Mulch! Adding a thick layer of mulch around your garden plants, landscaping shrubs, and trees will cut weeding time to almost nil, making it labor-saving. Use whatever mulch you like or is readily available—shredded cedar bark, pine needles, grass clippings, gravel, or stone. All you need is a pretty, spreadable medium to place around the plants in your landscape or garden. Mulches made from plant material (bark, needles, clippings) will break down over time....

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For the main dish, strip steaks are seared over high heat on the stove and finished off in the oven. If you’re new to cooking steak, avoid the temptation to move it around as it sears. Restaurant-quality pan-seared steak starts with a single flip and minimal movement. A light hand produces the best and most consistent results. Related Video

Over the past few years, Pyrex-inspired body art has become “a thing,” with images popping up periodically on Instagram and Pinterest. Some introduce the floral designs into an armband, while others incorporate the motifs into a full sleeve. Others take the trend more literally, and instead of choosing the pattern, they opt to tattoo an entire stack of Pyrex bowls or a simple teacup into their forearm. Even those who claim to not be “tattoo people” are considering a tattoo homage to their favorite vintage bakeware....

Peppermint tea can be enjoyed iced or hot, and a cup or two daily is the optimal amount to sip in all the health benefits, according to Lauren Cadillac, RD, CPT, and Bianca Kamhi, Certified Holistic Health Coach. Whether you’re in it purely for the fresh taste or eager to boost your digestion, ease your tension and more, here are a few added benefits to drinking peppermint tea. Calming effects “Some animal studies have shown that peppermint has a relaxing effect, especially on the gastrointestinal tract, demonstrating its ability to ease an upset stomach,” says Cadillac....

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When I originally started my coat search, I thought I wanted to purchase one by a different well-known brand. But my search did a hard pivot when I happened upon the REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie 2.0 that’s currently available in gray, teal, and red in sizes XS to 3X. Don’t let the name fool you; this is far more than a hoodie. Instead, it’s a packable jacket that folds down into its left pocket should you ever need to compactly store it while traveling....

It’s no secret that great mascaras have come and gone, but clean formulas have left a lot to be desired in the past, especially when it comes to pigment, length, volume, and being long-lasting. Finding a clean mascara that can hold its own against traditional formulas can seem nearly impossible. It’s no wonder the first-ever mascara from Tower 28 made waves (pun intended) after three years of research and 88 prototypes—it even racked up an 11,000-person waitlist....

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Now fire up the grill because we’re about to perfect those burger grilling techniques. Tips to Make the Most Flavorful Hamburger Patties A delicious homemade burger on the grill starts with a great patty. Follow these tips for making the best patties: The Meat Mix: The best hamburger meat for grilling is 85% lean (15% fat) ground beef. This ratio is better than leaner beef mixes because most of the fat drips away during grilling but leaves moisture and flavor behind....

Eucalyptus sheets—you might also see the word lyocell or the trademark name Tencel—are created from the wood pulp (cellulose) of eucalyptus and other plants like bamboo that is transformed into fibers. Those fibers are then used to make soft, cool-to-the-touch sheets. “Whether it’s bamboo or eucalyptus [sheets], they’re considered cooling to the touch because they have a very high ability to wick moisture,” says Preeti Gopinath, director of the MFA textiles program and associate professor of textiles at Parsons School of Fashion....

To find the best warm tights, we spent hours researching the options on the market, assessing them for material, thickness, and style. We also took factors such as size range and color options into account. For expert advice, we received tips from López on how to shop for, style, and properly care for tights. Our best overall pick is Commando’s Eclipse Opaque Matte Tights. They’re thick, stretchy, and cozy—and since they’re unlined, they’re easy to layer under all kinds of different clothing....

To find the best shoe storage solutions, we researched hundreds of options, considering factors like size, shoe capacity, type, and style. We also spoke to two professional organizers—Holly Blakey, professional organizer at Breathing Room, and Joanna Wirick, life and home professional organizer at Joanna Organize—for advice on how to organize your shoes and choose the best storage solution for your space. “Look for a system that maximizes the space, but doesn’t take up space,” Blakey says....

While custom-built pergolas allow you to design a personalized look, they can cost thousands of dollars and require getting on a contractor’s schedule. DIY pergola kits are an attractive, affordable solution you can have delivered to your home and build on your own time in a day or a weekend, depending on your DIY experience and the pergola’s size and design. Sara Bendrick, a licensed landscape contractor in San Diego and TV host on the DIY Network and HGTV, loves how a pergola brings a wow factor to an outdoor living area....

If you’re participating in a white elephant exchange this year, finding the perfect quirky gift can be a challenge. Instead of buying an item that gets re-gifted or left behind at the end of the night, we’ve created a list of items your friends and family will actually want to take home. Our list of the best white elephant gifts under $35 features a handful of cute home decor items, board games, budget-friendly kitchen tools, and more....

“A good-quality aluminum pan will be extremely durable, conduct heat evenly, and won’t warp or bend like flimsier pans made with lower-gauge aluminum or cheaper materials,” says Elisa Lyew, owner and chef at Elisa’s Love Bites. “Look for sheets labeled as ‘one-piece construction,’ which will give you better durability and withstand regular wear and tear.” To find the best baking sheets, we asked 10 testers to put a variety of baking sheets to the test in their home kitchens....

To find the best cooling weighted blankets, we tested 35 options in our Lab while considering factors such as quality, comfort, warmth, ease of cleaning, durability, and value. We also spoke to Peter Polos, MD, sleep medicine specialist and sleep expert for Sleep Number, for tips on how to choose a cooling weighted blanket. “Temperature plays an important role in our ability to fall and stay asleep, so when our bodies are too warm (either because of the room temperature or our bedding), it can disrupt our sleep stages,” says Dr....