Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I was intrigued by a product I bought by accident at the drugstore. It’s the Walgreens house brand of what I usually call Q-tips. The box says, “Cotton Swabs Variety Pack” and had three different types of Q-tip-ish items — none of them the traditional teardrop-shaped white cotton ball on a ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- A zipper breaks. A seam rips. A snagged loop of yarn unravels into a gaping hole.

Suddenly, you have a pile of frayed fabric where your favorite jeans used to be — and a choice.

Buy another pair of jeans? Or make do and mend?

On a rainy Friday, in the very back of a Minneapolis thrift shop, a sewing machine whirred. One by ...Read more

The price of gas is higher than it used to be, and currently stands over $3 per gallon as of July 2025.

Instead of trying to hunt down the best gas prices in your area, download an app to compare gasoline prices and make the ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I am sick and tired of the drawstrings in my kids’ shorts, pants and hoodies coming out in the wash.

Is there an efficient way to restring the darned things without slowly and painstakingly re-threading inch by inch by hand, which takes forever? Who has the time for that?

--Mom of 4 active kids...Read more

Gone are the days when injectables are seen as a last-ditch effort to erase deep wrinkles. Today’s cosmetic dermatology clients are younger, more informed and focused on long-term skin health.

“I’m a huge advocate of prevention, which makes a huge difference in your skin’s overall health (and your wallet) in the long run,” says ...Read more

ATLANTA -- A new report from Yardzen reveals a major shift in how we approach our outdoor spaces. While entertaining is still a priority, more homeowners now focus on privacy and relaxation. Think cottage-style gardens, cold plunges and climate-resilient landscaping.

“We’re in the middle of a wellness design revolution,” Joe Raboine, ...Read more

More than five years ago, remote work was almost unheard of. I used to go into an office, sit in a cubicle and do the same work I do now, albeit with more chit-chat at the espresso machine. Now, I only have my dog to gossip with.

Among employees whose work can be done from home — not including professions like mechanics, pilots and nurses, ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I started growing out my very short hair during COVID and now my hair is long and my summer is HOT.

I have tried multiple styles of headbands to keep my hair in some semblance of order and out of my face, but every one has given me a headache. Yes, of course, I can use various devices -- clips and ...Read more

ATLANTA -- You’ve seen them on nightstands, in gym bags and probably even in your group chat: electrolyte powders are gaining momentum in the wellness world. But beyond the pretty packaging and promises of hangover cures, do you actually need them?

If you ask Patrick Russell, co-founder of Decatur, homeandleisure/fashiondaily/fashiondailynews/s-3760987">Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Because I shop frequently on Etsy (etsy.com), I’m on their email list. The latest email had this headline: “Gingham is back in a big way.”

I’ve always liked this fabric and many years back, I made several decorative throw pillows (with ruffled edges no less) in yellow and white checks along ...Read more

ATLANTA -- If eight hours of sleep leave you feeling like you need eight more, Atlanta-based entrepreneurs Lori Oliver and Jill MacRae want to help you rethink how you rest.

The former Spanx executives are the co-founders of The Inactive Company, a sleep wellness brand behind a new recovery ...Read more

Are you interested in earning cash back on your everyday purchases? Many credit cards offer cash back rewards on groceries, gas, streaming services and more. However, you might not realize that you can earn ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- I grew up in a generation in which wearing a baseball cap in even semiformal settings was as rude as attending a funeral in Bermuda shorts.

That’s no longer the case. Caps are making a splash at office meetings, red carpets and cocktail parties. They’re even accepted at the White House.

“The look of the MAGA Republican is ...Read more

For Americans living paycheck to paycheck, there’s little room to make progress on goals like getting a mortgage and becoming a homeowner.

If you’re set on buying a home this year but can’t increase your income, ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Are there any modest swimsuits made for women with flat derrieres? I find it a challenge to find one.

--Anna C.

Dear Anna: The trend in swimwear is definitely going in the opposite direction of “modest.” A trip to almost any beach or pool will illustrate that swimsuit styles are ...Read more

If you’re an LGBTQ+ homebuyer, you may be unsure of your current legal status. Recent federal policy changes have eroded some equal housing protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, leaving the most stringent laws at the state level.

Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ people are still less likely to own homes than straight, cisgendered people. The homeownership ...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- Ask Dave McPheeters, 75, to introduce himself, and this is what he says.

“I am the owner of Zac’s Attic. I am the last man standing on Adams Avenue, the original Antique Row.” A pause, a breath. “So I’m kind of a dinosaur in this business.” A laugh.

The word dinosaur comes up more than once. The second time, he uses it...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Well, I did not realize scarves were totally out of fashion until I started looking for scarves for a friend undergoing cancer treatment, and you know what that leads to. At any rate, no scarves in the stores in my immediate area, although I must admit my shopping options are limited to the usual big-...Read more