Posts

If you’ve ever noticed your cucumbers expire just days after bringing them home from the market, it could be due to how they’re stored. Many store-bought cucumbers have a waxy layer that allows them to have a longer shelf life. If you’re growing your own cukes, you should try to enjoy them within two to three days after picking them. How To Store Cucumbers Most people toss cucumbers into the crisper drawer of their refrigerator, which isn’t the worst option, but there’s a simple trick that will keep them fresher for longer....

Taking temperatures isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things you should know to get the most accurate reading possible. Get a baseline temperature for the whole family. A true fever is a reading of 100.4 or higher, but we all have a slightly different baseline temperature. Sure, 98.6 may be average, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only normal temperature reading. Genetics, time of day, physical activity, and even food and beverage can impact a temperature....

First things first, it’s safe to eat crystallized honey. Honey naturally crystallizes over time, but that doesn’t mean you need to toss your jar. Luckily, crystallization doesn’t adversely affect the taste or quality of honey. In fact, according to Zeke Freeman, the founder of the honey company Bee Raw, partially or fully crystallized honey can have a richer taste. If you want to loosen up your honey, never microwave it....

I applied to colleges thousands of miles away. I poured over road atlases (paper maps back in those days) imagining driving west on Route 66, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, camping in the Smoky Mountains, and living in San Francisco. In college, I studied abroad in Cape Town, a program I applied to with an impassioned essay about how important it is to leave our comfort zone. In the four years after college, I moved from West Virginia to Wisconsin to Philadelphia to Washington D....

What Are Pumpkins? Pumpkins, squash, and gourds are all part of the Cucurbitaceae family, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. This large plant family includes more than 900 species, including everything from orange pumpkins to watermelons to cucumbers. The genus Cucurbita (aka “squash”) falls under this family, so yes, your traditional orange pumpkin is also a winter squash (not to be confused with soft-skinned summer squash, such as zucchini). Ready for the surprise?...

Right now, J.Crew is having a massic end-of-year sale on almost everything. Select styles are marked down up to 60 percent, and on top of that, the more you shop, the more you’ll save: You’ll save 50 percent off one item, 60 percent off two, and 70 percent off three or more when you use code BIG SALE at check out. And yes, even J.Crew’s popular cashmere pieces are discounted....

On This Episode The wealth gap between young married couples and their single counterparts has more than doubled since 2010. It’s expensive being single, and inflation is making it even harder to manage rising costs on a single income. This week, Stefanie interviews writer Anne Helen Petersen about the rising costs of being single in America. Meet Our Caller “Dawn” is a 32-year-old Iowa-based listener working in the legal field. Between her own desires alongside pressure from her parents and outside voices, Dawn has her sights set on buying a house....

“I didn’t have a bed. I left the desktop computer—things like that that you wouldn’t necessarily think about,” Alicia says. “I’ve incurred a lot of expenses.” In addition to trying to pay off her credit card debt and car loan, Alicia wants to help her two sons with their college expenses. “I want to help them as much as I can,” she says. “I feel like I’m betraying my kids....

An important note: It’s easier to carve pumpkins skillfully if you have a variety of tools, especially when you’re cutting small sections. Experiment with different instruments, like woodcutting knives, apple corers, and clay-sculpting tools to achieve different effects. After carving, illuminate these pumpkin houses with tea lights for a warm, homey glow. To carve: Hollow out three pumpkins – one medium, one tall, and one short and round. (Hint: Hollow them out from the bottom to keep your pumpkin houses’ roofs intact!...

Real Trees Provide Family Tradition Taking a plastic tree out of storage every year isn’t quite the same as heading to a Christmas tree farm or local nursery and bringing home a fresh, live tree. For many people who celebrate Christmas, a genuine evergreen is a festive and romantic symbol of family, tradition, and nostalgia. In many households, it’s a non-negotiable, seasonal staple. A 2019 survey for the Christmas Tree Promotion Board polled 2,000 American parents with children ages 17 and younger who celebrate Christmas....

