The microwave is a marvel of modern technology. Food can go from ice cold to blazing hot in a matter of seconds. It cuts down on cook time, speeds up prep time, and all around makes the home cook’s job easier. Shouldn’t it be good for more than just zapping day-old ziti? We set out to test cool, creative, and quirky uses for the microwave. Can You Dry Herbs in the Microwave?...

Divorcing couples often do their research about laws in their state, since each has different rules about dividing marital assets. States such as New Jersey, California, and Nevada offer self-help centers that help decode these laws. Still, most people will think to call a divorce lawyer before a financial planner. Yet finance experts say that that is just one costly mistake that divorcing couples simply can’t afford. Here are the top four....

Founded on a mission to connect people over the intimacy of a home cooked meal, L.A.-based Our Place delights in making mealtimes fun. Accordingly, the Always Pan currently comes in six vibrant colorways: sage, a dusky pink, gray-blue, charcoal, soft purple, and a berry pink (developed in collaboration with Selena Gomez). To buy: $99 (was 145); fromourplace.com. The Always Pan is lightweight at only 3 pounds, making its versatility even more impressive....

No matter your culinary skill level, this is a question many cooks are confused about. Basically, there is a short and a long answer. The simple solution: When in doubt, keep the oven rack adjusted to the middle position; this works fine for most cooking and baking situations. That said, certain situations benefit from varying the position. This is related to how ovens are engineered and how they source and distribute heat....

But what about the other end of the spectrum: sleeping too much? Is it possible that oversleeping can have negative health impacts too, and is it a sign of something else if you’re getting the recommended seven to nine hours a night and still feeling tired? Here’s what the experts say. On the other hand, if excessive sleeping becomes a habit, that’s where it also becomes a problem. Oversleeping—just like overdoing other things like eating too much sugar orover-exercising—can be harmful, says Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, and sleep advisor for Casper....

Papayas are known for their unpleasant smell and their sweet, delicious orange flesh. Their nose-wrinkling scent and vibrant appearance hint at the nutrients that they contain. Papayas have long been used for medicinal purposes to treat a wide range of ailments including menstrual pain and irregularity, ringworm, and even malaria. While the effectiveness of these particular remedial uses haven’t been scientifically proven, there’s no doubt that this fruit has some powerful health benefits....

How I Tested the Service As someone who likes to cook, my pantry and fridge is usually stocked up. I have more seasonings than the average at-home chef, plenty of non-perishable grains and beans, and bins full of fresh produce from local farmers’ markets. With that said, my grocery lists normally consist of meat, seafood, and snacks. Perdue’s online butcher shop is the solution to skipping the grocery store while including premium meats in my diet....

“It’s important to understand what type of equity compensation is on offer,” says Christine Benz, director of personal finance at the financial research and ratings firm Morningstar. It can be especially important if equity is a significant portion of your total compensation or if you’re being offered equity in exchange for taking a lower salary. “Make sure that you truly understand not just the tax implications, but the implications for the rest of your compensation program and the rest of your financial plan,” Benz says....

There are a few staples I have in my fridge at pretty much all times. Outside of the standard things like eggs, milk, cheese, butter, and orange juice – we always have a pack of crescent rolls or a crescent sheet. They’re great for when I’m craving something baked like these pumpkin cinnamon rolls or these mini cranberry orange bites but don’t have time to bake something totally from scratch....

Part of Casper’s latest cooling collection, the Hyperlite sheets are, as the name suggests, unbelievably lightweight. They’re made with 100 percent tencel lyocell, a durable, moisture-absorbing fiber that’s sustainably sourced from wood. What’s more, the sheets feature a grid weave that makes them about as breathable as it gets. The pattern creates an almost see-through effect that allows for more airflow throughout the night. I was skeptical that these thin sheets would feel uncomfortable and prove to be flimsy—I even did a visible double take when I initially got them out of their packaging because the texture was so different than anything I’d seen before....

