To prepare the dough: Mix 1/2 cup of salt, 1 cup of flour, and 1/2 cup of water until sticky. Roll the dough to a 1/4 inch-thick sheet and cut out snowflake shapes with cookie cutters. Use a skewer to make a hole for hanging. Bake for 4 hours in a 200˚F oven.

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....

1. Plant Trees for Shade The Department of Energy recommends tall shade trees as the best way to protect your home from solar heat and from those cold blasts in winter. Evergreen trees are best in the South because they shield your home all year long. Deciduous trees are better in Northern regions because they let the warm sun through their bare branches during the colder months. Where you plant your trees is just as important as the type you plant....

“Consuming certain foods and beverages in excess may create a pro-inflammatory environment. These foods and beverages include: refined carbohydrates, sugar-sweetened beverages, excess alcohol, processed snack foods, sugary desserts, fried foods, trans fats, excessive red and processed meat intake, and refined oils,” summarizes Michelle Hyman, R.D., a registered dietitian. “Foods and beverages that help reduce inflammation include non-starchy vegetables, whole fruits without added sugar, plant-based fats, omega-3 fatty fish, spices, and unsweetened teas....

1. Tune Out Temptation A hungry stomach is a suggestible stomach. And a typical fast-food environment—with poster-size images of fried chicken and promos for super cheap combo meals—can bring out your worst impulses. Don’t let it. Step back and read the entire menu. Mentally eliminate items described as crispy, deluxe, or double (never mind triple). Most chains offer at least a few relatively wholesome options—such as grilled chicken—that can help you make it happen....

1. Start plants from seed When you start your plants from seed, you can completely avoid plastic pots. Most seeds come in paper packets that can be recycled or added to your compost pile. You can reuse items around the house to hold your seedlings, make your own biodegradable pots out of newspaper or paper towel rolls, or use biodegradable pots that can be planted right in the ground. If you are saving seeds from your own garden, keep them in tightly sealed glass jars....

1. Clogged Gutters What you’ll need: Wire brush, gloves, hose It’s recommended you clean your home’s gutters twice each year—once in the spring and once in the fall. This helps prevent the buildup of leaves, sticks, and other debris. To clean gutters, remove debris from gutters by hand while wearing gloves. Use a wire brush to loosen stubborn accumulations. Rinse gutters with a hose to remove remaining dirt and leaves....

Fall Color in Many Forms Flowers, foliage, fruit, and seed heads all lend color and interest to the fall garden. Here are some of the best late-season performers recommended by Paulat and Pinson. A yard that’s as densely planted as this one needs some structure to break up the foliage. Paulat and Pinson used a series of trellises to do the trick. They also planted in repeating groups to help tie the garden together....

“Fall is a time for coziness, for slowing down, and for reconnecting with friends and family,” says Lauren Meichtry, founder of the home accessories brand Elsie Home. To help refresh your home for the season ahead, we talked to a few designers about the fall decorating trends they’re most excited about this year. 1. Fall Porchscapes Designer Margarita Bravo predicts porchscapes are going to be the hottest trend of the season....

1. Cut back on watering. “Winter means less light, and generally speaking, less light means less water,” says Erin Marino from The Sill. The more sunlight a plant receives, the thirstier it will be over time, Marino explains. With limited sunlight in winter, plants use less water than they do when they are actively growing in spring and summer. “A plant that you watered every week in summer might now prefer to go two weeks without water,” Marino says....

Buy It: Kamenstein Spice Rack ($55, Bed Bath & Beyond)

1. Refresh living spaces with rattan furniture. Rattan can be woven into nearly any type of furniture, including sofas, chairs, accent tables, folding screens, and more. Lightweight and widely available, it’s generally less expensive than other furniture materials, making it ideal for a budget-friendly room refresh. Rattan has a casual, inviting feel that’s perfect for living spaces where comfort is key. To increase the coziness, accessorize with throw pillows or a plush area rug....

Trimwork Ideas Powder Room Ideas More Banquettes with Storage Pretty Upholstered Headboards

2 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup shortening ¼ cup butter, cut up ½ cup ice water LATTICE-TOPPED PIE IN A JAR: Prepare as directed, but instead of cutting dough circles, cut the dough into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Cut strips into 4-inch lengths. Place three pastry strips parallel on filling in each jar. Give each jar a quarter turn. Arrange three more pastry strips perpendicular to the first strips....