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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. deal of the day
    We’re Stocking Up on This (Half Off) ‘Summer’-Scented CandleThe candle our managing editor can’t stop burning in self-isolation.
  2. outdoor leisure
    We Determined Which of the New Emergency Preparedness Kits Are Actually Worth ItWith the help of a survivalist.
  3. celebrity shopping
    What Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba Can’t Live Without“There’s something about being in somebody else’s helmet that’s like wearing somebody else’s Invisalign. It’s just not quite right.”
  4. deal of the day
    This Easy-to-Use Instant Pot Blender Is the Cheapest We’ve Ever SeenJust $45 for a blender that cooks, purées, and makes nut milk.
  5. this thing’s incredible
    Laundry Day Is a Bit Less Chaotic Thanks to This Nifty Over-Door Drying RackIt has become key to my maximalist way of washing clothes.
  6. deal of the day
    The Rarely on-Sale Thermapen Is Just $59 Today OnlyPlus, it’ll arrive before Christmas.
  7. food
    This Keto, Nondairy Creamer (That Was Created by a Surfer) Actually Tastes GoodIt’s also vegan and Paleo, and even though I don’t surf, I love adding a scoop to my morning coffee.
  8. dining and entertaining
    29 Splatterware-Enamel Things You Can Buy on AmazonCombining the best of brass and marble, but with way more color.
  9. cookware and utensils
    What’s the Best Dupe for Le Creuset’s Dutch Oven?I tested 6 different brands of enameled Dutch ovens and compared them to the OG?
  10. what i can’t live without
    What Chef Angie Mar Can’t Live Without“If you came over, you would see probably like three steaks, five bottles of Champagne, kimchi, and French skin-care products in the fridge.”
  11. prime day 2019
    If You Buy One Thing on Prime Day, Make It a Vitamix BlenderOur managing editor’s favorite blender is on sale again, for the cheapest it’s been since Black Friday.
  12. women’s shoes
    These Swedish Clogs Look Just Like Hasbeens (for Half the Price)The right amount to pay for shoes I love but can’t wear when it rains.
  13. celebrity shopping
    What Maria Sharapova Can’t Live Without“I just keep thinking what a French sommelier will tell me when I pull that one out. Probably not great things.”
  14. celebrity shopping
    What Dustin Lance Black Can’t Live Without“It’s incredibly expensive, and completely worth it.”
  15. garden
    We Ordered 9 Snake Plants to Find the Best Place to Buy Plants OnlineBy ordering nine snake plants from nine different merchants, including Amazon and the Sill.
  16. dogs
    The Best Dog Raincoats and Rain Boots, According to Professional Dog WalkersIncluding a rubber-ducky poncho that’s the Amazon coat for dogs.
  17. gifts
    The Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Moms Who Love to CookFrom the health-obsessed to the dessert-loving.
  18. small appliances
    This Swedish Sparkling Water Maker Is the Best At-Home Soda MachineAs tested by a self-proclaimed seltzer obsessive.
  19. celebrity shopping
    What Ryan Seacrest Can’t Live WithoutIncluding no-show socks, a temperature-controlling mug, and the drugstore cologne he’s worn for years.
  20. what i can’t live without
    What Actress Jane Seymour Can’t Live Without“It’s completely practical in terms of making myself look the best that I can, given what I was given at birth.”
  21. steal my registry
    What Homepolish CEO Noa Santos Put on His Wedding RegistryFrom a $560 glass vase to candlesticks that cost $22 each.
  22. home
    This Fancy Wine Preserver Lets Me Pour a Glass Without Uncorking the BottleFor wine enthusiasts who enjoy in moderation.
  23. health
    Do Color-blind Glasses Actually Work?Does a world of grays and blacks really become Technicolor?
  24. steal my registry
    What Eden Grinshpan Nivron Put on Her Wedding RegistryIncluding the Mauviel copper roasting pan she still uses and the Zalto wine glasses she regrets leaving off.
  25. small appliances
    I Cooked With This Japanese Precision Cooker for 5 WeeksIt slow-cooks, steam-roasts, and makes reliably tender rice. It also costs $670.