Not every sweater set makes the cut. If you’re wearing it constantly, you’ll want a high-quality fabric and construction to last throughout the season without showing signs of wear. You’ll also want a timeless cut, minimal pilling, and a soft-to-touch feel that will make each moment feel indulgent. When Christy Dawn sent me the Carson Sweater and the Carson Pant to try, I relished in the combination. I received the set in a creamy oat color, but it also comes in a light brown cacao shade....

Since I only have one outlet with four extension cords and surge protectors, the chaos of the wires stresses me out. When I stumbled upon Courant’s CATCH:2 wireless charger, its design-informed functionality seemed like the optimal solution to fight the tangle of cords crammed between my nightstand and my bed. When Courant sent me the charger to try, I hadn’t yet ventured into the world of the wireless charger. I didn’t fully understand the point....

Sephora Rouge, VIB, and Insider members can take advantage of a tiered discount of up to 20 percent off, depending on your member status during its Holiday Savings Event. Now through November 7, be sure to use the code SAVINGS at checkout to get the deals. You can even score 30 percent off items from the Sephora Collection, no matter your membership level. And if you’re not a member, you can sign up to become an Insider for free....

ProFlowers, a site that works with small businesses and local florists across the country to deliver fresh, beautiful bouquets, partnered with Real Simple to provide our readers a 20 percent discount via code BLOOMS20. Plus, all of the arrangements on the site’s Mother’s Day shop are guaranteed to arrive on time, even if you wait until the day-of to place your order. It’s hard to pick out a bad arrangement of springtime sunflowers, tulips, peonies, or lilies, but there are a few of the more than 90 options to choose from at ProFlowers that stand out, just like Mom....

“Sleep is like a bank account, and it takes time to build up and time to deplete,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Chronic sleep deprivation builds up to moodiness, depression, irritability, more anxiety, less impulse control … and worse, memory.” Hearing that, it’s pretty clear sleep procrastination is a bad thing. So why do we keep doing it—and how can we stop? We talked to the experts to find out....

Sleep researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine found that exposure to even a small amount of ambient light during the night can be harmful to cardiovascular function while you sleep and increase insulin resistance the next morning. The study’s authors acknowledge the current and emerging scientific evidence that excessive evening light exposure may negatively impact metabolic functions, namely decreased glucose tolerance and decreased insulin resistance. In other words, exposure to light before bedtime may impact sleep and some physiological functions....

Indeed, sugar lurks in more than just the obvious places like cake and candy. In fact, some seemingly healthy foods are packed with sugar. (And when it comes to sugar, less is usually more.) These sugary snacks often creep up on us during the holidays. To help offset our over-indulgence, we spoke with a nutrition expert who pointed out which foods we need to be aware of and how we can enjoy them anyway without the guilt....

Fiber is one the most important factors to consider when evaluating what we eat, but it often gets overlooked. While we sometimes think of fiber as that stuff that helps keep us regular in the bathroom, it does so much more than that. Eating a high-fiber diet is important for maintaining blood sugar, fueling digestion, feeding gut bacteria, and lowering your risk of developing heart disease. Yet most Americans aren’t getting nearly enough fiber....

There’s a myriad of markdowns happening right now, but we have our eyes set on Spanx. With over 100 best-sellers discounted up to 30 percent off, Spanx’s end-of-summer sale is not one to miss. You can shop customer-loved pieces, including skorts, seamless thongs, and workout leggings. Even the brand’s workwear marvel, the perfect pant, is on sale for $38 off. While we’re nearly in September, the hot temperatures aren’t letting up any time soon....

While sleek pencil skirts and tailored blazers can be relatively easy to find in most stores, I’ve personally struggled with finding versatile trousers that are comfortable, flattering, and office-appropriate—that is, until now. Spanx recently launched a line of work-ready pants called “The Perfect Black Pant” that checks all the above boxes, and I’m obsessed. I’ve been a fan of the brand’s shapewear and super comfortable bras for a while now, so when Spanx sent me its new line of trousers, I knew I had to give them a try....