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Maxine Builder

Editor, the Strategist
@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. sales sales sales
    The Strategist’s Two-Day (Actually Good) Sale Is HereWith 15 exclusive deals on everyday essentials.
  2. micro sales
    12 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Veja to Clare V.Plus, a bunch of Strategist favorites at Ulta Beauty.
  3. bedding
    The 25 Very Best BedsheetsIncluding cotton-percale, linen, sateen, silk, and jersey options, plus a handful made of alternative fabrics like bamboo.
  4. friday sales
    17 Things on Sale You’ll Want to Buy: From Patagonia to BirkenstockIncluding lots of things that would make good Valentine’s Day gifts.
  5. friday sales
    20 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Paravel to PatagoniaSo many sale-on-sales as we head into the long weekend.
  6. micro sales
    10 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Levi’s to Le CreusetWith pre-inflation pricing across the board.
  7. micro sales
    13 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Everlane to KloraneLots of deals to help you get back into the swing of things.
  8. gifts they might actually want
    50 Gifts Under $50Treat everyone on your list without busting your budget.
  9. cyber monday 2023
    Our 18 Favorite Deals From Ulta Beauty’s Cyber Monday SaleBeauty’s most democratic retailer, with over 400 new deals.
  10. cyber monday 2023
    Cyber Monday Is Still an Excellent Time to Buy That Vitamix BlenderIncluding one option for just $230.
  11. micro sales
    13 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Paravel to PatagoniaIncluding lots of little things that would make nice holiday host gifts (for less than $30).
  12. celebrity shopping
    What Melissa Etheridge Can’t Live Without“I might have cheap reading glasses, but I got me a fancy lighter.”
  13. friday sales
    23 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Blundstone to MadewellIncluding the best deal on Madewell jeans we’ve ever seen and discounts up to 80 percent at Urban Outfitters.
  14. prime day 2023
    Which Vitamix Blender Should I Buy on Sale This Prime Day?You can’t go wrong with any of them — but don’t dillydally.
  15. prime day 2023
    If You Buy One Thing on Prime Day, Make It This Jaw-Sculpting NuFace Mini“If you think you need Botox, you can start using this gadget instead.”
  16. steal my vacation
    Hike, Swim, Repeat for 8 Days in Cape TownTidal pools, secluded beaches, and sunrise treks.
  17. celebrity shopping
    What John McCauley Can’t Live WithoutIncluding a do-it-all oil that smells like being outside, his favorite pencils for songwriting, and nine gallons’ worth of a hangover remedy.
  18. friday sales
    21 Things on Sale You’ll Actually Want to Buy: From Dyson to J.CrewIncluding a countertop ice machine, a jumbo-size margarita-maker, and a dewy skin mist.
  19. best in class
    The Best Tick-Repellent Products for Humans and DogsOr how to protect yourself without tucking your pants into your socks.
  20. this thing’s incredible
    Dan Auerbach Loves This Record Player So Much He Named a Song After It“If I see one that looks cool, I’ll pick it up.”
  21. strategist hive mind
    63 Holiday Shopping TipsHoliday-related proclamations and well-sourced recommendations from the Strategist’s staff and contributors.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. deal of the day
    Outdoor Voices’ Exercise Dress Is the Cheapest We’ve Ever SeenIn every color, too.
  26. 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.
  27. prime day 2022
    These Levi’s Are the Goldilocks of Jeans (and They’re Under $50)High-waisted, cropped, vintage-looking, and surprisingly comfortable.
  28. 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.
  29. 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.”
  30. 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.
  31. best in class
    The 5 Very Best Office ChairsIncluding a surprisingly supportive chair for under £70.
  32. recommended by experts
    The Best Travel Backpacks for Long Trips, According to Frequent TravelersBecause rolling luggage doesn’t make sense for every trip.
  33. 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.
  34. recommended by experts
    The Types of Cocktail Glasses You Actually Need, According to BartendersA copper Moscow mule mug is not one of them.
  35. 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.
  36. recommended by experts
    How to Prevent Razor and Waxing Bumps, According to AestheticiansSmooth skin, sans the painful ingrowns.
  37. recommended by experts
    The Best Ergonomic Keyboards and Mouses to Prevent Wrist PainNot all ergonomic products are made equal.
  38. 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.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. gifts they might actually want
    Prince Sightings In Rome - November 2, 2010
    The Best Gifts for Photographers, According to Photographers and Photo EditorsBecause you can do better than a camera-lens-shaped coffee mug.
  42. 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.
  43. 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.
  44. 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.
  45. recommended by experts
    The Best Dated Planners, According to Productivity Experts and Stationery LoversFor everyone from the minimalist to the ambitious goal-setter.
  46. 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.
  47. reading lists
    The Best Bartending Guides and Cocktail Books, According to BartendersLearn to make cocktails as well as you drink them.
  48. 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.
  49. 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.”
  50. year in review
    My Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Is More Useful Now Than EverAn impulse Prime Day purchase became a must-have tech gadget.
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