One the questions I get asked the most is how do I make a party menu? So I’ve put together my tips for creating the ultimate party menu, no matter what the occasion. I’ve used these for planning a 50th birthday party, a bohemian bridal shower, a Halloween carnival, and more! The one thing that is missing in this post are actual recipes! If you need those, these are my top party foods ever....
Dineen, who met her ex-husband before cell phones were a thing, says the concept of online dating was unfamiliar territory to her at the time. “For me, it was a major learning curve, like for a lot of middle-aged divorced people,” she says. “So I had to figure it all out kind of on my own, because I didn’t really have any friends that were in the same boat yet....
Don’t worry—there are ways you can start getting your holiday on now and make your home more festive, without screaming “Christmas.” Try these tips to create a cozy, holiday vibe that’ll take you all the way through New Year’s. “I love any type of fruit, bittersweet, evergreen, nut, pinecone,” says interior designer Benjamin Bradley, host of Holiday Home Makeover With Mr. Christmas. “Bowls mounded with persimmon or pomegranate with a sprig of bittersweet or evergreen look festive, bring a nod to the changing seasons, and can be further enhanced as we get closer to the holidays....
A diffuser is a plastic attachment for your hair dryer that helps keep the natural curl pattern. It’s a game-changer when it comes to heat-styling curly hair. But use it incorrectly, and you can end up with frizzy and undefined hair. People make several common mistakes when using a diffuser. Here, we spoke with three celebrity hairstylists to help steer us straight away from these five diffuser mishaps. If you need to dry your wet hair just a bit, Michael Dueñas, a celebrity hairstylist and consulting creative director, says you can scrunch it a couple of times with a micro-fiber towel to soak up some of the water, but be gentle....
According to celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, the best practice is to use either a flatiron or curling iron to boost texture before each messy bun, or use either tool at the end of your style to add polished bends and waves around the face and at the nape of the neck. “These pieces are what make the bun feel unique, so don’t be afraid to let them drop out and be seen,” she says....
From refunds to reimbursements, from lost wages to monetary settlements—all that unclaimed cash can really add up. Follow our five steps to find money with your name on it, wherever it may be. How does your money end up in the hands of the government? Well, banks, insurance companies, medical offices, and even credit card companies may have tried to refund you for an overpayment but, if you moved or closed a bank account, they might not know how to find you....
The trick is easy. Start by making sure your cake is fully baked, as an underdone dessert is far more likely to stick to the pan. “The edges of a fully baked cake will start to come away from the sides of the pan,” explains Chef Angela Garbacz, baking expert and author of Perfectly Golden: Adaptable Recipes for Sweet and Simple Treats. “Also, when you gently poke the center of the cake, it should not have any give and will bounce back immediately....
The truth is, acne is a broad umbrella term that can consist of different types of skin concerns and breakouts. To understand the different types of acne, it’s necessary to understand why we get acne in the first place. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, says acne happens when there is a disorder of the hair follicle (aka the pore) and the sebaceous gland (aka the oil gland) that’s attached to the pore....
Reader question: “Whenever I break out, it always leaves behind a red mark after it clears up. Why does this happen and how can I get rid of it?” —Cady Griffin Facial redness can happen for many reasons, but if you’re turning red in the wake of acne, you’re suffering from something called post-inflammatory erythema, often referred to as PIE. And it’s usually just as aggravating and stubborn to treat as the original acne itself....
While the citronella plant—aka Pelargonium graveolens—shares a name with the grassy plant used to stave off mosquitoes, it’s actually a type of scented geranium. Citronella oil is produced from citronella grass, which is part of the Cymbopogon genus. Like the grass, the citronella plant exudes a distinct scent, but instead of that grassy odor, it smells more citrusy. Taking care of a citronella plant is relatively simple, and if you meet its needs, you can enjoy pink flowers in the summer months....