  26. sleep gear
    Do Sleep-Specific Blue-Light Glasses Actually Help You Fall Asleep?They promise to let you scroll through Instagram before bed without your sleep being affected. But does it actually work?
  27. painless shopping
    15 Better Snacks for a Better Super Bowl Party (That You Can Buy Online Now)For those who care more about food than football (and don’t want to leave the house).
  28. valentines day 2019
    13 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Someone You Just Started DatingNot so big as to scare them away, not so generic as to bore them.
  29. organization
    How to Declutter Your Book Collection (Without Throwing It All Away)We talked with three KonMari consultants and two professional organizers to find out.
  30. food
    What’s the Next Status Chocolate Bar?We asked chocolate buyers to make their best guesses and came up with two front-runners (and five runners-up).
  31. you might also like
    If You Have This Tech Gadget, You’ll Love This Other ThingThe best accessories and gadgets for techies who already have everything.
  32. you might also like
    If You Have This Kitchen Item, You’ll Love This Other ThingActually useful kitchen gifts for people who already own a Vitamix or an Instant Pot.
  33. gifts they might actually want
    Package Deals: 11 Kitchen Gift Bundles Under $100Like DIY gift baskets, but with kitchen gear and cookbooks.
  34. cookware and utensils
    This Mini Staub Cast-Iron French Oven Is the Perfect Two-Person PotPlus, it’s a foolproof rice maker.
  35. gifts
    The 20 Best Coffee-Table Books to Give, According to Art PeopleRecommendations from artists, curators, gallerists, collectors, critics, and more.
  36. reading lists
    The 8 Best Books for Career Advice, According to Executive CoachesWe talked with career coaches, career strategists, and executive coaches to find the best books to read to advance your career.
  37. the best. really.
    The Best Instant Pot Accessories, According to 3 Instant Pot ObsessivesTake your Instant Pot cooking to the next level for $30 or less.
  38. this thing’s incredible
    This Plastic Bag Is the Easiest Way to Roll Out Pie Crust Without StickingOne step closer to the perfect pie.
  39. cyber monday
    If You Buy One Thing Today, Make It the (48 Percent-Off) Nespresso MachinePlus, a bunch of other highly giftable Nespresso machines for up to 60 percent off at Macy’s.
  40. gifts
    What Are the Best Truly Wireless Earbuds to Give (That Aren’t Apple AirPods)?We found one clear winner, plus three runners-up.
  41. coffee
    The Best Coffee Beans, According to Writers and Novelists“Sometimes the only happy thought I have is that tomorrow, I can wake up and drink coffee.”
  42. sleep gear
    The Best Blue-Light-Free Light Bulbs That Make Falling Asleep EasierBecause blue-light is the enemy of going to bed.
  43. weird things we love
    Nothing’s Ever Gotten My Bathroom As Clean As This Power Drill Brush HasYes, I clean my bathtub with a cordless drill and a brush attachment, and it is gleaming.
  44. kitchen
    How to Brighten Up Your Sad Kitchen Lighting, According to Interior DesignersFour interior designers give advice on finding the balance between beautiful and actually practical light fixtures for your kitchen.
  45. recommended by experts
    The Best TVs to Give As Gifts This Holiday Season, According to TV ExpertsYou can’t go wrong if it’s smart and Ultra HD — but here are some options we think are going to be hits.
  46. compulsive shopping
    I Can’t Stop Buying Trompe L’Oeil NotepadsMy collection includes sticky notes that look like slices of cheese and a notepad shaped like a stick of butter.
  47. kitchen
    Ask the Strategist: Where Can I Get the Yellow Pot From ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’?Turns out, this aspirational, mid-century-inspired Dutch oven is actually affordable.
  48. recommended by experts
    How to Ferment Vegetables at Home, According to Noma’s Head of FermentationHaving the right tools and techniques will keep you on the safe side of fermentation.
  49. holiday gifts 2018
    The Gizmos to Buy Your Techie This Holiday (Before They Sell Out)Including smartwatches, truly wireless headphones, and, yes, smart speakers.
  50. reading lists
    The 10 Best Books on Productivity, According to People Who Get Things DoneWith strategies to help you quit social media, spend less time in the office, and decide what’s actually important.
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