To help ensure you not only grab the right gear, but also take care of it like a true pro, we went straight to the source, tapping experts from some of the biggest paint brands in the industry to learn exactly how to clean paint brushes and rollers the right way. Step One: Invest In Quality Painting Tools A general rule of thumb: Good quality tools will go a long way in making you look the part of a paint-savvy pro....
Below, master how to cook oatmeal, plus score bonus oatmeal directions for toppings and mix-ins so that you can dress up your bowl a new way each day of the month. Those hotcakes and fast-food sandwiches officially have some serious competition. Types of Oats for Oatmeal Making oatmeal starts with choosing the type of oats for your time available and desired consistency. Quick-cooking rolled oats: These speedy oats are cut into pieces and rolled thinner so they cook in about one minute on the stove top....
Meet the Dream Team: Delia Kenza Delia’s designs feel unique and inviting, thanks to her talent for creating spaces that are practical but also thoroughly modern. Amy Maclin Amy and her husband (and their two cats) are used to cramped New York City apartments but crave space and light. The Goal: Amy wanted her kitchen design to be mostly modern minimalism—but with lots of personal accents. “That Goldielocks balance of no stuff and too much stuff,” she says....
A plumbing plan illustrates the system that will bring water in and take waste back out. It typically includes water supply lines, drains, vent pipes, valves, and fixtures such as toilets and sinks. These plans often use a variety of official plumbing symbols to denote different elements, and it’s relatively easy to produce plan views and riser drawings by hand or computer. Making detailed drawings will save time and expenses later....
“Acne can appear anywhere there are sweat and oil glands. It occurs when sweat, oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt gets trapped within a hair follicle and clog those pores. Because our back has sweat glands, acne can also occur there,” says Howard Sobel, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Sobel Skin. “Some people are certainly more prone to getting acne, whether it’s genetics, diet, or lifestyle.” Even more annoying?...
If you live anywhere on the East Coast and into the Midwest, you may have spotted (and probably swatted) a few of these new and decidedly unwelcome guests. Here’s everything you need to know about the spotted lanternfly—and what to do if you encounter them. What are spotted lanternflies? Formally known as lycorma deliculata, the spotted lanternfly is common in Asia, but was first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, these leafhoppers have spread along the eastern seaboard, and west into Ohio and Michigan....
“A small space actually requires more editing, strategic placement, and planning. Nothing is more ’low energy’ than filling a room with furniture you don’t love, so come up with a clever plan,” says Christina Simon, senior designer for Mark Ashby Design in Austin, Texas. “The best way to approach this is to give the room a theme or story, which inherently helps make it more cohesive.” For example, if you want to use this room for reading, playing music, making art, or even working, then fill the space with the items that reference or pertain to that theme....
Growing Olive Trees Indoors vs. Outdoors Olive trees are evergreens native to the Mediterranean region. “There are numerous varieties," says Ray Greenstreet II, owner of Greenstreet Gardens in Virginia, “but olive trees can be divided into two categories: olive trees that you can harvest, and ornamental olive trees that do not produce any fruits.” Both types of olive trees prefer warmer environments and are sensitive to freezing temperatures. Because of this, growing olive trees outdoors can be a bit tricky in places with cold winters....
What you’ll need: Sharp pruners, scissors, or knife. Disinfect with rubbing alcohol or Lysol. A 50/50 mix of perlite and potting soil. The mix should be sterile and hold roughly an equal amount of air and moisture. Rooting hormone. This powder improves your odds of success, but it’s often not necessary. It should always be used on harder-to-root rose types like Damasks, Hybrid Teas, older wood, or winter cuttings. A 2....
“There is nothing that makes a space feel more magical than lighting,” says Jung Lee, event architect and founder of Fête. “String lights are among my top choices for bringing instant fantasy to your space.” Feeling motivated to string up your own? It’s a great weekend project that doesn’t take too much time but still offers quite a bit of impact. Ahead, we’re explaining how to hang outdoor string lights in a few different ways, then offering up some patio string light ideas for your own space....
