Posts

Why You Should Trust Us BHG only features products that our editorial team has independently researched to be high quality and worth the investment. Our content is never swayed by advertising, and we purchase most of the products we test ourselves. Brands will occasionally send us products to sample; however, we never promise to positively review those products in exchange for free items. If we do end up loving a sample and write about the product, we always disclose how we acquired the item....

“There’s huge demand in the landscape industry for outdoor living spaces—creating fun spaces to entertain family and friends—because outdoor has been our safe space for the last year,” explains Lisa Schaumann Stryker, vice president of communications with the National Association of Landscape Professionals. “There’s a renewed love for being outside and extending your social experience with your family and friends.” As outdoor entertaining increases, many people are rediscovering their backyards and repurposing them to suit their favorite pastimes, including watching movies....

Jeff Meyer, the founder of Johnny Appleseed Organic, first found out about one of the last known Appleseed trees in the 1990s when the Harvey-Algeo family in Ohio sent him a letter revealing that they had been taking care of the tree on their farm for generations. After verifying the historic tree’s authenticity through independent entities, Meyer acquired exclusive genetic rights to it and started propagating identical copies of it....

Types of Kitchen Sinks: Materials Kitchen sinks come in many different materials, including metal and stone. The best kitchen sink material for you depends on how much money you want to spend, your cleaning routine preferences, and what material goes best with your kitchen’s style. Here are a few common options to consider: Stainless-steel kitchen sinks are one of the most popular options and the material continues to be improved and upgraded....

One study by NSF International, an independent public health organization, cites coffee makers as the fifth germiest place in your home, with half of the reservoirs tested containing yeast and mold. These organisms can cause allergic reactions or even infections, so without proper cleaning, your coffee maker could make you sick. The good news is that you can learn how to clean a coffee pot to look sparkling and (nearly) new in just a few easy steps....

How to Clean Tile Floors of All Types You wouldn’t wash a stainless-steel refrigerator with a cleaner meant for an enamel surface. The same concept applies to your tile. While tile floors are incredibly durable, certain kinds of tile need to be cared for in a special way. Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles are fairly low maintenance, while coarse tiles such as slate, marble, granite, or limestone require individualized care and often specific cleaners....

Many of these clever cleaning hacks use everyday household items, such as cooking spray, vinegar, and nail polish, so you can clean and sanitize your space with things you already have on hand. So the next time you’re on scrub duty, try these clean bathroom hacks to get a sparkling space in less time. 1. Clean Your Toilet with Vodka Not the good stuff, of course! Instead, look to that cheap bottle of vodka that’s been occupying your bar cart for far too long and use it to make your toilet shine....

Test Kitchen Tip: Make the hot chocolate base and keep it warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve. Test Kitchen Tip: Swap graham crackers, vanilla cookies, or cinnamon-sugar pita chips for the sliced apples.

Buy It: Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron Dutch Oven ($40, Walmart) P.S.: If you’re looking for an Irish beef stew, try this recipe. While traditional Irish stews are made with lamb, this has the same essential ingredients, just with beef. Dry mustard and allspice amplify the flavors in this savory beef and vegetable stew. All of the above, plus tomato sauce, beef broth, and aromatic vegetables make this taste like you spent far more than 25 minutes of prep time to execute....

With Aldi stocking fall specials now and in the coming weeks, now is the best time to stock up on your seasonal favorites (think lots of pumpkin, maple, apple, caramel, and cinnamon flavors). Some items are only stocked as weekly specials, while others get a semi-permanent spot on shelves for the season. Check online for their current and upcoming weekly specials and to get the most up-to-date info on what’s coming to a store near you....

Growing conditions: Partial shade or full sun in well-drained, consistently moist soil Size: Up to 6-feet tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Staghorn Sumac Oxymel ($20, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Partial shade in well-drained soil Size: 5-feet tall, 8-feet wide Zones: 5-8 Buy It: Lily-of-the-Valley Bulb Pack ($14, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full shade to full sun in well-drained soil Size: Can vary by variety; some reach 2-to-4-feet tall, others up to 30-feet tall Zones: 4-7 Buy It: Dense Spreading Yew Shrub ($32, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Partial shade or full sun in well-drained soil Size: Varies by variety Zones: 2-9 Buy It: Shadblow Serviceberry ($17, Arbor Day Foundation) Growing Conditions: Partial shade or full sun in well-drained, consistently moist soil Size: 4-to-6-feet tall, 4-feet wide Zones: 3-9 Buy It: Ruby Spice Clethra ($45, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in slightly moist, well-drained soil Size: 3-to-6-feet tall and wide Zones: 3-9 Buy It: Autumn Sunburst Azalea ($45, Lowe’s) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in slightly moist, well-drained soil Size: 2-to-20-feet tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Compact Rhododendron Shrub ($34, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in well-drained soil Size: 2-to-20-feet tall, 5-to-7-feet wide Zones: 6-10 Buy It: Pink Camellia Flowering Shrub ($23, Lowe’s) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in well-drained soil Size: 3-to-8-feet tall and wide Zones: 4-7 Buy It: Grumpy Bigleaf Hydrangea ($18, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Partial shade in moist, well-drained soil Size: 5-to-15-feet tall and wide Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Flowering Mountain Laurel Cuttings ($15, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in slightly moist, well-drained soil Size: 3-to-4-feet tall, 2-to-4-feet wide Zones: 7-9 Buy It: Daphne ‘Aureomarginata Alba’ ($46, Wayside Gardens) Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full sun in well-drained soil Size: 6-to-8-feet tall and wide Zones: 2-9 Buy It: Chinese Snowball Viburnum ($33, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Partial shade in well-drained soil Size: 6-to-8-feet tall, 4-to-6-feet wide Zones: 5-9 Buy It: Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea ($29, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade in moist soil (can tolerate poorly drained soil) Size: 3-to-6-feet tall, 6-to-8-feet wide Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Double Flowering Kerria ($41, Garden Centerpoint)

Take advantage of in-season produce with these quick summer dinner recipes. Get more recipes for healthy summer side dishes!

Test Kitchen Tip: Use a serrated bread knife to cut into this decadent dessert. This will keep the meringue from crumbling and the berries from squeezing out the sides. Buy It: Miranda Trifle Bowl, ($40, Crate & Barrel)