Posts

How to Make Mosquito Wipes The DIY repellent solution for these wipes uses a blend of citrus, cinnamon, and castor oils. These essential oils are known for being unappealing to mosquitoes (and other pests, including ticks). Plus, castor oil even has some anti-inflammatory effects that can help if you do end up with a bug bite. Just be sure to use the exact measurements in this recipe; in order to make essential oils safe to use on skin, you need to dilute them with water or rubbing alcohol first....

As a professional organizer, one of the first things that I like to distinguish with my clients is a list of exactly what they want to keep under the kitchen sink. That’s when we discover that the extra bottle of toilet bowl cleaner really doesn’t belong in this space since there’s no restroom nearby. Once you’ve determined the items you want to store, the organizing process will be easier. Use the following tips to learn how to organize the cabinet below your kitchen sink....

Fringed Tulip Varieties Tulipa Angelique Double-flowered tulips stand out because their blooms are packed with petals. Some have so many petals that they are referred to as peony-flowered tulips for their resemblance to those flowers. Bloom time depends on type; some bloom in early spring and others bloom late. Regardless of when they show off their flowers, the blossoms last a long time because the flowers have so much substance.Double tulips’ large, heavy blooms can be a drawback: Rains and strong winds easily damage the flowers, so plant them in a protected location....

Varieties of Coleus Crimson Ruffles Coleus (Solenostemon ‘Crimson Ruffles’) has deep purple leaves with magenta veins. The frilly leaf margins are green. A greater proportion of green color develops on the leaves in shade. It grows 18 inches tall. Dipt in Wine Coleus (Solenostemon ‘Dipt in Wine’) sports maroon leaves with red or chartreuse veins and a green leaf margin. The base and center of the leaf often develop with chartreuse coloration....

When to Prune Roses Plan to give your roses a good pruning at least once a year. For once-blooming rose varieties, wait until early summer to prune them, just after they’ve bloomed. They can be shaped up a little more in late summer, but beyond that, pruning healthy stems (also called canes) will reduce the number of blooms you get next year. For most other types of roses, the best time to prune them is in late winter or spring, right after your last frost date....

Seeds from Heirloom vs. Hybrid Tomatoes Not all tomatoes have seeds that will grow into plants that look (or taste) like their parent. Modern hybrids, such as ‘Big Boy’ and ‘Celebrity,’ are created from two unique parent plants. The seeds that a hybrid tomato plant produces will not result in another ‘Celebrity’ tomato plant, for example. Instead, the seed will likely yield a small, inferior fruit on a rangy plant. Avoid disappointment and don’t save seed from hybrid tomatoes....

How to Keep Store-Bought Bread Fresh You can leave store-bought bread in the plastic it came in. Consume in 3 to 5 days for guaranteed freshness, but it can last up to a week as long as there’s no mold present. Bread lovers might also benefit from storing bread (purchased or homemade) in a bread box, which is ventilated to keep the bread fresh without building up unwanted moisture. Storing Homemade Bread Homemade bread including yeast breads and quick breads like banana bread should be completely cooled on a wire rack as soon as they’re done baking....

1. Choose a low-traffic storage spot. You don’t want to jostle past your fine china every time you reach for a cereal bowl. Choose a storage spot that’s out of the way to reduce the risk of damaging the pieces during your daily routine. A separate storage cabinet or hutch is ideal, but if you don’t have one, a spare shelf in your linen closet or a plastic bin in the basement can work fine....

What Is a Kitchen Mandoline, and What Is a Mandoline Used For? Mandoline slicers (which you might also see spelled “mandolin” outside of the U.S.) are kitchen tools designed to finely slice or grate foods. Kitchen mandolines can quickly, cleanly, and uniformly cut firm fruits and vegetables into thin, bite-size strips (julienne), slices, and beyond, and they can even slice firm cheeses. Most mandoline slicers can be adjusted to cut as thin as paper or up to ½-inch thick, and some models come with an interchangeable blade with a cross-hatch pattern to cut fry-like shapes or waffle patterns....

Oven-Going Meat Thermometer An oven-safe meat thermometer goes into any size or cut of meat (whole turkeys, roasts, chicken breast, you name it!) before roasting or grilling. This type of thermometer can remain in the meat while roasting in the oven or cooking on the grill. To use a leave-in meat thermometer: Insert the thermometer at least two inches into the center of the largest muscle or thickest portion of the uncooked meat....

How to Use a Spiralizer The best vegetable spiralizer depends on your needs—and your kitchen real estate situation. If you often cook for a crowd, a hand-crank countertop vegetable spiralizer is your best bet. Most options include different blades for a variety of noodle styles, from thin spaghettilike strands to flat, wide ribbons. If you simply don’t have enough kitchen space for a hand-crank countertop vegetable spiralizer, or if you don’t plan on making buckets of vegetable noodles at a time, a handheld veggie noodle maker could be your best option....

Soaking Method The best way to water air plants (Tillandsia) is to submerge them in water. “There are many different species of air plants, but they can all be watered using the submerging technique,” says Aaron Steil, Horticulture Extension Specialist at Iowa State University. First, fill a sink or bowl with room-temperature water, deep enough to completely submerge each air plant. Let your plants soak for 30 to 60 minutes. After removing your plants from water, gently shake off excess moisture....

However, when cold temperatures hit, a sprinkler system needs to be turned off, drained, and insulated to prevent ice from forming inside the pipes. If a sprinkler system is not properly winterized, any remaining water will freeze and can damage the pipes and components of the system. To ensure your irrigation system is properly prepared for winter, follow this guide to winterizing a sprinkler system. Methods for Draining a Sprinkler System There are three main methods for draining the water out of a sprinkler system, including automatic draining, manual draining, and blowout draining....

Ready for autumn “I love the light. Everything seems golden in the fall. And my husband (Michael McKean) celebrates his birthday October 17. I love birthdays.” Read the room “Our home is filled with books, which is why it feels like a refuge to me, just as a library feels like a refuge to me in the outside world.” Proudest accomplishment “My daughters, Nell and Anna. They are loving, hardworking, strong young women I am proud to know....

To inspire your own outdoor decorating, I’ve rounded up my favorite picks, all available exclusively at Walmart. Pieces are selling out quickly—so if you have your eye on something, don’t wait to snap it up!

Vine or Shrub The biggest difference between jasmine varieties is their growth habit. The most well-known types are vines, especially Jasminum polyanthum. This jasmine makes a great gift in late winter or early spring and can usually be found in florist shops and trained on a trellis. Even though jasmine is usually found as a small plant in full bloom, the plant can grow quite vigorously and be invasive in warmer, tropical regions....

Highlights: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The University of Rhode Island Contributing Writer for Connecticut MagazineCo-founder/Writer/Editor of Your Modern CottageMore than 25 years of public relations/marketing experience When not working, Jennifer enjoys relaxing and spending time with her husband, two teenagers, and cat. A self-described homebody, she likes nothing more than to curl up with a good book or watch a movie. Other Works: Despite a tight fit, this Branford beach home goes big on cottage charm, Connecticut Magazine

On This Episode Host Mélanie Berliet talks to Julia Marcum, the designer behind the lifestyle blog Chris Loves Julia. Learn how she chooses a fixer-upper home, the story behind her nightmare moving experience—including the red flags you should look for when hiring movers—and the first DIY project she likes to tackle in a new house. Meet Julia Marcum Julia Marcum is the creator and designer behind the popular blog, Chris Loves Julia....