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A Week of Outfits: Maura Cheeks

Maura Cheeks

Maura Cheeks

Have you ever dreamed of opening a bookstore one day? For novelist Maura Cheeks, that day was June 23rd when she opened Liz’s Book Bar in Carroll Gardens. (It’s also a café and wine bar!) Here, she talks about her work outfits, favorite novels, and $60 wedding band…

Maura Cheeks

Shirt: Liz’s Book Bar. Shorts: Everlane, similar. Hoops: similar.

“Since my bookstore is called Liz’s Book Bar, people assume I’m Liz, but she was actually my maternal grandmother. When I was growing up in Philadelphia, we went to bookstores together, and she’d hand me these thick books I probably shouldn’t have been reading. She made me believe that writing was something I could do. Naming the store after her felt like the right way to honor her.”

Maura Cheeks

Jumpsuit: Everlane, on resale sites. Tote: Liz’s Book Bar. Shoes: “Senderos clogs from DNA footwear,” similar. Hoops: similar.

“I’m often in the basement or behind the bar, so comfort is my top priority. I mostly wear loose pants and closed-toed shoes. But when I’m running short on time, I grab this jumpsuit, which I wear at least once a week.”

Maura Cheeks

Pants: Paloma Wool, on resale sites, also similar. Shirt: similar. Shoes: “Senderos clogs from DNA footwear,” similar.

“For pants, I love Paloma Wool’s louder prints, like these checkered ones. They also have the best sweaters — I’m always wearing one in the winter.”

Maura Cheeks

“When we got married, my husband and I wanted simple rings. We found these iblack bands on Etsy. My husband will pick up a shift if we’re short staffed, which I really appreciate.”

Maura Cheeks

Jumpsuit: “street festival in Philadelphia,” similar. Hoops: similar.

“New Yorkers wear a lot of black, so when I wear bright things, our customers notice: ‘Oh, wow, in a good mood today?’ I really enjoy working the bar shift at Liz’s. We already have regulars, which feels so nice, and our staff picks do well. It’s a great community.”

Maura Cheeks

Shirt: Rag & Bone. Pants: 33 Field Trip. Shoes: “Senderos clogs from DNA footwear,” similar. Hoops: similar.

“In 2019, I wrote an article about the racial wealth gap in the U.S. After finishing it, I still had a bunch of questions that I wanted to explore. So, I turned to fiction. Acts of Forgiveness is about what happens after a reparations act passes, looking at what that could mean for one family and the country more broadly.”

Maura Cheeks

“Running a bookstore is more stressful and exhausting than I’d ever imagined, as many things are. There are a million small details, so you’re making decisions on the fly every day. But it’s rewarding. There aren’t many Black-owned businesses in this neighborhood, and I’ve had a lot of Black women come up to me and say they’re so proud of what I’m doing. I’ve finally stopped crying when that happens.”

Thank you for welcoming us into your bookstore and your world, Maura!

P.S. More women share their weeks of outfits, including a pattern lover in Seattle and an antiques dealer in Maine.

(Photos by Yumi Matsuo.)

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400K MagSafe power banks recalled after fatal fire, the 10th power bank recall in a year

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Casely reannounced a power bank recall this April after a fire linked to the device fatally injured a user. This is the tenth power bank recall in the United States in the last 12 months, and Anker recalled 1.5 million power banks in 2025.

The recall affects an estimated 429,200 Casely 5,000-mAh MagSafe Power Pods (Model E33A), which were originally recalled in 2025. The MagSafe power banks need to be completely replaced.

back of recalled Casely power banks

Back of Casely power banks.
Credit: CPSC

Affected customers should stop using the portable power banks immediately. They can also contact Casely to receive a free replacement.

“The recalled lithium-ion battery in the power banks can overheat and ignite, posing risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards to consumers,” the CPSC stated on its recall website.

The Brooklyn-based company is reannouncing the recall after receiving 51 reports of the lithium-ion battery overheating, expanding, and/or catching fire while charging smartphones, “resulting in six minor burn injuries.” 

However, in the past year, the CPSC says 28 more reports have been made, including explosions that caused a serious accident on an airplane and one death.

In August 2024, a 75-year-old woman from New Jersey, was charging her cell phone with the power bank on her lap when it caught on fire and exploded. The victim suffered second and third degree burns and later passed away from complications from her injuries. In February 2026, a 47-year-old woman was charging her cell phone with the power bank on an airplane when it caught on fire and exploded, resulting in the victim suffering first degree burns. 

How to check your Casely Power Pod

Worried you may own one of the 429,000 recalled power banks? It’s easy to check if your device is included in the recall.

