Healthy 8 is a colorful mix of carrots, cabbage, celery, jicama, and broccoli—basically everything you need for the base of a nutritious meal without any washing and chopping. Throw it into your favorite chili recipe for an added dose of vegetables that even picky eaters won’t notice. For an easy and fast weeknight meal, grab some pre-cooked rice or quinoa, veggies pulled from the freezer, and baked or grilled protein of your choice....

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines zero-waste as the “conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials.” All of this is done without harming the health of humans or our planet’s natural resources. While corporations and manufacturers can adopt the concept on a larger scale, incremental efforts at home can make an impact, too. If you’re looking for a place to start, Lily Cameron, co-founder of blog, book, and former store Wild Minimalist, suggests making small, purposeful choices to be more eco-conscious....

Things to Do in the Snow Have an epic snowball fight.Build a snowman.Go sledding.Catch snowflakes on your tongue.Make a snow angel.Hit the slopes.Go snowshoeingWatch the snow falling Things to Eat and Drink in Winter Bake cookies and share them with friends. Drink hot buttered rum. Make a pot of mulled wine or spiced cider. Make a big batch of chili. Bake a pie. Make (and enjoy) eggnog. Make snow cream. Bake cinnamon rolls....

We tested 22 heated mattress pads in our Lab and evaluated them on effectiveness, comfort, durability, and value. For expert safety advice, we spoke to Brianne Deerwester, communications coordinator for the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). “When purchasing heated mattress pads, be sure to only purchase those which have been certified and tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL),” says Deerwester. “NRTLs test and certify electrical equipment and other products to ensure that they meet current safety standards and are safe with proper use....

Although often used in rural settings, picket fences can be a useful, beautiful part of several garden types and settings, offering a range of practical uses and accents. Here are a few creative ideas to consider for picket fences. Place the picket fence farther inside property line. Many picket fences are sited right at the edge of a yard, in the slim space between the sidewalk and the property’s edge....

“In the morning, a few simple breathing techniques and movements will clear away the aches and stiffness of the body while clearing the cobwebs out of your mind,” says Tory Schaefer, national director of yoga operations at Life Time in Minneapolis. You’ll also start the day more energized. Meanwhile, “at night, a yoga practice will help reset everything so your bed becomes a sacred space rather than a think tank of residue from the day....

Buy It: Blue Diamond 12-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Skillet with Cover ($35, Target) Buy It: Bamboo Fiber Salad Bowl With Servers Set ($46, Walmart) Related Video

It’s not merely the transition from playtime to the work and school week. Many of us stay up later on weekend nights and sleep in during the day, messing up our circadian rhythms and making us grumpy and irritable when the alarm goes off on Monday morning. The stress of starting the week may even affect our health. In fact, a 2004 study found that blood pressure tends to be highest on Monday mornings, while another concluded that Monday is the most common day of the week for heart attacks....

And after adjusting some Christmas traditions over the past few years, we’ve found that the pandemic didn’t just change the way we celebrate the holidays, it also changed the way we decorate for them. Many people are skipping the traditional red and green decor for playful, nontraditional accents. Others are embracing the nostalgia of the season, decorating with vintage Christmas decorations and retro-inspired accents. With so many possibilities, we’re more excited than ever to bust out the ornaments and start wrapping gifts....

How to Make Chicken Salad at Home Cooking chicken for chicken salad is not a necessity. Read on for a variety of poultry picks, plus how to make homemade chicken salad, what to add to elevate the flavors, and ways to serve chicken salad at a party. Choose the Chicken You can buy chicken salad at the deli, but nothing beats a DIY version made with fresh, top-quality ingredients. It all starts with good chicken....

To buy: From $20 with coupon; amazon.com. These shoe organizers make the most out of the unused space under your bed and are only 6 inches tall, so they can squeeze into even the tightest areas. The shoe bag can store 16 pairs while the boot bag can store four for a total of 20 that are safely tucked away and out of sight. Made out of thick and tough reinforced nylon, these bags are built to keep shoes safe, plus they have clear, breathable tops so odors aren’t trapped and you can easily see what’s inside....

If the lemon flavor is overpowering, balance it with some fresh garlic or skip the lemon zest altogether (but keep the fresh lemon juice). Also, toss in some grilled chicken or shrimp to add more protein and make this a complete meal. Related Video

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I’m definitely swapping my breezy summer bedding for more cold-weather-friendly flannels and weaves (hello-o heathered cashmere!), and adding a neutral, elegant wool throw to the end of my bed. As a bonus, new customers also get 10 percent off its entire site; automatically applied at checkout. And Brooklinen’s not just top of line for bedding. It also has spa-worthy robes, silk pillowcases, weighted blankets, diffusers, and more. Each of these add to a comfy, warm atmosphere that makes it oh-so-difficult to leave my apartment....

In a new series called “Is It Worth It?” we’re testing out the extra steps recipes call for to see if they’re worth the additional effort. Think: peeling chickpea skins for creamier hummus, refrigerating cookie dough overnight for more flavorful results, and, in this case, tossing blueberries—or any fruit—in flour to keep them from sinking and/or bleeding. I began by making two batches of our blueberry streusel muffin recipe. In the first batch, I removed two tablespoons of flour from the total amount the recipe called for....

Raw Pack vs. Hot Pack Because fruits are highly acidic, you can use a boiling-water canner to can them (no pricey pressure canner needed). Of course, then the question of raw pack vs. hot pack comes up. For some canned fruit, raw packing isn’t recommended (we’ll let you know when to stick with a hot pack). If you’re new to canning and these terms have your head spinning, don’t worry—the difference is pretty simple....

Chalk paint ideas extend far beyond the world of shabby chic décor and upcycled furniture. Chalk paint can fit into a farmhouse kitchen and a modern bedroom alike, when applied correctly, and the many chalk paint colors available just add to the possibilities. The textured, lived-in look of chalk paint—as opposed to the gloss or semi-gloss of standard paints—gives kitchen cabinets, walls, furniture, and more a little more character, making it easier to establish a real atmosphere or mood in a space....

Currently, the K-beauty brand’s serum has more than 1,600 overwhelmingly positive reviews on the Sephora website. Multiple shoppers shared reports of immediate change, including one that noticed a difference after only a few days. “My skin feels and looks like it never had any issues with dryness,” they wrote. “My skin looks healthier and brighter. I can definitely see myself purchasing this again.” To buy: $48; sephora.com The serum combines hyaluronic acid with the antioxidizing powers of plum extract, along with vegan collagen and silk proteins....