Hilton CarterS Plant Collection At Target: A True Paradise

The collection of more than 65 products includes live and faux indoor houseplants, as well as planters, propagation vessels, terrariums, watering cans, and other tools you need to help your plants thrive. With prices ranging from $5 to $130, the limited-edition launch pairs sleek modern accessories with low-maintenance greenery, making it easy to create a design-forward plant display in any room. Carter designed the collection to suit a variety of spaces and skill levels, hoping to “make new and current plant parents excited to make their spaces lusher and more vibrant....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 343 words · Maggie Geddes

How And When To Prune Red Twig Dogwood To Enjoy The Most Colorful Stems

Red Twig Dogwood Basics Also known as red osier dogwood, the red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a native deciduous shrub. It thrives in USDA Zones 3-7, making it an extremely cold tolerant option for thick hedges in northern states. In good growing conditions, these shrubs can easily reach upwards of 10 feet. In addition to colorful stems, red twig dogwoods offer white flower clusters in spring and white berries in late summer....

December 26, 2022 · 3 min · 635 words · Tina Goldberg

How Long Your Food Lasts In The Fridge Or Freezer Without Power

What to Check Before the Power Goes Out Food Tips for When the Power Is Out The best thing to do once you no longer have electricity? When it comes to your perishable foods, you should leave them be—at least for a bit. The CDC notes you should keep the doors to your fridge and freezer closed. If you do, everything will be fine for up to four hours in a refrigerator, and up to 48 hours in a full freezer, or 24 hours in a half-full freezer....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 353 words · Debbie Keeton

How Meditation May Improve Sleep Quality According To Scientific Research

The study followed two groups of adults, 55 and older, who suffered from a self-reported moderate amount of sleep disturbances. Half of participants were assigned at random to participate in a mindfulness meditation intervention. Those in the meditation group took a six-week class that focused on teaching them to track what they were feeling, both physically and mentally, from moment to moment. The other half of participants took a six-week sleep education program, which taught proper sleep hygiene....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 351 words · Kenneth Garcia

How Often Should I Wash My Pajamas Experts Weigh In

Consider This Before spouting off different numbers, let’s think about this for a second. We all know you’re supposed to wash undergarments (underwear, socks, etc.) after every wear, but since pajamas are only worn indoors and usually when you’re clean (post-shower), it seems wasteful to wash them after every wear. And for city dwellers who don’t have a washer and dryer in-unit, washing pajamas every day is just plain impractical. On the flip side, we also have to consider how dirty pajamas get, even if you’re not going out....

December 26, 2022 · 4 min · 679 words · Barbara Wild

How To Be Environmentally Friendly During The Holidays

But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few simple strategies, your holidays can be super-festive and fun—but also be eco-conscious at the same time. “We need to be creative and find ways to make this holiday less wasteful,” says Lea d’Auriol, founder of Oceanic Global. “There are now sustainable alternatives to nearly every item you may typically buy during the holidays, so start swapping!” Reduce your gifting carbon footprint Get a gift they’re guaranteed to love Encourage kids (or adults) on your shopping list to create a very specific wish list, whether the old-form written variety or using an online registry like MyRegistry....

December 26, 2022 · 6 min · 1263 words · Cinda Costa

How To Become A Morning Workout Person—And Stick With It

The Benefits of Working Out in the Morning Surveys show that you’re more likely to stick with a morning workout or exercise program than one later in the day, when you’ll likely be distracted by other responsibilities or have time to come up with excuses to skip your fitness session. Research has also found that exercise can help improve mood and sense of well-being by increasing feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine....

December 26, 2022 · 4 min · 757 words · Peter Hannah

How To Buy The Best Quality Parmesan Cheese

True Parmesan cheese is Parmigiano-Reggiano. This unpasteurized, cow’s milk cheese has been made for centuries. By law, Parmigiano-Reggiano can only be made in one sector of the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. Here, farmers and cheesemakers do things the way they have been done since at least the Renaissance. Wheels that can surpass 80 pounds slowly age on long shelves in warehouse-like rooms, with the cheesemakers flipping wheels for even aging. Each year, millions of wheels become ready for export....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 275 words · Tracey Chambers

How To Can Peaches In Light Syrup Or No Syrup To Savor Summer

We’re here to make canning peaches easy-peasy, so you can start making fantastic ice cream toppers, peach cobbler, and more. Prep the Peaches As with canning any fruit, start with ripe, unblemished fruit that’s washed well. According to Penn State Extension, some of the best peaches for canning are Glenglo, Ernie’s Choice, Cresthaven, John Boy, Loring, Redhaven, and Sunhigh. PickYourOwn.org includes Elberta, Fairhaven, GaLa, Glohaven, Halford, J.H. Hale, Midpride, Newhaven, Redglobe, Rio Oso Gem, Strawberry Cling, Summerset, Suncrest, and White Heath Cling varieties in its list....

