Posts

⅓ cup purchased roasted red sweet peppers, drained ¼ cup pitted ripe olives ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives ¼ cup pitted green olives 2 teaspoon olive oil ½ teaspoon snipped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

When gift shopping, consider your recipient and their interests—something unexpected and thoughtful always goes over well. Searching for the best stocking stuffer provides the perfect opportunity to give a delightful, meaningful surprise. This cashmere knit beanie from Quince would be a great gift for almost anyone, and at just $30, you can grab a few to go in multiple family members’ stockings. Cashmere is always warm and never itchy. We like that this style is ethically sourced, too, with a unisex fit, style, and color....

Missouri Botanical Garden Located in the heart of St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the most popular in the country. This year, the Travel Channel named it one of America’s Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens for its almost 80 acres of gardens, displays, and historic landmarks. It includes a 14-acre Japanese garden, a Floral Display Hall that is home to an annual rare orchid show, and the sprawling 1850 estate of garden founder Henry Shaw....

One of these finalists was just named our 2020 America’s Best Front Yard contest winner, but we want to celebrate the best yards that made it to our top ten list. Congratulations to 2020’s runners-up, listed below in no particular order. America’s Best Front Yard 2020 Runners-Up America’s Best Yard Runners-Up from 2019

The Aqua 4-in-1 Monterey Pool Float is made from 50 percent vinyl and 50 percent soft mesh, and it has a bright striped design that comes in eight colors in the original standard size. (Note: It also comes in a few deluxe sizes as well as a few two-person options.) As much as the fun colors drew me in initially, what actually sold me on the float is that only its top and bottom sections inflate rather than the whole thing....

Things to keep in mind: A previous version of this heater had a beeping sound that reviewers complained about, so be sure to get the updated version that does not beep. The Smart Tower ceramic heater from Atomi checks all the boxes for an effective, reliable, and safe space heater for your garage. It puts out 1,500 watts, but according to Atomi and reviewers, it can heat up to 750 square feet....

Best Insect Repellents Most mosquito-repelling products rely on a particular active ingredient to ward off insect bites. When shopping for a repellent, check the label to see which of the following chemicals are included. Always read and follow the package directions, so you’re using these products properly. DEET: DEET is the common name for a type of diethyl toluamide. It ’s been used as an insect repellent since it was developed by the U....

There are a few different kinds of these striking succulents, and one that’s been popping up a lot on Instagram is a hens-and-chicks variety fittingly known as ‘Black Prince’ ($15, Etsy). It produces rosettes of thick leaves that are actually an intense purple, but they appear black. It’s a relatively small plant that can grow up to six inches tall and eight inches wide. This variety grows incredibly well indoors and would look great on your coffee table or even be arranged as a Halloween centerpiece....

Is it freestanding or attached? Pergolas can extend from your house or another structure that can be used as a wall stand-in. They can also be placed away from a building, covering a paved or other surface. Pergolas are sometimes used next to outdoor amenities such as a swimming pool or outdoor kitchen. What’s the shape of the pergola? Traditionally, pergolas are square or rectangular. However, they can be shaped to suit your purpose or your yard....

As soon as she and her husband said “Sold!” Kiera began a top-to-bottom renovation focused on bringing the 100-year-old residence back to its former glory. Once the nitty-gritty of the renovation was complete, Kiera set out to imbue the revived home with pretty, laid-back style. To do this, she enlisted streamlined furnishings and a fresh palette of black and white with pops of hot pink. The result is clean, modern decor that lets the old gal shine once more....

Plants for Creating the Small-Space, Drought-Resistant Garden Plan 1 Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia): Annual 1 Daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Stella d’Oro’): Zones 3-9 3 Salvia ‘Marcus’: Zones 5-9 3 Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum): Zones 4-9 3 Penstemon ‘Red Riding Hood’: Zones 5-8 1 Birdbath If you aren’t able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting....

Grace also wanted to find a way to carve the backyard, which was an expanse of drought-dead grass when she moved in, into different garden rooms. Now, gravel paths and barefoot-friendly concrete pavers wind among the mature oak trees, gently waving grasses, and structural succulents to distinct seating and dining areas. A stone patio around the house helps keep gravel from being tracked inside. Even though Grace uses fewer plants than many designers might (“A way to use less water is to use less plant material,” she says), she appreciates the particular charms of each one, like the golden grasses....

Like the other Azores Islands, Faial is a volcanic island, which helps create ideal conditions for growing hydrangeas. The last eruption on Faial lasted for 13 months from 1957 to 1958, temporarily displacing thousands of residents. It also added about 1.5 miles of land to the coast and created extremely fertile, acidic soil across the island. Bigleaf hydrangeas can change color depending on the acidity of the soil they’re grown in, and the bluest blooms need acidic soil (with a pH of 5....

1 cup chicken or beef broth ½ cup sweet rice wine (mirin) ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 3 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon fish sauce ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

In a household germ study from NSF International, an independent testing group, the knife block ranked No. 7 on the list of germiest items in the kitchen, just after the refrigerator meat compartment. “Naturally, if you put a wet or dirty knife into a storage block, microbes may grow,” explains Lisa Yakas, a microbiologist and consumer product safety expert at NSF International. “Dark, moist environments breed germs. The key is washing and thoroughly drying your knife before you store it....