1. Take Stock The end of the growing season is the perfect time to assess the perennial garden. All the successes and challenges will be fresher in your mind than next spring, when your memories of the previous season may have faded. Look with a critical eye, pairing your vision for the space with how the plants are growing. Which perennials thrived? Which ones struggled, and can any of those plants be moved to a better spot?...

1. Velvet Velvet adds a cozy, high-end look to upholstered furniture and home accents, and it’s not going away any time soon. But if you worry velvet is too formal or impractical to clean, don’t fret—today’s velvet offerings have a high-quality look with modern performance qualities. Livable luxury is one reason designer Dabito favors velvet in his own home. “We love velvet because it’s a durable fabric, especially with pets,” he says....

**To store SCOBY: Place SCOBY in a clean jar in enough homemade or purchased kombucha to cover. Cover jar and store in the refrigerator up to 1 month. Ginger Kombucha: Prepare as directed through Step 1. Remove SCOBY. Add 1 ounce fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced, to the jar. Cover and chill 1 to 2 weeks. Remove and discard ginger. Continue with Step 2. Orange Kombucha: Prepare as directed through Step 1....

Lauren Ramirez attended Wake Forest University for the first two years of her collegiate career and then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where she got a bachelor’s degree of science in advertising.

Harvest Tips for Lavender Gather blossoms when they have just opened. Use individual blooms fresh, discarding the little brown or green caps that hold them to the stems. Or cut entire flower stems to dry for later use. When it comes to culinary uses, usually it’s the flowers that are pressed into service in the kitchen, although some recipes from the South of France feature the fragrant leaves. Pick and dry flowers for seasoning desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and ice cream, or use as an edible garnish on a salad or fresh berries....

¾ cup whipping cream ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon white chocolate liqueur or clear creme de cacao White Chocolate Zabaglione Sauce 4 egg yolks ¼ cup white chocolate liqueur or clear creme de cacao ¼ cup granulated sugar Dash salt ½ cup whipping cream

The owl trend flew in on the wings of the environmental movement, born shortly after Ohio’s oil-slicked Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969. The first Earth Day was held less than a year later, putting the country on track to create the Environmental Protection Agency and many major pieces of legislation protecting water, air, and animals in the 1970s. Around this time, Mr. Owl, the beloved Tootsie Pop mascot, reached televisions across America, securing the big-eyed bird as a household figure....

1 cup powdered sugar ½ teaspoon finely shredded lemon or orange peel 2 teaspoon lemon or orange juice 2 teaspoon water

1 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Lisa’s work has appeared on Investopedia, Bankrate, Reviews.com, and more Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Communications from The American University of Paris and a Master of Science in International Business from Universitat Pompeu FabraGlobal experience working and studying in three languages across four countries In addition to writing, Lisa has many years of experience in marketing strategy and creative media production. Her multidisciplinary professional life frequently takes her across the globe; she has lived in four countries, speaks three languages, and holds two international degrees....

4 ounce cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoon butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ½ cup powdered sugar Caramelized Hazelnut Brittle 2 teaspoon butter ⅓ cup chopped hazelnuts (filberts) 1 cup granulated sugar To Store: Store in a tightly covered container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 month.

As a result, I began to search for options to buy them a new couch. A stylish, comfortable, and good-size couch was on my list of must-haves when it came to shopping for a new model. A representative from Lovesac contacted me to ask if I would be willing to test their sofa, piquing my interest because Lovesac couches can be customized in both size and material. With its uber-functionality and ease of assembly, this sofa met all the criteria on my list....