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To make the napkins: Follow the package directions for fabric dye. Add 2 cups warm water to each of 3 deep bowls (stainless steel or glass). Add 1 cup dye solution to the first bowl; ½ cup solution to the second; ¼ cup solution to the third. Dip a folded white cotton napkin into the weakest dye solution, leaving the top section undyed. Leave in solution about 15-30 seconds. Squeeze to drain excess dye....

Try one of these sweet sentimental messages or jot down a funny birthday quote on your card. Of course, you can also borrow an inspirational quote from a public figure. It’s not so much about what you write as it is about sharing how you feel. These funny, sweet, and sentimental messages will help you get started. What to Write In a Birthday Card Once you’ve picked out the perfect card (or made your own!...

Stop Making “Mulching Volcanos” A layer of mulch around your trees helps protect them from mower blades and prevents soil from drying out. But piling it up like a volcano around your tree traps moisture against the trunk, which can cause rot. Additionally, when mulch is too deep, it prevents tree roots from getting the oxygen they need. “Always mulch out and not up,” says Daniel S. Bauer, an arborist, and president of Arbor Equity Inc....

1. Washing the Turkey According to a recent survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults by the Water Quality and Health Council, 62% of people wash their birds in the sink—but rinsing the turkey can do some serious harm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that when you wash a turkey, the juices that splash off the skin transfer bacteria to surrounding surfaces, utensils, and even food, causing cross-contamination which can make people very ill....

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker ($22, Walmart)

There is a vast body of research on how color impacts mood, linking warm shades like red and yellow to feelings of excitement and delight. Conversely, hues from the cooler side of the color wheel, such as blue and green, are associated with calm and relaxation. These responses are often inherently psychological, but they can also be influenced by our cultures and lived experiences, says Michelle Bove, founder and owner of interior design and architecture firm DesignCase....

1. Inspect and Transplant Garden Herbs Before you bring any plants indoors, inspect them thoroughly for hitchhiking insects. Knock any bugs off the foliage with a blast of water from the garden hose. Then, anytime before the ground freezes, gently dig up the ones you’d like to bring indoors. At this time, perennial herbs that grow in clumps, like oregano, marjoram, and mint, can be divided into well-rooted sections. Herbs that are woody and more shrub-like (such as sage and rosemary) can be awkward to dig up....

1. Clean Your Deck Routinely Basic cleaning, like weekly sweeping of loose dirt and debris, will help maintain your deck’s natural luster. Wood decks are meant to blend with the environment, but fallen leaves and dirt that sit too long can lead to discoloration, mold, and wood rot. At least once a year, clean your deck using a wood deck cleaner appropriate for the species of wood. There are many brands out there, but they all have the same basic function: remove dirt, mold, algae, and the common causes of discoloration (oxidation)....

The playful palette received a shoutout in Sherwin-Williams’ color trend forecast for 2022, and primary colors appeared prominently in Pantone’s predictions for next spring and summer. This resurgence of primary colors, which were broadly used throughout the postmodern movement of the 1980s, reflects a general fondness for throwback styles we’ve seen across interior design, fashion, and pop culture. Because of their intensity, decorating with primary colors can be tricky. To learn the strategies to pull off this daring combination, we tapped a few designers for their go-to strategies....

1. Evaluate your winter landscape. To start off, take stock of your winter garden as it looks now. Snap photos to see where the landscape is lacking or where it works well. Jot down a few notes about what you can see from the windows of your home. Take measurements of the spaces where you’d like to add more winter interest to get an idea of how much room you have to work with....

1. Create a Destination Turn a vacant hallway space into a place to stop and take notice. Transform a blank wall into a family gallery. Before you hang anything, trace the shape of your frames onto kraft paper, and tape the shapes to the wall to plan your arrangement until you’re satisfied with the look. Complete the look with other cozy elements to add interest to your passageway. Incorporate a chair or bench, storage baskets, and pretty accessories to create a welcoming vignette....

1. Do you really need to rake? Leaves have nutrients, which can be recycled into your soil. The problem arises when they’re piled too thick, which can smother your lawn and smaller garden plants. But how many is too many? University researchers developed guidelines to make it easy to know if you need to rake or not. If less than 50% of your lawn is blanketed with leaves, you don’t need to rake, but it’s recommended that you run your lawn mower over the leaves to shred them....

Most of these pumpkin-shape pots come in different colors, so if orange isn’t your thing, don’t worry; you’ll be able to find an option that suits your style. And many of the planters are available in various sizes with drainage holes so they’ll work with a variety of plants (which are not included). Shop these affordable finds below for yourself or as a thoughtful gift for a fellow favorite plant parent....

If you consider yourself crafty, there are lots of DIY fall wall decor ideas you can whip up for the season. Think cheerful pom-pom garlands, dressed-up embroidery hoops, handmade wreaths, and fall signs. Or maybe your fall wall decor could use a jolt of inspiration. Arrange artwork in a way you haven’t thought of before or blend your current display with autumnal pieces. Either way, these gorgeous fall wall decor ideas are here to inspire your seasonal refresh....

In any room, pastel wall colors are a cheery alternative to basic neutrals that offers similar brightness and versatility. Lean into their soothing qualities with a palette of soft hues, or juxtapose delicate pastels with more intense shades for a colorful, high-contrast look. Let these pastel rooms inspire you to look at the lighter side of the paint swatch. 1. Lavender Dining Room Lavender walls bring an unexpected hint of color to this dining room....

In a press release, the fast-casual chain revealed the details of the service called Your Cup Is Always Full. Subscribers can enjoy unlimited hot drip coffee, iced coffee, or hot tea of any size for just $8.99, plus tax, per month at any of the more than 2,100 Panera locations across the country. “Coffee is an important daily ritual for so many—can give you a dose of optimism—it lifts you up....

That’s where our BHG Recommends seal of approval comes in. For one hundred years, Better Homes & Gardens has been America’s go-to resource for everything from how to apply wallpaper to starting your herb garden. And now, we want to go even further by sharing the products we think you need to make all your home dreams come true. We’ve assembled a team of experts and testers from across the country who have a passion for finding products that are worth the hype—and which ones fall flat....