Google Nest Minis are the most affordable way to make your home a heck of a lot smarter. First of all, they’re adorable, like pastel M&M’s that can sit or be mounted almost anywhere. And as cute as they are, they’re also powerful little speakers that can interact with you in all sorts of ways—and when you add in the power of Google Home automations, you’ll feel like you’re living in the future.

Google Nest Minis are the cheapest way to get Google Assistant throughout your home

The affordability of the Nest Minis ($49, but often on sale) means you can reasonably deploy a fleet of them throughout your home. For instance, drop a Nest Mini in your bathroom to listen to music in the shower—and even change the song by shouting at the speaker while you’ve got shampoo in your hair. A kitchen Mini can translate cups to tablespoons or remind you what temperature chicken needs to be cooked at. It can even read you a recipe, step by step. A Mini in my office is great for a quick time check, updates about the weather, and what appointments I have coming up. It can even shoot off an SMS, send an email, and make a phone call. Sadly, it cannot call 911, or it would make a great tech replacement for the senior members of your family, but it can make a home so much more accessible overall. (Technically, if you have also bought into Nest Aware, a subscription plan that covers Nest smoke protectors, it will enable emergency services on the Minis, so they can dial e911.) 

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The second-generation Nest Mini comes in either chalk (white) or charcoal (black), and retails for about $49:

• Nest Mini (chalk)

• Nest Mini (charcoal)

The rest of the Mini family

There are all kinds of Google Hubs to think about as an alternative if you also want video capability and an even a more powerful speaker. But for now, let’s talk about how to install one of these candy-colored speakers. First of all, Google has a spectacular guided walkthrough you can use, perfect for sharing with your less tech savvy family members. If you’re on your own, follow along below. 

Install the Google Home app

Step one is to get set up with the Google Home app. If you use Android, particularly a Google phone like Pixel, you’ve likely done this already. If not, go ahead and download it for Android or iPhone. You’ll also need the Google app, which is different. 

If you have an Android, make sure it’s running 9.0 or later; on iPhone, make sure it’s at least updated to iOS 15. You’ll need your wifi name and password and a 2.4 wifi connection. (Most people are running both a 2.4 and a 5.0 connection simultaneously.) Lastly, ensure that Bluetooth is turned on within your mobile device. 

The importance of connecting to the right Google account

Lots of people have more than one Gmail account: maybe one for work, one for home. Perhaps you have a Google Workspace account for your domain and also a separate Gmail account. When setting up Google Home, be thoughtful about which account you’re connecting to–it’s particularly important if you use Duo (although I don’t know anyone who does), since you’ll need to connect to that account specifically.  

Connect the Nest Mini to the Google Home app

Unbox your Nest Mini and plug it in, even if it’s not in its final location. If you’re repurposing a Mini that you bought secondhand, you’ll need to factory reset it first. Open the Google Home app on your phone, then set up a home, if you haven’t yet. Tap the button that says Create home and enter a nickname for your home or workplace, wherever the Mini will live. Google will ask for an address, which is important for geolocation services. Google Assistant needs to know where you are in order to provide the right time and weather, for instance. 

Add a device

Tap on the Devices tab and click the plus sign. Now, tap on New device from the list of options.  Google Home will search for this new device, and as long as you’re near the Mini, it should find it. If not, search again. Once it finds the device, click Next. The Mini will make a sound to tell you it’s been found and registered in the app. Continuing following the prompts. 

Now, Google needs to connect the speaker to wifi, so it’ll show you the local networks. Choose the primary network you have in your space that will offer a 2.4 connection. It will ask for the password and then connect the device. You’re almost done! 

Set up Google Nest Mini features

Now comes the fun part: setting up your speaker. To manually adjust the volume, tap the speaker on the right or left side of the speaker. Right for volume up, left for volume down. You can also turn off the voice assistant altogether by toggling the switch on the side. Your Google Home app will walk you through setting up voice match, which is what allows Google to distinguish your voice from everyone else’s. Next, you can set up streaming services for radio, music, video, and TV. Of course, you can easily access controls for your devices in Google Home by talking to your assistant, as well. 

Now that you’re up and running, catapult your home into the future and set up some automations.

Like other aspects of interior design, different types of flooring go in and out of style. Sometimes the trends coincide with when a newly developed material is mass produced and becomes affordable and widely available—like linoleum in the early 20th century, or synthetic-fiber carpeting in the 1950s. Other times, a popular color or palette might dictate what’s considered fashionable in flooring, like the gray vinyl flooring installed when design shows made the color ubiquitous in the 2000s and 2010s.

