Author: candacebd
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How Keeping a ‘Worry Journal’ Can Help You Feel Less Anxious
Anxiety has always trailed me, like a shadow stitched to my feet a la Peter Pan. I can remember panicking as a five-year-old, pulling my nap mat over me and imagining what it’d be like to cease thought, to die, like a spider I’d just seen get smashed. (What a conversation my mom had to…
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Voodoo Doughnuts in Orlando: Is It Worth the Hype?
Strolling through Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, you can’t help but notice Voodoo Doughnuts: from the towering pink-and-black building to the 12-foot-tall replica of its Voodoo Doll doughnut to its pastry-barnacled throne outside, it’s total Instagram bait. And when you see the 50 (yes, 50!) flavors on the menu, it’s hard to resist making a detour. But…
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The Library Cookbook Club: A Fun Way to Bust Out of a “What’s for Dinner?” Rut
The internet has no shortage of recipe ideas—including several here—but lately, I’ve been on a make-and-repeat rut. Most weeks include some kind of tacos or burrito bowls, spaghetti with a veggie-laden meat sauce, a grilled chicken something-or-other. It streamlined my grocery shopping, but it was getting a little too predictable. And scrolling the web for…
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Pudgy, Gooey Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookies
A misunderstanding led to one of my greatest creations ever. During my Delish days, I had heard about people using cream cheese instead of butter for a pillowier cookie. Turns out, they meant subbing a tiny portion of the butter; not a 1:1 swap. I went 1:1—and I’ve never looked back. We called the end…
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BLUF: The 4 Letters That Changed the Way I Write Emails
While everybody’s focused on how Gen Z ends their emails, these days, I’m much more focused on the beginning. One of the first things I learned after landing at PureWow is their strategic approach to crafting emails, both internally and externally, and it all comes down to four letters: BLUF. Standing for “Bottom Line Up…
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Absurdly Fudgy Brookies
I like my desserts like I like my steaks: medium rare. Seriously—the underbaked, the better. But when it comes to brownies, molten goo is a little hard to eat (and, admittedly, a potential food safety issue). So I set out to create not just fudgy brookies, but the absolute fudgiest, gooiest cookie-brownie combo I could…
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5 Tried-and-True Cake Mix Recipes for My Fellow Lazy Bakers
When my brain’s jumbled, I like to bake. And often, I want to make something that doesn’t require a ton of effort, so I can focus on whatever’s bugging me. That’s where these cake mix recipes come in handy. They’re fun riffs on a cheap box mix, for those moments when you don’t want to…
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‘Star Wars’-Inspired Wookiee Pies, AKA Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Creme Pies
First, a disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Disney, Lucasfilm or the artist formally known as Chewbacca. It’s just a tribute for Star Wars fans to enjoy. Time for a double dose of nostalgia: Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies meets an homage to the unsung, hairy, anxiety-riddled hero of the Star Wars franchise (no, not…
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Review: Are Scratch’s Nail Wraps Worth It?
Getting a manicure can be pricey enough; add intricate nail art to the mix, and it can be a total budget-killer, especially if it lasts only a few days. That’s why, when I spotted a sale on Scratch’s Nail Wraps, I impulse-bought a set—and was pretty impressed with the results. Here’s the full breakdown of…
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What Happened to the Pink Bathroom? (AKA My Most Controversial Reno to Date)
Pink bathroom fans, please sit down before reading any further. I’m going to disappoint you; I know this, because I’ve already disappointed so many, but I have to live my life. And a pink bathroom just didn’t fit into the equation anymore. For years, I leaned into my retro, Pepto-tinted bathroom; I sought ways to…
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The One Takeaway That’s Resonated Most After Taking Marie Kondo’s KonMari Consultant Training
Becoming a KonMari Consultant—aka a professional organizer certified in Marie Kondo‘s signature decluttering method—involves a lot more than asking “Does it spark joy?” Or even shelling out $2,750 and attending the three-day course. Or reading her books (and the course’s 79-page workbook). You have to put in the work, logging consultations and “tidying festivals” that…
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The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney World…Is at Steakhouse 71
For years, dining at Disney was literally part of my job. I’d visit Walt Disney World in Kissimmee and Disneyland in Anaheim a couple times a year, sampling everything from fast treats like Tigger Tails and softball-sized cookies to three-course, avant garde dinners. And out of all the things I’ve tried, one truly decadent appetizer…
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