours earlier. I was thoroughly impressed. Turns out, setting spray isn’t just a nice-to-have for special occasions; these makeup-sealing, skin-finishing mists can b...

Wirecutter’s Travel Experts Grant You Permission to Check a Bag

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As a travel writer at Wirecutter, I’ve talked to many frequent fliers, including flight attendants , The New York Times’s Frugal Traveler columnist Elaine Glusac, and even Conan O’Brien , host of comedy travel shows that have taken him to some 20 countries. One thing most of them have in common: It’s carry-on or bust. Their reasons include efficiency once they arrive, never losing luggage, and the pure joy of packing light. “You’ll be so much happier with yourself if you bring less and make sure that everything works together,” Glusac told me. So when I talked with Wirecutter’s intrepid travel experts, who test and recommend both checked and carry-on luggage , I expected more of the same. Not so. Our travel experts love to check bags. They might go as far as to say that the hype for carrying on is kind of overrated. Here are their reasons (and some advice for when to carry on instead). from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/QLomdr8 v...

I Test Bras for a Living. The Harper Wilde Triangle Bralette Is the Only One I Actually Wear.

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In the past few years, I’ve worn around 35 different bras. But I have a good reason: As Wirecutter’s resident underthings expert, swooping and scooping on repeat is part of my job. If it weren’t my job, I’d be content to leave all this bra business behind. Because for me, the search is over. I’ve found The One. My forever bra is decadently soft, marvelously stretchy, and mercifully wire-free. It has a flattering shape that plays nice with most necklines, and it’s supportive enough to keep my wayward 34Ds on task. Critically, it provides support without squishing them into an unfortunate sports sausage. It’s the Harper Wilde Bliss Triangle Bralette — a pick in our guide to the best, most comfortable bras — and it’s the only one you’ll catch me wearing in my off-hours. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/dS2XaHq via IFTTT

The Best Trackballs

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If you’re looking to eliminate repetitive motion from mousing around too much, or if you’re running short on desk space, a trackball can be a great option. These mice remain stationary, instead relying on your fingers to spin a ball around to move your cursor where it needs to go, which can reduce strain in your shoulders and wrist. You can find two types of trackballs: finger-operated and thumb-operated. Finger-operated trackballs have center-mounted balls and work for both right- and left-handed people, while thumb-operated trackballs are shaped similarly to traditional mice and may be easier to use initially. (For more information, see Should you switch to a trackball? below.) Although trackballs can help some people with some symptoms of repetitive stress injury, we recommend consulting a doctor first if you’re considering a trackball for that reason. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/UyYVhKo via IFTTT