To come up with this list of the best alarm clocks, we researched dozens of models and considered factors like volume settings, brightness settings, and other special features. For advice on what to look for when buying alarm clocks, we spoke to three experts: Nancy Behrens, M.D., system medical director at Novant Health Sleep Medicine Programs; Abhinav Singh, M.D., facility director at the Indiana Sleep Center; and Colin Espie, Ph....

Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to spend a lot on a mattress pad.Saatva’s Organic Mattress Pad protects your mattress and gives you an extra-plush layer of comfort. You’ll sleep cool and comfortably on the quilted, GOTS-certified, 300-thread count organic cotton surface, which is breathable and soft. The pad fits mattress depths up to 16 inches, and the extra-wide elastic bands on the sides ensure it stays in place no matter how much you toss and turn at night....

Keep scrolling to check out the 10 best cozy essentials for the winter to shop right now.

Available in a whopping 28 shades, this full coverage, oil-free foundation easily blends into the skin and lasts all day. All that for a drugstore price? We’ll take five. To buy: $9; target.com. This innovative liquid-to-powder formula not only disguises oil but absorbs it, making makeup last all day long even on the slickest of skin. To buy: $56; nordstrom.com. This foundation is like adding a fresh new layer of skin....

Here are a few tips on how to broaden your palate and pick the best whites, rosés, reds, and sparkling wines for the season, according to sommelier Christopher Hoel, founder of Harper’s Club and expert wine curator for Wine Insiders and Martha Stewart Wine Co. Pair them with sunglasses, 65 degree days, and the smell of fresh-cut flowers. Pour yourself a glass as you fire up your grill for the first time this year....

It’s fun to get creative with gift giving by presenting teachers with something more personalized to their tastes—that way, they’ll know how much you appreciate their incredibly hard work and commitment. If you’re choosing a gift for your kid’s teacher, let your child get involved. They’ll have some good ideas about what their teacher likes—and they can add a sentimental touch to the teacher’s gift by creating a personalized thank-you note or drawing....

To buy: $249 (was $330), amazon.com. The highly efficient machine is equipped with a tangle-free brush roll, so you won’t have to rip out coils of hair after each run of the vacuum. There’s also a two-tank system: one that holds clean water and soap, and one that collects the dirty water and pet hair. And it even has a strainer to prevent pet hair from clogging your sink after emptying the vacuum canister....

To buy: $36 with coupon (was $46); amazon.com. The cute dress is made with a rayon and polyester blend, giving it a soft texture and a lightweight feel you’ll be thankful for on warm days. One shopper who loves the quality of the material even confessed that it is “much softer than [they] expected.” The dress also has a good amount of stretch, allowing you to move freely for a comfortable experience....

This is why the experts at the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) suggest getting ahead on spring landscaping ideas and updates. “Early spring is a great time of year to start envisioning how you want to enjoy your landscape in the coming months,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs at NALP. “If you are looking at making any larger investments in your property—the installation of a patio, a fire feature, an outdoor kitchen, outdoor lighting—late winter and early spring would be a good time to talk with landscape professionals about the enhancements you’d like to make to your space....

Flavored Butters and Cheeses “During the coming year, I see artisanal butters and infusing butters, along with different cheeses like feta and goat cheese, being on the rise,” says Gee Cuyugan, executive chef of Mercat a la Planxa, a Catalan-inspired tapas restaurant in Chicago. This natural (and more practical) evolution from the butter board makes a lot of sense—compound butters and goat cheeses are aesthetically pleasing and offer a flavor boost without a ton of effort or additional ingredients....

To buy: Collection Petite Leather Leggings, $495; jcrew.com. ASOS Petite Leather Look Leggings, $34; asos.com. To buy: Blank Denim Vegan Leather Skinny Pants, $98; shopbop.com. To buy: SPRWMN High Waist Leather Ankle Leggings, $795; fwrd.com. Wilfred Free Daria Pant, $135; aritzia.com. To buy: J Brand Leather Super Skinny Pants, $998; neimanmarcus.com. Imitation Leather Pants, $35; hm.com.

