Posts

1 cup shortening 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon almond extract 1 16 ounce package powdered sugar (about 4 cups) 3 tablespoon milk *Tip: Or use gel food coloring to tint purchased white fondant to desired colors. **Tip: This step can be done a few hours to a few days before you assemble the cake.

‘Legacy’ stock Matthiola Legacy Series stock plants bear double flowers in a range of bright shades. They grow 2 feet tall. ‘Starlight Scentsation’ stock Matthiola ‘Starlight Scentsation’ shows off strongly fragrant single blooms in a range of colors. It grows 18 inches tall.

1 ¾ cup pretzel sticks ¼ cup melted butter 2 tablespoon sugar

If you already have a toilet brush, it may be time to replace it. “The typical plastic brush can quickly accumulate germs and bacteria and typically need to be replaced twice a year,” says Ryan McKenzie, cleaning expert and co-founder of Tru-Earth. To find the best toilet brushes, we researched various brushes and considered factors like size, shape, features, and whether a caddy was included. If you are buying a toilet brush for the first time or just need to replace one, use this guide to purchase your next brush....

Window Shades: Tips and Tricks Roman Shades One type of window shade experiencing great popularity right now is the Roman shade. It’s a rectangle of fabric or woven material that covers the window. When closed, the shade is flat. When pulled open, hidden cords pull up the bottom rail so the shade gathers in gentle horizontal folds. There are completely flat Roman shades as well as pleated and gathered styles....

“The whole point of ice is to make (and keep) your drink cold, while also adding some dilution from the ice melt,” says Jason Percival, beverage manager at Himmel Hospitality Group. “Although it might seem counterintuitive, the best bet to keep the beverage cold without watering it down is to use plenty of ice so that it fills the whole glass rather than a few cubes floating on top.” Our team of experts tested 15 ice makers in our testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama, evaluating each machine based on water capacity, dimensions of the appliance, ice production time, ice cube shape, and the noise level of the machine....

While quality overhead lighting is important, it’s not the only place you should concentrate on. “The benefits of under-cabinet lighting are tremendous,” says Tim Vislay, director of sales for the Showroom Channel at Legrand. “It gives you light directly on the work surfaces as you prepare meals and eliminates shadows that can be created by your overhead lighting.” There are myriad options available when it comes to under-cabinet lighting—built-in, strip, puck, and battery-powered, among others....

Beans and Legumes Plant-based burgers (think Beyond Meat and Impossible) are trendy, but you don’t have to go that route to get the same amount of protein in your next meatless meal. Cooked legumes such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils can be swapped for a lot of ground beef recipes. Buying canned or dried beans instead of meat can also save you money. In addition to protein, beans and legumes are packed with health beneficial fiber, vitamins, and minerals....

Small greenhouse kits come in a variety of styles, sizes, and finishes. The most important things to consider when choosing a small greenhouse kit are the materials, square footage, and features. Our top choice, the Canopia by Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse, has a charming design, is made of sturdy materials, and offers features that aren’t typical in small greenhouse kits. These features include a latchable door, rain gutters, and a choice of frame colors....

These handy machines, which operate similarly to robot vacuums, are designed to navigate throughout your home and clean hard floor surfaces like hardwood, laminate, and tile as they go. They use a combination of water and cleaning solutions to scrub dirt and spills off your floors, using smart technology to keep them from running into furniture or going onto the carpet. When shopping for the best robot mops for your home, the most important factors to consider are the robot mop’s cleaning ability, its range of features, and the battery life....

“I think this handheld vacuum gets used more frequently than any other cleaning tool in my household—between myself and my partner, we use it at least once a day,” said Brittney Morgan, Associate Editorial Director. “It’s the perfect vacuum for cleaning up crumbs, rogue cat litter, and other small messes, and it doesn’t feel like a hassle to bring it out for every little cleaning task like my stick vacuum would....

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....

Yelp’s 2023 Top Food Trends Michelagua As we saw in 2022 with the Dirty Shirley, colorful, playful drinks are back and here to stay. Get ready to stock up on the ingredients to make a Michelagua—the alcohol-free version of the Michelada, a popular Mexican cocktail—in the coming year, including different fruit-based recipes like mango and pineapple. Slushies Whether we’re healing our inner child or simply trying to have more fun, it’s about to become totally acceptable to order a slushie from your favorite bar or restaurant: Searches for slushies are up 77%....