Elissa Sanci

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Elissa Sanci

Mosquitoes are relentless. They swarm, buzz, and bite, leaving behind itchy red welts. Some of them spread diseases, such as the Zika and West Nile viruses. Although there are countless mosquito deterrents on the market that promise to keep these pests at bay, quite a few don’t actually do anything to stop mosquitoes from biting. Whether you’re planning your first backyard get-together of the year or thinking ahead to a summer spent outdoors, don’t let mosquitoes ruin a good time.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Elissa Sanci

Last summer, my husband and I made a small mistake that had big, buggy consequences: We forgot to drag the garbage bin to the curb the night before trash pickup. By the time we realized our blunder the next morning, it was too late — the sanitation department had already come and gone. We shrugged it off. What was another week with a few extra bags of trash sitting at the bottom of our bin? But we hadn’t considered August’s sweltering temperatures.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Elissa Sanci

When collegiate figure skater Laine Dubin is on the ice, the last thing she wants to worry about is “chub rub.”“It can be a huge distraction during training. If I’m constantly adjusting my outfit, it pulls my focus away from what I’m working on,” Dubin told me over email.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Elissa Sanci

Everybody poops—except for me when I’m traveling. It might make you giggle, but traveler’s constipation is no joke. Most likely caused by disruptions to your body’s regular routine and diet, vacation constipation is a common (and unfortunate) reality of jet-setting that many travelers experience. I know I do.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Elissa Sanci

Earlier this year, I sat down in front of my brand-new day planner, excited to fill its crisp pages with my daily to-dos, upcoming appointments, and vacation plans. But when it came time to put pen to paper, I couldn’t bring myself to write. My Laurel Denise Mini Horizontal Weekly Planner, a top pick in Wirecutter’s planner guide, was just too pretty, and I didn’t want to ruin it with scratch-outs, misspelled words, and smudged ink.