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Freelance writer

Vanessa Nirode

Vanessa Nirode is a freelance writer who covers wellness, tv/film culture, outdoor adventure, and e-commerce for Hearst Newspapers, HuffPost, PopSci, Threads, and others. She’s also a pattern maker and tailor for film and television but most of the time, she’d rather just be riding her bicycle.

Stories By Vanessa Nirode

What to get your own damn self this Valentine’s Day

No matter if you’re in a relationship or not, it’s still perfectly acceptable to give yourself a treat on this national day of celebrating love. Vanessa Nirode

Non-cheesy Valentine’s Day gifts for your crush

First rule, don’t spend too much money. Vanessa Nirode

18 Valentine’s Day gifts for your platonic best friend

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic love, after all, there’s more than one kind of love in the world. According to the Ancient Greeks, there are eight : agape (spiritual), eros (romantic), philia (friendship), philautia (self), storage... Vanessa Nirode

When to order Valentines Day flowers to avoid hefty delivery fees

The best day to order Valentine's Day flowers is not Feb. 14. Vanessa Nirode

How to get through a winter power outage

With some planning, though, you’ll be able to weather (pun intended) one like a survivalist pro. Vanessa Nirode

How to set up a Walking Pad treadmill

Long ago, when I lived in a house as opposed to an apartment, I bought a treadmill . What I remember most about the experience was wrestling/lugging the heavy, bulky, cumbersome thing (by myself, somehow) up to the second floor and into the... Vanessa Nirode

How to get through the January Blues

Here's how to get to the Tuesday after Blue Monday in one piece. Vanessa Nirode

How to winterize your home

Keeping cold air out and warm air in is a huge part of this process that involves preventative maintenance. Vanessa Nirode

How to organize a small, messy kitchen

Trying to organize this small space so that it's efficient and neat looking often seems like an ongoing battle. Vanessa Nirode

16 of the best Amazon home gifts for under $50

And, all the gifts included under $50. Vanessa Nirode

16 Amazon home gifts for $20 or less

Embrace the joy of giving with all of these excellent under $20 gift ideas. We wish you (and your budget!) the happiest of holiday seasons. Vanessa Nirode

Amazon home gifts under $10 that make perfect last-minute gifts

The good news is, as ever, Amazon has that covered. Vanessa Nirode

19 last-minute Christmas gifts if you're a procrastinator

If you wait until Dec. 20 to Christmas shop, you're not out of luck. Vanessa Nirode

16 useful stocking stuffers for everyone on your list

Here's a guide inspired by my dad (and his 50-plus years of stocking stuffing experience). Vanessa Nirode

7 Top Gun gifts for the Maverick in your life

Here are some great Top Gun-themed gifts for the Maverick in everyone. Vanessa Nirode

6 Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs

There are, indeed, Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs. Vanessa Nirode

13 gifts for D&D fans to get ready for the 50th Anniversary

Here’s to hoping for another 50 years of playing: we can certainly try. Vanessa Nirode

How to make your own compost

All compost is a mixture of green and brown material, or nitrogen based and carbon based substances. Vanessa Nirode

How to clean tile grout

If your once pristine tile grout is showing signs of discoloration, dirt buildup and mildew, it's time to give it a little TLC. Vanessa Nirode

How to get rid of (and prevent) gnats in the house

Drain flies, fruit flies, phorid flies, and fungus gnats are the four most common kinds of gnats that invade homes. Vanessa Nirode