Lauren Ro Author Archive
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Lauren Ro

Writer, the Strategist
@blauring
@geekcondition
[email protected]

Lauren Ro joined the Strategist as a writer in 2018. She covers baby gear, design moments, and anything else related to the home, including a giant guide to flatware and all the best furniture.

  1. grooming
    Does a Natural Antiperspirant Actually Exist?An unusually good natural deodorant made us wonder.
  2. toys
    Everything I Used to Furnish My Toddler’s (Montessori-Inspired) PlayroomFrom furniture to storage to mats, I imagine a lot of it will take Augie into his preschool years and beyond.
  3. decor
    17 Home Décor Accents From AAPI-Owned BrandsFrom fruit bowls for the kitchen to alarm clocks for the bedroom to magazine racks for the living room (or bathroom).
  4. outdoor leisure
    What Are the Best Water Shoes?A bunch of options for hiking across rivers, swimming through ponds, or just strolling along the surf.
  5. kids and babies
    15 Pairs of (Actually Wearable) Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses for KidsIn a range of prices and styles, including some parent-approved pairs.
  6. hiking and camping
    The Neighborhood
    An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Camping, According to Camping Experts“You’re going to have more fun if you’re prepared.”
  7. gifts
    33 Meaningful Condolence Gifts for Grieving Loved OnesAccording to grief and loss experts.
  8. cleaning
    How to Clean a Slipcover, According to ExpertsTips and products that’ll keep your slipcovers looking straight out of a Pottery Barn catalogue.
  9. strategist investigates
    The Strategist Megaguide to Beating Supply-Chain IssuesCan’t find things like patio furniture, sofas, and black pants with a 36-inch waist? We’re here to help.
  10. moisturizers
    The Best Face Mists, According to Dermatologists and AestheticiansIncluding mists for flying and after sun, as well as options with rose water, essential oils, and just good ole H2O.
  11. health
    This $10 Doodad Instantly Makes Bug Bites (and Bee Stings) Less IrritatingI was skeptical, but after using it on three mosquito bites and a bee sting, I promise it’s true.
  12. prime day 2021
    The Best Amazon Prime Day Furniture and Home-Décor DealsActually good deals on stuff to zhuzh up every inch of your home, from the bedroom, to the office, to the backyard.
  13. food
    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.
  14. outdoor leisure
    How to Prevent (and Treat) Mosquito Bites, According to ExpertsIt’s true: Some people are more susceptible to mosquito bites than others.
  15. video
    Still photo studio set
    The Best (Most Flattering) Lighting for Video Calls, According to ExpertsIf you can’t sit in front of a window, directors, filmmakers, and television producers share the next best options for looking good on a screen.
  16. celebrity shopping
    What Jewel Can’t Live Without“This lipstick doesn’t end up on my pillows, which is another sign it’s good.”
  17. baby gear
    Everything You Need to Potty Train, According to ExpertsGear to make the transition from diapers to toilet go a little more smoothly.
  18. baby gear
    Vietnamese - Happy child playing with water splashes in the pool
    The Best Swim Gear for Babies, According to Swim InstructorsEverything you need to get your little one in the water.
  19. food
    The Stuff Every Korean Family Buys From the Supermarket Is Also OnlineThe spoons, low tables, and food storage containers you’ll find in most Korean households.
  20. cleaning
    The Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Sponges, According to ExpertsFrom sponges to dishcloths to scrubbers, all are made with natural materials and will last longer than your Scotch-Brite.
  21. a long talk
    Time to Say Goodbye Is the Only Asian American Podcast Saying the Hard StuffThe show takes on Asian American and international politics with a leftist POV and a healthy dose of skepticism.
  22. reading lists
    The Best Books About Asian American Identity, According to ExpertsIncluding genres from fiction to history to poetry — and authors from Helen Zia to Ocean Vuong to Grace Lee Boggs.
  23. toys
    The Best Art Easels for Kids, According to Art Educators and ParentsFrom a $20 (art-teacher-approved) easel to a model more appropriate for teens who are getting serious about their work.
  24. celebrity shopping
    What Author Jenny Han Can’t Live Without“This is the secret to movie-theater popcorn at home.”
  25. office
    This Truly Customizable Notebook Has Replaced (Most of) My Many OthersIts rather ingenious insert system allows you to package up to three or four separate notebooks between the same two covers.
  26. baby feeding
