A large wire wreath frame is perfect for making a succulent door wreath. You can also swap in a smaller version to make a beautiful centerpiece for the table. Just add votives in the center. What You’ll Need Large wire wreath frame4 bunches of spruce branches1 bunch of olive branches1 bunch of seeded eucalyptus branches (with tiny pods among the leaves)1 bunch of gray Berzelia branches (which look like mini pom poms)8 or 9 echeveria succulents (each 4 inches wide; or for a smaller wreath, each 3 inches wide)1 or 2 manzanita branches (from a flower shop) or nice twigs from the yardGarden gloves, shears, and 1 spool of medium-gauge floral wire...

While proper planning is always the best approach, it’s not always realistic when you need an avocado on the fly (emergency guacamole, anyone?). Luckily, there’s an easy trick for making avocados ripen faster, and all you need is a brown paper bag. Paper Bag Method If you haven’t tried expediting the ripening process before, prepare to have your mind blown. About two days before you want to enjoy an avocado, simply place it in a brown paper bag and fold the top over....

How to Make Oat Milk Start with whole rolled oats, commonly referred to as old-fashioned oats. Quick oats are too processed for oat milk and can result in a slimy beverage. Make sure to buy gluten-free oats if needed. This recipe will make approximately 1 liter of oat milk or four 1-cup servings. Sweetened Homemade Oat Milk If you prefer your oat milk sweetened, try adding one of the following options before blending: 1 or 2 Medjool dates (remove the pit first) or 1 to 2 Tablespoons....

Calla lilies come in white and shades of pink, yellow, orange, rose, and maroon. Some also have pretty white speckles on their leaves, so they’re attractive even when not in bloom. Here’s how to grow and care for calla lilies in the garden and as houseplants. Calla lilies are toxic to cats and dogs. Where to Plant Calla Lily Calla lilies are native to South Africa and are considered tender perennials since they don’t tolerate freezing weather....

Where to Plant Marguerite Daisy Marguerite daisies prefer cooler temperatures that don’t go above 70º. Plant them in full sun. How and When to Plant Marguerite Daisy Marguerite daisies bloom best in spring and fall. Plant them in spring for flowering through the summer fall, with the best blooms during the cooler periods of their growing season. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root of the plant. Gently pull the roots to free them from the root ball....

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until the first day of spring (March 19 in 2020) to start your lawn care efforts. Spring lawn care tips are great in March and April, but February can also be a good time to start putting them to work, especially in warmer climates—but not always. Temperatures may be rising, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can go out and start seeding or fertilizing your yard right away....

For general period pain, consider this your 101 guide to relieving symptoms and feeling better every month. What causes period pain? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an estimated 50 percent of women who menstruate experience period pain at least one to two days per month. Of course, the intensity varies by person, with some women experiencing manageable cramps or a slight headache, while others struggle to get out of bed....

Before we jump in, let’s begin by defining what ripening is. This process is the result of fruit releasing a gas called ethylene, which effectively starts the course of decay. Ripening is caused by the breakdown of cell walls, conversion of starches to sugars, and the disappearance of acids in a piece of produce. All of these processes make a peach or pear more palatable—it’ll feel softer and taste sweeter with less acid, starch, and softer cell walls—only up to a point (when it gets rotten)....

Lifting weights doesn’t just enhance your quality of life (yes, lugging grocery bags from the car will, in fact, be easier), but “strength training is very important, more so than cardio, for long-term health and longevity,” says Stacy T. Sims, Ph.D., exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist. Plus, as we age, we start to lose that good-for-you muscle, making it all the more important to maintain it. In fact, Sims notes, “if you’re not strength training, you can lose up to 50 percent of your lean skeletal body mass by your 80th birthday....

How to Store Strawberries When stored properly in the refrigerator using one of the below methods, strawberries should stay fresh for up to one week. Always examine your berries for mold and other signs of spoilage before eating them. How to Store Cut Strawberries If pre-cutting your strawberries before storing them is more convenient, you can use any of the above storing methods to keep cut strawberries fresh. You can also wrap them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil....