On the back of the device, look for the device’s model number, as show in a picture provided by the CPSC. If the model number reads “E33A,” then stop using the device immediately.

close-up of device information on back of casely power bank

Look for the model number.
Credit: CPSC

More information on requesting a replacement power bank is available on the CPSC and Casely recall websites.

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The new Dyson Supersonic Travel is the cheapest Supersonic yet

Table of Contents

Nearly three years ago, I asked if the (then) $429 Dyson Supersonic was still worth the price of entry.

These days, with the Supersonic line having expanded, the standard model having increased in price to $449.99, and the most expensive version of the hair dryer topping out at $549.99, it’s a question that feels even more apt.

The good news? If you’re not super into the idea of spending about $500 for a hair dryer, Dyson just announced the Dyson Supersonic Travel, a $299.99 model of its famous hair tool. In addition to its lower price point, it comes with more travel-friendly proportions and features.

As someone who’s personally tested Supersonics (and their many dupes), I took a closer look at the latest Dyson beauty launch to gather everything you need to know.

The design differences of the Dyson Supersonic Travel

In short, the Supersonic Travel is the standard Supersonic but smaller. According to Dyson, that comes out to exactly 32 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the OG Supersonic. In other words, it’s 0.7 pounds to the standard Supersonic’s 1.8 pounds, and 8.7 inches tall to the larger model’s 10 inches.

This model also comes with one attachment, the styling concentrator, a la the now-discontinued Dyson Supersonic Origin (which ran for $399.99). For comparison, the $449.99 Supersonic comes with three attachments: a styling concentrator, diffuser, and wide-tooth comb. For all five attachments, you’ll have to shell out $549.99.

dyson supersonic travel with attachments

The Supersonic Travel is compatible with all original and Supersonic Nural attachments.
Credit: Dyson

The same attachments can be used between the Travel, original, and Supersonic Nural dryers. This means opting for the Travel could technically save you some money — individual attachments range from $19.99 to $44.99. If you only use a styling concentrator and diffuser, for instance, the total cost of a Travel dryer with the extra attachment purchase would come out to $344.98, making it still over $100 cheaper than the three-attachment original Supersonic.

The Supersonic Travel is more versatile in some ways, and less so in others

Functionality-wise, the Supersonic Travel is a slightly different product from the other Supersonics in the line. It has anywhere from 1,000 to 1,220 watts of power and an airflow speed of 11.6 liters per second, compared to the 1,600 watts and 13.3 liters per second of the standard Supersonic. In other words, the bigger dryer is slightly more powerful, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect longer dry times.

The standard Supersonic and Supersonic Nural also feature four heats and three air speeds, where the Supersonic Travel features three heats and two air speeds.

That said, the Supersonic Travel has universal voltage compatibility, so it can be used from 100 to 240 volts, whereas the other Supersonics are locked into 120 volt compatibility.

In terms of its portability, it’s also worth noting the Supersonic Travel weighs the same as the Supersonic r, a professional grade hair dryer (priced as such at $549.99) that’s become more popular due in part to being lightweight and easy to maneuver.

Where to buy the Dyson Supersonic Travel

The Dyson Supersonic Travel is available for $299.99 at Dyson’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy. If you buy at the former, you will receive a complimentary $59.99 travel bag along with the hair dryer.

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The gorgeous yet budget-friendly Samsung QN70F Neo QLED TV is the cheapest its ever been

SAVE $300: As of April 21, you can get the Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV for only $597.99 instead of $897.99 at Amazon. That’s 33% in savings and the lowest price on record.


$597.99
at Amazon

$897.99
Save $300

 

We’re in peak sports season, y’all. Besides the action of the Stanley Cup playoffs and NBA playoffs, there’s a fresh MLB season taking shape. If your TV is looking dull or lagging, it’s a prime time to upgrade — especially since you can find some epic deals on 2025 models.

As of April 21, the Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for only $597.99. That’s 33% or $300 off its current list price, as well as its lowest price to date.

As Mashable’s TV expert Leah Stodart explains, “Neo QLED is really just Samsung’s proprietary term for QLED paired with Mini LED.” So, the QN70F features a panel of quantum dots over a bunch of tiny LED bulbs instead of a basic LED panel. The result? A stunning display with impressive color accuracy, deep blacks, and spectacular contrast. All the little details will look good no matter the lighting conditions in your room.

This TV uses an NQ4 AI Gen2 processor to upscale content and enhance the quality of anything you’re watching. So even those old episodes of Friends will look more impressive on the QN70F. And thanks to a 144Hz variable refresh rate, gaming and sports will look noticeably smoother and less laggy than your old set.

If an upgrade is in order, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money, the Samsung QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV is an excellent value at full price. At $300 off, it’s a steal.

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