The History of Putting Angels at the Top of Christmas Trees It turns out, this practice comes from the original Christmas story. Angels play a significant part in the first Christmas: Angels visited Joseph and the Virgin Mary about the upcoming birth of Jesus, and on the night of his birth, angels appeared in the sky over Bethlehem to announce his arrival to the world. Because angels appeared high in the sky on the first Christmas, people began placing angels high on the top of their trees as a way to celebrate the birth of Jesus....

But just because it’s getting cooler doesn’t mean all of the fun has to be taken indoors. In fact, a report by the home care app Thumbtack found that the focus on outdoor spaces isn’t going to slow down just because the weather is cooling down. “According to our data, nearly one-third of homeowners plan to make a substantial investment into their outdoor spaces while 36 percent plan to invest in their home’s exterior, and 12 percent plan to add a pool or hot tub,” says David Steckel, home expert at Thumbtack....

1. Burro’s Tail Burro’s tail or donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) is a trailing succulent that looks best in a hanging basket or container sitting on a ledge, shelf, or plant stand so it can drape over. Each stem can reach up to three feet long and is packed with gray-green leaves about the size and shape of a plump grain of rice. The leaves have a pale sheen on them that wipes off when you touch them so it will show your fingerprints....

Fortunately, there are several hacks to avoid clogged filters, cracked pool tiles, warped liners, and other pool complications. These solutions might not even involve a trip to the store. If you have an old toothbrush, some baking soda, old tennis balls, lemon slices, and an old window screen, you’re already ahead of the game. Start taking notes, because you’re about to save your future self hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in repairs....

Brighten up a shelf or corner by your sink and add a few high humidity plants that prefer the conditions in your bathroom to the rest of your house. Buy It: Potted Pink Orchid Plant ($38, The Home Depot) Test Garden Tip: All types of pothos can be toxic if ingested to both children and pets. Buy It: Costa Farms Golden Pothos ($23, The Home Depot) Buy It: Neon Pothos Plant ($22, Lowe’s) Some common, easy-to-care-for varieties include Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata), Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae, shown), and the incredibly prehistoric-looking Urn Plant (Aechmea fasciata)....

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Note: Consider creating a perennial cutting garden if you enjoy bringing flowers indoors. If you’re looking for flower garden ideas for beginners, start small: You can continually expand your plan if you want or go bigger next year. The tallest plants should go in the center if your flower garden design is an island. Also, keep a plant’s mature overall size in mind to ensure it has enough room to grow without crowding its neighbors or spilling out of the bed too much....

Editor’s tip: Use dust-free chalk, so you’re not constantly pulling out the vacuum. Related Video

Buy It: Fluted Cake Pan ($13, Walmart) Test Kitchen Tip: No piping bag? Simply add melted chocolate to a plastic storage bag and snip off the tip. Related Video

1. Scrub the shower. Debra Johnson, director of operations at Merry Maids, shares her strategy for using baking soda to keep your shower clean and fresh. On a wet microfiber cloth, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid. Work the cloth between your hands to create a lather, then use the cloth to scrub shower walls. For shower floors, sprinkle baking soda across the surface, squirt dishwashing liquid over the baking soda in an “S” motion, and scrub the floor with a wet brush....

Best Deal: National Tree Company 9-Foot Pre-Lit Dunhill Fir Artificial Christmas Tree, $370 (was $960) Shoppers’ Choice: National Tree Company 6.5-Foot Dunhill Fir Artificial Christmas Tree, $166 (was $280) Best Slim Tree: National Tree Company 6.5-Foot Pre-Lit Colored Lights Kingswood Fir Artificial Slim Christmas Tree, $89 (was $170) Best Pre-Lit Tree: National Tree Company 6-Foot Pre-Lit Dunhill Fir Artificial Christmas Tree, $190 (was $220) Best Unlit Tree: National Tree Company 7....

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Make It Yours: This coastal living room skews modern thanks to a subdued palette and sleek gold and black accents. For added color, apply blue on walls instead of white and incorporate another splashy hue as an accent through accessories or artwork. To relax the look, bring in additional nods to nature, such as a driftwood centerpiece, woven baskets, or rattan accent furniture. Make It Yours: Go a few shades darker on the cabinet paint color for added contrast, or opt for white on the upper cabinets for an airier look....

Test Kitchen Tip: To avoid runny filling and a soggy crust, salt the summer squash to remove excess water and pat dry. Buy It: Weber Jumbo Joe Premium 22-Inch Black Charcoal Grill ($89, Walmart) Test Kitchen Tip: Look for summer squash in familiar oblong varieties (zucchini and yellow squash) and fun round-shape pattypan squash. All are versatile and good for you. Test Kitchen Tip: Swap lentils for turkey and use vegetable broth for an easy vegetarian version of this recipe....

To make them, stuff a layer of faux grass into the bottom of each boot. Add plastic eggs, candy, and other small gifts until you reach the top, then tuck in more faux grass for a pretty display in this clever basket alternative. For each, you’ll need 3/4-yard of colored print fabric (cut into 16x1 1/2-inch strips), four yards of cotton piping cord, and a hot-glue gun, glue sticks, or needle and thread....

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Test Garden Tip: Other crevice-loving plants include creeping phlox, rock cress, thyme, hens-and-chicks, sweet alyssum, trailing lobelia, snow-in-summer, and candytuft. Test Garden Tip: Up the drama by building around an existing tree or planting one near the deck. Test Garden Tip: Begin building at the base of your sloped flower bed if you’re not sure where to add your stairs. Try climbing the slope along several different paths until you find the most comfortable route....

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Retro Kitchens We Love Southwestern Style Decor Ideas How to (Tastefully) Decorate with Animal Prints Pattern Tip: Repeat the colors from your patterns throughout the room for a cohesive, coordinated look. Pattern Tip: If you find a pattern you love, don’t be afraid to go all out, such as with an upholstered piece. Hesitant to commit? Go for easy-to-change accents, such as throw pillows. Related Video