1. Chocolate Mug Cake Want to learn how to make a chocolate mug cake? You’ve come to the right place! Like any good chocolate cake recipe, this easy mug cake is rich, decadent, and utterly delicious. But unlike most regular chocolate cakes, this microwave chocolate cake has an indulgent surprise inside—a generous, gooey spoonful of chocolate-hazelnut spread. As your mug cake “bakes” in the microwave, the chocolate-hazelnut filling will get nice and melty in the center—much better than any frosting....

First, you’ll need to make two pairs of shoe cups. Use a pushpin to poke holes in the bottom of clear plastic cups. Push a wide rubber band through the holes to create a strap. To play, split the birthday party guests into two teams. The first player straps cups on their shoes and fills them with popped popcorn from a bag at the starting line. Then the player hustles to a basket on the other end of the lawn....

If you want to trade the traditional red and green for a dramatic touch of glamor this year, try an artificial black Christmas tree. Black is a neutral color which gives the tree ultimate versatility. “It’s an incredible backdrop to set off glass, feathers, metals, and twinkling lights,” Funk suggests. It’ll look stunning dressed in an array of colorful baubles and holiday string lights for a modern, glam-style Christmas, but it also makes the perfect canvas for buffalo check ribbons and neutral ornaments that give a cozy farmhouse Christmas look....

How to Lay Down Sod Every step in the process of laying sod is important to keep your lawn healthy and happy. Preparing for the sod before laying it down and caring for it after it’s in place will help yield the longest-lasting results. Step 1: Prepare the Soil Remove twigs, stones, and other debris from the area to prepare the soil. Do a quick soil test to evaluate the area and its nutrient make-up....

“The trend has found staying power as people realize they can more efficiently use their spaces in sustainable ways,” says Cameron Johnson, founder and CEO of Nickson, an apartment-furnishing service. Flex spaces are intended to help your home better accommodate your day-to-day life. Guest bedrooms, for example, can often be reimagined for more frequent and flexible use. “People are realizing that an entire room in their home dedicated to an occasional houseguest may not be the best use of space—a commodity that has become decidedly more precious,” says Los Angeles designer Stefani Stein....

Read on to discover how to chop, cube, dice, julienne, mince, slice, and wedge. We’ll teach you how to make the cut—and make dinner quicker and easier than ever. 7 Basic Knife Cuts Every Home Cook Should Master A classic chef’s knife ($90, Target) should do the trick for any of these classic cuts, but we find a knife set comes in handy for cutting tasks of all kinds, much like these other essential kitchen tools....

“A cart is a must to make the job faster and simpler,” says Nicole Burke, garden consultant and founder of Gardenary, Inc. To prepare for autumn, “I am often pulling loads of leaves, stems, and vines out of the garden in order to plant lettuces, radishes, and peas for the cooler season. Carts are so helpful to carry all that green toward the compost pile and then haul all the new compost back into the garden before planting again....

1. Set Goals and Note Current Habits Before you begin decluttering, take a step back to figure out what your goals are for that space and what habits you’ll need to adjust in order to make it happen. For example, if you’re revamping your master closet, establish a routine in which you hang up clothes daily instead of tossing them on your favorite chair (we’ve all been there). 2. Remove Trash and Recycling Once you’ve set your goals, start decluttering by removing the easiest items first: trash and recycling....

1. Create a Sanitation Station This year, returning to school will look different for most. Keep germs at bay with a hand-washing routine for each time the kids go in and out of the house. If you don’t have a sink in your mudroom, place hand sanitizer near the door. Stock the area with disinfecting wipes or sprays so kids can easily clean backpacks, books, or electronics, especially if traveling back and forth to school....

Take inspiration from the natural beauty of autumn with rich, warm hues and the colorful produce of fall’s harvest. Welcome guests with a striking fall centerpiece composed of foraged goods, or give a pumpkin a newfound use. Whatever the occasion, our budget-friendly DIY fall table decor ideas are sure to make an impression.

Whether you’re in the market to buy a home, sell a home, or find an agent, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate team is here to support you. How to Find a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Agent Located in 45 of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, you can easily select a real estate agent who specializes in your desired neighborhood....

The short answer? No. “The results for foods cooked in an air fryer are comparable to a convection oven,” says Dawn Sieber, chef instructor at Purdue University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management at Marriott Hall, and that’s because an air fryer is basically just a miniature convection oven. What Is a Convection Oven? “Convection ovens use a powerful fan to circulate hot air inside the oven, allowing chefs to decrease cooking times, control consistent quality of food, and increase and decrease browning with a more uniform appearance,” Sieber explains....

Foliage usually grows in tussocks or tufts of fine-textured or coarse blades, often upright and arching at the tips; some appear to have been tousled by a whirlwind. Leaf color varies from light to medium green, blue grayish-green, bronze, and caramel; many selections are rimmed or edged with contrasting white, silver, or yellow. Because the foliage is more or less evergreen, especially in mild climates, sedges provide much-needed winter interest when not covered by snow....

Cinnamon Crust Add 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg to the flour. Gingerbread Crust Add 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. ground allspice, and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves to the flour.

Farro Farro was the first-grown wheat-grain: It has been cultivated for more than 20,000 years. It lost popularity as other faster-growing varieties of wheat gained prominence, but has since made a comeback as an important whole grain. Farro can be used in salads, soups, pilafs, and more. Try it in White Bean Vegetable and Farro Soup. Wheat Berry Wheat berry is an entire kernel of unrefined whole grain wheat; it includes the bran, germ, and endosperm....