But the most popular flooring at a given moment isn’t always the most practical choice for every room in a home. (Two words: Carpeted bathrooms.) Instead, you’re better off considering how the room is used and finding flooring to meet its needs. To make that process easier, I asked three flooring experts to identify the best types of flooring for each room and space in a home. Here are their top picks.

The best types of flooring for each room in your home

A quick caveat before we begin: The flooring experts’ recommendations are based on how the rooms are used, rather than budget or style, and were made with the assumption that you’re installing new flooring, rather than working with what you have.

The best types of flooring for a kitchen

Ceramic or porcelain tile

Both Sean O’Rourke, a 30-year veteran of the flooring industry and the national director of merchandising for Floor Coverings International and Mark Buskuhl—the founder and CEO of Ninebird Properties, a company specializing in buying, renovating, and selling houses in Dallas, Texas—identified ceramic and porcelain as the most durable and long-lasting types of flooring for a kitchen. That’s thanks, in part, to being water resistant.

“They also come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, allowing you to create a customized look for your kitchen,” Buskuhl says.

Vinyl flooring

O’Rourke and Buskuhl also agree that vinyl flooring is the next-best option for kitchens. “LVT—luxury vinyl tile or plank—is waterproof and much less expensive,” O’Rourke says. Plus, as Buskuhl points out, vinyl planks or tiles can mimic the look of other materials—like hardwood or stone—at a lower cost.

The best types of flooring for a bathroom

Ceramic or porcelain tile

O’Rourke and Buskuhl are on the same page again: Ceramic or porcelain floors are also their top pick for bathrooms, for much of the same reasons. According to O’Rourke, it’s “the clear winner” for bathrooms, “due to its practicality, durability, and waterproof capabilities for both floors and walls.”

They’re also hygienic and easy to clean, making them a practical option for a space that is frequently exposed to moisture, Buskuhl notes. Plus, “tile also offers design and color options not found in other flooring types,” he adds.

Vinyl flooring

According to Buskuhl, vinyl flooring is also a great option for bathrooms, as it can withstand high levels of humidity without warping or expanding. “Vinyl planks or tiles can also provide a waterproof barrier, making them ideal for bathrooms with shower stalls,” he explains.

The best types of flooring for a living room

Hardwood

This is O’Rourke’s top choice for living rooms “due to its authentic, natural appearance, durability, and warmth.” He says this is especially true in newer, open-floor-plan homes, where it can be incorporated throughout the kitchen area.

Tile

Tile is another solid choice for many of the same reasons, O’Rourke explains, adding that it’s a popular option in “southern & warmer climates.”

Laminate flooring

Don’t overlook laminate flooring, O’Rourke advises. “Today’s laminate floors are almost indistinguishable from the real thing, and most have water-resistant or waterproof warranties, and are considerably less expensive if your budget doesn’t allow for hardwood or tile,” he notes.

The best types of flooring for a bedroom

Carpet

“Carpet may give the bedroom a more cozy feeling, adding extra warmth through its installation,” Rotem Eylor, the founder and CEO of Republic Flooring tells me. From a practical sense, carpet still rules in bedrooms, O’Rourke says, because of its softness and comfort under foot—especially if it’s installed over a high-quality padding.

Hardwood

Hardwood is O’Rourke and Eylor’s other top pick for bedrooms. “Some people may prefer hardwood for a more clean, classic look, and for easier maintenance,” Eylor explains.

The best types of flooring for a hallway

Hardwood

“You can’t go wrong with hardwood flooring for a hallway,” Eylor says. “It’s a timeless look, and easy to sweep and clean.” Plus, as Buskuhl points out, hardwood’s durability means it can withstand heavy traffic and other wear-and-tear, and both hardwood and engineered wood floors can be refinished if necessary.

Carpet

O’Rourke suggests carpet for bedroom hallways. While it can add warmth and a level of comfort, it may require more maintenance than other types of flooring, and may not be the best choice for high-traffic areas, Buskuhl notes.

Laminate or LVT (luxury vinyl tile)

Laminate flooring or LVT are good options for areas considered “living spaces” and connect adjacent rooms, O’Rourke says. And, as Buskuhl points out, it’s also scratch-resistant and easy to clean.

The best types of flooring for a mud room

Porcelain or ceramic tiles

Like kitchens and bathrooms, porcelain or ceramic tiles are a good choice for mud rooms, according to all three flooring experts.