December 26, 2022 · 4 min · 707 words · Gloria Camarillo

How To Choose The Best Bed Sheets

Is Thread Count That Important? Yes and no. Thread count is often used as a barometer of the bed sheets’ smoothness and durability. However, this measurement—which should refer to the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric—isn’t always reliable. High thread count is a factor, but the type of cotton can be more significant. What’s The Best-Quality Cotton? Cotton is the best material for bed sheets. Top of the line is 100 percent Egyptian cotton....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 328 words · Peter Curtis

How To Clean A Flat Iron

“Leave-in treatments, oils, heat protectants, and hairsprays are often left on the plates from the heat—almost as if you are baking the product residue onto the plates,” explains Nick Stenson, celebrity hair stylist and artistic director for L’Oréal-Matrix. “After time, they can also build up and you can visibly see the discoloration on the plates.” When you use a dirty flat iron or hair straightener, this icky residue can transfer onto your hair....

December 26, 2022 · 3 min · 539 words · Sharon Owen

How To Clean Rugs And Carpets Because You Re Probably Not Doing It Often Enough

RELATED: The Best Places to Buy Affordable Rugs Online Small Natural Rugs (Cotton or Wool) Wash colorfast rugs by hand with a mild detergent, using a soft brush or a sponge. Rinse thoroughly with water mixed with a small amount of white vinegar to remove residue. Roll it inside a thick towel, then stand on it to remove as much moisture as you can. Hang the rug so it dries as quickly as possible....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 312 words · Audrey Dubray

How To Cook Bacon 5 Different Ways

For a Single Slice, Zap It When you just need a salad topper or breakfast side, a microwave lets you walk away while the slice cooks. Line a microwave-safe plate with three paper towels. Add 1 slice of bacon and top with three more paper towels. Invert another microwave-safe plate on top to create a spatter-catching lid. For chewier bacon, cook on medium power for 5 minutes. For a crispy slice, microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 318 words · Mark Zwick

How To Design A Cool And Comfortable Kitchen, According To 2021 Real Simple Home Designer Delia Kenza

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. 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....

December 26, 2022 · 2 min · 409 words · Andrew Tunney

How To Design A Kitchen You Ll Never Regret According To Designer Delia Kenza

To navigate the complicated world of kitchen design, we reached out to Delia Kenza, the Brooklyn-based interior designer behind the kitchen at the 2021 Real Simple Home. Here’s her best advice for avoiding common kitchen design mistakes and creating a regret-proof kitchen you’ll love. Let your lifestyle be your guide. “The kitchen layout is very personal and will vary from person to person—plan for your lifestyle,” says Kenza. Think about how you truly use this space, rather than getting aspirational or letting purely aesthetic choices guide the way....

December 26, 2022 · 3 min · 451 words · Jon Munoz

How To Do Flawless Winged Eyeliner

The trick to applying flawless winged eyeliner is to reserve plenty of time for it—and to break the process down into a few simple, manageable steps. It’s less overwhelming this way and makes it easier to fix mistakes as you go along. (If you’re trying this for the first time, a slip-up is inevitable.) With our foolproof guide and a little practice, winged eyeliner will become a regular in your beauty repertoire....

December 26, 2022 · 1 min · 205 words · Mary Butler

How To Effectively Keep Your Bangs In Place

Reasons Bangs Separate According to Michelle Cleveland, a hairstylist, and owner of Hair Addict Salon, when bangs part in the middle, it can be for a few reasons. The first is because you naturally have a cowlick at the hairline. “The second reason bangs separate in the middle is because they are not heavy enough,” she says. “If you do not take the bang area as far back as it should be when creating it, then this area will be light and separate more easily,” which is why she highly recommends going to a professional to cut and trim your bangs....

December 26, 2022 · 3 min · 453 words · Anita Evans

How To Figure Out Your Home’S Square Footage—And Why It Matters

Of course, homes don’t come with this number stamped across their sides, and in fact, not all real estate listings have an accurate square footage listed. Read on to learn how to find or calculate the square footage of your home and what that means for potential resale. Finding Your Square Footage Your home’s square footage can be easily found in a few different places—no measuring required—if you know where to look....

December 26, 2022 · 5 min · 1034 words · John Durant

How To Grow And Care For Dracaena

Dracaena’s narrow foliage may be completely green or include stripes or edges of green, cream, red, or yellow. Leaves start as rings around the center stem and take on the appearance of bamboo as they age. In fact, one of the most commonly grown dracaenas is marketed as lucky bamboo. Use this plant outside as a colorful accent in mixed containers or seasonal displays. Dracaena plants are toxic to dogs and cats, so place them in areas pets can’t reach in your home....

December 26, 2022 · 5 min · 917 words · Nathan Texeira

How To Hang Stockings On A Fireplace

Hanging stockings on your fireplace safely and securely prevents them from falling and protects your mantel and floors from any potential damage. Keep reading to learn about four different ways to hang stockings on a fireplace, including weighted decorative stocking hangers and sleek mantel clips, for the ultimate Christmas cheer. 1. Weighted Stocking Hanger Weighted stocking hangers come in various shapes, materials, and designs. They typically feature a weighted square or rectangular base, a decorative accent such as a tree or a monogram, and a hook suspended from the base from which to hang your stocking....

December 26, 2022 · 4 min · 663 words · Sharon Martinez