The Zevo flying insect trap plugs right into an outlet and actually lures flying bugs to their demise. Instead of releasing toxic sprays or odors, the trap emits blue and UV lights in the back of the device, attracting the flies. Once they’re drawn to the light, there’s a sticky trap cartridge waiting for them, eliminating your pest problem with minimal effort on your part. To buy: $30 (was $38); amazon....

To buy: $11; amazon.com. Another bonus? They’re only $11 (making them just over $5 apiece), and require no assembly whatsoever. To put up these dividers, all you have to do is slide them over your shelves—et voila. The clamp on the bottom of the dividers will hold them steadily in place on shelves that are up to 0.875 inches thick, and they’re available in two height options so you can easily grab the taller version to keep bigger piles of clothing and linens in order....

The Bedsure linen sheet set is made from 100 percent French linen. The fabric is both breathable and cooling to create the best kind of sleep environment. The sheet set comes with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillow cases, and you can choose to order it in twin, queen, king, or California king sizes in four neutral shades like beige and white. To buy: From $90 with coupon (was from $130); amazon....

I know the feeling. You are dying to go on a vacation but a vacation with a toddler is not quite the same vacation you went on pre-kids. I’ve had that feeling way too many times since having my son in 2013 and have finally found a place that I feel like is the perfect vacation spot for families, families with toddlers, and even just adults looking for something new to try out....

So when I stayed at an Airbnb cabin over the winter that was stocked with the coziest teddy blankets I had ever experienced, I knew I had to get one immediately. I was bracing myself for how much one of these might cost me, but lo and behold, the tag read Room Essentials. (Yes, Room Essentials, as in the very affordable Target line most commonly associated with dorm room decor and starter apartments....

The Barefoot Dreams Cozychic Throw Blanket is made from ultra-soft microfiber that will keep you warm while remaining breathable. The fabric has a plush feel but it won’t shrink, pill, or wrinkle. Plus, it’s machine washable, making it a convenient pick to add to your home. The blanket measures 54 inches x 72 inches, so it’s large enough to curl up in comfortably. If you don’t look hard enough, you might miss this sale, since only select colors are discounted right now: camel, dark oak, chestnut, thyme, and white....

This DIY room spray kit from Wholesale Supplies Plus offers light notes of cashmere, sweet vanilla, and wood for a soft and inviting holiday home scent. The Cozy Cashmere Room Spray DIY Kit allows you to customize the strength of the fragrance by concocting the formula yourself. If you’re not much of a hands-on crafter, the room spray is easy to make in under 30 minutes. In order to enjoy the relaxing scent of woodsy vanilla, all you have to do is heat the unscented, paraben-free body splash base for 30 seconds in the microwave, mix 96 milliliters of the modifier and 24 milliliters of the fragrance oil in a mixing bowl, and let it sit for two minutes....

Sure, you could bake a cake from a mix or buy one from your local bakery. But shortcut cakes—even those beauties purchased pre-frosted and adorned with corner rosettes—just don’t taste that good. To be clear, presented with cake of any kind, I will eat it. Gratefully. But shortcut cakes are either too sweet for my taste or, sadly, a sugar-flavored vehicle for too-sweet frosting. That’s why I use this birthday cake recipe to customize my ideal cake....

Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Gunawan knew she wanted a space that could accommodate frequent guests. “For me, I needed a guest room for when I have friends coming over from Singapore, but I also wanted the space to be useful when I didn’t have guests, instead of being limited to just a guest bedroom. I rarely drink alcohol and enjoy having people over for tea instead. I have tea and sweets with friends very often and decided to come up with the idea of a multifunctional space, one that could serve as a guest room but also as a flexible space to have tea with friends or read,” she explains....