1. Start Slow with Succulents Some people seem to have no trouble keeping plants alive. And then, there are those who end up with more crispy plants than they care to admit. If you’re a forgetful plant parent when it comes to watering, consider starting with a variety of succulents. Not only are they easy to care for (and keep alive!), but with a plethora of shapes, sizes, and colors, they add eye-catching dimension and texture to your space....

Feeling at Home in the Kitchen As a child growing up in Guanajuato, Mexico, Martinez spent a lot of time in the kitchen helping her grandma. “If you’re in the kitchen, she’s going to give you something to do,” she says. “I love that energy in the kitchen.” By the age of 14, she was the cook in the house. “My mom said, ‘The kitchen is yours now.’ Now that I live (in the United States), I saw the importance to passing on my heritage to my kids....

The new line is filled with entertaining essentials created with easy entertaining in mind. You’ll find ceramic dinnerware pieces in cream and orange, glassware in a smoky amber hue, and a variety of serving boards and platters that can be used for everything from casual weeknight chili dinners to an upscale Friendsgiving celebration. “This collection is all about gathering around the table and enjoying a meal together with the ones you love,” Jenny says....

Some bloggers and Redditors swear by strip washing, even posting images of how their supposedly “clean” sheets turned clear water murky brown once all of the soap scum and oil was removed. Basically, strip washing your laundry falls under the “grossly satisfying” category of cleaning tasks. So, should you try it? Can you actually be soaking your clothes for too long if you do? Here are some expert insights, adjustments you can make to your laundry routine instead, and a step-by-step guide....

It has a U-shaped design that gives you the flexibility to open and close your window while the unit’s installed, which isn’t possible with many other window air conditioners. And since the compressor (aka the loud part of the unit) is blocked by your window, the Midea U-Shaped air conditioner is nine times quieter than traditional models, according to the brand. You’ll have no problem hearing your TV without turning the volume up....

“My brother and sister had already declared bankruptcy in their 20s and my parents had done twice,” Grace says. “So a lot of my money picture, especially in the past few years, has been family borrowing from me and then not paying me back. And we’re talking a lot of money that I can’t afford. I’ve cried a lot about it because, you know, well, these are my family members, you know, and you want to support them....

What Is a Moon Garden? A moon garden is a garden with primarily white or silver plants meant to be enjoyed by the light of the moon. “Flowers at twilight or in moonlight reflect light differently during these hours than they do in the daytime,” explains Gorchels. “This gives you a whole new way to experience and enjoy your garden!” Technically, you can enjoy any plants by moonlight, but with a bit of planning, you can select plants that will reflect the moon’s light and give you a great glow at night....

According to a 2021 survey from Realtor.com, recent homebuyers are overwhelmingly open to renting out their home “as a way to generate income and offset expenses.” People are getting more creative with what they’re sharing, as well, with everything from pools to parking spaces being split. “As the next generation of homebuyers has embraced ride sharing and short-term rentals, it’s a natural next step that they begin to think of their biggest asset—their home—as a potential income stream,” said George Ratiu, manager of economic research at Realtor....

To make things smoother this go-around, look no further than this moving to-do list that details not only what needs to get done, but the right time to do different tasks to minimize stress. Print it out, check every item off week by week, and maybe the two words that end your next move will simply be “I’m home.” Two Months Before Sort and purgeGo through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of....

Like the name suggests, Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Max Night Serum works to transform your skin overnight. Its hero ingredient, retinol, treats a laundry list of concerns: fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, acne, and uneven skin tone. The vitamin A derivative helps increase cell turnover and collagen production, making skin appear youthful and radiant. To buy: $33 (was $44); olay.com It’s a well-researched and effective superstar found in numerous anti-aging products, but retinol can leave your skin dry and irritated if you haven’t used it before....