Natural stone flooring

Slate or granite are also durable and options for a mud room, Buskuhl says.

The best types of flooring for a home office

Almost any flooring type can work in a home office, O’Rourke says. “My choice would be a hardwood floor with a stylish area rug under the seating and desk area,” he says. Laminate, LVT, and cork flooring are all solid options as well.

The best types of flooring for a basement

Vinyl flooring

Waterproof vinyl planking is the best option for basements, according to O’Rourke—especially if there are known moisture issues.

Carpet squares

Carpet squares are another practical and durable option, which is why they’re often used in commercial spaces, O’Rourke explains. “Carpet squares have a moisture-resistant backing and can easily be repaired or replaced due to their portability,” he adds.

Ceramic or porcelain tiles

Like other rooms prone to moisture, ceramic and porcelain tiles also work well in basements, Buskuhl says.

The holiday season often leads even the savviest of spenders to overextend their budgets. Gift giving, parties, traveling, food—it all adds up, especially on top of regular monthly bills. If you feel anxiety brewing about your finances this time of year, take a deep breath: There are specific things you can do to prevent overspending, no matter where you are starting from.

Track every dollar

First, start tracking your spending down to every last dollar. Download a budgeting app or use a spreadsheet. The act alone of having to input and record where your money is going each day makes you more aware of bad habits. Analyze the recent data, looking for those frequent little expenses on things you likely won’t even remember or care about next month.

List must-haves vs. nice-to-haves

Next, make your holiday gift list then divide people into must-have and nice-to have categories. Must-haves should be immediate family and very close friends where you feel obligated. Nice-to-haves are those you’d like to get gifts for if possible. Be honest with yourself about priorities and expectations.

Set firm spending limits

For each must-have person, set a firm limit for spending on gifts, say $50 or $75 max. Having the endpoint caps explicitly stated makes it easier to say no to things in stores that exceed boundaries. For nice-to-have folks, set even lower thresholds, gifting only if you have extra money later.

Try cash-stuffing

The cash-stuffing method, “or envelope system,” helps turn your budgeting into a more visceral, even “gamified” experience: You have different physical envelopes for different categories of expenses, and you stuff each envelope with a budgeted amount of cash for one category (or pay period). The key here is you can only spend money in a certain category (say, groceries or gifts) from its designated envelope. Once the envelope is empty, that’s that until your next paycheck arrives.

Cash-stuffing works because it forces you to be more intentional (deciding how much money gets allocated into each envelope) and more disciplined (you can’t put more money into the envelope once it runs out).

Keep perspective

When you feel yourself getting carried away or tempted by holiday commercialism, pause for perspective. Make a list of things most important for well-being—family, friends, doing meaningful things. No material goods you can buy ultimately provide more lasting joy than those pillars. Keep the holiday season about value, not money-sucking excess. Stay intentional with spending while still embracing the spirit of the season.

The convenience and ease of apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze—along with GPS devices and built-in navigation systems—have made the once-ubiquitous folding paper maps largely a relic of the past. Most people no longer need their car’s map light to read their road atlas after dark, but it does come in handy in a number of other nighttime situations—as does the dome light. But like other light bulbs, the ones inside map and dome lights don’t last forever.

How to replace an interior light bulb in your car

Growing up, chores in my household included the usual tasks—like cleaning, taking out the garbage, and helping to prepare meals—as well as yard work and some basic car maintenance. Before I turned 15 and started preparing to get my license, my duties were simple: Largely limited to washing and detailing, checking and refilling windshield washer fluid, and replacing interior light bulbs.

It’s been a while since I last replaced a bulb in a map or dome light, so I asked John Lim, a mechanic and the owner of JB Motor Works to walk me through the steps. Before we get started, it’s important to note that these are general instructions and won’t necessarily apply to every vehicle. Also, some vehicles now come equipped with LED bulbs, which are unlikely to burn out while you own the car. As always, when in doubt, check the owner’s manual to find out what you’re working with and what kind of replacement bulb you should buy.

Turn the vehicle off

“Always start by ensuring your car is turned off and the keys are removed from the ignition,” Lim tells me. “This is crucial to prevent any electrical shorts or potential shock.”

Remove the lens cover

According to Lim, the lens covers of map and dome lights usually snap off—even though it may not seem like it at first, because they’re held in place firmly to prevent rattling while driving. “Use a flat-head screwdriver or a trim removal tool, but wrap it in a thin cloth first,” he explains. “This prevents any damage to the surrounding trim or the lens itself.”

