You can save on models that expertly tidy hard floors, or pick up dirt from carpets without affecting the textiles. You can control some of these vacuums from an app. Or use some of these machines to tidy hard-to-reach places in which dust, dirt, and other mites accumulate over time. Deals this good won’t last long, and inventory’s already dropping across major retailers. Keep scrolling for the best early Cyber Monday deals....
We asked Brian Walsh, associate director of Concept Interiors, about what to look for when shopping for the best flooring for basements. “The best basement flooring should be waterproof or at least moisture-resistant,” Walsh says. He also advises that the material of the flooring—as long as it’s appropriate for basement use (you can’t use solid wood in a basement as fluctuating moisture levels could cause the flooring to buckle or split)—doesn’t matter as much as the prep work....
“Most smart thermostats are able to recognize when people are home or away, switching to an energy-saving mode when the house is empty and maintaining a comfortable climate when people are home,” says Audrey Monell, president of Forrest Anderson Plumbing and Air Conditioning. Moreover, a well-programmed smart thermostat can help extend the lifespan of your rather expensive HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. “With an optimized HVAC unit, homeowners are also able to reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient,” says Monell....
Know What Tools to Use Before beginning electrical work gather a basic set of tools designed for wiring. If you try to strip wires using a knife instead of a stripper, you probably will nick the copper and weaken the wire. Twisting wires together using a pair of household slip-joint pliers is difficult, and the loose connection might come apart. Lineman’s pliers help you join wires to make professional-quality connections easily....
Bulbs That Bloom in Early Spring Provide pollinators with flowers as soon as possible by planting these bulbs that are some of the first to flower in spring. Growing Conditions: Full sun, part sun, or shade and well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 inches tall Zones: 3-9 Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-7 Buy It: Winter Aconite Bulbs, ($12 for 25 bulbs, Dutch Grown) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Growing Conditions: Full sun or part sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 2-8 Growing Conditions: Full sun or part sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Growing Conditions: Part shade or full shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 10 inches tall Zones: 5-9 Growing Conditions: Full sun or part sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 5-9...
Determining the best patio lighting ideas for your space can help you transform your backyard into an outright destination. Good patio lighting can create an outdoor space that inspires conversation, elevates summer meals alfresco, and even create the staycation you’ve been dreaming about—just steps from your back door. 1. Create Ambience with Globe String Lights For a budget-friendly way to add both artificial light and ambience to your patio, turn to globe string lights....
Starbucks is also debuting their first fall nondairy beverage, a twist on last year’s Apple Crisp Macchiato. Starting August 30, nondairy drinkers can order the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, which is made with creamy oatmilk and Starbucks blonde espresso. The drinks will all be available as soon as stores open on August 30, along with an array of pumpkin bakery items. You’ll be able to order a pumpkin cream cheese muffin, pumpkin scone, or pumpkin loaf to go with your PSL all fall long....
How to Peel and Seed Tomatoes Whether you’ve picked fresh tomatoes from the garden or bought them, start by giving tomatoes a thorough wash to remove any dirt or contaminants. Then follow our easy way to peel tomatoes. Step 1: Prep the Tomatoes Make a shallow “X” on the bottom (aka blossom end) of each tomato using a sharp paring knife ($10, Bed Bath & Beyond). Step 2: Blanch Tomatoes Working in batches, immerse tomatoes in boiling water 1 to 2 minutes or until the skins begin to split open....
Spring Landscape Maintenance Spring Lawn Care Use a spring fertilizer for lawns once snow has melted.Repair dead patches.If crabgrass is problematic, treat with a preemergent herbicide around the time forsythia blooms in your area.Revive weak lawns by dethatching and aerating. Spring Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcover Maintenance Remove winter trunk protection and old mulch, and remulch at the base of trees and shrubs. Prune and clean up dead, broken, or diseased branches....
On the heels of tariff fears, this is happy news for wine lovers. The gist of that tariff talk: The French and American governments agreed to avoid the potential 100% tariffs on non-bubbly (still) wines under 14% alcohol and all sparkling wines. That means a 25% still wine tariff is the only one likely to remain…for now, according to The Dallas Morning News. These Wine Prices Will Be Decreasing, According to Wine Professionals “On the domestic wine production side, we’ve seen a major surplus of bulk wine and excess grapes due to record-setting harvests the past couple of years....
Buy It: OXO Grilling Skewers ($15, Bed Bath & Beyond)
It all began in 2017, when Lucy asked her mom, Veronica, if they could do a little giveaway for one of her blankets. They asked members of their community in Gallatin, Tennessee, to nominate kids. Well, after receiving 16 nominations for deserving children, Lucy realized she couldn’t pick just one—so she made all of them. Ever since that first giveaway, people continue to reach out to the mother-daughter duo with requests for children in need....
After: Cape Escape This home went from dark and dated to an upgraded beauty to behold. A new roof, fresh coat of paint, and refinished front door updated the appearance. The rear addition remains intentionally unnoticeable from the street side to match the scale of other homes in the neighborhood. New landscaping creates curb appeal and sets the scene for what’s inside. Walking on Sunshine What was once a screen porch is now a year-round living space....
Faudree, who died in November 2013, was legendary for his charming American take on French country style. His was a wonderfully warm and pattern-rich look that celebrated all the accoutrements of a French estate without the pretentiousness. “We loved everything he did,” says Linda, who, with her husband, Darwin, first worked with Faudree several years ago on their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the designer also lived. A few years after the Tulsa project, Faudree invited Linda and Darwin (now friends as much as clients) to see a designer showhouse he was decorating in Cashiers, North Carolina....
To carve: Carve a circle in your pumpkin’s underside, and clear out all the seeds and messy bits. Scrape the pumpkin’s interior walls clean with a stiff metal spoon. Print out the free owl pattern, and tape the page containing the owl’s facial features and feather outlines to the surface of your pumpkin. Use a push pin to make closely spaced holes along the face and feather lines, transferring the features to your pumpkin....
Next to the fireplace, a white-painted, open-back chair and an ottoman covered in Schumacher fabric nestle beneath a painting by America Martin. The living room’s Oly chandelier floats above a glass coffee table. The sofa is from Lee Industries; window treatments are Duralee sheers. Brass-lined custom light fixtures by Avrett are suspended above a waterfall island crafted of Calacatta Gold Extra marble. Custom bar stools wear a combination of green leather from Jerry Pair and white vinyl by Castel....
In the video, a woman takes a few sprigs of parsley and puts the stem into a hole of a box grater pulling it through with her hand from the inside. To the delight of the millions of viewers, all the leaves were perfectly separated from the stem. I went to the little container herb garden on my patio and snipped a few sprigs of rosemary and mint to put this hack to the test....
1 red onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices ¼ cup grapefruit juice 2 tablespoon orange juice 2 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crushed 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper Fresh or Fast: Fresh: Make as directed. Fast: Omit Cebollas Encurtidas and garnish with an additional hard-cooked egg, thinly sliced, and/or crumbled queso fresco.