Steps for Growing Cilantro Indoors from Seed Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a fast-growing, cool-season annual herb that can go from seed to harvest in about three weeks. It usually sets seeds (which are known as coriander) in about a month and a half. Plan to sow new seeds every 2 or 3 weeks to keep up your supply of fresh leaves. Step 1: Use a Container with Drainage Holes Like most herbs, cilantro doesn’t like “wet feet” (in other words, if their roots stay too wet, the plant will rot)....
Start With the Right Soil Like any gardening project, make sure your soil is rich with nutrients before you start planting. Mix in an inch or two of organic compost to the top of the soil at the beginning of the season to get it primed for the seeds. Direct Sow Those ‘Cucs You could buy seedlings, but why bother? “Honestly, buying cucumber seedlings always seems like a waste of money to me,” says Trimble....
It appears flawless, but the reality of the frittata is that it’s all too often underseasoned and undercooked, which results in a dry, flavorless, sponge-like meal that’s not at all appealing—or even respectful of those leftover ingredients you saved up just for this meal. What Is a Frittata? A frittata sits somewhere between a quiche and an omelet. It doesn’t have a crust like a quiche, but it’s not folded like an omelet....
The shutters are also customizable. We chose a whitewash for our finish, but feel free to stain them darker to match the hues of your kitchen. We chose iron hardware, but gold, copper, or brass would also look chic. What You Need 1x4s, cut to desired length1x3, cut to desired lengthSandpaperDrillScrewsWood pastePutty knifeStainStain brushDoor hinges (4)Door handles (2)Measuring tapePencil Before You Begin: Cut Wood to Size Cut 1x4s to length....
The popular salad green, which is probably chilling in your fridge while you read this, is the undisputed star of TikTok’s latest viral recipe—lettuce chips. While similar to those kale chips everyone was munching on a few years ago, lettuce chips actually require zero cooking and are decidedly easy to prepare. As dozens of TikTok users have demonstrated in recent weeks, all you need to make lettuce chips is lettuce (obviously), fresh lemon juice, red (or white) wine vinegar, black pepper, and pink Himalayan salt....
Accent Wall Tips and Tricks Ready to dive in? Strengthen your accent wall game with these how-to tips. Choose your perfect accent color. Since an accent wall is often the focal point of the room, select color wisely. “I tend to work with accent colors that are within the same color palette as the space,” says interior designer Abbe Fenimore. “That way, the space has depth, looks cohesive, and is tactfully layered....
Like learning how to slice and dice an onion or how to peel a mango, learning how to chop (or mince) garlic just takes patience and practice. Garlic cloves are rather small, so improving your knife skills here, particularly if you’re working toward a mince, will help you out with any recipe, no matter what you’re chopping. What You’ll Need Cutting boardChef’s knifeGarlicGarlic press How to Peel Garlic Peeling garlic is a must: The papery skins are not pleasant to eat....
When it comes to cleaning melted wax, there are two primary approaches: Applying heat or freezing. The best method depends on where the wax has spilled, as there will be items that lend themselves better to one approach versus the other. This guide provides three methods for using heat to clean spilled wax, and one option to remove wax safely from items that can withstand freezing. How to Remove Wax with a Blow Dryer Using a hair dryer to soften and melt wax so that it’s pliable enough to wipe up with paper towels is the best method for cleaning up most wax spills and messes....
“The most common causes of heat damage include chemical processes such as color and chemical relaxers, as well as heat damage from using hot tools daily. Environmental factors, such as hard water, UV rays, and even extreme cold, can also cause damage,” explains Susan Ford, master stylist and creative director at Asha Salon Spa in Chicago. The good news: There are plenty of ways to bring locks back to life....
There are many delicious methods for how to cook mushrooms, but we think roasting them is one of the best—the high and dry heat can bring out all their savory, meaty, deeply complex flavors. But even roasting can lead to soggy-textured mushrooms. Thanks to their spongey structure (similar to eggplants), mushrooms are highly prone to emitting a lot of moisture as they cook. It’s near impossible for mushrooms to brown until this water has evaporated, because the moisture makes it difficult for them to reach a high enough internal temperature....