Gently insert the tool at the edge of the lens cover and pry it off with a small amount of force.

Remove the old bulb

There’s a good chance the old bulb is held in place by a clip or screwed into a socket. “For a clip, you can gently pull the bulb out,” says Lim. “If it’s in a socket, a counter-clockwise twist should free it.” Either way, he recommends using a cloth or gloves to remove the bulb to prevent potential injury in case the bulb shatters.

Install the new bulb

Double check your replacement bulb to make sure it’s the right type for your vehicle. Then, using a cloth or gloves, insert the bulb into the empty clip; if it’s a socket, twist it clockwise to secure it. In addition to protecting your hands in case the bulb breaks while you’re installing it, Lim recommends using a cloth or gloves to you can avoid touching the bulb with your bare fingers, as “the oils can shorten its lifespan.”

Test the bulb

Before you replace the lens cover, Lim says that it’s important to test the new bulb. “Turn your vehicle on and activate the light,” he says. “If it doesn’t turn on, double check the bulb’s position and ensure it’s properly seated in its socket or clip.”

Replace the lens cover

Once you’ve confirmed that the new bulb works, you can replace the lens cover. “Align it with the housing, and gently press until it clicks into place,” says Lim.

If you or someone on your gift list wants to learn a new instrument, you can get Skoove Premium piano lessons on sale for $149.99 right now (reg. $1,198). The app comes with over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos from experienced Skoove music instructors, and it also provides real-time feedback so you can improve every step of the way. It was an App Store Editors Choice with 4.5 out of 5 stars, and includes a wide range of music–from fundamental pianists like Bach and Beethoven, to more modern artists like John Legend and Adele. And whenever you are struggling or have doubts, Skoove also comes with one-on-one support options.

The app is compatible with all pianos and keyboards, both USB/MIDI or acoustic, and since there’s obviously no shipping, it can make a great last-minute present.

You can get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium piano lessons on sale for $149.99 right now (reg. $1,198), though prices can change at any time.

If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 21, 2023 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle isn’t too hard, but it took me five guesses, so make of that what you will. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 21, Wordle #915! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game.

How to play Wordle

Wordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.

Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they’re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn’t in the day’s secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)

Ready for the hints? Let’s go!

Does today’s Wordle have any unusual letters?

We’ll define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters’ phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it “Edwin Shirdloo,” like a name, and pretend he’s a friend of yours.)

Four of them are in our mnemonic today! The remaining letter is middlingly common.

Can you give me a hint for today’s Wordle?

It’s related to architecture, and it’s a past-tense verb. 

Does today’s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?

Nope, five different letters today. 

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There are two vowels in today’s word.

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with B.

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with T.

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is BUILT.

How I solved today’s Wordle

ARISE got me the green I, and TOUCH got me the yellow U and T. I can’t resist trying out a Q word here, so I guess QUILT next. Everything is right except the Q, so obviously it’s GUILT! Right? Nope, it’s BUILT. 

Wordle 915 5/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

A primer on Wordle basics

The idea of Wordle is to guess the day’s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you’ll see an empty grid of letters. It’s up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word. 

Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word: 

• Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and it’s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)

• Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)

• Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)

With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it’s game over.

The best starter words for Wordle

What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that’s still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn’t a single “best” starting word, but the New York Times’s Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:

• CRANE

• TRACE

• SLANT

• CRATE

• CARTE

Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you’ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:

• SALET

• REAST

• TRACE

• CRATE

• SLATE

Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it’s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.

How to win at Wordle

We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you’re a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.

The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don’t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.

One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn’t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.

Wordle alternatives

If you can’t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:

• Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after another

• Dordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.

• Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.

• Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.

• Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.

• Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the day’s solution. You’re required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.

These wireless open-ear conduction headphones are on sale for $33.99 right now (reg. $79). With open-ear conduction, the headphones rest over your ears and send audio sound directly to your inner ears, and they’re designed to stay in place even during workouts. What sets these headphones apart is their ambient sound awareness, which allow you to listen to music or podcasts while still being fully aware of your surroundings. They also have a IPX6 water-resistant rating, great for the gym, running, and the outdoors. They also work seamlessly with Siri and other voice command apps, and they have a 6-hour continuous playback time. While a serious audiophile might want to stick with traditional over-ear headphones, these headphones prioritize comfort and awareness over sound isolation and bass.

You can get these wireless open-ear conduction headphones on sale for $33.99 right now (reg. $79), though prices can change at any time.