8 Laundromat Tips To Follow Before You Go

Use pillowcases or different colored laundry bags for the sorted white and dark clothes for each load. Another way to save time; have plenty of the correct change. Change machines are often broken and your fellow users may not have the change to share. Prepare before you go! While large containers of detergent are often the most cost-effective solution, there is no need to haul heavy containers on each trip to the laundry room....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 822 words · Cathy Whaley

8 Unusual Eggplant Types

The fact that Americans are the only culture to call it eggplant reveals some confusion regarding a species that’s far more diverse than we realize. We’re most familiar with the eggplant types you can get at the supermarket, such as ‘American Large Purple,’ a popular variety grown in late 19th-century America. It took home gardeners and, in particular, heirloom and ethnic gardeners to bring other eggplants into prominence. Nowadays, the selection includes fruits that are striped, splotched, or blushed with shades of violet....

December 8, 2022 · 2 min · 284 words · Paul Lawrence

9 Gender Reveal Party Games To Keep Them Guessing

You can make the party even more fun by having some gender reveal party games that will keep guests talking and laughing the whole party long. All these games are meant to tease guests and ask for their predictions about whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. If you’re looking for some games that aren’t necessarily gender party-specific, you’ll love these baby shower games, including bingo, as well as these free baby shower game printables....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 689 words · John Hanner

9 Species Of Aesculus Buckeye

The species range in size from 6- to 8-foot shrubs to massive 75-foot shade trees, but all are identified by large, palm-shaped compound leaves with serrated edges. The leaves can have five to nine leaflets, depending on species. These plants form upright panicles of tubular flowers, red, yellow, or white in color, blooming in spring or early summer. Of the 20 or so species, here are nine that are commonly used in landscaping....

December 8, 2022 · 2 min · 280 words · Kimberly Nelson

A Complete Guide To The Best Patio Materials

Before starting a patio project, check local building codes for setback and other requirements. Make sure to prep your patio area thoroughly prior to installation to allow for proper drainage and to make sure the patio slopes away from the house. Concrete It would be hard to find anything more versatile and adaptable than concrete for a patio floor. This time-tested recipe combines a mixture of sand, water, cement, and gravel and offers even more options than brick....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 716 words · Mary Mohan

A Guide To Buying A Fixer Upper Home

The Ideal Fixer-Upper The perfect fixer-upper is the home that everybody will want in the future but nobody wants it right now. Many imperfections that turn people off—peeling paint, worn carpets, or dated fixtures—are easily correctable. Blemishes are tough to see past, and those homes often languish on the market since most homebuyers, especially first-timers, demand a turnkey, move-in-ready home in pristine condition. Remember, if you make a purchase offer for a fixer-upper at the right price, you start making money the day you close....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 751 words · Dottie Soto

Afrocentric Design Is About Self Love For Christine Platt

Mirroring images she saw online, Platt was left unfulfilled. But, she still sought the feeling — the freedom — associated with minimalism. So, she reimagined a version that worked for her. Today, Platt’s 630-square-foot apartment, situated in the riverside town of Hillcrest, D.C., is a far cry from the Pinterest boards full of white-washed, scant rooms. Bold portraits occupy her walls, candy-colored books adorn the shelves, and patterned pillows cozy up her seating....

December 8, 2022 · 8 min · 1630 words · Edgar Jefferson

All Of The New Products From The Spruce Rugs Collections

The Spruce Rugs collection includes six eye-catching designs that tailor to every decor style, all of which are available in both 5 x 7 and 7 x 10-foot sizes. The floor coverings are made from high-end materials with superior craftsmanship, and they’re easy to clean, as well as fade- and stain-resistant, for easy everyday maintenance. The versatile products are ideal for any room of your home, from the living room and bedroom to a nursery or home office, and the best part is that they’re affordable and accessible, no matter your budget....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 719 words · Bette Eckhardt

American Flamingo

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus ruberCommon Name: American Flamingo, Caribbean Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, FillymingoLifespan: 40 yearsSize: 35-50 inchesWeight: 4.9-6.2 poundsWingspan: 50 inchesConservation Status: Least concern American Flamingo Identification All flamingos are instantly recognizable with their pink coloration, stilt-like legs, long necks, and large bills. Because there are different flamingo species that look similar, however, it is important to recognize the distinct field marks that characterize the American flamingo. This is particularly important in areas where flamingos may escape from captivity and could be mistaken for native residents....

