Entertainment
What Inexpensive Things Make Your Life Easier in Winter?
I do like winter. There’s something oddly satisfying about the ongoing battle against the elements. Each time I don’t fall on a patch of ice while carrying four bags of groceries, it feels like a hard-won victory. And yet, sometimes I wish winter would be a LITTLE bit less of an unmitigated ass ache. In the past, we’ve shared small, inexpensive things that make our everyday lives easier. And since this February has really been February-ing, we thought we’d share the little things that make our winter lives easier. Hang in there, gang. We’ve got less than a month (?!?!) to go…
Kelly Dawson, contributing writer
Lifesaver: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter
I don’t mean to sound like Lieutenant Dan, but I’m about to sound like Lieutenant Dan: it’s important to take care of your feet, especially in the winter! Dry feet can be painful; I use this cocoa butter on mine throughout the year — but especially during the colder months. I sit on the side of my bed each night and slather it on, like a mom in a movie scene, then seal everything with socks and slippers. Don’t forget the backs of your feet!
Brooke Williams, photographer
Lifesavers: HeatTech base layers and Quince ultralight sweaters
I swear by pretty much everything in the Uniqlo HeatTech family (see: my 2017 Week of Outfits), but especially the leggings, which double as long underwear. I put them on in October and keep them on until April (I’m wearing them right now). They’re so thin that they fit under almost anything without feeling bulky, and they really work. I’ve spent a lot of time at outdoor protests this winter, so I can definitely confirm this!
My other go-to under-layer pieces are these ultralight cashmere sweaters. They’re thin and fitted, so I’ll wear one under a thicker sweater to add warmth on extra cold days when I have to shovel my car out of the snow.
Casey Elsass, food writer
Lifesavers: Onsen Saru bath soak & Acorn Original Slipper Socks
I love the emotional process of all four seasons — but the emotions I feel about winter are mostly loathing and despair. One thing that helps is spending time in the bath. I recently found this Onsen-inspired bath soak and I’m obsessed. I don’t totally understand what the Himalayan salt and magnesium flakes do, but I’ll tell you, I feel like a spaghetti noodle after. And the cedar and pine scent is absolutely divine.
I’ve always had cold feet, so my other winter go-to are Acorn Slipper Socks, which I’ve been wearing since I was a kid. The wool part is breathable, so my feet don’t get sweaty. And the suede sole has extra structure and padding, so wearing them on my apartment’s hardwood floors is actually very comfortable.
Alex Ronan, contributing writer
Lifesaver: Better spices
During a very competitive white elephant gift exchange over the holidays, I won a set of spices from a small-batch spice store in San Francisco. I’ve since learned that a) high-quality seasonings actually do make a difference (especially in the winter when good produce can be hard to come by), and b) I really need to go through my spice drawer and toss all the stale, expired ones. Even upgrading one or two can make everyday cooking feel like a fun project. We’ve been adding a pinch of this herbes de provence to salad dressing, and it absolutely makes grocery store greens taste better.
Kaitlyn Teer, newsletter editor
Lifesaver: Dr. Bronner’s hand spray
To ward off sniffles and bugs, I keep bottles of Dr. Bronner’s lavender hand-sanitizing spray stashed everywhere — the car, my belt bag, you name it. Kids touch everything, so I’m constantly passing into the back seat after we’ve wrapped up at the library or grocery store. I love that the lavender fragrance smells fresh and herby, not harsh or sterile (same goes for this Trader Joe’s version, which I also use). We go through so many this time of year!
Abigail Rasminsky, contributing writer
Lifesavers: A really good mug
I grew up in Montreal, so I know winter. It really helps to have a mug that you look forward to drinking out of in the morning, especially when it’s still dark out. I asked for this East Fork mug as a birthday gift a few months ago, and I find getting out of bed less dreadful, knowing that it’s waiting for me.
Kelsey Miller, senior editor
Lifesavers: Pocket thermos & wrist warmers
My aunt was recently visiting from London, and while we were out on a cold, wet day, she suddenly pulled a tiny, screw-top bottle out of her coat pocket. It turned out not to be a flask of liquor (as I’d briefly imagined), but a stainless steel thermos. She uses it for tea when it’s cold, or just as a water bottle. When I asked where she got it, all she said was “Japan.” With some deep-Googling, I was able to track it down here. (My husband was less patient and found a similar one on Amazon.) It doesn’t hold a huge volume of liquid, but the convenience of something you can just stick in your pocket is SUCH a relief.
My other winter must are wrist warmers — aka, fingerless mittens. It doesn’t matter how high I crank the heat; some days, you can’t avoid a cold draft. I used to get distracted while working at my laptop, because my wrists would get uncomfortably cold after typing for hours (does anyone else’s desk surface get cold too?). The only thing that helps is fingerless mittens. Yes, I feel like a Dickensian character, working away in my little wrist woolens, but it’s amazing what a difference it makes in my day.
Now you go! What little things do you rely on to get through winter?
P.S. More inexpensive things that make life better, and a very low-key winter checklist.
(Photo from The Shining.)
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for February 26, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
An expression.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
IDIOM
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A popular Canadian.
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Hurdle Word 2 Answer
DRAKE
Hurdle Word 3 hint
A mass.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
CLUMP
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Dignity.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
PRIDE
Final Hurdle hint
Hits the slopes.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
SKIER
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on February 26
Have you spotted the Moon looking a bit fuller night after night? This is because we are approaching the Full Moon, a phase in the lunar cycle.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 70% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
With just your naked eye, you’ll be able to see the Mares Tranquillitatis and Serenitatis are both easy to spot, as well as the Tycho Crater. With binoculars you’ll also be able to see the Mare Nectaris, and the Alphonsus and Endymion Craters. Add a telescope to this line up and you’ll see much more, including the Apollo 16 and 14 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. The eight phases are:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Entertainment
How to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League playoff round has been everything we hoped it would be. We’ve seen big performances, moments of real drama, and heaps of goals. What more could you ask for?
Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 in the first leg of their playoff matchup, but there’s still hope for the Italian side. Atalanta will welcome Dortmund to the Stadio di Bergamo for the second leg, hoping for a stunning turnaround. Dortmund need to be disciplined if they want to progress, as Atalanta are coming off an impressive 2-1 victory over Napoli at the weekend.
If you want to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Atalanta vs. Dortmund?
Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 25. This fixture takes place at the Stadio di Bergamo.
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How to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free
Atalanta vs. Dortmund is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit Virgin Media Player
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Watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund without committing with your cash. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
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