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Because picking the best bathroom faucet isn’t always easy, we spoke to Lonnie Thomas, founder of the faucet review site Mr. Kitchen Faucets, to get expert insight on what to look for when shopping for these devices. “When choosing bathroom faucets, you should look at how easy they are to install, whether or not they come with instructions, what type of finish (brass, chrome, nickel, etc.) they have, and if there is an anti-scald feature on them,” Thomas says....

“A mattress topper is kind of a band-aid for a bad or uncomfortable bed,” says Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and founder of The Sleep Doctor. Adding a topper, consisting of a few inches worth of foam, to the top of your mattress can be a game changer for beds that are too soft or not giving enough support, he adds. To find the best mattress toppers, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each pick’s size range, thickness, and fill materials....

What Is a Gourd? Gourds, like pumpkins, melons, squash and cucumbers, are members of the cucurbit or squash family. Like their cousins, gourds grow on long vines. There are three major gourd groups. Cucurbit gourds are small, decorative, colorful, thick-shelled and sometimes warty. Lagenaria gourds are larger and can be used for a variety of utilitarian or decorative functions. This group includes bottle, basket, and dipper gourds. The third group is the luffa gourd....

We put 34 of the best beach towels to the test in our lab in Des Moines, Iowa, testing each towel’s quality, absorbency, softness, and durability after repeated washes. We also took detailed notes on how comfortable each towel was to lie on, its dimensions, and how much sand remained on the towel after being shaken out. After two days of testing, we chose the Clowood Plush Bamboo Cotton beach towel as the all-around best beach towel because of its thick, luxurious cushioning and how easily it absorbed water....

“By using a steamer, it is harder to damage your clothes compared to using an iron,” says Rechelle Balanzat, CEO and Founder of Juliette Laundry. The reason for this is that you don’t have to master a technique with a steamer as you do with an iron—at least if you don’t want to damage your clothing. Another advantage of a steamer is that it is easy to store and maintain....

“A good-quality aluminum pan will be extremely durable, conduct heat evenly, and won’t warp or bend like flimsier pans made with lower-gauge aluminum or cheaper materials,” says Elisa Lyew, owner and chef at Elisa’s Love Bites. “Look for sheets labeled as ‘one-piece construction,’ which will give you better durability and withstand regular wear and tear.” To find the best baking sheets, we asked 10 testers to put a variety of baking sheets to the test in their home kitchens....

When shopping for the best outdoor rug, it’s important to keep in mind that not all rugs are suitable for outdoor use. In addition to choosing a rug style and size, you’ll also want to consider the materials it’s made of as well as where you plan to place it. “If you’re going to be frequently hosting and toasting patio hours, or this will be the family hangout at home, then you’ll need it to be able to withstand heavy foot traffic, frequent spills, and potentially even paw prints,” said Heather Goerzen, managing editor for Havenly....

“There are downsides to having a real tree,” says Mary Patton, owner and designer at Mary Patton Design in Houston, Texas. “You could be extremely allergic, like I am, to a real live forest in your house.” That is enough for some to look for the best artificial Christmas tree they can find. But there are other considerations if you can handle decorating a Christmas tree that’s been freshly cut....

“When [choosing the best kitchen faucets], make sure that the faucet not only fits the style of the kitchen but that it also functions for [your] needs,” said Jenny Slingerland, owner and principal designer at Black Ink Interiors. “Understanding how you need your kitchen to function for you is the best first step in selecting the perfect faucet. Do you live a fast-paced life and prefer a touch-activated faucet, or would you prefer a more traditional bridge faucet with two handles?...

Learn more about morning glories. Learn more about cardinal vine. Learn more about cypress vine. Learn more about moonflower. Learn more about Spanish flag. Learn more about growing nasturtiums. Learn more about edible flowers Learn more about scarlet runner bean. Learn more about sweet peas. Discover other fragrant flowers you can grow. Learn more about black-eyed Susan vine.

Editor’s Tip: This works well if you have two grads in the family at the same time, too. Get our appetizer quantity guide and checklist. Try these festive party drink ideas. Editor’s Tip: Use your grad’s school’s colors for extra enthusiasm. Editor’s Tip: To encourage impromptu pictures, scatter disposable cameras around the party.

Plant two pear varieties for best pollination. The flowers of most pear varieties can’t pollinate themselves. Instead, they must cross-pollinate with a different variety to develop fruit. A different variety of pear growing within 100 feet will provide the pollen necessary for fertilization. Plant pears in groups of two or more to make sure you get fruit. Insects are essential for transferring the pollen between plants, so avoid using pesticides around your trees while they’re in bloom....

“This lightweight squeegee does a fantastic job of cleaning water droplets off glass shower doors to prevent stains and buildup. I’ve used it for about two years, and it hasn’t started to show any signs of rust or wear,” said Sole. “Plus, it comes with multiple finish/color options and minimalist mounting hardware, so you can keep it in the shower without it cramping the style of your space.” Not only can you use the squeegee to clear droplets and buildup away from your shower doors and tiling, but the brand also notes you can use it on countertops with your cleaner of choice, so you can clean multiple surfaces in one go....

Becoming The Korean Vegan and Embracing Cultural Identity If you’ve ever had Korean food, you know that vegan doesn’t usually fit the description of the dishes. So when Molinaro decided she wanted to go vegan, she says she selfishly started a blog in an effort to make sure she could still enjoy her favorite food. “I was like, I’m not going to be vegan if I can’t eat Korean food,” Molinaro says....

We’ll show you how to make your own bunny wreath form (this trick is genius!) out of two grapevine wreaths. Once you’ve assembled it, all you have to do is add some of your favorite artificial spring flowers and fill in with faux or dried greenery. Using faux flowers will make your wreath last for years, and you can usually find inexpensive blooms at local craft stores. This grapevine bunny wreath is so cute you won’t want to take it down when the holiday is over....

Nickels for nickel-gap paneling—not every DIYer leans so much toward authenticity, but Jarrod does. As a product designer, he makes a living smoothing technicalities. His photographer wife, Stacy, who chronicles this makeover at Mountainside Home, is equally detail-oriented. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the renovation of their simple 1955 ranch near Birmingham, Alabama, took 10 years. They talked about hiring help to speed up the process, but other than the few occasions they needed a pro, they learned from each project and took the time to do it themselves....

Her design studio started with a human interest incentive—a way to raise money for causes she cared about in the midst of COVID-19—and has grown into a business complete with custom-made pieces, from squiggle key chains and shelves to cloud-printed stools. At the center of everything? The color pink. During her senior year studying industrial design at Virginia Tech, Collé found herself becoming bored with her classes, which didn’t allow her to venture much outside of scientific and medical designs....

If you get hunger pangs while strolling through Jenny’s garden, then her design strategy has succeeded. Coming from a long line of organic vegetable gardeners, Jenny was brought up on a backyard pick-your-own smorgasbord. But back then, vegetables and flowers were strictly segregated. That approach changed when Jenny got her first apartment in Boston and watched her Puerto Rican and Italian neighbors pack their small city lots with the food and flowers they craved....