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Tools To Help You Get It Together
This cake-shaped zine may help you have your happiest birthday yet

No matter how old you are, having a happy birthday is one of life's great pleasures, says Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, author of How to Have a Happy Birthday. Click here to download this cake-shaped zine to print and fold at home — the back has helpful birthday tips. Zine by Malaka Gharib/NPR; Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Zine by Malaka Gharib/NPR; Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

This cake-shaped zine may help you have your happiest birthday yet

No matter how old you are, having a happy birthday is one of life's great pleasures, says birthday enthusiast Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming. You just need to figure out what that means for you.

This cake-shaped zine may help you have your happiest birthday yet

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Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?
Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/Getty Images/NPR

Perspective

Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

Etiquette coach Myka Meier revisits traditional wedding customs, including the cost of wedding gifts — and how much a mother-in-law should contribute to the matrimonial budget.

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

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COMIC: To prevent digital eye strain, give those peepers a little love
LA Johnson/NPR

COMIC: To prevent digital eye strain, give those peepers a little love

You can strain your eyes if you stare at a screen for too long, say eye doctors — and that can cause eye fatigue, headaches and blurry vision. Nip those symptoms in the bud with these eye care tips.

COMIC: To prevent digital eye strain, give those peepers a little love

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To read poetry like a poet, don't worry about 'getting it'
Halisia Hubbard/NPR

To read poetry like a poet, don't worry about 'getting it'

For National Poetry Month, which takes place in April, poets share advice on how to make a meaningful connection with poetry.

To read poetry like a poet, don't worry about 'getting it'

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Earth Day 2024: 8 ways to live more sustainably
Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop

Earth Day 2024: 8 ways to live more sustainably

Climate change calls for long-term, systemic solutions, but that doesn't mean we can't all strive to live more sustainably. Life Kit is here with solutions from your kitchen to your closet.

Earth Day 2024: 8 ways to live more sustainably

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A nervous parent's guide to starting your baby on solid foods

To ensure your baby is ready to eat solid food, check for these developmental markers: good head control, the ability to sit upright with minimal support, loss of the tongue thrust reflex and an interest in food. Lindsey Balbierz for NPR hide caption

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Lindsey Balbierz for NPR

Life Kit

A nervous parent's guide to starting your baby on solid foods

Introducing solids to your little one can be as stressful as it is special. A pediatric dietitian and a pediatrician discuss menu choices, allergens and safety to help you and your little one succeed.

A nervous parent's guide to starting your baby on solid foods

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How to protect your ears: A cartoon guide
Kaz Fantone/NPR

Life Kit

How to protect your ears: A cartoon guide

Go easy on the Q-tips. Watch your phone volume. And if you're experiencing hearing issues like muffled sounds or tinnitus, see a professional. This comic offers advice on how to care for your ears.

How to protect your ears: A cartoon guide

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Parents, it's time to talk to your child about vaping
Marine Buffard for NPR

Life Kit

Parents, it's time to talk to your child about vaping

Age-appropriate prompts and questions that can help start a productive conversation about vaping nicotine and e-cigarettes with your child.

Parents, it's time to talk to your child about vaping

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Having a roommate can be great, but it takes some work to make it work
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Perspective

Life Kit

Having a roommate can be great, but it takes some work to make it work

Rooming with other people can be tricky. Here's how to negotiate a living environment that's safe, comfortable and pleasant for everyone.

Having a roommate can be great, but it takes some work to make it work

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How to file your tax returns: 6 things you should know this year
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Life Kit

How to file your tax returns: 6 things you should know this year

For something that's legally required, taxes can be confusing. This guide covers the latest credits and deductions — and helps you plan ahead for next year.

How to file your tax returns: 6 things you should know this year

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Negotiating isn't just for job offers. Here's how to use it in everyday life
Drypsiak/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Life Kit

Negotiating isn't just for job offers. Here's how to use it in everyday life

Techniques to help you make decisions with more confidence and get the outcome you want.

Negotiating isn't just for job offers. Here's how to use it in everyday life

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You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles

What happens if your car runs out of power on a road trip? Is it better to buy an EV now or wait until you need a new car? A roundup of smart questions from our listeners.

You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles

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Do you love seafood? Here's how to eat it responsibly

Mussels from the U.S., Arctic char from Canada and anchovies from the U.S. are often good options if you're trying to eat seafood that's sustainable. HUIZENG HU/Getty; Cbording/Getty; Israel Sebastian/Getty hide caption

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HUIZENG HU/Getty; Cbording/Getty; Israel Sebastian/Getty

Life Kit

Do you love seafood? Here's how to eat it responsibly

Fish populations are dwindling around the world due to overfishing. Here's how to make the right choices when dining out or buying fish at the market.

Do you love seafood? Here's how to eat it responsibly

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The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

Science writer David Baron witnesses his first total solar eclipse in Aruba, 1998. He says seeing one is "like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world." Paul Myers hide caption

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Paul Myers

Life Kit

The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

"A total solar eclipse is so much more than something you just see with your eyes. It's something you experience with your whole body," says science writer David Baron.

The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

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Get a better handle on your money with a financial self-care routine
We Are/Getty Images; NPR

Life Kit

Get a better handle on your money with a financial self-care routine

Just like your health, your finances need checkups too. Here are 5 good habits to do every year to help you reach your financial goals.

Get a better handle on your money with a financial self-care routine

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From food to finance, 9 life hacks from Life Kit experts

Life Kit editors share some of our favorite tips from our March episodes (clockwise from left): How to prevent eye strain, how to quickly get a messy house back in order and how to manage adult sibling relationships. From left: We Are/Getty; Becky Harlan/NPR; Francesco Carta Fotografo/Getty; Collage by NPR hide caption

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From left: We Are/Getty; Becky Harlan/NPR; Francesco Carta Fotografo/Getty; Collage by NPR

From food to finance, 9 life hacks from Life Kit experts

Our most memorable and useful expert advice from Life Kit's March episodes, hand-picked by the editors.

What is the new etiquette for tipping?
Reina Takahashi for NPR

Life Kit

What is the new etiquette for tipping?

Tipping requests are on the rise. Businesses that never seemed to ask for a tip, like fast food joints, are now asking for one. Here's how to deal with unexpected requests and more.

What is the new etiquette for tipping?

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This 5-step method can quickly get a messy house back in order
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Perspective

This 5-step method can quickly get a messy house back in order

Too overwhelmed to tidy up? KC Davis, author of the book "How to Keep House While Drowning," suggests a clean-up strategy that homes in on trash and clutter.

This 5-step method can quickly get a messy house back in order

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A step-by-step guide to planting an edible garden this spring
Becky Harlan/NPR

A step-by-step guide to planting an edible garden this spring

Transform your outdoor space into a fruit and vegetable garden. Find out which plants to grow, what kind of soil you'll need and whether to start from seeds or transplants.

A step-by-step guide to planting an edible garden this spring

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