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Make a DIY Balloon Garland Set the tone of your New Year’s Eve party by hanging a DIY balloon garland above the serving area. As soon as guests walk in, they’ll know this is going to be a party to remember. A large balloon garland might look intimidating, but it’s actually super quick and easy to make. We purchased a package of balloons in various shades of pink, then used a string of balloon garland tape (yes, that’s a thing!...

What Is Acorn Squash? Available year-round and at peak production from September through March, acorn squash is a sought-after vegetable that’s known for its nutty flavor. Plus, it’s filled with vitamins A and C, antioxidants, fiber, and potassium. Just like other winter squash such as butternut, delicata, buttercup, and spaghetti squash, it has a hard skin. But don’t let that hard skin scare you away—after you bake it, the skin will become soft and easily separate from the flesh, so there’s no need to worry about peeling it....

For this project, stringers are attached to a crossbrace at the top and a toe-kick at the bottom. The landing is made of concrete pavers set in a sand bed. Stairs with 14-inch runs (tread widths) should have rises of between 5-1/2 and 6-1/2 inches. The wider the treads, the more total run the stringers have to span. When you notch stringers, you weaken them. After the notches are cut out of these 2x12 stringers, about 5-1/2 inches of uncut width is left for strength—in other words, the stringers are as strong as 2x6s....

Plus, everything you cook on the grill will be easier to flip and remove from the grates when the surface is clean—which means your best burger starts with a squeaky clean grill. Cleaning your grill is a quick task that will help keep your friends and family healthy and make your burgers and brats taste better. Whether you prefer cooking with charcoal or gas, these Test Kitchen-approved tips on the best way to clean a grill will help you achieve professional-level results at your backyard barbecue....

This annual grass is a universal problem to homeowners in the U.S. It pops up in spring and develops into large, flat, thick clumps that spread widely, crowding out surrounding lawn grass and other plants. Because it’s an annual, crabgrass dies after the first frost in autumn, which leaves behind patchy, bare spots in your lawn. If left untreated, those bare spots will fill in with more crabgrass or other weeds next spring when their seeds sprout....

How to Plant Potatoes Potatoes love the sun, so plant your potato patch in a spot with full sun (where the plants will get at least six hours of sunlight each day) for the best results. Potatoes are planted with pieces of tubers called seed potatoes. Plant seed potatoes in spring around the time of the last expected frost. Buy It: Marketside Organic Gold Potatoes ($5, Walmart) Small potatoes can be planted whole, but larger potatoes (bigger than a golf ball) should be quartered with a clean knife ($95, Williams Sonoma) before planting....

Of course, the most important part is choosing the right book for your crew. Then, you’ll need to name a time and place to meet. (Just be sure you give everyone enough time to finish the book!) When it’s your turn to host, make our easy appetizer and drink recipes and prepare a few talking points for the group before your guests arrive. Whether you chat about the book over appetizers, drinks, or brunch, we’re sharing our best hosting tips for making your book club a success....

While a counter or hanging cupboard can be moved, a toilet is a fixed object that isn’t fastened directly to the wall, so there’s typically a space behind it that’s difficult to reach with a standard roller, or even a paintbrush. This awkward gap is sometimes completely ignored during a bathroom paint job, just because it’s so hard to reach, and not many people will notice an unpainted patch behind the toilet....

Where to Plant Camellia Site camellias in part shade or dappled shade to help them grow best. Plant them at least 5 feet apart, because they need their space to get ample water and nutrients and don’t like to compete with other, larger trees or shrubs for what they need. How and When to Plant Camellia Plant camellias in fall or early spring. In warmer areas, fall is better because plants have time to grow deep root systems without summer heat affecting them....

How Fruits and Vegetables Become Contaminated Although most consumers understand that meat needs to be properly handled to prevent food-borne illnesses, some do not realize that fruits and vegetables may also cause illness if not handled and stored properly. In fact, contaminated fruits and vegetables can be the culprit in large outbreaks of food-borne illness (an issue the FDA is working to resolve). Some of the ways that fruits and vegetables can become contaminated include:...

This guide to washing and drying weighted blankets covers care instructions for every fill type, stain removal tips, and cleaning alternatives. Before Getting Started Before attempting to wash a weighted blanket, check the tag for care instructions. Most weighted blankets can be machine washed, but many fabrications cannot safely be machine dried, and it is critical to know this information to avoid ruining the blanket. If the weighted blanket has a removable cover, it can and should be washed regularly, depending on how frequently the blanket is used....

All it takes is a few simple gift wrapping ideas to make your presents the prettiest ones under the tree. Plus, you can grab our free printable gift tags and package topper ideas for your wrapped Christmas gifts. So if you’re ready to up your gift wrapping game with the best way to wrap gifts, grab a roll of wrapping paper and get started. We’ll show you how to wrap a gift like a pro in just five easy steps....

Plenty of succulent varieties naturally are small, but now picture the baby versions of these that are about the size of your thumbnail. Or check out some of the more than 35,000 #minisucculents posts on Instagram. If you’re in the market for a mini succulent after checking out the Instagram posts, take a look at TierraSolStudio on Etsy. The store describes its inventory as “hand-grown plants and handmade ceramics for plant killers....

Understand the Hidden Costs to Downsize Your House There are many reasons to downsize, including the possibility of reducing your mortgage payment and utility bills, but if you’re downsizing to save money, make sure you’re aware of the potential hidden costs before you make your move. The cost to move and furnish a new home are two of the most common burdens on the budget. You’ll also want to factor in some money to cover any repairs your existing home might need to get it ready to sell....

Buy It: Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($25, Walmart) Related Video

If you’ve been to an Italian gelateria (aka gelato shop), this hack probably reminds you of an affogato. An affogato is a coffee-based dessert that starts with a scoop of gelato that is “drowned” by adding a shot of hot espresso on top. But with this easier version, you can just pop a pod into your single-serve coffee maker and brew a fresh cup with whatever flavor of ice cream you desire....

‘Brownie’ tulips are double-flowered, meaning they have lots more petals than regular blooms. It’d be easy to mistake these tulips for a type of peony because they’re so much fuller than traditional tulip varieties. That’s part of what makes them so impressive in the garden, but their sunset coloring will also stop you in your tracks. Buy It: 10 Tulip Brownie Bulbs ($12, Dutch Grown) As the blooms open, their colors keep on brightening, and if you stop to inspect a few flowers, you’ll see shades of gold, red, and even dark purple on the outer petals....

Garden Club of American/Royal Horticultural Society, Interchange FellowSoutheastern U.S. and Mid-Atlantic regional gardening expert Member of American Public Gardens Association and Perennial Plant Association Currently, she designs and maintains garden spaces in the mid-Atlantic region focusing on wildlife gardens, native plant communities, and small-space and urban gardening challenges. She considers herself very fortunate to have followed her passion and made it into a rewarding career where she continues to get to dig in the dirt....

Teal + Cream Using teal blue paint colors for both walls and furniture could easily become overwhelming, but the cream curtains break up the space just enough to keep the pop of color without being too vibrant. The green in the chairs pulls your eye to the smaller green accents around the room, creating a perfect balance. Paint color: Coat of Arms 763, benjaminmoore.com How to Decorate with Blue Walls...