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1. Benary’s Giant Florist and grower Christina Matthews always plants rows of Benary’s Giant on her urban flower farm in Cincinnati, Ohio, for her business, The Flower Lady. “I call them star flowers,” she says, “because they’re so bright and cheerful.” One of her favorites is Benary’s Salmon Rose, “a peachy, blushy, pinky” shade she uses for her floral work for weddings. 2. Oklahoma Zinnias Another bold zinnia series Matthews loves to grow is Oklahoma ($5, Johnny’s Selected Seeds)....

“If you’re only exercising for an hour or less at lower intensity, you wouldn’t need to fuel, especially if you had eaten a meal three to four hours prior—but you should still hydrate,” says nutritionist Leslie J. Bonci , MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN. Many people also find that working out with food in their stomach—even if it’s just a small snack—can lead to cramping or gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Those people will delight in learning that more and more research is showing the benefits of working out on an empty stomach, as it allows the body to burn fat (not the carbs you just ate) for fuel....

Fueled by consumers’ interest to drink less alcohol or cut it out entirely, many brands have come out with alcohol-free spirits that look and taste just like the real deal. These zero-proof creations can be used to whip up mocktails, in conjunction with alcohol in order to cut back on a drink’s ABV, or, in many cases, enjoyed entirely on their own. For example, Ritual Zero Proof has a whole line of alcohol-free liquor replacements including gin, tequila, rum, and whiskey....

They can even handle even edgier style choices, such as just covering the wall space directly behind the sink. This utilitarian, near-industrial decision would pair well with the exposed pipe shower trend. With so much variety, though, comes a difficult situation: How can an average homeowner (or renter, thanks to peel-and-stick backsplashes) even hope to make a bathroom pop with the just-right arrangement of bathroom tiles? How does one decide if this bathroom décor idea should go just behind the bathroom sink or vanity, the traditional spot for a bathroom backsplash, or if it should extend all the way around the room?...

The Dream Pairs block heel sandals have more than 9,000 five-star ratings and 1,700 positive reviews. The standout features include the 3-inch heel and the soft insole that’s infused with latex padding for extra comfort. According to shoppers, the combination works, especially for long wedding days. To buy: $31 with coupon (was $41); amazon.com. “I didn’t know what to expect from shoes at this price point,” said a shopper who typically wears designer heels that cost much more....

The Stelucca Amazing Shields are a series of panels that attach to the sides of your sofa to prevent your cat from clawing at it. These sheets come in a pack of six and are made out of a thick plastic material that safely and effectively deters cats from scratching by simply blocking the action. They’re large enough (17 by 12 inches) to cover big portions of furniture, but can be cut easily with scissors to fit smaller areas....

To buy: $16; amazon.com The best part, by far, is their nonslip nature: Each sock has three hidden silicone heel grips to help them stay in place as you move, and shoppers confirm they’re effective. “These are my favorite socks, and I will continue repurchasing. They don’t budge and are so comfortable,” shared one shopper. “I have been looking for low-cut cotton socks just like this for years! These are cool and soft, substantial but thin, and not at all bulky,” wrote another five-star reviewer....

When it comes to comfort, the slipper booties totally deliver. Not only are the soles padded with a layer of high-density memory foam, but they also feature three layers of thickening foam for extreme comfort. To top it off, the slippers are constructed with a velvety chenille upper and a fuzzy, plush lining that offer a soft and snug feel with every step. And over 2,000 shoppers are raving about them....

To buy: $7; amazon.com. But as is the case with any truly great cleaning product, it has more innovative uses than meet the eye. And thanks to the thousands of shoppers who’ve already discovered it (and given it a perfect rating), we now know the putty can be used around the house for cleaning laptop keyboards, remote controls, and even dusty assembled Lego kits. As long as the surface of an item is water resistant, the cleaning gel is able to fully stick and get the job done....

This maple bacon Texas sheet cake recipe is the perfect addition to any backyard BBQ, block party, or really any occasion. Rich and fudgy chocolate sheet cake topped with a delicious maple bacon icing and crispy bacon makes this one of the best sheet cakes you’ll ever try! Did anyone else watch the CMT Music Awards earlier this month? It’s one of my favorite award shows every year and this year was especially fun because most of the winners were some of my country music favorites – Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, and Lauren Alaina....

