Keep it simple with a few festive accent pieces, or go a step further and spread some extra holiday cheer with a delightful homemade hot chocolate station that will make your front porch extra inviting—because what’s a better way to welcome guests and neighbors than a steaming hot cup of Christmas spirit! Related Video

To help you take hygge to the next level, we rounded up our favorite winter recipe ideas—from baked mac and cheese to decadent beef potpie. We also made sure to include our classic chicken and dumplings and a few desserts for good measure. This recipe falls somewhere in between: It’s super creamy, but evaporated milk ensures the sauce is extra thick. Decadent is no exaggeration; it includes 6 cups of freshly grated cheese in total—including Gruyere, Cheddar, and American cheese....

Buy It: Good & Gather Freeze-Dried Raspberries ($4, Target) Buy It: Vita Coco Coconut Water ($5, Target) Buy It: Cuisinart Food Processor ($100, Williams Sonoma) Related Video

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Many of the plants we associate with the holidays have special symbolism dating back centuries, while others have only recently reached Christmas decor status. So, whether you’re looking for a bit of extra luck this holiday season, trying to find a seasonally appropriate gift for someone on your list, or just hoping to make your interiors feel more merry and bright, there’s a plant out there for you. Below, learn about 18 picture-perfect Christmas flowers and plants—and the meanings behind them....

1. Planter Box Entryway Storage Turn a metal planter box into a central space to store on-the-go items or gardening supplies. Acrylic bins nestle in the container to create individual sections for essentials. Hang magnetic clips on the outside to pin reminders. Slide a boot tray under the console to protect your floors from wet items like rain boots or a watering can. 2. DIY Entryway Shelves Mount these DIY semi-circle shelves to turn a blank wall into a functional entryway....

Make-Ahead Tip: After assembling the dip, refrigerate it up to 24 hours before baking. Test Kitchen Tip: These cheese appetizers freeze beautifully, so keep a stash on hand throughout the holidays. Related Video

Inouye also notes emerging lighting trends that aid universal design, including lighting drawer interiors and incorporating lighting along the bottom of cabinets to emphasize the layout and depth of the space. Similar benefits can come from incorporating more drawers into the kitchen cabinetry, according to Inouye. For example, upper cabinets might traditionally hold dishware and glassware, but drawers with storage inserts securely store these staples below the countertop, making them easier to access for more users....

Editor’s Tip: Stuff the hat with tissue paper, pillow stuffing, or newspaper so the hat doesn’t flop over or blow away. Editor’s Tip: You could also use these in place of candy when you answer the door for trick-or-treaters. To get the look: Editor’s Tip: Our patterns are free, so print as many as you like and use them to embellish other items, such as vases or decorative plates. Editor’s Tip: Use a low-watt bulb (60 watts) in the lamp, so the paper silhouettes do not get hot....

A warm yellow and crisp white color palette creates a vintage feel in this primary bathroom. White-painted paneling covers three-fourths of the bathroom’s walls, while the upper portion features a sunny-yellow hue. Paint thick, dark grout lines throughout the shower and floor tiling to emphasize the bathroom’s vintage aesthetic. Quick tip: Use a foam brush when painting grout to prevent brush hairs from coming loose. Related Video

To make these spooky Halloween cupcakes, use purchased red icing to pipe red zigzags atop white-frosted cupcakes. Place circle gummy candies on top of each Halloween cupcake, using white frosting to secure. Dip small doughnut holes in melted white chocolate or icing and place on top of gummy candies for eyes. Use icing to attach small chocolate candies to the tops of doughnut holes for the pupils. Frost each cupcake with chocolate frosting and cover with chocolate sprinkles....

See our handy chart, below, for four amazing recipes for avocado-based breakfasts. (If you print it out and hang it on your fridge for those mornings when you’re in a breakfast rut, you’ll thank yourself later.) Avocado breakfast ideas Related Video

These negative relationships to money—formed by anything from childhood experiences to long-term debt in adulthood—can be connected to financial trauma, which can, in turn, inform and hinder the ways that people interact with money in daily life. We talked with experts to learn more about financial trauma, what it can look like, and the steps you can take to resolve it. What Is Financial Trauma? Dr. Galen Buckwalter, a psychological research scientist and chief science officer at Happy Money, is one of the leading experts on financial trauma....

Editor’s Tip: Make a corner swag by wiring greenery to boards attached to each other at a right angle. Editor’s Tip: Purchase a long evergreen garland to serve as the base, then use florists pins and hot glue to secure the embellishments. Related Video

But that doesn’t mean your summer has to be a bummer. Don’t focus on all the summer activities that are out of your reach—instead, think about all the wonderful things you can still do within your means (like taking a vacation on a budget). If you’re looking for fun and inexpensive things to do in the summer—or want to focus on the simple pleasures of the season—try some of these stellar summer activities and staycation ideas that are just as wonderful as your costly summer vacation plans....

Although the math behind this principle is relatively straightforward, it can be hard to put into practice. There is no one-size-fits all approach to geographic arbitrage—but there are five key pillars to plotting a big move and pulling it off successfully. After all, packing up for a new place has its own inconveniences and financial outlays. The only way to know if a move will be worthwhile is to grow the gap between your recurring expenses and your income....

Here, we’re mapping out five exceptionally fun and beautiful routes throughout the U.S. that showcase the best of each unique region. Roll through Texas for three full days of museums, bar hopping, and world-class barbecue; or wind your way up the coast of Maine for a week of freshly caught fish, epic antiquing, and timeless New England charm. Ready to hit the road? Whether you have a few days or more than a week, these unforgettable road trip routes are the ultimate way to satisfy pent-up wanderlust—no passport required....

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Vegetarian Gravy This make-ahead vegetarian gravy is rich, flavorful, and silky. Easy Dinners Apple-Cheddar Quesadillas Thin slices of sweet-tart apple rest on a bed of melty cheddar cheese. But the secret ingredient here is the tangy honey mustard. Chicken Thighs With Couscous and Olives The secret to perfect chicken thighs is browning them on the stovetop in an oven-proof skillet, and then transferring the pan to the oven. Sweet Stuff Orange and Clove Basque Cheesecake This crustless cheesecake originates from the Basque region of Spain, and it’s lighter in texture than the classic version you might be more familiar with....

While feeling sad is perfectly normal, author Allison Gilbert offers a more empowering approach in her book Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive, which is full of concrete tools for preserving memories of those who have passed. “Taking steps to proactively remember loved ones is essential to healing,” she says. “Individuals who find appropriate ways to stay connected almost always fare better than those who don’t.” And, for Gilbert, embracing social media was helpful....