Regenerative agriculture, put simply, is a way of farming that not only protects our valuable land and soil, but may actually improve the health of the soil and, therefore, assist with carbon sequestration. It’s a big topic, and one that is likely not going away anytime soon. Companies like General Mills have pledged to use regenerative practices on a million acres of farmland in the coming decade, and movies like The Biggest Little Farm are starting to help the concept go mainstream....

When I got married, I was showered with sweet gifts from loved ones, all from my registry. However, there was one item I didn’t register for but received anyway, thanks to a family friend who firmly believes no kitchen is complete without it: the OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set. Well over a year later, and I can confirm she was right. The silicone spatulas have held up to my nightly cooking for all this time, and they’re just like new—impressive given the number of times I’ve burnt water or boiled over a pot of spaghetti....

As the mom of boys, you won’t find many unicorns in our house. We’ve got about a million dinosaurs, Legos, cars, and tiny little animals all over the house. I honestly can’t think of a single unicorn off the top of my head – maybe in my blog photo props. But I know a whole lot of little girls, okay all girls, that love them. So I’ve decided to share a couple of unicorn themed posts in the next few days so those of you who have kids who do love unicorns and more of the girly things will have options too!...

Sabra’s 10-ounce Classic Hummus is being recalled in the following 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Salmonella contamination was discovered by a routine screen of a single tub by the FDA, states the report. The good news? No one has reported any illnesses or even consumer complaint regarding the hummus affected by this recall....

To buy: $24 (was $40); amazon.com. One shopper said that wearing the shoes feels like “walking on a cloud.” Another five-star reviewer added, “This shoe is the softest, most comfortable foam slipper I’ve ever owned!” The lightweight shoes have a 1.7-inch-thick sole for even more comfort that offers a cushioned and supportive walking experience, whether you’re inside or walking in your backyard. Plus, the shoes use an anti-slip texture for added safety, to prevent you from sliding out of the shoes while you’re on the go....

Reader question: “This one is always controversial among my family—should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?” —Kali Hendricks With discussions surrounding the importance of routines at an all-time high, we’re all scrambling to nail the best brushing routine. The universally accepted consensus is that we should be brushing our teeth twice a day. What that rule doesn’t specify, however, is when exactly to do your brushing. Personally, I was in the post-breakfast camp for the longest time, mainly because the wedded taste of fluoride and orange juice has to be the most unappetizing combination in the world....

Not to be confused with a soft boiled egg, a soft scramble is nearly identical to a plate of traditional scrambled eggs, except that a soft scrambled egg is creamier in texture. Since soft scrambled eggs are cooked in less time on a stovetop over medium-low heat, the result is a fluffy, yet melty barely-set breakfast that never fails to please. High heat can quickly scorch eggs, so the secret to perfectly executed cloud-like curds relies heavily on a stovetop’s heat setting....

There are only a handful of TV shows that I’ve binge-watched from start to finish after already having watched the series live. Friends is one, The Office is another, and Gilmore Girls is the third. Oh, Gilmore Girls, how I love you. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve watched the series, I could watch it over and over again and still love it. I probably got that from my older brother who thought his relationship with my mom was similar to Rory and Lorelai’s, so was obsessed with the show as well....

But this year, I’m putting some tech muscle behind all those new habits I’d like to create and goals I’d like to set. Because smartphones, smart homes, and yes, a few fun tech gadgets can be just the thing to help prod even the biggest procrastinators and most willpower-challenged goal setters (ahem, me) toward New Year’s resolution success. Whether your goal is a healthier, wealthier, or wiser New Year, you’ll find just the right strategies to help make you a New Year’s resolution success story....

One of my dreams in life is to be on Ellen’s Game of Games show. I absolutely adore her and the games are so much fun! Or another dream would be to work for the show and help come up with games – but you know I kind of like my current job, so maybe just be on the show. This Thanksgiving danger words game is a simplified version of the danger words game on her show and one of my favorite Thanksgiving games ever....