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Maxine Builder

Editor, the Strategist
@maxine_builder
@maxine_builder
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Maxine Builder is the editor of the Strategist. She joined the site as a writer in 2017.

  1. testing testing
    Strat Face-off: Is the New Instant Pot Blender Better Than a Vitamix?To find out, I made cashew milk, a kale smoothie, and hot butternut-squash soup.
  2. style
    11 Highly Topical, Last-minute Halloween Costumes (That You Can Buy on Amazon)Culturally relevant and easy to buy.
  3. home
    Strat Hunt: Is It Possible to Find a Stylish Compost Bin?Because no one wants an ugly, dirty container of food scraps on their counter.
  4. home
    How to Find Energy-Efficient Bulbs That Give Off Not-Horrible LightAccording to an interior designer and a professor of lighting design.
  5. baby gear
    The Best Alternatives to (Not So Safe) Baby Walkers, According to PediatriciansInfant walkers might be cute, but they cause 2,000 injuries a year.
  6. productivity
    This Cube-Shaped Timer Is the Only Thing That Helps Me Avoid Twitter at WorkThe only gadget that helps me manage my time and find some focus in an otherwise chaotic world (read: news-cycle).
  7. this thing’s incredible
    This Little Brewer Makes Idiotproof Pour-Over CoffeeUsing this dripper is like having a personal barista at my desk.
  8. ask the strategist
    Ask the Strategist: What’s the Best Baby Gear for Twins?We talked with four parents of twins to find out.
  9. food
    The Best Gluten-Free Cookbooks, According to Gluten-Free Bakers and ChefsWith recipes for everything from grain-free cakes to gluten-free weeknight dinners.
  10. hobby and craft
    The Best Bullet Journal Supplies for Beginners, According to Bullet JournalersIncluding picks from the original designer of the bullet journal system.
  11. what’s on my desk
    What’s on Graphic Designer Deva Pardue’s DeskThe Wing’s creative director and founder of For All Womankind on the notebooks, productivity app, and peanut butter that keep her on track.
  12. cookware and utensils
    The Best Apple Peelers, According to Pastry Chefs and BakersIncluding chef Dominique Ansel’s high-powered apple-peeling technique.
  13. recommended by experts
    What Julia Turshen Can’t Cook WithoutIncluding her most durable food-storage containers, her go-to chef’s knife, and the kosher salt she swears by.
  14. cookware and utensils
    Which New Start-up Makes the Best Cookware?I tested 13 knives, eight pots, and five pans from six direct-to-consumer kitchen brands to find out.
  15. kitchen
    The Best Kitchen Trash Cans, According to Professional Recipe TestersLightweight, easy-to-clean, and sturdy enough for even the most serious home cook.
  16. strategist hunt
    Strat Hunt: My Search for the Best Printer for Small SpacesTwenty-one freelancers, five printers, and one professional tech consultant later, I found my ideal compact printer.
  17. style
    Everything You Need to Clean Underwear, According to People Who Would KnowWith advice from lingerie designers and a burlesque performer.
  18. organization
    The 13 Best Small-Kitchen Ideas Under $100, According to Professional OrganizersMake your tiny kitchen feel more Nancy Meyers-esque.
  19. coffee
    The 4 Best Portable Coffee Makers I’ve Tried (and I Own a Lot of Coffee Makers)Including the best portable coffee makers for French-press, pour-over, and cold-brew coffee.
  20. features
    The Oral History of Four Loko“It almost felt like liquid hyperbole. It was insane on every level.”
  21. what’s on my desk
    What’s on Edie Parker Founder Brett Heyman’s DeskIncluding tiny Post-its, emergency olive oil, and lots of color.
  22. massagers and recovery
    Does This $600 NBA Player–Approved Massager Actually Work?It’s called the TheraGun, and CrossFit enthusiasts swear by it.
  23. strat investigates
    Why Are So Many Guys Wearing This Striped Shirt?The original from Sandro and the dupe from Zara have been spotted around the world.
  24. what’s on my desk
    What’s on Wildfang CEO Emma Mcilroy’s DeskPlus, how this wild feminist balances work and self-care.
