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Maxine Builder

Editor
@maxine_builder
@maxine_builder
maxine.builder@nymag.com

Maxine Builder is the editor of the Strategist. She joined the site as a writer in 2017.

  1. best in class
    17 of the Very Best Sex Toys for CouplesAny sex toy can be a couples sex toy, but these are specifically designed for you and a partner.
  2. best in class
    The 15 Very Best Storage BinsPro tip: Organize your clear containers ROYGBIV-style.
  3. best in class
    The 23 Very Best BedsheetsIncluding cotton-percale, linen, sateen, silk, and jersey options, plus a handful made of alternative fabrics like bamboo.
  4. best in class
    The 17 Very Best Ergonomic Office ChairsIncluding conventional office chairs, balance-ball chairs, kneeling chairs, and even (space-saving) ergonomic stools.
  5. strategist hive mind
    63 Holiday Shopping TipsHoliday-related proclamations and well-sourced recommendations from the Strategist’s staff and contributors.
  6. best in class
    The 6 Very Best Blue-Light-Blocking GlassesIf you can’t quit scrolling before bed, blue-light-blocking glasses can help prevent screen time from messing with your sleep.
  7. best in class
    The Best Tick-Repellent Products for Humans and DogsOr how to protect yourself without tucking your pants into your socks.
  8. best in class
    The Very Best Laptop StandsSave yourself from back pain and improve your Zoom camera angle at the same time.
  9. best in class
    The 8 Very Best LubesIncluding a vanilla-lemon flavored lube.
  10. best in class
    The 7 Best WineglassesBecause a jam jar isn’t always going to cut it.
  11. recommended by experts
    The Best Desk Organizers, According to Professional OrganizersFrom desktop trays to file drawers to a very fun postmodern wall system.
  12. sunday circular
    8 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Super-Long Socks to SunscreenIncluding a deeply discounted Dutch oven, doula-approved massage balls, and a reminder that time is arbitrary.
  13. painless shopping
    The Best Undated Planners for Year-round Staying on TrackStart these planners whenever it’s most convenient for you, not when the calendar says it’s time.
  14. micro sales
    11 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Patagonia to ReformationIncluding a dentist-recommended electric toothbrush, under-$50 Keds, and a status-y fleece.
  15. deal of the day
    Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress Is the Cheapest We’ve Ever SeenIn every color, too.
  16. micro sales
    9 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Hay to EverlaneBack-to-work wardrobe basics, work-from-home upgrades, and a couple of treats for the kids before they go back to school.
  17. prime day 2022
    These Levi’s Are the Goldilocks of Jeans (and They’re Under $50)High-waisted, cropped, vintage-looking, and surprisingly comfortable.
  18. deal of the day
    The Ferrari of Meat Thermometers Is 25 Percent Off for Strategist ReadersTo say the Thermapen is just a meat thermometer is like saying a Ferrari is just a car.
  19. deal of the day
    This Dermatologist-Approved Device Sculpts Chins and Cheeks (and Is on Sale)“If you think you need Botox, you can start using this gadget instead.”
  20. deal of the day
    Our Favorite Travel Pillow Is the Cheapest We’ve Seen in 5 YearsJust $20 to make an economy seat feel like first class.
  21. mother’s day 2022
    Mother’s Day Bouquets for Every Type of Mom (That You Can Order Online)From classic and curated to wild and off-the-wall.
  22. best in class
    The 5 Very Best Office ChairsIncluding a surprisingly supportive chair for under £70.
  23. best in class
    7 of the Very Best Tweezers for Hair RemovalFor eyebrow shaping, ingrown dislodging, and banishing errant face hairs.
  24. recommended by experts
    The Best Travel Backpacks for Long Trips, According to Frequent TravelersBecause rolling luggage doesn’t make sense for every trip.
  25. this thing’s incredible
    This $99 Meat Thermometer Helped Me Become a Better Home Cook in SecondsSaying the Thermapen is just another kitchen thermometer is like saying a Ferrari is just another car.
  26. recommended by experts
