Types of Kitchen Floor Plans Kitchen layouts come in many shapes and orientations, but the configurations of cabinetry, appliances, and seating often fall into a few specific categories. Check out our guide below to learn about some of the most popular types of kitchen floor plans. 1. L-Shape Kitchen Floor Plan An L shape is one of the most common layouts for kitchens. It requires less space and offers more flexibility in the placement of workstations....

How Wet Is Your Soil? The first step in working with soggy soil is to get to know it better. Determine which areas of your yard get frustratingly wet and how long they stay that way. Consider the moisture level of the soil throughout the seasons, also how quickly water dissipates after a big rain, and how often the area has standing water. Here’s a simple test that’s used in the landscape trade to gauge the drainage of a particular soil....

We love a festive holiday cheese board, and with so many tasty green veggies a St. Paddy’s Day board is a no-brainer. Plus, the foodie community is already on board with the trend too: There are currently 200 posts tagged #stpatricksdaycharcuterie on Instagram, and they’re all mouth-wateringly beautiful. To make your own, grab a cheese board, fill it with all your favorite snacks, and make your own green beer or family-friendly green drinks to go with the snack spread....

1. Consider how often you’ll use a tool. For seasonal maintenance jobs that you tackle once or twice a year—or every couple of years, such as aerating your lawn—renting is a good option, especially if you don’t want to deal with storing or maintaining a tool. “For gas-powered equipment that you only use once or twice a year, the gas can go bad while it’s just sitting there,” says Tim Allen, chair of the General Tool Shared Interest Group for the American Rental Association (ARA) and owner of Allen Rental in Roseburg, Oregon....

Lotion Bars Dry winter air is harsh on the skin. Using cute little molds (in the shape of owls here), Your Beauty Blog’s Cari made a batch of homemade lotion bars in an Instant Pot. So instead of toting around a tube of lotion, you just have to rub a lotion bar to get your hands feeling silky smooth. The recipe utilizes natural ingredients like coconut oil—its high heat tolerance helps keep the lotion solid—avocado oil, and chamomile tea....

We’re diving into why vitamin D deficiency is so common and how it impacts the body. We’ll tell you how to get vitamin D (including what vitamin D foods are rich in this nutrient), so you can avoid low vitamin D levels. What Does Vitamin D Do? Vitamin D may help the body reduce the risk of chronic inflammation. It also helps regulate cell growth which promotes brain development and health....

1. Invest in a Key Lockbox If you’re renovating your home before moving into it and live far away, consider investing in a key lockbox. You’ll need to hire a contractor if there are significant projects on your checklist that you can’t do yourself. Remember that contractors start early, so unless you want to drive in morning rush-hour traffic to let workers inside, plan to attach a lockbox or install smart door hardware that allows you to provide entry to guests with a code....

1. Refresh Your Living Room with Vintage Finds Tuck vintage items among modern living room furniture for a unique, layered look. For furnishings you’ll use most often, such as a sofa or accent chairs, it’s typically best to invest in new items to ensure they’ll hold up well with regular use. Then opt for antiques and thrift store finds for accent pieces, such as a small side table or coffee table....

Rice Substitutes Though the flavors and textures of some of these rice alternatives might differ from white rice, they can be cooked and used interchangeably with any of your favorite rice dishes as a one-to-one substitute. 1. Brown Rice Perhaps the easiest swap among this list, brown rice makes an excellent white rice alternative. Unlike white rice, which is processed to remove the grain’s outer layers, brown rice is a whole grain with all the nutritious parts intact (minus the inedible hull)....

Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 6 feet tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Grape Crush New England Aster ($18, Breck’s) Name: Solidago rugosa Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Goldenrod Wildflower Seeds (from $6, Etsy) Name: Helianthus maximiliani Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 8 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Giant Maximillian Sunflower Seeds ($8, Etsy) Name: Helenium autumnale Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Red Jewel Helenium ($28, Breck’s) Name: Chelone lyonii Growing Conditions: Part shade and consistently moist soil Size: To 3 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Chelone lyonii Tiny Tortuga/Turtlehead ($13, Etsy) Name: Salvia leucantha Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Zones: 8-10 Name: Agastache foeniculum Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Zones: 4-9 Buy It: Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop ($25, Breck’s) Name: Hamamelis virginiana Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist soil Size: To 12 feet tall and wide Zones: 3-8

Buy It: Nordic Ware Half Sheet Pan ($12, Walmart) Buy It: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet ($30, Target) Buy It: Granitestone Frying Pan ($28, Walmart)

To help you decide what to put in your cart, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite holiday items—though almost every product is a hit by our standards. Cookies and Milk Dinnerware This holiday dish set is an instant classic. On Christmas Eve, set aside a sweet snack for Santa with a designated milk mug and cookie plate. The dishware is simple and to the point and has the potential to become a part of your family traditions....

For traditionalists, sticking with a white ceiling paint color can be a safe bet. But if you’re looking to capture a designer look or try something new, consider a soothing shade from nature for your ceilings. “I love opting for soft shades of blue on a ceiling for a wow factor,” says Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and founder of Claire Paint. “It gives the feeling of a fresh, open sky and brings calm to a space....

If you’re new to this whole thing, you might assume this drink is a combination of pink wine and cider, but there’s actually no real rosé in these drinks. Instead, rosé ciders get their name from the red hues of the apples used to make them. Many of our favorites also incorporate elements like rose petals and hibiscus for added pink coloring and delicious taste. These are our favorite crisp, dry, sweet and fruity rosé ciders (and they’re all gluten-free!...

But no need to melt into a puddle of worry—yes, even with prime pie and cookie season just weeks away. Ahead, we’ll explain why a butter shortage might be imminent, plus how to adjust savory and sweet recipes to account for any ingredient swaps required. While nothing can fully replace the flavor of our beloved Irish butter, we do have some very serviceable substitutes if you can’t find butter in the supermarket refrigerator case....

Raised on a farm in the Catskills, Alexis is a longtime editorial writer and recipe developer who has been on staff at Eater, TastingTable and Buzzfeed, and contributed to outlets like Food52, The Kitchn, Complex’s First We Feast and Chowhound, among others. Most recently, Alexis was the longtime Senior Test Kitchen Manager and on-camera talent at Buzzfeed’s Tasty, where she hosted the original viral video series “Chef Out of Water” and “Friend in Town” which has racked up tens of millions of views....

Honey Angel Food Cake: Prepare as above, except after beating egg whites to soft peaks, gradually pour 1/4 cup honey in a thin stream over the egg white mixture. Continue as above, except beat only 1/2 cup sugar into the egg whites.

1 cup sugar ¾ cup water 3 tablespoon honey ½ teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 inch stick cinnamon 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)

½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoon butter

¼ cup packed brown sugar 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 tablespoon butter ⅓ cup chopped walnuts or pecans