The Greenco Entryway Shelf is a relatively small but undoubtedly mighty organization station that enables me to keep all of my can’t-leave-home-without-it necessities in one tidy place. The shelf has one pocket of sorts that’s deep enough to hold things like outgoing mail, my sunglasses, and a few rolls of my dog’s waste bags with room to spare. Plus, the brand says that the shelf can support 15 pounds, so I feel confident in its durability....

With expert insights from an interior designer and several tile experts, we’re outlining the primary differences between porcelain and ceramic tiles and the benefits and drawbacks of each. Plus, we’re highlighting scenarios where it might be advantageous to choose one over the other. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be able to make a confident, informed decision—and then never give it a second thought. Porcelain vs. Ceramic: The Primary Differences The truth is, porcelain and ceramic tiles have quite a few similarities....

In the November 2022 issue of Real Simple, we declared olive green our Color of the Month because it’s the trendy yet timeless shade we’re loving right now. Olive feels like the older, slightly more sophisticated sister to the lighter and brighter greens that have been everywhere over the past year. It fits perfectly among earth-toned palettes and natural textures, like warm wood, jute, and wicker. Or, you can go retro with it, picking olive green accents in mod shapes and pairing them with other bold colors....

If you’ve read many posts on my site or follow me on social media, you’ll know that I love a good dessert dip. I have tons of dessert dips on my site including everything from the best caramel apple dip to a brownie batter dip and even a Christmas tree cake dip. If you can make it into a dip, I’m going to. With my Reese’s peanut butter pie being so popular, I thought it’d be fun to turn that recipe into a dip of sorts, and this peanut butter cheesecake dip was born!...

I can’t believe I took so long to discover the restorative power of the Miracle Hair Elixir, which sold out just a month after it launched and racked up a waitlist of thousands last year. The magical serum typically costs $30, but thanks to Coco & Eve’s extended Cyber Week Sale, you can snap it up for $24. The brand sent me a sample to try a month ago, and I’ve gradually worked it into my haircare routine....

If you’ve been curious about shiplap installation in your home, there are a few things to keep in mind before you start nailing wood planks to your kitchen walls on a whim. When we toured the home of photographer Stacy K. Allen, the blogger behind Mountainside Home, and spotted the meticulously-placed DIY shiplap throughout, we had to ask for her top design secrets. Insider Shiplap Tips “Some people just use plywood....

The Macy’s After-Christmas sale will save you 20 to 60 percent on looks for the new year, winter accessories to help keep you cozy, and more, and score an extra 20 percent off select items with code JOY. You’ll find exclusive deals on brands like Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Lancôme, MAC, DKNY, Cole Haan, and Calvin Klein. We spent hours sifting through deals to put together a list of the best offers we could find....

If you’re not familiar with the clean beauty brand, Versed launched in 2019 with products priced from $10 to $20, all of them free from parabens, silicones, sulfates, and more than 1,350 other questionable ingredients (meaning it’s up to the European Union’s more stringent standards. For reference, the E.U. has banned or restricted more than 1,300 chemicals, while the U.S. has outlawed or restricted just 11). And as the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Versed’s Skin Soak Rich Moisture Cream make clear, shoppers see anti-aging results that go above and beyond your average moisturizer....

I decided to try out a natural growth stimulator: castor oil, and specifically Sky Organics Castor Oil. It’s 100 percent pure oil cold-pressed from the castor bean plant, which is native to Africa, India, and the Mediterranean region. The texture reminded me, at first, of a thicker olive oil, and while I wasn’t sure if it would help to grow my hair, eyelashes, and nails, I figured the oil would at least help to moisturize them....

Paint everything one color The walls, trim, baseboards, molding, and door frames are all the same shade, making the room feel cozy and modern. Think about how the space will be used Kate wanted the layout to encourage quiet reading time, gathering, and conversation, so she skipped the sink-into-it sectional and arranged armchairs and a settee in a traditional pattern. Mingle old and new Kate loves unexpected juxtapositions, like the bistro table and floral sofa....