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How to Plant Grass Seed If you’re starting from scratch, follow the steps below to turn a patch of dirt into a verdant green lawn. Remember, if mowing and maintaining a lawn isn’t on the top of your priorities list, there are plenty of no-mow alternatives to a traditional grass lawn. 1. Prepare the Soil Give your new lawn the best possible start by preparing the soil and planting site. Start by removing any existing weeds, then till the soil 8 to 10 inches deep....

“Hair plopping is the new term for an old technique of towel-drying wavy or curly hair,” says Annie Rush, a senior stylist at the Marie Robinson Salon in New York City. “It’s the simplest way of getting the best frizz-free and natural air-dry. The process is easy and can also be applied to straight hair if you want a more lived-in, bohemian texture.” So, what is hair plopping? As the name implies, you plop your hair into a towel or T-shirt and roll the fabric around your head like a turban....

Are Eggs Easier to Separate After They’ve Been Chilled in the Fridge vs. Sitting Out at Room Temperature? Many recipes that involve beating eggs or egg whites into a stable foam—such as soufflés, meringues, and sponge cakes—specify room temperature eggs. That’s because eggs whip up to a greater volume when they’ve had a chance to warm up. However, these desserts (as well as custards, mousses, and more) also call for separating egg yolks from whites....

“Rubbing the eyes can create tiny tears in the [surrounding skin] tissue,” she says. “This can age the eyes and break the capillaries in the eyelids, which can then intensify dark circles.” And as tempting as it is to drain a pimple by squeezing it, “it’s best to leave touching your face for when you’re moisturizing, cleansing, or applying makeup or sunscreen.” Most importantly, if and when you do touch your face—because it’s somewhat inevitable—Dr....

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....

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....

Plus, this minimalist squeegee with a bamboo handle makes this daily task feel like less of a chore. To buy: $10, amazon.com. To buy: $3, amazon.com. To buy: $8 for 4, amazon.com. To buy: $8, amazon.com.

“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....