    The Best Supplies for Making Your Own Baby Food, According to ExpertsOne way to cut down on heavy metals found in processed baby food? Start making it yourself.
  27. celebrity shopping
    What Taraji P. Henson Can’t Live Without“If you burn something in these pots, you really don’t know what the hell you’re doing.”
  28. decor
    Gee’s Bend Black-Made (Museum-Quality) Quilts Are Now Sold on EtsyIt’s the first time ever that quilts from the rural Alabama community of Black women artists are available to buy online.
  29. baby gear
    Can the Best (Closed-Loop) Baby Monitor Get Any Better?An Infant Optics owner puts the parent-approved-brand’s newest model to the test.
  30. home
    23 Floor Lamps, Vetted 23 WaysIncluding an elegant vertical LED light and a circular lamp that looks like the many Charli XCX has.
  31. toys
    My Toddler Won’t Stop Playing With These Friction-Powered CarsTheir novel design propels them farther than any other toy cars he’s used and makes the toys much better at navigating bumps and uneven surfaces.
  32. style
    Ask the Strategist: What Are Some Shearling-Lined Boots That Aren’t Uggs?Here are 22 alternatives that are just as cozy, cute, and easy to slip on.
  33. office swag
    This New York x Neighborhood Spot Merch Is Another Reason to Love New YorkDo-good streetwear brand Neighborhood Spot created a collection of totes and prints based on the latest “Reasons to Love New York” issue cover.
  34. gifts
    The Best Gifts for Chess Players, According to Chess PlayersWe asked chess players, coaches, grandmasters, and world champions about their favorite things to give to folks like themselves.
  35. celebrity shopping
    What Kyle MacLachlan Can’t Live Without“I am made for the Strategist, because these little details are important and really make a difference in terms of finding something that works well.”
  36. gifts
    30 Strategist-Approved Gifts for Your Whole List (That You Can Buy at Macy’s)A bunch of our favorite gifts to give, all conveniently available at the department store that brings you the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
  37. gifts
    This $70 Necklace Makes Me Feel Like a Fancy Lady Who Lunches (at Home)It elevates even the most humdrum of work-from-home outfits.
  38. fitness and sports
    In-Stock Weight-Lifting Equipment, From Unlikely SourcesDumbbells, kettlebells, and other lifting equipment you can order right now.
  39. black friday 2020
    The Tiny Do-It-All Oven That Makes Me Feel Like Julia Child Is 30 Percent OffThe last time it was this cheap was Prime Day — and it sold out.
  40. cleaning
    How Effective Are Aqueous Ozone Cleaners (Like O3Waterworks)?Two experts tell us about the science behind these products that claim to sanitize simply by filling them with water.
  41. strategist investigates
    Four Hacks for Safely Distributing Candy on HalloweenFrom simple tools like trash grabbers to DIY candy chutes.
  42. organization
    Ask the Strategist: What Are Some Nice-Looking Baskets for Storing Bedding?A dozen options for stowing a couple of pillows with an artfully arranged blanket (or two) on top.
  43. kitchen
    This Generous Soaking Tub Cuts My Dishwashing Time by a ThirdIt has plenty of room to soak our family of three’s jumble of plates, coffee mugs, glasses, sippy cups, plates, bowls, utensils, and cutting boards.
  44. baby gear
    Ask the Strategist: What Are Some Shoes for 1-Year-Olds That Actually Stay On?We found a bunch of options that parents swear by.
  45. furniture
    Ask the Strategist: What Are Some Modern Platform Bed Frames With Storage?We found nine options that are (mostly) under $700.
  46. organization
    Ask the Strategist: What Are Some Cute Hooks to Hang Masks on by a Door?We found 20 nice-looking storage solutions for the accessory that’s now as essential as your phone, wallet, and keys.
  47. sports
    An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Skateboarding, According to SkatersThe best skateboards, protective gear, and accessories to get you rolling.
  48. kitchen
    This Compact, Do-It-All Oven Makes Me Feel Like Julia Child in QuarantineIt can bake, broil, toast, fry, and even convection cook at basically the turn of a dial.
  49. this thing’s incredible
    Baby Pools Are Selling Out, But This Splash Pad Will Keep My Kid Cool All SummerIt’s a fresh reprieve on a hot summer day — and less stressful than packing up a beach bag.
  50. outdoor leisure
    1970s AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY
    The Best Outdoor Dining Sets, According to ExpertsFrom petite bistro-style sets to larger picnic tables, any will make your outdoor space a place you’ll want to linger longer.
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