How to Buy Watermelon The first step to preserving your watermelon’s freshness: buying a nice watermelon. No matter what size or seed quantity you’re going for, you want a watermelon with a firm exterior. If you can press your finger into it, it’s no good. Try finding a watermelon free of dents and cuts, which can also lead to overrippening. When you tap your watermelon, it should sound hollow, like a drum....

So what exactly are the benefits of swapping your linens for the season? The first and most obvious reason to change bedding when the weather starts to cool down is for warmth. A heavier duvet or comforter or even a heavier cover can keep you perfectly warm and toasty all season long. Throw blankets, coverlets, and quilts also provide beneficial layering that allows for more customized temperature control. And when it comes to aesthetics, the arrival of cold weather is also an excuse to redecorate....

How to Make French Press Coffee Step 1: Boil Water Whether making coffee or tea, it’s important to use freshly-boiled, filtered water. Any kettle will work, but a gooseneck kettle with a long spout is ideal for making French press or pour-over coffee because it controls the flow of water better and avoids spillage. Boil enough water to fill the pot, in this case, 32 ounces. French press water temperature: The ideal temperature for making French press is 195°F, which is slightly below boiling temperature (212°F)....

I’ve known about Tata Harper for years, mainly for its high quality products and the undeniably gorgeous packaging. Not to mention the thousands of shoppers who rave about this brand. And as a shopping writer, I wanted to ensure that I was getting a thorough experience with the cleanser, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer, all which I’ve been consistently using for a month, and spoiler alert: I love them and will continue using these products....

My quest to master the frizz has included serums, creams, masks, and more, but it took Drybar’s Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush to really give me a chance of winning the fight for smoother, more manageable hair. Part of the problem—beyond my hair’s natural inclination to frizz and the high-humidity areas I live in—is that I want my morning routine to be quick and simple. Yes, I used to take a round-brush and hair dryer to my hair post-shower, but I’d also take shortcuts like not separating my hair properly into small sections, with frizzy results....

So when I learned that there were at-home microdermabrasion devices that could exfoliate my tired-looking skin and deep-clean my pores, I was very excited to give it a whirl. Here’s how it went, and everything you need to know if you want to try it. There are actually hundreds of home Microderm wands (who knew?!), but I opted to test out PMD’s Personal Microderm Pro Elite ($299; ulta.com). Between the glowing reviews, customizable settings, and sleek, self-contained packaging, I was intrigued....

It;s also the main ingredient used in injectables, thanks to its ability to make the skin look plumper and more youthful. The catch? Fillers can rack up thousands of dollars in the office (read: not the most cost-effective route to anti-aging). That’s why when Shiseido announced they were launching an at-home topical system made with advanced hyaluronic acid that’s supposed to mimic the results of filler, I was instantly intrigued....

I had never considered cleaning as a means of philosophical expression, but then I read about Swedish death cleaning and I realized right away that this was the tactic I needed to get my life—and my clutter-prone family—organized once and for all. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson ($13, amazon.com) describes a way to organize your earthly possessions before you die so that your family won’t have to fight or stress over what to do with the things you leave behind....

At first, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. How could something designed like that possibly have more than 3,000 five-star ratings? And by “like that,” I mean the seemingly gravity-defying curved metal frame that’s supposed to hold a person up to 265 pounds up by a hook. It seemed like it might be too good to be true. To buy: $230; amazon.com. For a bonus feature, I bought this LED-lit version for $20 more....

Classic biscuits have a few simple ingredients—typically just flour, butter, buttermilk, baking powder, sugar, and salt. But the technique is a make-or-break moment. If you do it wrong, your biscuits can be hockey pucks, unsoftened for even the thickest glaze of warm butter and honey. But if you do it right, you can earn your place in your family’s biscuit hall of fame, placed on a pedestal of appreciation. You’ll have probably also signed yourself up to be the biscuit maker for all future breakfast or brunch biscuit needs....