Whether you’re on the market to buy or sell, here’s what you can expect during an open house. What Is an Open House? Open houses are held to generate interest, attract potential buyers, and help the agent selling the home, says Hao Li, broker with HouseSigma, an AI-powered online brokerage. “When a seller lists a property for sale, the seller’s agent will often hold an open house where anyone who’s interested can come inside and tour the home at their own leisure,” Li says....

Cholesterol Isn’t All Bad Cholesterol is often described as a “waxy” substance found naturally in our own cells and in animal-based foods. It gets a bad rap when there’s too much of it in your blood (aka the medical condition, hypercholesterolemia). But in reality, having normal levels of cholesterol is important: The body needs cholesterol to carry out various functions, including making hormones, forming cell walls, and producing bile acid to help your body absorb nutrients from food....

“The main goal of an essence is to hydrate the skin and to help the other products in your skincare routine better absorb into your skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and founder of Epione Beverly Hills, Simon Ourian, MD, who boasts celeb clients like Kim Kardashian. “An essence includes a lot of great benefits for your skin and acts as a primer for your skincare routine. It makes the active ingredients in your existing skincare steps that much more effective....

Trees with Spiky Seed Pods If you’ve encountered some round, spiny balls under a tree or maybe still on the plant, and you’re wondering what it could be, it’s likely one of several options: buckeye/horsechestnut (Aesculus), chestnut (Castanea), or sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). All are common landscape trees and produce spiky pods around their seeds. The spines help protect the seeds from being eaten by critters like birds and squirrels. Here’s what each of the pods looks like....

“While they may get a bad rap as a cocktail of a bygone era, I actually have a soft spot in my heart for white wine spritzers,” says Christopher Hoel, the founder of Harper’s Club and wine curator for Wine Insiders and Martha Stewart Wine Co. “They’re fun, light, easy to tailor to your taste, and you can pre-make them in big batches before pre-portioning them out for friends and family....

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1. Space-Efficient Cleaning Closet Utility items that are usually relegated to the garage fit neatly inside a cleaning closet if they can be collapsed flat for storage. Arrange items like a collapsible bucket ($13, Target), a folding stool, and a floor sweeper on the inside of your cabinet door, then hang low-profile hooks to hold each item. Store supplies like mop pads and cleaning solutions on nearby shelves to make everything easy to retrieve....

Test Kitchen Tip: Like a smokey flavor in your Christmas roast? Substitute the same amount of smoked paprika for the regular paprika. Test Kitchen Tip: No need for a special popover pan, these puddings bake in a muffin tin. Related Video

To create standout room arrangements, choose an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories that are noticeably lighter or darker than the deep color on the walls. Place light-hued upholstered furniture, shapely lampshades, and salvaged architectural elements against dark walls to give the room a sense of lightness. In this brown-walled room, look-at-me orange demands consideration. Presented as blocks of solid color, in a wildly patterned artwork, and as a statuesque shelving unit, orange supplies a refreshing counterpoint to the room’s more staid walls....

Another biggie: Give a heads-up on attire. Shorts? Tank top? Sundress? Give guests a sense of the vibe: “You wear the flip-flops; we’ll flip the burgers” or “Bring your swimsuits!” RELATED: The 15 Best Places to Buy Outdoor Patio Furniture Online Renting can be another surprisingly cheap way to go. Folding chairs start as low as $2 each. (You may also be able to rent coolers, speakers, tableware, and a bigger grill....

The U.S. government has been grappling with proposals aimed at canceling student loan debt, but because it’s a complicated and controversial issue, the process has been moving along in fits and starts. In the meantime, those 43 million people are still looking for solutions to this financial burden. If student debt is weighing heavily on your mind, not to mention your day-to-day lifestyle, it may be time to search for an employer that is willing to help you pay off some of that debt....

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Moveable Islands Kitchen islands are on the move, with wheels that allow homeowners to push, pull, and play with this once-stationary item. Tucked to the side, an island offers surface area but allows square footage for larger groups to gather. Moved to another room, an island becomes an instant buffet table or dining extension. Unique Storage Containers Storage of even just 10 years ago were reliably plastic and unattractive. But personality-driven decor has infiltrated even the most basic of storage solutions, giving homeowners the freedom to use that which is artful and useful....

Test Kitchen Tip: To ensure your gluten-free cookies are a success, follow our recipe for multipurpose gluten-free flour mix. This blend is how the recipes were developed and is the ideal cup-for-cup substitute for most recipes calling for all-purpose flour. Test Kitchen Tip: Keep a batch of any of our gluten-free cookies in the freezer for late-night sugar cravings. Related Video

Whether you’re a canning master or just starting out, we have plenty of jelly and jam recipes to preserve your produce. Classics like strawberry jam make an appearance, but we imagine our fun jam flavor combinations are going to really entice you. Test Kitchen Tip: Always thoroughly wash fruits and veggies before using them in your recipes. Bonus: chia seeds are a great source of fiber, protein, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids....

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Editor’s Tip: Displaying your carved pumpkin outside? Get our must-have tips for making your pumpkins last longer. Editor’s Tip: If you’re creating a painted Halloween pumpkin, use long-lasting acrylic paint. Editor’s Tip: When prepping your pumpkin for carving, clean at least 1/2-inch of flesh from the inside of the pumpkin. This allows more light to glow through the etched areas—like this pumpkin’s eyes. Related Video

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Green can be bold or subtle, refined or vibrant. From pistachio green to vibrant chartreuse, the color gives any kitchen a fresh look. And with so many shades, green works with practically every kitchen style, including traditional, modern, rustic, and more. Whether you’re planning a kitchen makeover or you’re just looking to add a pop of color, here are some green kitchen ideas you won’t want to miss. Related How to Install a Barn Door...

Spice Up Your Style Like seasoning a dish when cooking, there are certain design elements that, when sprinkled in the right proportions, lend depth and interest to a room. Dabito recommends this mix to spice up any room: “My recipe for personalizing your space is adding color, art, vintage pieces, personal objects (souvenirs or heirlooms), and plants.” In the living room, Dabito kept the walls white but introduced color with an unexpected green sofa, his own original artwork, and a mustard yellow ottoman....