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Have your own social dilemma for Michelle to solve? Tell us about it at modernmanners@realsimple.com. Uninvited Guests CAROL: A friend told me she had no plans for her birthday, so I invited her over. The next day, she said her son and other friends would be joining her. She added more people the next day. The day of our get-together, she texted that she was adding four more. I told her I’d had a busy week and I wasn’t up for that many people....

Factor (also known as Factor75 and Factor_) is a meal delivery service that has a strong emphasis on health and wellness, offering a rotating menu of fresh single-serving meals designed by registered dietitians and prepared by culinary experts. Factor meals are for people with active lifestyles, who follow specific diets, and who want perfectly portioned premade meals for one readily available on busy days. And because they require zero cooking skills, the ready-to-eat meals are also a godsend for those who don’t like to cook or would rather spend that extra time on things like achieving your fitness goals or organizing your home....

When it comes to maxi dresses, you can get away with some picks you’ve been wearing during the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer, but we’d suggest a few tweaks to get in on the fall trend. Think autumnal colors like yellows and oranges as well as cool prints like stripes, animal prints, polka dots, plaid, and yes, florals too—just be sure to choose something in a dark color. Fall Maxi Dress Outlet Deals Deerose Floral Chiffon Maxi Wrap Dress, $24 (was $36) Aphratti ¾-Sleeve Faux Wrap Maxi Dress with Pockets, $29 with coupon (was $35) Shibever Floral Printed V-Neck Maxi Dress, $19 (was $26) Uimlk Bohemian Square Neck Ruffle Maxi Dress, $37 (was $43) Zattcas Off-the-Shoulder Ruffle Maxi Dress, $30 (was $38) Celmia Side Split Maxi Dress with Pockets, $38 with coupon (was $44) Amoretu Casual Off-Shoulder Maxi Dress, $38 (was $49) Yoxua Casual Long-Sleeve Empire Waist Maxi Dress, $18 with coupon (was $26) Saukole Off-the-Shoulder Long-Sleeve Swing Maxi Dress, $38 (was $50) Halcyeen Cold Shoulder Split Maxi Dress, $26 with coupon (was $28)...

Stubby yet slightly long; waxy yet firm; small-ish yet large enough to be sliced before cooking, fingerling potatoes come in many shapes and colors. They can be yellow, red, pink, a bluish, and deep purple. Purple and blue fingerlings tend to have a trace of sweetness. Cool varieties abound. They include Russian Banana, the Swedish Peanut, the Purple Peruvian, and many others. At big-box grocery stores, fingerlings are commonly sold as generic fingerlings and not broken into funky sub-types....

Disney’s newest animated film hits theaters last November, and I for one absolutely loved following along with 16-year-old Moana as she sailed out to sea in hopes of saving her people. I love that Disney is showcasing another strong young woman, one that’s labeled as athletic, nimble, compassionate, and incredibly smart. When I have a daughter some day, those are the qualities that I want her to have, so I’m excited to see Disney bring us a role model I can cheer for....

I’ve included affiliate links in this post for your reference but only to things I recommend. Date Night Cards My husband and I have found that the more time we spend actually together doing things, the more we enjoy each other’s company. Go figure right? So instead of getting him another pair of shoes or a wallet this Christmas, I created the gift I thought he actually wanted, a year full of date night ideas in a the form of a deck of date night cards....

The new collection, dubbed Gap Home, is the first of its kind and available exclusively at Walmart. With nautical-inspired pieces in shades of white, grey, red, blue, and yellow, the line includes tableware (think dish sets and mugs); bath items (towels, bath mats, shower curtains, and accessories); home decor (like throw pillows and curtains); and—what we’re most excited about—bedding. From sheets to quilts to bedspreads, Gap Home is loaded with airy pieces made out of percale, a lightweight fabric known for staying cool throughout the night....

During the Christmas season, there’s not much more iconic than chocolate covered cherries. It’s the only time I ever see them sold in the stores, and while they’re not the most delicious thing, they’re definitely a tradition. And they make a great Christmas bingo prize! After having some for the first time this holiday season last week, I thought it would be fun to make a cookie that reminded me of the delicious chocolate cherry flavor....

After a quick Google search, I learned that they’re Japanese white sweet potatoes of the Murasaki variety. I also read that they have a very different taste and texture than more popular sweet potatoes. I decided to try them, and they are now a staple in my kitchen that I incorporate into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here’s what you can expect and how you could use them in your dishes....

So who better to provide us with expertise in baking the best pies than Nicole Rucker, author of Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers? She’s spent years working as the pastry chef in top restaurants like Gjusta and owns her own pie company, Rucker’s Pie. Her self-proclaimed lifelong passion is helping home cooks find the same magical alchemy she’s achieved with fruit desserts. Here are Nicole’s top tips for achieving pie perfection....

As you’re planning your Hanukkah celebration, keep in mind that the CDC recommends hosting any get-togethers with people outside your household virtually to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor celebrations are considered a moderate risk, and indoor celebrations put you at high risk—as does traveling long distances to get together with friends and family. (Sorry!) But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun this holiday season. You just need to embrace what’s different about Hanukkah this year and add a little more creativity to the mix—here’s how....

Marble, Quartz, and Granite Countertops Real and engineered stone are the stars of the countertop world. While they’re more expensive to install, they can add value to your home when you go to sell. One of the challenges with marble is that it’s a natural stone, so it’s very porous and hard to keep pristine. Quartz can also stain if a spill is left sitting too long, plus it’s sensitive to heat (so reach for a trivet before setting down that hot pan)....

Easy Methods to Wash Shoes by Hand In a perfect world, ice cream would have no calories, and white shoes wouldn’t get dirty. (OK, maybe that’s just one idea of a perfect world.) But what if there was a way to keep your beloved white shoes pristine without harsh chemicals, a dry cleaner, or a washing machine? Trust us, it’s possible. Try out these three simple methods to clean your shoes by hand with items you likely already have in your linen closet....