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2 pound blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and/or seedless red or green grapes 2 tablespoon packed brown sugar 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoon butter, melted 1 tablespoon lemon juice Related Video

As we approach the holiday season, we’re more intentional with our spending. This year, you can skip the Black Friday countdown. Mega retailers like Walmart have already rolled out Black Friday-worthy deals on all the home goods, electronics, fashion finds, and essential holiday kitchenware at the top of your wish list. Without a doubt, one of the best deals we’ve come across is on the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart Pressure Cooker, which dropped from $82 to just $50....

“Solar lights, compared to low voltage and line voltage outdoor lights, are safer and more DIY-friendly since there’s little to no wiring required at all,” says Sarah Jameson, marketing director of Green Building Elements. “In most cases, there is no need to bring in an electrician to install it.” With batteries that charge via solar panels throughout the day, solar lights can effectively help your household lower its carbon footprint....

“Laundry baskets are essential for keeping your laundry organized and off the floor, piled up,” says Chantelle Malarkey, an interior designer and lifestyle expert. “It also helps with family members who tend to just toss them wherever they land—specifically with children.” The baskets themselves come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from flexible ones to mesh-material options. To find the best laundry baskets, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind size, material, weight, and care....

“Just like any design you should have a focal point,” says Jowill Leano, senior designer at home building company Welcome Homes. “This can be a giant star you hang from a gable or a Christmas tree made out of lights. I think lights are a good way to express yourself and really help bring around the cheer.” But Christmas lights aren’t only for Christmas time. While these light strings reliably make our homes merry around the holidays, they can also add a twinkle of light to our dorms, decks, or apartments all year long....

Single-serve coffee makers are small appliances that make one at a time, rather than a whole pot. Since there are so many styles out there, we researched the best single-serve coffee makers, keeping in mind each machine’s size, whether the machine has a water reservoir, and if it takes pods or reusable filters. We also consulted Jon Clark, founder of Nomad Coffee Club. “There is absolutely a hidden cost in K-Cup [and] Nespresso brewers in the long run that should be considered, even for one cup a day drinkers,” says Clark, who recommends taking the cost of coffee pods into account before deciding on your favorite option....

Before creating this list, we researched options and turned to Patric Richardson, the Laundry Evangelist, about the factors to consider when shopping for the best dryer balls. According to Richardson, dryer balls should be firm and smooth, about the size of a tennis ball. We chose the Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls as our best overall pick because they are made of 100% premium New Zealand wool, free of chemicals, and available in three designs....

Serve it with: Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes Serve it with: Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes Serve it with: Christmas Trifle Serve it with: Kale, Fennel, and Roasted Delicata Salad Serve it with: Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash Serve it with: Blistered Green Beans with Bacon and Buttermilk-Sage Dinner Rolls Serve it with: Arugula-Squash Salad and Dark Chocolate Dip with Fruit Test Kitchen Tip: No wine handy for the tenderloin sauce? Simply substitute an equal amount of beef broth....

An artificial tree can also be a more eco-friendly and cost-effective option than chopping down a live fir. If you’re wondering how to choose an artificial Christmas tree, consider the size, accents, and height. To help you find the right tree for your home, we talked to Jennifer Derry, chief merchandising officer at Balsam Hill, to learn the must-know tips about selecting artificial Christmas trees. Use these helpful ideas as a guide when purchasing your fake trees for the holidays....

The incredibly useful tool can effortlessly carve dense meats, carefully slice artisan bread and cheeses, and fillet fish—all without shredding the holiday dinner you worked so hard on. For precise cutting, the electric knife features a stainless steel blade with serrated edges, along with a stainless steel fork and a convenient storage case. You’ll never need to sharpen the blade, and you can even toss it in the dishwasher when you’re done....

For a little pick-me-up that might actually help you feel better for longer than it takes to finish the drink, you can head to your local Starbucks and order what many call the Medicine Ball drink. The Starbucks Medicine Ball is a favorite beverage of many Starbucks drinkers, including Rachel Weber, former digital editorial director at Better Homes & Gardens. If you haven’t had a sip yet, you’ll want to as soon as possible....

Northeast Connecticut: The Charter Oak, white oak (Quercus albus) Delaware: American holly (Ilex opaca) Maine: White pine (Pinus strobus, linnaeus) Maryland: White oak (Quercus alba) Massachusetts: American elm (Ulmus americana) New Hampshire: Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) New Jersey: Red oak (Quercus borealis maxima) New York: Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) Pennsylvania: Eastern hemlock (Tsunga canadensis) Rhode Island: Red maple (Acer rubrum) Vermont: Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) Washington, D.C.: Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)...

Buy It: OXO Grilling Skewers ($15, Bed Bath & Beyond) Related Video

This simple DIY menorah uses concrete and copper to create a modern holiday decoration. You pick what dye to use in your own personalized marbled menorah. We used white and blue, traditional Hanukkah colors, but a mix of gray and silver would create a faux-marble look for an affordable price. The individual candle bases allow you to customize how much space your menorah occupies. Set them close together on windowsills, in a straight line on mantelpieces or side tables, or across your Hanukkah dinner table as a centerpiece....

Featured: Click here to download the Grocery List Related Video

You may have also heard that you can make banana peel fertilizer for houseplants with the fruit’s outer covering. Supposedly, soaking the peels in water you’ll pour into the pots or burying pieces in the soil will provide the nutrients your plants need to grow. While there’s some truth to these ideas, here’s why using either of these methods isn’t your best bet and what to do instead. Banana Peels for Plants Like any plant material, banana peels contain nutrients, including potassium and phosphorous, essential nutrients in fertilizer....

“When it comes to getting the best price for your home, the power of landscaping to increase your home’s value can’t be overlooked,” says Beatrice de Jong, broker and consumer trends expert for Opendoor. “First impressions are everything, and curb appeal is what potential buyers notice first…It will signal to buyers that they can expect the same from the interior and bones of the house.” Additionally, data repeatedly shows that curb appeal, in the form of attractive landscaping, goes a long way....

These experts suggest hiring professional movers, being strategic about what you take with you (regardless of whether you’re moving into a smaller home), and taking extra time to pack the right way so that setting up your new home is a breeze, among other things—read on for their top tips for moving across the country. 1. Plan Carefully Perhaps it goes without saying, but no cross-country move is possible without a ton of planning....

Buy It: Williams Sonoma Cleartouch Nonstick Square Cake Pan ($20, Williams Sonoma) Test Kitchen Tip: Glaze these desserts using a wire cooling rack set over wax paper. The petit fours are can be completely coated without the chocolate pooling, and the wax paper allows for easy cleanup. Buy It: Lily’s Milk Style Chocolate Chips ($7, Target) Buy It: Natural Cocoa Powder ($7, The Spice House) Buy It: Cuisinart Elemental Collection 8-Cup Food Processor ($130, Kohl’s)...

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