9 of the Most Gorgeous Zinnias You Absolutely Should Grow This Summer

These colorful annual flowers will brighten your garden and welcome butterflies from spring until frost. Beautiful, vibrant, tall zinnias are a must in any garden. You cansnip their stems for bouquetsorpress the bloomsbetween the pages of heavy books to save for later. A monarch butterfly visits a ‘Benary’s Giant Bright Pink’ zinnia.Credit: Courtesy of The Flower Lady Luckily, zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are easy togrow in a sunny spot. The hard part is deciding which ones to plant because so many beautiful varieties are available....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 387 words · Destiny Cunningham

9 of the Worst Trees to Plant in Your Yard (and What to Plant Instead)

Throw in invasive species, andyour choice of treecould create problems for you and the local ecosystem. Here are 9 trees to avoid, and what to plant instead. Their pretty white flowers are spectacular, but many homeowners have come to regret planting them. Credit:Susan A. Roth What to Plant Instead Nativeserviceberries(Amelanchierspp.) are beautiful small trees or shrubs that offer all-season interest. Small, edible berries form in summer, and the green foliage turns fiery red andorange colors in fall....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 411 words · Nicholas Brown

9 Painted Wall Mural Ideas to Brighten Any Room

Get the bold look of wallpaper without the high price tagno painting experience required. Unlikewallpaperwhich can be expensive and notoriously difficult to hanga mural can often be completed in an afternoon. Best of all, you don’t have to be an artist to create a gorgeous painted accent wall. Credit:Carson Downing That’s quite the bargain when compared to the cost of wallpaper or decals. On the flip side, a mural can also add much-needed architectural interest....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 325 words · Roberta Wise

9 Pastel Wall Color Ideas to Brighten Your Home

If you punch links we provide, we may receive compensation. See how painting your walls pastel can help you achieve a lighter, more spacious feel. Pastels provide a happy medium between pure white and full-on color. Credit: Jay Wilde Where deep, saturated shades might feel too overwhelming, pastel paint colors deliver softness and subtlety. Let these pastel rooms inspire you to look at the lighter side of the paint swatch....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 365 words · Brianna Lawrence

9 People You Might Be Forgetting to Tip (But Should), According to Etiquette Experts

One profession in particular gets overlooked when it comes to tipping. All of these options have a substantial portion of the population confused, understandably. In America in 2025,20% is the standard. Credit:lechatnoir / Getty Images Many in the service industry rely heavily on tips, so its the perfect opportunity to activate your generosity. Beyond those parties, there are a handful of people or groups you should be tipping with every service....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 292 words · Randy Weber

9 Places You Should Never Plant Tomatoes for Optimal Growth

Tomatoes are picky about where they grow so avoid planting them in these less than ideal spots. Choose a poor planting spot and you’ll end up with spindly, weak plants lacking fruit. In the Shade Tomatoes demand 8 hours or more of direct sunlighta day. Credit:Michael Hanson Optimally, the plant is bathed in sunlight from morning to night. Beware of nearby buildings, fences, and plants that can cast a shadow on plants....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 412 words · Alexander Williams

9 Power Tool Storage Ideas to Keep Your Most-Used Items Tidy

Keep your tools sorted and safeguarded with these smart storage suggestions. These small-yet-mighty investments will last longer and perform better if they’re kept properly protected. Plus, when you keeptools organized, you could quickly find and retrieve what you need without hassle. Credit: David Patterson Take inspiration from the following tool storage ideas to tackle your collection. The garage or shed is ideal for power tool storage, depending on your home’s setup....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 318 words · Derrick Bright

9 Products to Try to Cut Out Added Sugar (With No Sugar Substitutes!)

But anyone who has tried toscale back on sugarknows it’s not so easy. Our taste buds have been trained to recognize sweetness as an enjoyable and safe trait in foods. The trouble is: The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we want. Credit: Courtesy of Amazon But our shift toward wanting lower to zero sugar options has food producers responding in kind. But many people balk at the taste (or aftertaste) of these intensely sweet alternatives....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 196 words · Gavin Bishop

9 Quick Soup Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

Get a comforting meal on the table fast. Turn to one of these quick soup recipes if you don’t have hours to let flavors simmer together. We show you how to make delicious soups and stews in minutes. Credit:Brie Goldman These are all ready in 30 minutes or less. Rich and creamy like your favorite fried appetizer, thejalapeno popperin soup form is quite genius. Top with garlic croutons for the perfect crunchy spoonful....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 192 words · Michael Cohen

9 Recipes That Use Tomato Paste (A Little or a Lot)

Weve rounded up the best recipes that use a lot of tomato pasteor just a few tablespoons. Rachel Marek; Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Ready to finish that can or tube? Weve rounded up the best dishes that use a lot of tomato pasteor just a few tablespoons. Credit:Rachel Marek; Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman These recipes that use tomato paste are destined to become your new favorite dinners. Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad Carson Downing....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 263 words · Joseph Fisher

9 Retro Colors That Are Back in Style for Home Interiors

Everything old is new again with these comfortingly familiar hues. Specific colors from the past evoke comfort, familiarity, and joy. Bring that warmth into your homewith a paletteinspired by retro color trends. Credit: Werner Straube These nostalgic hues are back in style with a modern twist. Opt for saturated, dusky shades overwispy pastelsto give this color a modern edge. Combine beige withdusty bluesor rich clay tones for an easygoing,nature-inspired color scheme....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 274 words · Sandra Allen

9 Rich Chocolate Dessert Recipes That Are Surprisingly Simple

The best big and small chocolate desserts to turn to any time you’re craving cocoa. Mini Flourless Chocolate Cakes Impress your guests with these simple-to-make and utterly indulgent miniature flourless cakes. We also sneak in a splash ofcoffee liqueurto accentuate the bittersweet chocolate in these individual chocolate desserts. Credit: Jason Donnelly Chocolate Cake Better Homes & Gardens you could’t go wrong with a classic chocolate cake. For this party-readydecadent chocolate dessert, add multiple layers to feed all of your guests....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 223 words · Megan Morgan

9 Shareable Spring Sides to Take to a Potluck Party

These potluck side dishes for spring are begging to be shared. Bring something new to the table this spring. Celebrate the season with these side dishes and salads that are begging to be shared. Credit: Dera Burreson Spring potlucks are all about fresh flavors, and our spring potluck recipes are as fresh as they come. Bake it in a ceramic dish with a lid so it’s easier to transport. Mini Bacon-Mushroom Quiches Fresh green onions are sliced right into the mixture for these portablequiches....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 276 words · John Chen