Create a cozy reading nook with an arrangement that wraps around a corner or flank a fireplace with DIY architectural character. Follow the steps below to learn how to make bookcases look built-in. How to Make Bookcases Look Built-In For a seamless look, purchase tall bookcases that reach nearly to your ceiling so you can easily fill in the gap with trim. What You Need Desired number of full-sized bookcasesOne narrow shelving unit for the corner (optional)1 gallon of paint or stainPaintbrushScrews and a screwdriver (or drill)Anchoring hardwareTape measureTrim pieces (enough to line the top edge of full unit)SawSandpaperHammer and nails (or nail gun)LevelWood filler...

Off he went to the store to purchase the cake mix, only to return to find that we didn’t have the vegetable oil the recipe required. Instead of going back out to the deli, we decided to improvise with whatever we had on hand. Here’s how this off-the-cuff ingredient substitution created the best boxed cake we’ve ever tasted. Ingredient Substitution After going back and forth about what to use instead of vegetable oil, we decided to try coconut oil....

Where to Plant Basil Plant basil alongside other culinary herbs in your garden such as parsley, chives, oregano, thyme, cilantro, and dill for a bountiful collection of fresh fragrant foliage. Seed a row of your favorite basil variety in the garden to ensure plenty of fresh leaves for making pesto or flavoring summer dishes. When planted near tomatoes, basil displays an ability to repel pests such as thrips (tiny winged insects) and tomato hornworms....

Bellflowers are among the most popular blue flowers, a rare hue in the plant world. While blue is the most common color, you can also find them in purple, white, and pink. These cheery little bells will grace your garden for weeks, generally starting in late spring and continuing through summer. Where to Plant Bellflower Because this is such a diverse group of plants, it’s always best to research and read labels on specific varieties before planting them in your garden....

The meaning of the “pink” moniker is two-fold: The flowers are often pink (though they come in other colors, too), and the edges of the petals have a fringed look, as if someone trimmed them with pinking shears. The blossoms of some varieties, like Dianthus superbus, feature a very long, exaggerated fringe, like streamers flying off each petal. Before you start planting, be aware that some varieties of dianthus aren’t safe for pets....

Fringed Tulip Varieties Tulipa Angelique Double-flowered tulips stand out because their blooms are packed with petals. Some have so many petals that they are referred to as peony-flowered tulips for their resemblance to those flowers. Bloom time depends on type; some bloom in early spring and others bloom late. Regardless of when they show off their flowers, the blossoms last a long time because the flowers have so much substance.Double tulips’ large, heavy blooms can be a drawback: Rains and strong winds easily damage the flowers, so plant them in a protected location....

When ingested, the leaves, nectar, seeds, and flowers of rhododendrons and azaleas are toxic to humans and pets. Rhododendron or Azalea? Rhododendrons and azaleas are often confused. Azaleas were once considered a separate genus of plants, but they were reclassified as genetically similar to rhododendrons relatively recently. Now, they are in the same genus. People tend to think of rhododendrons as large evergreen plants with big clusters of blooms and associate azaleas with smaller leaves and shorter plant habits....

What Are Strawberry Runners? Strawberry runners (also called stolons) are horizontal stems that grow along the ground. Each runner produces several new “daughter” plants that are still attached to the original “mother” plant. A daughter plant will grow roots where it touches the soil. Once the new plant is established on its own roots, the runner will dry up to separate the daughter from the mother plant. June bearing strawberries send out many runners after fruiting and are often more vigorous than everbearing strawberries....

First, soak the workout gear in a mix of one part distilled white vinegar to four parts cold water immediately after wearing them. Not enough time in the day to work out and wash? Don’t sweat it. Leverette says it’s okay to wait a few days but avoid re-wearing, which will cause body soil (dead skin cells, sweat, and body oils) to set in and bacteria to multiply. “Wash with a heavy-duty detergent that contains enough enzymes to ‘bust’ the oily body soil,” Leverette says, noting that Tide and Persil are the top-ranked brands....

At a minimum, winter coats should be washed once a year, at the end of the season, to remove environmental and body soils, stains, and odors prior to storing them. Washing coats twice a season is ideal. Some winter coats, like fleece or performance outerwear, can be washed more frequently, anywhere from biweekly to monthly depending on usage and factors such as visible staining or odor retention that indicate it’s time to wash the jacket....

Then someone recommended a wood stain pen. This amazing tool was just $16.42, and available in seven colors to match many types of wood, from maple to mahogany. With hardwood floors, the color choice would have been easier. With my faux wood, I simply selected the shade that was closest to my laminate floor. Luckily, “Golden Oak” blended in perfectly. When the marker arrived, I carefully filled in all of the exposed scrapes and scratches on my living room floor....

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That’s why a few potted mums perched on your porch seems like a no-brainer for transitioning from summer into the next season. But don’t be in too much of a hurry if you want your plants to last. Even though retailers start selling mums well before fall begins, you may want to hold off on buying them just yet. Mums prefer cooler temperatures, which can be a problem if you buy them when they’re first available and it’s still getting to 90°F during the day....

1. Print and Hang Cooking Guides Nothing halts culinary progress like running out of baking powder, oregano, or pumpkin pie spice. Our printable list of key ingredient substitutions will keep meal prep in progress. Pin up our other informative guides, like measurement conversions, meat temperatures, and a quick table setting guide, for stress-free entertaining. This easy-to-access information will take the confusion out of the kitchen. From halving a recipe to making sure chicken is cooked thoroughly, you’ll be prepared for whatever your next recipe throws at you....

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If the word “resolution” sounds intimidating, think of it as an intention instead, suggests Brittany Castro, a certified financial planner at Mint. “With intentions, the idea is to be clear about your vision and what you want for yourself in the new year in all areas of your life,” says Castro. “It becomes more about creating lifestyle changes versus feeling pressure to be perfect and restricting yourself to achieve your resolutions....

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With its multi-tasking cookware essentials, this Instagram-loved and editor-approved brand aims to bring back the joy of cooking to your kitchen with its stylish collection of items. Whether you’re looking to refresh your home cooking routine or want to invest in sturdy and trendy dinnerware, you’ll want to run, not walk, to take advantage of this sale. Our Place makes sustainability more achievable in the kitchen thanks to its thoughtfully developed products that take the place of several unnecessary cookware....