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Showing posts with the label Health Secrets

If You See This Bar on the Wheel of Your Shopping Cart, Here’s What It Means

At the grocery store the other day, my cart suddenly broke into what I can only describe as the grocery store version of a motorcycle death wobble—wheels shaking, screeching, veering like a lemming in sight of a cliff. It caused, and this might be a slight exaggeration, a huge scene. At one point, I abandoned the cart entirely and carried all 57 items to checkout in my arms like a deranged contestant on “Supermarket Sweep.” As I walked away (dignity in shreds), I kicked one of the offending wheels (do not recommend, I was wearing sandals) and spotted a small U-shaped bar around it. If that little bar was supposed to help the cart steer straight, it was doing a terrible job. “That’s called chattering when the wheels do that, and it really can be alarming,” says Brett Nelson, CEO of The Peggs Company, a U.S. company that does all things shopping carts. (Who knew that actually had a name?!) “And no, that bar on the back wheel had nothing to do with your steering issues. It has a differ...

EXCLUSIVE! Here’s the First Thing Actor Henry Golding Does When He Vacations in a New City

Do you have an airplane “must-watch” movie? Is it Crazy Rich Asians ? Yup, me too. (I just rewatched it on my way back from Mexico City , and it was not my first—or honestly, even fifth—viewing.) Turns out, everyone is tuning into this feel-good movie from 2018 that’s part rom-com and part family drama, set in glittering Singapore, from their fully reclined airplane seats. In fact, “15,000 people watch Crazy Rich Asians on American Airlines flights each week ,” according to Pam Habner, head of U.S. Branded Cards and Lending for Citi, the credit card partner of American Airlines. The movie’s star, Henry Golding, who plays the dashing Nick Young, also knows you’re watching the film from cruising altitude. “It’s really comfort viewing, which is so great,” said Golding when I chatted with him at the recent launch event for the new Citi Strata Elite credit card. And Golding isn’t just jet-setting on screen. Before he became a well-known actor, he spent a decade hosting a travel show wher...

Here’s the Only Way You Should Eat a Burger. Hint: You’re Probably Not Doing It Right!

You just pulled that juicy, perfectly cooked hamburger off the grill or out of the cast-iron skillet. You placed it on the bottom of the pillowy roll and layered on sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, crispy bacon, ripe tomato , tangy pickle slices and a dollop of special sauce. This hamburger looks like it belongs on your Instagram grid, and you’re practically drooling. You go in for the first bite, and suddenly the toppings slide out, sauce drips down your wrist and the bun collapses. Nightmare? Definitely. Preventable? Absolutely. Believe it or not, there’s a right way to eat a hamburger, and it’s not the way most of us do it. Want proof? Upscale chains like Shake Shack and In-N-Out have been serving their burgers this way for years. For the lowdown on this not-so-secret technique to keeping your burgers intact and mess-free at home or on the go, I turned to Sef González—better known as Burger Beast—a Miami food blogger, author and all-around burger enthusiast . Let’s dig in. ...

New Report: These Are the Most Fun States in the U.S.—See Where Yours Ranks

While the adjective fun is subjective, some states just seem to have that extra sparkle, whether it be beach access , killer restaurants or cultural outlets galore. But according to a new survey by WalletHub, there’s one clear winner that owns the title of The Most Fun State, and the findings are based on data. Think fun doesn’t matter? It might! “Living in one of the most fun states can boost your mental, physical and emotional health by giving you a wide range of activities to choose from, both indoor and outdoor,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “These states help residents stay active and socialize, and they’re also ideal for travelers who want to make the most out of the limited amount of time that they have to explore.” Did your state take the crown? Read on to find out which state ranked top and to see where yours ranked. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, etiquette, humor, cleaning, tech and fun facts all week long. How were the most ...

Barnes & Noble Book Haul Is Back—Here’s How to Save 50% on Bestsellers

Summer and reading go hand in hand. Whether it’s the long, lazy days or the oppressive heat that’s perfect for lying low, I find that I can plow through way more books in the warmer months. Now that it’s August, I’ve found my TBR (to-be-read pile) is getting a little low. And, thankfully, Barnes & Noble just announced the perfect solution: Book Haul is back. Here’s everything you need to know about this rare sale. Barnes & Noble Book Haul 2025 Score your next great read at a discount. Now through September 1, save 50% on select hardcovers during the Barnes & Noble Book Haul event. Shop on Barnes & Noble What is Barnes & Noble Book Haul 2025? Aside from the brand’s after-Christmas sale, Barnes & Noble Book Haul is the best time to stock up. From now until September 1, you can save 50% on hundreds of hardcovers across every genre, including fiction, nonfiction, teens and young adults, kids, cookbooks and more. Plus, these aren’t dusty old tit...

I Finally Caved and Tried the Buzzy Tech Feature on Royal Caribbean’s Latest Ship—Here’s What I Liked and Didn’t

When I boarded Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Star of the Seas for a media preview cruise last week, I knew there would be splashy new features to try: killer waterslides, fresh dining concepts and the Broadway-worthy Back to the Future production show. But one tech upgrade promised to make the cruise experience smoother from the moment I stepped on board , and I was first in line to give it a whirl. Whether you’re a diehard rider of the high seas or just a curious potential cruiser, you’ll want to know what I found out about this exciting perk. I’ll take you through what it is, how you can get it and the pros and cons of using it on your next Royal Caribbean cruise. And you won’t believe what they have in store for later this summer—parents will love it! Keep reading to learn more. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel news, humor, cleaning, tech and fun facts all week long. What is this cool tech feature? It’s the WOW Band, a wearable wristban...

Here’s the Real Reason Why Pencils Are Yellow

The first time I ever really noticed a pencil was in the fourth grade, when a classmate stabbed me with one that had been freshly sharpened to prison-shiv standards. The “lead” tip snapped off under my skin, leaving a weird purple bump in my leg for weeks until it finally worked its way out. I am still a little mad at Daniel (seriously, what did I do to deserve a pencil stabbing?), but it did get me thinking about pencils in a way I never had before. Would I get lead poisoning? Why are pencils yellow ? Is there a reason they all smell like my grandma’s cedar chest in a way I can still taste ? And would Daniel ever be brought to justice for his unprovoked war crime? Everyone has a pencil memory from their school days . Maybe you sniffed the “chocolatey” goodness of a scented pencil from the school vending machine (and also possibly nibbled it). Or maybe you sharpened your D.A.R.E. “don’t do drugs” pencil down until it just said “do drugs” and laughed about it for hours. At the very le...