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Susanne Fox, founder of Susanne Fox Design, says the No. 1 feature to look for in an Adirondack chair is longevity. “These are classic pieces that will not go out of fashion, so make sure you select a style that compliments your home and a high quality material that will last for years to come,” she says. To find the best Adirondack chairs, we pummeled 20 different chairs with medicine balls, melted marshmallows, hose blasts, and more in our lab in Des Moines, Iowa, to determine which are the best chairs to add to your outdoor space....

“With laminate flooring, mops are suitable, but use caution,” explains Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids & A Mop. “Wring the mophead out until it is slightly damp and be sure not to over saturate flooring [and cause damage].” What’s more, since some laminate floors can be scuffed easily, it’s important to choose a mop that’s soft enough to wipe up any spills without leaving any damage behind. To help find the best option for your needs, we researched a handful of options on the market, factoring in each pick’s weight, handle length, maintenance, and material....

It’s no wonder, then, that vinyl plank flooring is such a hit with homeowners. Vinyl plank flooring, or VPF for short, is a much more durable and affordable option to create beautiful interior spaces for the home. Depending on your needs, you’ll need to choose between regular vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl, says Stacy Lewis, owner and interior designer at Eternity Modern. Luxury vinyl is the heftier choice, and you usually have many options for color and style....

When looking for the best closet systems for your home, the top consideration has to be size—too big and it won’t fit, too small and it won’t be effective. You’ll also want to consider the number of drawers and shelves you’d like. Before hitting “add to cart” on any organization products, Margaret Ellison of Sunday Plans recommends measuring your space and taking stock of your wardrobe. To find the best closet systems, we researched a variety of styles, keeping in mind each closet system’s size, closet height range, number of shelves and drawers, and mount type....

“An indoor garden is more than a potted plant near a window,” says Lindsay Springer, head of plants and nutrition at Gardyn. “It’s the intentional cultivation of plants for eating and enjoyment in the comfort of your own home.” The best indoor gardens create a space that makes it easier to keep your plants healthy and thriving in all seasons by controlling the climate, providing essential nutrients, and more. Even if you don’t have the ideal outdoor space for a garden to thrive, these dedicated indoor spaces allow you all the benefits of having a garden outdoors without the variability in weather or conditions....

How to Make Watermelon Cake from the Whole Fruit Follow these step-by-step directions to make a fresh watermelon cake that serves a large group. With summer-fresh watermelon at the core, you can make all kinds of healthy watermelon recipes, but when it comes to one that surprises and delights, this watermelon cake recipe trumps them all.

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....

What Is the Significance of the Ball Dropping? The tradition of using balls to tell time has been around for centuries, dating back to the early 1800s. The first documented time ball was on top of England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich, where it would drop at 1:00 p.m. each afternoon as a way to let nearby ships and boats know what time it was. This was before watches or cell phones, so the ball dropping was the primary way to tell time....

What Is Organic Milk? In order for milk to be certified as organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and carry the “USDA Organic” seal, the milk must come from cows that have not been treated with antibiotics or given hormones for growth or reproduction. Cows producing organic milk eat a mixture of organic grains and grasses, where every step of the food chain must be certified organic—from food the animals eat to the soil the food is grown in—and the milk must come from cows that receive at least 30% of their diet from pasture, which equates to at least 120 days out in the fresh air....

“I’ve had the same style mop by other leading brands, but this is by far my favorite. It is a lightweight, sleek, attractive mop as well as being highly efficient, easy to handle, and functional,” shared one five-star reviewer. “The cleaning pads are excellent for both wet mopping and dust mopping. The adjustable handle is most convenient,” shared a different shopper who pointed out the handle extends with a “twist of the handle....

The Rescue! Disposable Summer Yellow Jacket Traps are a seasonal essential that will help you set yourself up for a swat and sting-free summer. They contain an easy-to-activate liquid inside that attracts yellow jackets. Simply open the cap to reveal the opening, attach a string or wire to hang the trap, and add water to the powder that comes inside the trap. (Note: The brand recommends hanging them at least 20 feet from any known yellow jacket nests....

Bedroom decor trends are not only a way to bring an added dose of style to your snooze quarters, but they also help create a haven that you look forward to curling up in after a long day. Whether you put one or all of these trends to use in your space, just be sure they speak to you. After all, there is arguably no space in your home more deserving of a little extra care....

“I immediately called Nate and let him know that the only fixer-upper in the area was on the market. We had our house up for sale in a few days,” Courtney says. But this wasn’t just any fixer-upper: The home sat on riverfront property near Bend, Oregon, and while the Equalls lived nearby, it was their dream to live directly on the water. “Everything else on the river was out of our price range, so we took on the challenge of an ’80s gut job,” Courtney says....

Preserved moss should last indefinitely, though if you can’t resist touching the lush textures, it may need a little touching up to keep all the elements in place. The natural wood frame and varying hues of green make this DIY moss art peaceful and inviting. How to Make a Dried-Moss Panel Supplies Needed: Small D-hanger8x10x2-inch wood shadow boxSmall branchWhite acrylic paintFloral craft foamHot-glue gun and glue sticksCrafts knifeFlorists pinsPreserved dry mosses, both flat and dimensional styles...

The fall collection from Opalhouse and Jungalow includes nearly 100 new pieces, including adorable felted pumpkins, wreaths made from natural materials, fall-scented candles, and other decorative accents in rich autumnal hues. Prices start at just $10 and most items retail for less than $30, making it easy and inexpensive to blend fall decor with your personal style. Jungalow’s fall collection at Target is available to shop now, with more products expected to launch over the next few weeks....

Tori holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies from New York University. She also attended Penn State University.

3 pound boneless pork shoulder 2 tablespoon lard or vegetable oil ⅓ cup chopped onion (1 small) 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cup water 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel ⅓ cup orange juice 4 sprigs fresh thyme 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano or regular oregano, crushed ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 bay leaves Refried Beans 8 ounce dried pinto beans (about 1-1/4 cups) 8 cup water ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoon bacon drippings or olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced...

⅓ cup orange juice 3 tablespoon salad oil 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 1 teaspoon poppy seed 2 dashes bottled hot pepper sauce