    The Types of Cocktail Glasses You Actually Need, According to BartendersA copper Moscow mule mug is not one of them.
  27. recommended by experts
    The Best Travel Adapters for Every Type of Trip, According to Frequent Travelers“I reckon this adapter is the only thing I carry that’s as well-traveled as my passport.”
  28. recommended by experts
    The Best Halloween Decorations and Props, According to Haunted-House ProsAll the tricks to turn your home into a haunted one from haunted-house pros.
  29. recommended by experts
    How to Prevent Razor and Waxing Bumps, According to AestheticiansSmooth skin, sans the painful ingrowns.
  30. recommended by experts
    The Best Ergonomic Keyboards and Mouses to Prevent Wrist PainNot all ergonomic products are made equal.
  31. recommended by experts
    The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Cookbooks, According to Vegetarian and Vegan ChefsAccording to the chefs at Dirt Candy, Butcher’s Daughter, Modern Love, and more.
  32. recommended by experts
    The Best Tech Gadgets to Help You Sleep Better, According to Sleep ExpertsWe talked with sleep experts to find the best tech that actually works.
  33. reasons to love new york
    Farewell to the Places I Took My Dates and Old FriendsSaying good-bye to the Mermaid Inn, Rose’s Brooklyn, Pegu Club, and more.
  34. gifts they might actually want
    The Best Gifts for Photographers, According to Photographers and Photo EditorsBecause you can do better than a camera-lens-shaped coffee mug.
  35. prime day 2020
    If You Buy One Thing on Prime Day, Make It a Vitamix BlenderYes, it’s worth it — especially when it’s on sale.
  36. recommended by experts
    Everything You Need to Prevent and Get Rid of Bedbugs, According to ExpertsNew York City exterminators (and two entomologists) share their tried-and-true solutions.
  37. recommended by experts
    The Best Cold-Brew Coffee Makers, According to Baristas and RoastersAfter all, making your own cold brew is the cheapest way to enjoy it.
  38. recommended by experts
    The Best Dated Planners, According to Productivity Experts and Stationery LoversFor everyone from the minimalist to the ambitious goal-setter.
  39. deal of the day
    The Goldilocks of Camping Chairs Is 25 Percent Off at BackcountrySmall enough to tote around, big enough to cradle your lower back and butt.
  40. reading lists
    The Best Bartending Guides and Cocktail Books, According to BartendersLearn to make cocktails as well as you drink them.
  41. recommended by experts
    Everything You Need to Grill When You Don’t Have a BackyardWhether you’re grilling on a terrace in a portable grill or in a park on a communal one.
  42. dad week
    The Best Beer Gifts for Father’s DayIncluding growlers, beer books, and a gadget that’ll cool down beer quickly.
  43. celebrity shopping
    What Betsey Johnson Can’t Live Without“I got asked to leave the Macy’s beauty department in the ’60s because I went there reeking of patchouli oil.”
  44. year in review
    My Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Is More Useful Now Than EverAn impulse Prime Day purchase became a must-have tech gadget.
  45. recommended by experts
    Everything You Need to Stock an at-Home Bar (Minus Booze), According to ExpertsThirty-one bartenders tell us about the essential gear for any cocktail-lover’s home bar.
  46. deal of the day
    This Statusy Staub Dutch Oven Is Just $100The last time it was this cheap was Black Friday.
  47. deal of the day
    We’re Stocking Up on This (Half Off) ‘Summer’-Scented CandleThe candle our managing editor can’t stop burning in self-isolation.
  48. strategist investigates
    We Determined Which of the New Emergency Preparedness Kits Are Actually Worth ItWith the help of a survivalist.
  49. celebrity shopping
    What Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba Can’t Live Without“There’s something about being in somebody else’s helmet that’s like wearing somebody else’s Invisalign. It’s just not quite right.”
  50. deal of the day
    This Easy-to-Use Instant Pot Blender Is the Cheapest We’ve Ever SeenJust $45 for a blender that cooks, purées, and makes nut milk.
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