December 8, 2022 · 6 min · 1077 words · Vern Rivera

Angela Belt Interior Design Expert For The Spruce

December 8, 2022 · 0 min · 0 words · Levi Yazzie

Are Lawn Fertilizers And Pesticides Harmful To Children

Lawn Chemicals Can Be Toxic Lawn chemicals have come under tremendous scrutiny in recent years and have been blamed for everything from poisoned wells to sickness in children and even death. Children and infants are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to crawl through treated grass and put fingers or grass in their mouths. Many municipalities have banned pesticides and certain fertilizers to halt the dangers associated with their use and misuse....

December 8, 2022 · 2 min · 419 words · Robert Friend

Area Rug Rules Of Thumb To Follow

Area rugs are often advantageous over wall-to-wall carpeting because they are easier to clean. And if you get tired of the look, it’s easier to switch out an area rug and replace it with something new. While there are tons of options, there are certain rug rules to consider before buying an area rug. Size Keep the following tips in mind regarding area rug size: The most frequent mistake people make with area rugs is to get one that is too small....

December 8, 2022 · 3 min · 584 words · Danielle Reeves

Basics Of Owning A Modulating Furnace

Modulating furnaces are more efficient than single- or double-stage furnaces and they aim to keep the temperature at one or two degrees of the target temperature. Modulating furnaces can be perceived as noisier, but that is because they run more frequently. In the end, buying a modulating furnace is a personal choice based on your needs and your own home. Modulating vs. Single/Double Stage Furnaces Modulating Furnace A modulating furnace is a furnace that slowly ramps up and down in response to changes in the room’s temperature....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 781 words · Linda Chatman

Be Amazing Toys Big Bag Of Science Review Fun Experiments

The Big Bag of Science offers a collection of more than 70 experiments designed for grade-school kids. But this isn’t your typical chemistry kit: Each experiment is carefully chosen to impress children and get them hooked on learning about science. To see if the STEM (as in science, technology, engineering, and math) toy lived up to the hype, we turned the Big Bag of Science over to our 10-year-old daughter and her friends, who didn’t hesitate to jump right in and start experimenting....

December 8, 2022 · 5 min · 1008 words · Robert Garza

Behr S 2022 Color Of The Year Is Here

Described as a tranquil, silvery green tone with cool undertones, Breezeway is “an approachable but noticeable color.” The much-loved paint brand hopes that this hue will lead us into the new year not only by evoking “feelings of coolness and peace,” but also by “representing a desire to move forward and discover newfound passions." As a true transition tone, Breezeway is a part of Behr’s wider 2022 Color Trends Palette, full of shades that will “[lead] you from one place to the next....

December 8, 2022 · 2 min · 413 words · Marsha Hensley

Best Cement Boards For The Shower

Whenever installing tile in any area of your house, you need a special substrate or base layer. In showers, the standard substrate is a tile backer like cement board or some type of sheet or liquid membrane that protects the shower stall’s underlying structure from water. What Cement Board Is Cement board is a mineral-based board, usually 30 inches by 60 inches, that is used as a lower, dimensionally stable surface for installing ceramic tile, porcelain tile, or stonework....

December 8, 2022 · 5 min · 927 words · Carol Smith

Best Feng Shui Paint Colors For A Nursery

When choosing the paint color for your baby’s room, there are different feng shui approaches. One way is to paint the room with an elemental color that you are most attracted to. This means a visual color you’re attracted to and/or a color with attributes that you feel most connected to. Another way you can incorporate feng shui is to support your baby’s element. First determine the baby’s numerology using the Nine Star Ki and next, figure out their primary birth element....

December 8, 2022 · 4 min · 675 words · Richard Haverstick

Bianca Pineda Commerce Writer For The Spruce

December 8, 2022 · 0 min · 0 words · Dan Mixer

Biolite Firepit Review

If you are rethinking your outdoor space for winter get-togethers, a fire pit or outdoor warmer might be just the thing. Cleveland, Ohio, is hardly an outdoor hangout spot with this city getting frigid in the dead of winter. I need a fire pit that works quickly, powerfully, seamlessly, and easy to operate. The BioLite FirePit initially impressed me with its fusion of old-school fire pit and new-school Bluetooth fan technology....

December 8, 2022 · 6 min · 1138 words · Marie Jensen

Brown Pelican

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalisCommon Name: Brown Pelican, Louisiana PelicanLifespan: 25-40 yearsSize: 40-55 inchesWeight: 4-11 poundsWingspan: 75-80 inches Brown Pelican Identification Male and female brown pelicans are similar with a white neck and head and a pale yellow forehead. Their pale eyes have a noticeable flesh ring, and the large, pendulous throat pouch is brownish black, though western populations have a red patch at the base of the pouch in breeding season....

December 8, 2022 · 6 min · 1082 words · Barbara Deel