If you think prepackaged, frozen meals are the only way to use your microwave to cook dinner, think again. Anyday makes cookware designed to quickly prepare fresh ingredients in the microwave without sacrificing flavor. And before you ask, yes, it’s safe to cook raw food in the microwave. In fact, because microwave cooking is so fast, it actually helps food maintain its nutrients better than traditional forms of cooking, as more nutrients tend to break down the longer food cooks....

Why Good Sleep Is So Important Sleep and mood are intricately linked, where a deficiency in one can cause dysfunction in the other. “Getting poor quality sleep or less sleep than what’s needed can cause severe mood changes ranging from irritability to anxiety, depression, and decreased resilience. And low mood from depression or anxious racing thoughts tend to significantly impair sleep quality and duration,” says Ben Spielberg, MS, neuroscientist and founder of TMS and Brain Health....

Styles in the surprise sale include popular carry-on suitcases that come with a battery pack, a tote bag that sold more than 1,000 units in its first month, and backpacks that once had a 9,000-person waitlist. Even the Away x Serena Williams collection is on sale right now. Away’s celeb-loved suitcases have become iconic at this point. A-listers like Elizabeth Banks, Karlie Kloss, Emily Ratajkowski, and Olivia Wilde are all fans of its luggage, according to the brand, alongside thousands of shoppers who love its simple yet classic designs....

You may already know that taking a warm bath or shower (scientifically referred to as water-based passive body heating) before bed can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. A sleep study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas, not only verifies that recommendation but digs into exactly how and when to bathe before hitting the sheets for optimal Zzzs. The Science Behind Passive Body Heating and Sleep Quality Researchers combed through more than 5,000 published studies on the effects of water-based passive body heating on sleep quality, length, efficiency, and onset latency (or, how quickly it takes you to fall asleep)—and found that the ideal pre-snooze bathing routine looks like this: “[Water-based passive body heating] of 40 to 42....

The Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum from Biossance has hundreds of rave reviews from shoppers over 60 who say they’ve seen “startling” results in how smooth, plump, and youthful their skin appears. This plant-derived serum is powered by a retinol-alternative called bakuchiol (an all-natural ingredient that’s much less irritating), plus squalane and niacinamide that work together to reduce the look of wrinkles while hydrating skin. Shoppers noted the “silky” and “not tacky” texture of this creamy serum upon application, and the fact that it doesn’t make them red, too....

The German shoe brand has long been known for its supportive sandals that provide tons of arch support, but rarely will you find it ever on sale. That’s why it’s always a good idea to take advantage when the brand’s sandals actually get marked down—and we’ve found just the sale you should be shopping. Gilt, the members-only site that lets you sign up for free to access thousands of rare discounts, has launched a limited-time Birkenstock sandals sale with more than 200 deals up to 30 percent off....

The Bissell air400 is not just any air purifier, it’s a robust and efficient option that sailed through our testing process to be one of our favorites of the year. Out of 38 models, we named it as one of our five best for its efficiency and effectiveness, along with its ease of use and quiet operation. We’re not the only ones who love it; it currently has just shy of 1,000 5-star ratings....

As our top pick for deeply moisturizing hand cream, this ultra-rich lotion is effective on extra dry skin, proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to have great hands this winter. The multitasking and hypoallergenic cream locks in moisture, soothes irritated skin, and nourishes with natural antioxidants and fatty acids from sunflower seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba butter, pumpkin seed oil, green tea extract, watermelon seed oil, and baobab oil....

How to Store Cooked Pasta You’ll have the most success storing leftover pasta if you keep the sauce and noodles separate. Keep that in mind before you mix sauce and pasta together, especially if you’re storing your leftovers in the freezer (because yes, you can freeze cooked pasta if you don’t think you’ll be eating it for several days or weeks). You’ll want to freeze the sauce separately as the pasta and sauce will require different times to thaw or reheat....

Feel free to experiment with different tools and methods to achieve the best effect. For example, if you find that small details, like this cat’s carved eyes, are difficult to create with a regular pumpkin-carving knife, try etching the area with a gouge and using a needle tool to punch through the pumpkin rind and clear out the space. If you don’t mind perfectly-circular eyes, you also could use a power drill fitted with a tiny bit to bore through the pumpkin wall....