You shouldn’t put your well-seasoned board away quite yet, because you might want to slather it up for the newest trend out there—butter boards. Yep, everyone’s favorite creamy bread spread gets a starring role on the latest take on the board trend. We’re not talking about slapping down a stick of butter and calling it a day. Instead, softened butter is spread in a thick layer on the board and adorned with all matter of goodies....
Reader question: I got a permanent color done professionally two months ago, but my hair is already a different color from when I left the salon. Why is this happening? —Dara Moynes In an ideal world, the hair color that you walk out with at the salon would be the hair color that stays at home. Alas in the real world, hair color fades, which means that it oxidizes and changes over time....
The beauty of creating your own bubble bath is knowing exactly what you’re putting in your bathtub and on your body, and you get the added satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself. If this sounds like your ideal cozy night in, here’s what you need to know before soaking and a few expert-approved DIY bubble bath recipes to try. 5 DIY Bubble Bath Recipes 1. Old-Fashioned Bubble Bath In Janice Cox’s book Natural Beauty at Home, she recommends this bubble bath recipe: take a clean container, mix 1/2 cup mild liquid hand or body soap, 1 tablespoon sugar or honey, and one egg white....
But according to Jana Blankenship, founder of Captain Blankenship Natural Products and author of Wild Beauty, store-bought bath bombs often include synthetic fragrances and colors that are not good for your skin, senses, or the environment. Enter DIY bath bombs. “Bath bombs are easy to make at home and you can change them up depending on what your skin and senses are craving,” says Blankenship. “It’s a great way to ensure no toxic ingredients are in your bath bomb....
Whether using fresh tomatoes or canned, crushed tomatoes or a blend of whole and crushed, you want to start with top-notch tomatoes. When using canned, the long-entrenched wisdom is to look to San Marzano tomatoes from Campania, Italy. But many tomato wonks now believe that the best California tomatoes have surpassed Italy’s finest. If you live beyond the reach of excellent smaller-batch California canned tomato brands, like Bianco DiNapoli, you can order them online....
Note that the flavors may not be identical to true seafood, if you’re used to that, but the textures are remarkably similar. Instead, these seafood-based dishes can come together without any use of animal products, which is better for the planet. Here’s how. How to Make Plant-Based Ceviche Ceviche, a Peruvian dish that’s often made with a white fish marinated in citrus juice, plus crunchy veggies like cucumber and onions, plus avocado and tomato, can be made fish-free....
Sometimes, despite my best efforts, my recipes fall slightly short of my expectations. Why is it that, despite following instructions to a T, these dishes somehow taste just a little better when eaten out at a restaurant? I turned to Jordan Grosser, executive chef and partner at San Francisco joints Stag Dining Group, Derby Cocktail Co., and Cerf Club, for a few tips on how to take home-cooked meals to the next level....
To make baked feta pasta, simply roast fresh cherry tomatoes with an entire block of feta cheese and herbs, then stir it with your favorite type of pasta. “The dish is pretty much hands-off, and all the magic happens in the oven,” says Yumna Jawad, the genius food blogger behind Feel Good Foodie. “Made with just a handful of ingredients, it’s no wonder this dish went viral in Finland!” Jawad created her own viral video for baking feta pasta, then walked us through her genius method step by step....
The instructions for painting walls are fairly simple—cutting in the edges with a brush, then filling in with a roller. With this in mind, painting a wall goes a lot more quickly when two people work together: one using a brush to cut in the corners in sections, and the other following with a roller and filling in. Tandem painters are able to eliminate any lap marks caused by applying rolled paint to an edge that’s already dried....
How to Plant a Perennial First, gather the gear you’ll need, such as gardening gloves and a shovel or trowel. Have a hose or full watering can available, too. Before planting your container-grown perennials, make sure to water them well. Well-hydrated plants tolerate and recover from the transplanting process better. Step 1. Plan Out Your Design Set out the plants in their pots where you want them to go before you start digging....
