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1 ½ cup ice cubes ¾ cup milk ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon peppermint extract ¼ teaspoon vanilla 6 - 8 drops green food coloring Chocolate syrup Chocolate pressurized whipped cream Chocolate sprinkles Frappula 1 ½ cup ice cubes ¾ cup milk ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla Chocolate syrup Whipped cream Strawberry syrup Hallo-witch Shake 1 cup ice cubes ¾ cup milk ½ cup sugar ½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries 1 - 2 drops blue food coloring 1 - 2 drops red food coloring Blackberry jam, melted Whipped cream Black, green, and purple sanding sugar

Check out this information on well-drained soil. St. John’s Wort Care Must-Knows Plant St. John’s wort in spring or early summer. Blanket soil around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch and water plants regularly during the first growing season to encourage an extensive root system. Reduce watering during the second growing season. In some climates, the tips of St. John’s wort branches die back in winter. Simply shear the plants back to live wood in spring and this hardy perennial will regrow....

1 cup heavy cream, cold ¼ cup powdered sugar 5 tablespoon strawberry puree To store: Loosely cover and store frosted cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. OR wrap unfrosted baked cake layers and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw and frost as directed above.

The black “Marina” indoor-outdoor rug from Ballard Designs tosses happy white dots under the furniture. “Emerson” armchairs with white slipcovers from Frontgate at the host and hostess spots offer an opposing sturdy presence to the airy, wood cross-back chairs from Tops Tents & Rentals. “Jamesse” crystal stemware from Lehmann Glass provides elegant vessels for the dinner’s flight of wines. Homeowner Lisa Johnson pours a Pinot Noir. Menu Mussels with Red Pepper SauceGrilled Cauliflower Steak with Baby GreensSmoked Pork Loin with Grilled Plum, Cherry, and Sage Sauce; Grilled AsparagusDutch Baby Pancake with StrawberriesSummer Wine Pairings...

Harvesting Sweet Potato Harvest sweet potato vines 90 to 110 days after planting, or after the vines have been lightly frosted. With a garden fork, carefully dig the vines and separate the roots. Cure harvested sweet potatoes in high humidity at 80 to 90 degrees F for one or two weeks. Move the roots to a dry location at 55 to 60 degrees F for storage. Flavor will improve after several weeks of storage as starches in the roots convert to sugar....

They bought the house (sight unseen for Whit) knowing it would be a massive slow-and-steady project. Over three years, they scraped wallpaper, wired light fixtures, tiled backsplashes and floors, spruced up kitchen cabinets, scraped more wallpaper, and pulled out yards and yards of pink and blue carpet. Elizabeth hunted through secondhand shops for most of their furniture, and Whit built the rest, including their dining room table and kitchen island....

“The most important thing to look for in a Christmas tree stand is stability,” said Tara Spaulding, interior design coordinator for Patio Productions. “A stable base will ensure that the tree stays upright, and it will also prevent tipping over or falling over.” With that in mind, to find the best Christmas tree stands, we researched a variety of picks and considered factors like dimensions, material, tree type, maximum tree height, water capacity, and diameter....

Buy It: Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips ($7, Target) Buy It: King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour ($5, Target) Buy It: Cuisinart Elemental Collection 8-Cup Food Processor ($110, Kohl’s) Buy It: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer ($16, Target)

“Any organizer should have a place for different types of jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Huge bonus if they look good, and function well, where you can find something quickly when you need it,” says Beth Spiroff of Beth Spiroff Professional Organizing. To find the best jewelry organizers for your home we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind the type, material, and dimensions. We also consulted Spiroff for additional insight....

With so many options out there, it’s not easy to decide which is the best garden bench for your outdoor space. To help, we researched a variety of picks, considering each option’s material, style, weight capacity, and size. Overall, we recommend the Birch Lane Amherst Outdoor Bench. In addition to a durable teak construction, the garden bench can seat two people and has a unique design that’ll be the centerpiece of your outdoor space....

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Top Picks: ‘Album’ offers white flowers; ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ offers clear pink flowers; ‘Variegatum’ has purple-pink flowers and white-variegated leaves Buy It: Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ ($12, Bluestone Perennials) Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 2 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Top Picks: ‘White Towers’ bears white flowers; ‘Tojen’ offers especially large lavender flowers Buy It: Toad Lily ($29, Breck’s) Growing Conditions: Full shade to full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-9 Top Picks: ‘Golden Glow’ has creamy-yellow edges; ‘Burgundy Glow’ offers silvery-green leaves splashed with pink and burgundy; ‘Chocolate Chip’ offers smaller, purple-infused leaves Buy It: Ajuga Live Plant ($3, Walmart) Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 3 feet tall Zones: 3-9 Top Picks: ‘Pantaloons’ has pure white flowers....

Maybe you don’t know the hostess as well as you thought to know how to narrow down the options on the market. Perhaps you want something other than a gift card or the same old bottle of wine. Or at worse, maybe you forget all about the event altogether. If you didn’t have time to create adorable DIY hostess gifts, couldn’t think of something while on the run, or need some inspiration, we’re here to help....

The best microwaves should not only be simple to use and clean, but they’ll have the right assortment of features to make heating quick and easy. Some models come with helpful features like smart sensors, automatic cook presets, or possibly even air frying and baking capabilities. However, if you just want that automatic popcorn setting for movie night, there are plenty of effective models without all the bells and whistles, too....

An electric chainsaw is usually quieter than a gas-powered option. It also doesn’t require mixing oil and gas, so it’s a lower-maintenance pick overall. To help you find the best electric chainsaw for your property, we researched considerations like corded versus cordless, battery power and voltage, size, maintenance requirements, and safety features. We also talked with Robert Akins from Theyardable.com. The Greenworks cordless chainsaw is our overall pick for best electric chainsaw, because it’s powerful, low maintenance, and comfortable to use thanks to its reduced vibrations....

“Pain is a big concern for many side sleepers,” says Dr. Lulu Guo, sleep medicine specialist with Valley Sleep Center. “You are placing increased pressure on [your] hips and shoulders overnight.” The best pillows for side sleepers will relieve pressure on these common pain points, allowing you to fall asleep comfortably without tossing and turning or waking up feeling achy. You’re also going to want a pillow with the right thickness (otherwise known as the pillow’s loft) to keep your head, neck, and spine in a neutral position....

Unlike regular bed bases, adjustable beds allow you to raise the head and foot of your bed in order to put you in a different sleeping position. They’re typically operated by a remote control motor, and they’re perfect for individuals who may prefer an angled or elevated sleeping position. “Elevating the head of the bed can also help make sure your spine is properly aligned to lessen aches and pains, while raising the bottom part of the bed can help regulate circulation and allow your blood to flow from your feet back up to your heart," says Kelly Murray, a certified adult sleep coach....