Test Kitchen Tip: While we love the addition of java, you can omit it if you’re headed to bed soon after dinner and prefer to steer clear of the caffeine. Test Kitchen Tip: No peeking—lifting the lid off the slow cooker while the bread cooks can release heat, increase condensation, and cause uneven baking. Test Kitchen Tip: Prepare the squash slices ahead of time to save precious minutes on your busy holiday....
Chocolaty Melting Snowmen These little snowmen couldn’t take the heat, and their melty goodness is what makes them one of our favorite cookies. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a tall glass of milk and a delicious chocolate-infused melted snowman cookie. These wintry treats aren’t difficult to make, either. Just bake the chewy chocolate cookies and start decorating. Melty Snowmen Sugar Cookies With sugar, coconut flakes, and gumdrops, these sugar cookies are full of flavor and baked to perfection....
Buy It: GE Profile UltraFresh System Dishwasher with Microban Antimicrobial Technology ($1,199, GE Appliances) Buy It: Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator ($2,798–$2,899, Samsung Home Appliances) Buy It: Marcel ($831, Kalco Lighting) Buy It: Urban Suite (starting at $14.20 for knobs and $17 for pulls, Ashley Norton) Buy It: TL7 Magnetic Tubular Latch (starting at $40, INOX) Buy It: Easy-Slide Operator ($50 per window unit, Pella Corp.) Buy It: HydroVive Rainhead ($7,490, ThermaSol) Buy It: Amara from the Precious Metals collection ($1,698–$1,998, Native Trails) Buy It: Logan Vanity collection (pricing varies, The Furniture Guild) Buy It: GFCI USB ($46....
What causes blossom end rot? The culprit of blossom end rot in tomatoes is not a bug or a disease. This tomato problem, also known as bottom rot, is caused by a lack of calcium brought on by dry conditions. Tomato plants need calcium in all actively growing parts, from the roots to the fruits. Calcium is transported from place to place by water. When water is in short supply, such as during a drought, calcium can’t get all the way from the roots to developing fruit so blossom end rot occurs....
“Our research would say 80% of the 21 million new folks who entered the category in 2020 are going to come back, regardless of what happens with COVID-19,” Sutterer says. “In fact, about half of that 80% actually say they want to even do more because they had such a great experience.” And what will everyone be growing? For 2021, it’s clear that the bliss of being in nature, in general, will be bigger than ever, with people increasingly turning to their yards for exercise, stress-relief, and a creative outlet....
1. Shop around when hiring a lawn care company. If you’re not into yard work or you’re short on time, keeping your lawn mowed, trimmed, and edged can be challenging, but it’s one of the most noticeable things about your property. A lawn mowing service can be a worthwhile investment to take the hassle off your hands while keeping your yard looking crisp and clean. Instead of going with the first service you come across, you’ll get the best deal possible by shopping around a little....
1. Celebrate the Earliest Blooms Some plants such as crocus, hellebore, and camellia bloom in very late winter. If you have any of these early-blooming flowers appearing in your yard, make the most of them. Clear away any debris such as last year’s dead foliage or twigs that may be hiding the flowers from view. Try putting a few colorful blossoms in a vase inside if it’s too cold to admire them outside or you can’t see them from a window....
Available at IKEA stores and online starting October 1, IKEA’s winter drop includes three seasonal lines: VINTERFINT 2022, STRÅLA, and VINTERSAGA. VINTERFINT, a continuation of the annual winter collection, features ornaments and other hanging decor, serving essentials, and gift wrap, while STRÅLA is a collection of festive lights perfect for lighting up long winter nights. VINTERSAGA adds new seasonal items—including ginger thins, a classic Swedish holiday sweet—to IKEA’s iconic culinary selection....
The good news is that there are colorful, easy-to-care-for houseplants that are completely safe for your pet to be around, and they’re perfect for the holidays and beyond. And should a furry friend come into contact with a toxic plant, act quickly to ensure your pet survives. “If your pet ingests a poisonous plant or exhibits symptoms, take them to the veterinarian immediately for treatment,” LaBranche says. “It is advised that you avoid owning houseplants that are poisonous to pets, but if you do have them, keep them away from your pets and routinely check them to make sure the leaves aren’t being chewed....
Hawaiian Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes Add some island flair to your Thanksgiving feast with these Hawaiian recipes: Appetizer: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Mango Salsa Side Dish: Purple Potato Soup Side Dish: Coconut Sweet Potatoes and Wild Rice Side Dish: Savory Butternut Squash Dressing Entrée: Garlic- and Pineapple-Glazed Ham Drink: Coconut Cream Island Punch Appetizer: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Mango Salsa Greet Thanksgiving dinner guests at the door with a platter of meatballs topped with an island-inspired mango and sweet pepper salsa....
1. Statement Lighting Dramatic, oversized fixtures are replacing those designed to blend in or disappear completely. ‘‘Creativity within lighting design is becoming more expansive, personal, and timeless," says Peyton Fox, lighting designer for Quoizel. Go big and bold for lighting that steals the show. High-style fixtures are even making their way into previously overlooked spaces like closets. Statement-making chandeliers, ceiling-mount fixtures, or pendants can make your dressing zone more than an ordinary storage space....
Add a bowl of vintage ornaments to your Christmas tablescape or decorate your tree with a bright collection of jewel-tone baubles. You might already be familiar with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments even if you didn’t know they had an official name: They’re the fun, candy-colored glass ornaments that are coated in a silvery sheen. They were produced in huge quantities in their heyday of the 1940s, and many of the originals are still in circulation....
Try more moist and tender cakes with these carrot cake recipes! Satisfy all of your fall flavor cravings with these pumpkin bar recipes!
1. Add color with small updates. Color trends come and go, so one of the best ways to incorporate them is with accessories that you can easily and inexpensively swap out. Pillows, area rugs, throw blankets, wall art, and other accessories offer a simple way to try out Pantone’s colors of the year without going all-in on new furniture or wall paint right away. Start small with a few colorful updates and see how the shades play in your space....
Best All-Purpose Cleaner: Love Home & Planet Lavender & Argan Oil Multipurpose Cleaner Spray Everyone needs a trusty all-purpose spray for quick surface cleaning. Not only is this plant-based cleaner suitable for any surface, but it’s also made with calming lavender essential oils that leave your home smelling garden-fresh after each use. Plus, you can’t beat the price. Best Toilet Scrubber: Clorox Toilet Wand System Cleaning the toilet isn’t the most enjoyable task, but it’s a bathroom checklist must, and this reusable wand makes it more bearable....
While things aren’t quite as locked down as last year (it’s okay to have a socially distant outdoor gathering with Dad this year, especially if you’re both fully vaccinated), travel is still not advised. So if you don’t live near each other, a virtual celebration is the way to go. This year, Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 20. And even if you can’t do the typical Father’s Day activities this year, these fun ideas can help you make the day special for Dad....
Contributes to magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, The Magnolia Journal, Midwest Living, and many others
“The couple live in a house and wanted a sense of a house when they’re in the city,” designer Alexa Hampton says. “So we infused the apartment, which originally had very modern interiors, with that sensibility.” Hampton was introduced to the project through Joel Barkley of Ike Kligerman Barkley, who had begun architecturally reimagining the triplex, bringing in a sweeping central staircase, grand moldings, and stuc pierre artisan plasterwork. “The homeowners are fans of patina, age, and use of different materials....
