Better Homes & Gardens readers are doers. This year was BHG’s centennial anniversary, so we have 100 years of magazines and reader letters and emails to prove it. Tackling DIY ideas, hosting, home organization, and lawn care are just some examples of the projects you’ve conquered. The top pieces BHG readers clicked on most (so far) this year backs this up. Getting things in the home clean and tidy was top of mind along with keeping your nutritional health and garden thriving....

Why Is There a Turkey Shortage? In the past several months, the USDA reported an avian flu outbreak. Nearly 50 million birds (including turkeys and chickens) have been infected and died on farms across 43 states. Yes, that’s nearly the amount of turkeys consumed on a single Thanksgiving. Since fewer commercial turkeys will be available this year, this is going to result in a price hike. As of right now, the price per pound of turkey (8 to 16 pounds) is $1....

As it turns out, not all Thanksgiving pies are created equal, at least not according to Instacart. The grocery delivery company shared its annual Turkey Day Exposé, which broke down dozens of ordering trends leading up to the last Thursday in November. Per the 2021 report, which gathered intel from Instacart surveys among more than 2,000 U.S. adults (conducted online by The Harris Poll), Americans have some distinct opinions about their Thanksgiving favorites....

To buy: $27; amazon.com. “I could wear these every day! So comfortable, soft, [and] flattering, and [they] have great pockets, too,” wrote a five-star reviewer who already purchased another pair. “I love these!” echoed another shopper who praised the joggers’ “soft, lightweight, yoga-pant material with a high waist, good-sized pockets, and perfect fit.” The high-waisted joggers have other standout features, like the deep pockets and a zippered side pocket that allow you to safely store items like your cell phone, keys, or credit card while you’re exercising or running errands....

Searches for “fancy non-alcoholic drinks” are up 220 percent on Pinterest, “mocktail bar” up 75 percent, and “fancy ice cubes” up 75 percent, proving that people are putting more thought and intention into their sips. Thankfully, delicious mocktails, lighter spritzers, and low-ABV drinks are more popular than ever so it’s easy to find recipes and order something tasty at the bar without feeling left out. Plus, trendy zero-proof spirits, non-alcoholic wine, and booze-light or -free aperitif brands are a dime a dozen these days....

The affected brands include Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and produced prior to October 2021. According to a company press release, an internal investigation identified the propellant as the source, and Unilever has worked with its propellant suppliers to address the issue. It’s not the first time aerosol products have been recalled due to benzene concerns—P&G has also recalled certain aerosol spray products last year for the same reason....

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What is Pu-erh Tea? Pu-erh comes from Yunnan, a Chinese province nestled against the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. This fermented tea falls into one of three types: raw, cooked (also called ripe), or aged. Raw pu-erh has a lot in common with green tea. Cooked pu-erh, a more modern innovation that emulates aging through a “piling” process, tastes more like black tea. When making the third type, aged pu-erh, producers treat leaves to encourage fermentation to build next-level subtlety....

The perfect month or week to harvest can vary by region and growing conditions, but you can always rely on your produce to let you know when it’s ready to be picked; keep an eye out for these signs in your veggie garden for the best time to harvest cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and more. When is Harvest Season: Yield times vary, but most types are in bumper-crop mode from mid-July through September....

1. Select the Perfect Spot Ava Martin, a water filtration system expert at Quality Water Lab who has a degree in environmental science, says air purifiers are relatively simple: “They take in impure air from a space, filter it and give out clean air.” When it comes to the perfect air purifier placement, she says placing one flush against a wall may block its air intake and cause the filter to work improperly....

So when and why did turkeys become the main event on Thanksgiving menus? We talked all things turkey with Beth Forrest, Ph.D., a food historian and professor of liberal arts and food studies at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, to find out why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving? In 1621, New England Puritans celebrated their harvest with a big feast, as was the English tradition....

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Don’t believe us? For one, just think about the resurgence of the appliance garage. On the other hand, the wall-to-wall carpeting trend comeback is pretty divisive, which makes sense since carpeting gets dirty fast. Is full-blown carpeting really going to overtake hardwood floors? We asked an expert for input. Recent Flooring Trends For years, flooring trends have been all about hardwood floors (or engineered wood flooring). Ripping up the carpet and replacing it with clean, bare wood floors—with plenty of area rugs on top—has been a common theme on renovation shows....

What is arsenic, and what does it have to do with your food? What consumption, you ask? Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is “widely distributed throughout the environment,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), found in rocks, soil, air, and water. Arsenic is “highly toxic in its inorganic form,” WHO explains. Drinking contaminated groundwater or eating foods exposed to contaminated water (during irrigation or processing/manufacturing) are the primary ways humans can be exposed to inorganic arsenic....

When to Water Your Garden by Season The time of year and precipitation (or lack of it) impact the amount of water you may need to supply. Plants grow less quickly, if at all, during the cooler months, so they don’t require as much moisture to support their stems and leaves. But even cold-hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials, which are dormant in winter, still need hydration. Most areas of the country do experience some drought, so your job is to ease your plants through those dry spells....

White Elephant Rules White elephant is a gift exchange, so each person must bring one wrapped present to the Christmas party. Once everyone is assembled, have each person draw a number. The person with number “one” chooses a present to unwrap. The person with number “two” has a choice: They may choose a new, wrapped present, or they may take the unwrapped present from the first person. If they take the present from the first person, that person chooses another present to unwrap....

Best Kitchen Gadget Cyber Monday Deals Under $50 Gravity Electric Electric Salt and Pepper Grinders Mueller Ultra-Stick Multi-Purpose Hand Blender This hand blender has tons of uses, so you’ll really get your money’s worth. The non-slip, ergonomic handle makes it easy to grip, and the blender is made with durable stainless steel that will last for a long time. There are three attachment options (blender, milk frother, and egg whisk) that are detachable and dishwasher-safe, making it super simple to clean....

1. Kitchen The Problem: Bulky appliances, lunch boxes, coupons, and cookbooks quickly cover up wide-open counter space. The Solution: Start by purging your kitchen of items you no longer use. If you can’t remember the last time you plugged in the quesadilla maker or opened a cookbook, it’s time to go. If there are countertop items you use only a few times a year, give them a permanent home in the basement or at the back of the pantry....

This simple act of prepping your ingredients prior to cooking is vital to making sure you have enough of all the ingredients needed to prepare the recipe. This way, you won’t need to step away from your dish and risk overcooking your fish while you chop up the remainder of your onions. The simple, yet effective method may seem time-consuming initially, but will end up saving you a lot of time in the long-run....

The good news is that with a wide spectrum of formats, personalities, and topics, podcasts are making brushing up on history topics easier and more entertaining than ever, often revealing new facts and prompting new ways of thinking along the way. Whether you’re a novice looking to learn, an aficionado ready to take your knowledge to the next level, or just someone who appreciates an interesting (or, in some cases, very strange) story, read on for a playlist of picks designed to catch up, complement and contextualize your history command, and browse more podcasts for your listening pleasure....