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But did you know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a very specific bacon definition? In the U.S., bacon is “the cured belly of a swine carcass.” (Yum!) Let’s break that down: Curing is a technique that preserves pork, and pork belly is soaked in a salty solution called brine. Although some bacon in the supermarket is labeled “uncured,” technically it’s cured, just without added artificial nitrates (preservatives) that speed up the process....

While letter-writing may seem to be a lost form of art, stats show otherwise. During the initial quarantine period in March 2020, online stationery brand, Papier, noted a 300 percent increase in sales of notecards and writing paper, and the trend has continued into 2021. Gen Z is jumping on the bandwagon too—WGSN, a global authority on consumer and design trends, reports that TikTok’s hashtag #penpal has more than 295 million views and penpal communities, such as #Penpalooza have emerged to connect those longing for snail-mail all over the globe....

Paint the Banister Making over your staircase can drastically change the look of your home, especially if it’s the first thing guests see when they walk in the door. Rather than attempting to paint the entire room or the entire staircase, consider painting just the banister. This project will require less painter’s tape than repainting the stair risers and you won’t have to worry about the paint being slippery or wearing off, as you would when painting the stair treads....

If you have young kids at home, carefully consider plant placement. You might want to avoid a large, floor-standing plant—which might tempt your toddler to dig through the potting soil—but opt instead for trailing ivy that can be set on top of your kitchen cabinets. For those shopping for plants online, keep in mind the conditions the plant will have to endure to get to its forever home—moving to or from regions where temperatures can be extreme might cause indoor plants might to wilt or die in transit depending on their hardiness....

To learn how to help our outdoor furniture last for many years, we reached out to the furniture pros at Article for their best advice. Here, Nicole Hunt, the product development manager at Article, shares her top tips for choosing a patio set that will stand the test of time. “Acacia wood is another great material for outdoor use, but it requires a bit more maintenance than its metal-based counterparts....

Using the Wrong Equipment Precision is one of the most important parts of baking quality bread at home, so if you aren’t weighing your ingredients, expect sub-par results. “A scale and a cast iron combination cooker are two essential tools that will make an immediate difference in your baking,” says Myhrvold. “But the scale is the piece of equipment we recommend most emphatically for all bakers. If you have been measuring ingredients only by the cup and teaspoon, now is a great time to buy a good scale to apply more percentages as well as grams, which is another benefit....

Bonus: Radishes are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. If you’re a gardening newbie, try adding radish seeds to your planting rotation. Ahead, learn what registered dietitians have to say about important radish nutrition and health benefits. Nutritious Reasons to Eat More Radishes They’re high in antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize, or “turn off,” harmful molecules called free radicals. (In high amounts, free radicals cause cell damage and oxidative stress, leading to chronic conditions like cancer or heart disease....

To answer the question, we’ve gathered the help of physicians and research to provide science-backed reasons as to why everyone finds lavender so incredibly soothing. Here’s how lavender affects the brain and body and why we can’t get enough of this beautiful flower (and its wonderful smell). Now, recent studies are pointing to lavender’s ability to actually boost deep sleep when inhaled. That’s because the lavender aroma increases delta waves in slow-wave sleep, which is the stage of sleep where you sleep the most deeply....

Want in on the waves? Whether you have long or short wavy hair, we asked hairstylists for the best styles to pair with your glorious curls the next time you go to the salon.

The same way you exfoliate your face and body, exfoliating your scalp is an absolute must for proper hair care. Hair health starts at the root, and product or oil buildup will only weaken your hair follicles over time. Keep in mind that if you have skin sensitivities like eczema, psoriasis, or acne on your scalp, an abrasive exfoliant like a scalp scrub might not be for you. But if you don’t have any of these concerns, you’re totally good to go....

Continued use of abrasive toothpaste can remove tooth enamel and cause gum recession, exposing the tooth’s root surface and leading to painful tooth wear.Instead, Berg recommends using a multi-purpose fluoride toothpaste daily. “People who have tooth-colored fillings or restorations (including crowns and veneers) in their ‘smile zone’ should limit the whitening they do.” That’s because crowns, veneers, and fillings are made of porcelain or composite materials which, unlike enamel, does not whiten and may look darker in comparison to natural teeth after whitening....

Spending money for your basic needs such as food, gas, and rent are valid and unavoidable–but there are ways to lower your overall spending so can put more money towards retirement, a house, investments, or your emergency fund. Here are activities you can add to your day to help you save more money toward your long-term financial goals. You don’t have to give up your daily coffee, but you do stand to save big by making it yourself....

Care: Pothos can do well in full sun or even partial shade, making it ideal for both bright windows and those that receive indirect light. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Care: Set your rubber plant in a spot that gets bright, indirect light. Water it about once a week, keeping the soil moist during the growing season. As needed, gently dust off the leaves with a damp cloth....

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A coat of fresh paint delivers 100 percent ROI, and may even bump up your home’s value by 5 percent. If you hire a pro, the average cost for replacing a light fixture on Thumbtack is $380. Opt for a popular pendant light in the kitchen—Zillow found that homes with pendant lights can sell more than a day faster than similar homes.

In addition to having your pictures taken, you can also go through all your addresses to make sure your loved ones’ details are up to date and add any new ones to the list.

“Photographers typically look to a window or fireplace as a focal point, so stage furniture around that,” suggests Fernanda Bertrand, co-owner and founder of Upstaging Seattle, which has staged more than 700 homes. “If you block the view of a window, for example, potential buyers can’t get the right idea of scale from the listing photos.” RELATED: 5 Interior Design Mistakes That Are Ruining the Flow of Your Space—and How to Fix Them Whether your house is for sale or not, consider adding area rugs if you don’t have them, or swapping out your current rugs if you’ve lived with them for a while....

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