  25. Best of New York
    The Absolute Best Restaurants in BushwickLocavore pasta, vegan Ethiopian, tortilla-factory tacos, and destination pizza.
  26. micro sales
    This Cuisinart Cookware Looks Just Like Le Creuset’s (and Is 72 Percent Off)Braising season is actually not that far off from now.
  27. school
    The Best Books for 5-Year-Olds, According to Parents (and Their Kids)Including a story about a cat who loves high-tops and a kid-friendly explanation of where babies come from.
  28. small appliances
    What Is the Indoor Grill That Antoni Uses on ‘Queer Eye’?Let’s talk about that red light.
  29. outdoor leisure
    The Lawn Game Everyone Plays in Paris Is Actually FinnishA mix of blackjack, billiards, and bowling.
  30. prime day 2018
    If You Buy One Thing on Prime Day, Make It a Joule Sous-Vide MachineOne of our favorite kitchen gadgets is the cheapest it’s ever been.
  31. food
    The Best French Pastry Books, According to Pastry ChefsBecause you can make macarons at home, too.
  32. food pantry essentials
    The Best French Pantry Essentials, According to French ChefsIncluding sea salt, vinegars, and jars of jams and jellies.
  33. beauty
    This French Pharmacy Face Mask Saved My Skin While TravelingEven after a red-eye flight to Paris and a bachelorette party in Nashville.
  34. small appliances
    The Essential Tools for Making Ice Cream at Home, According to Jeni’s SplendidBecause making your own ice cream is easier than trying to flag down a Mister Softee truck in the middle of August.
  35. what’s on my desk
    What’s on Event Planner Bronson Van Wyck’s Desk“I would never have said I was an athlete, but I figured out a game that I liked, and that’s auctions.”
  36. cookware and utensils
    I Love My Knife Set (Even If Chefs Hate Them)Chefs love to hate them, but maybe they’re looking at knife sets all wrong.
  37. productivity
    What’s on Maisonette Co-Founder Sylvana Ward Durrett’s Desk“I’ve really tried to stay away from the classic office-supply things and replace them with things you would see in your home.”
  38. kitchen
    What Are You Getting When You Buy a Refurbished Vitamix?And why are they suspiciously cheaper than a new one?
  39. school
    The Best Cookbooks for Kids, According to Chefs With ChildrenKid-friendly recipes for pasta, pizza, and more that adults will also love.
  40. what’s on my desk
    What’s on Genius CEO Tom Lehman’s DeskIncluding Russian literature, Magic: The Gathering cards, and Supreme slippers.
  41. reading lists
    The Best Baking Cookbooks, According to Pastry Chefs and Professional BakersStraight from the libraries of bakers at Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery, Café Altro Paradiso, Bien Cuit, Ovenly, and more.
  42. gifts
    The Best 21st Birthday Gifts, According to Booze ConnoisseursVetted for usefulness and fun by actual 21-year-olds.
  43. dining and entertaining
    Ask the Strategist: Where Do I Find Basic-But-Cool Ceramic Plates?Including the ceramics they use at New York City’s De Maria.
  44. reading lists
    The Best French Cookbooks, According to French-Trained ChefsIncluding recommendations from chefs Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Daniel Rose of Le Coucou, and more.
  45. home
    I Suddenly Want to Eat All My Breakfasts Out of EggcupsEggcups help you become the kind of person who leisurely enjoys a soft-boiled egg for breakfast under the Italian sun.
  46. organization
    23 Wicker Baskets That Look Like Decor But Work As StorageThe easiest way to trick guests into thinking you’re stylish and organized.
  47. kitchen
    The 22 Best Cocktail Shakers for Bartenders of Every Skill LevelOrder a cocktail shaker now, so you can be making mai tais by 5 p.m.
  48. travel
    The Best Umbrellas, According to SeattleitesIncluding black umbrellas, bubble umbrellas, even reversible umbrellas.
  49. summer weddings 2018
    7 Top-Reviewed, Under-$50 Wedding Registry Items on AmazonPlus their splurgy alternatives.
  50. reading lists
    The Best Wine Books, According to Sommeliers“It’s not a wine book. That book changes how you live.”
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