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When it comes to appetizers – whether they be Christmas appetizers, Super Bowl appetizers, or even everyday appetizers – I like to keep them quick and easy. You have enough to worry about as a host to slave over complicated food. These crockpot grape jelly meatballs are pretty much the easiest appetizer ever – all you really need is a little time! It’s a classic recipe that we’ve upgraded with a better flavor profile to make them a bit sweet, a bit savory, and 100% delicious!...

Pepperoni Rolls – Two Ways I had originally intended to write this post about just one type of pepperoni rolls – the ones you see in the picture above. Then I went to my parents’ house to cook the rolls in our new brick oven and when I mentioned pepperoni rolls to my dad, he had a totally different idea about what that meant. To make a long story short, apparently when my parents were going to school at the University of Wyoming back in the 80s, there was a pizza joint there called The Upper Crust that was a hangout for all the college students....

As my youngest gets a little older, we’ve started getting into the world of painting and crafts with him. Everything still needs to be super simple and controlled or we end up with paint all over the house, but he’s getting there. This simple pumpkin patch craft using apples is great because it’s easy and foolproof for the kiddos. Dip the apples in paint, press the apples on the piece of paper....

I love fruity things. Most of the time in my life when I’m craving something, it’s something fruity. This strawberry pineapple sorbet is one of my favorite ways to crave my need for something sweet without eating something super sugary. It’s one of my favorite post-workout treats, especially after a good half marathon training run. Making the sorbet in the Twister Jar couldn’t be easier; you literally put the fruit and coconut water into the jar, turn the Blendtec on, and twist as you go to turn the fruit into the creamy treat....

I just did what I said I would never do. I agreed to help out as a partial room mom for my son’s 3rd grade class. I think it was the whole not being involved at all in school last year that made me suck it up and say yes. But I’m quickly realizing that a lot of my favorite Halloween games and Halloween treats like peanut butter spider cookies are ones that may not work so well in a small classroom with 21 kids....

You can find a plethora of options at retailers online or your local home improvement store, and you can still decorate the tree to your heart’s content. Here’s a guide to decking out your own real tabletop Christmas tree. Choosing a Potted Christmas Tree For a potted tree that brings the festive feels, a pine, fir, cypress, or spruce make great options. Make sure to read up on care instructions to determine how much sunlight and watering the plant requires and what its weather preferences are....

For everything there is to know about towels, we tapped towel experts Amy Hoban, chief creative officer at Parachute, and Deanna Wu, vice president of merchandising at Brooklinen. Here, they share everything from towel weight to water retention to the laundry products you should avoid adding to your next towel load. Common Towel Fabrics Bamboo: Supremely soft, bamboo towels can be a more sustainable choice—but not always. If you’re opting for bamboo due to its sustainability (and not just its soft feel and absorption power), seek out towels made from bamboo linen or bamboo lyocell rather than bamboo rayon....

Take a Virtual Tour of the Real Simple Home Here! “We wanted to take the original kitchen and give it some life!” she says. “We are not afraid of playing with color, texture, and metals, so our goal was to marry the coastal theme with a traditional modern aesthetic.” The kitchen had a great foundation to start, but Gina’s aim was to improve the flow of the space and add much-needed storage....

That being said, some popular protein and granola bars aren’t much better than eating a Snickers, nutritionally speaking. They’re often filled with sugar and artificial ingredients; others are so filling they can outweigh your entire lunch. (Unless you’re hiking up a mountain, you can probably skip the meal replacement bars.) But in a crowded marketplace with endless imposters posing as nutritious, picking a real-deal healthy snack bar—particularly one that doesn’t taste like cardboard—is daunting at best....

“Herringbone floors are rooted in history dating back to the ancient Romans, but they still look fresh today,” says Marc Bacher, founder and CEO of Stuga, a direct-to-consumer hardwood flooring company. The reason for the return? Bacher attributes it to consumers’ nostalgia for more traditional materials but with added interest. “We’re seeing a major resurgence of herringbone floors in design, and it’s no wonder. They make a modern-classic statement with a touch of boldness....

The collection was also inspired by a growing home decor trend. “There is a newfound appreciation of vintage-inspired color and aesthetic,” Ashley Banbury, senior color designer for HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams says. “Designers and DIYers are bringing vintage-inspired décor and details into the home as a way to bring a sense of comfort.” As the variation of the collection shows—ranging from deep purple to a soft, sage-tinted gray—there’s no one way to do vintage decor, and the colors can look as modern or as timeless as your interiors....

This post contains affiliate links to products for your convenience. If you purchase via my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I can thank my dad for my love of the Olympics. He’s had a healthy obsession with the Olympics for as long as I can remember. We even went on a big family trip and skipped a week of school my senior year of high school so we could actually go to some of the events at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002!...

As Jordan tried to cope with the disappointment, her mother, Angela, a special education paraprofessional, sought to come up with something to brighten her days. “These kids are missing out on a lot, and their memories will forever be what happens now,” Angela says. “I was just thinking about what could be done to help with that. Sometimes having an outside source praising them is a big deal and makes a bigger impact....

Butternut squash is incredibly versatile. It’s just as delicious when pureed and served with pork as it is roasted and served with salad greens. You can use it to bake bread or layer it into lasagna, and (news flash), butternut squash is probably what you’re actually eating when you cook anything with canned pumpkin. Butternut squash is also incredibly good for you, says Hillary Cecere, RDN, a registered dietitian for Eat Clean Bro....

The Importance of Chewing for Proper Digestion Contrary to popular belief, the digestion process doesn’t start in the stomach; it begins in the mouth. The first step of digestion is chewing, which both reduces the size of food and activates the salivary glands to secrete more saliva, according to Johanna P. Salazar, MS, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Healing Nutrition. Saliva contains enzymes like amylase and lipase, which break down carbs and fats, respectively....

And real talk, we’re all probably taking in a lot more caffeine than we realize. The average cup of coffee is around 100 milligrams of caffeine per serving, soda is typically 50 milligrams, and energy drinks contain as much as 250 milligrams per serving. Even a chocolate bar can have more than 30 milligrams of caffeine. According to Roshini Malaney, DO, a board-certified cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in New York City, everyone metabolizes—or breaks down—caffeine differently....

You may think you’re a diligent cleaner: Your home is always tidy; you clean your surfaces every day using organic and/or all-natural products; you dust; and you even vacuum every few days. Yes, it appears things may be on the up and up—until you learn what’s lurking in your vacuum cleaner. That vacuum cleaners need their own cleaning attention is nothing new. According to a 2013 study published in the journal, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vacuum cleaners that haven’t been properly cleaned have the potential to disseminate mold and bacteria inside your home....

Continue the Tour: Check out the beautiful primary bedroom in the Real Simple Home (psst…you’re not going to want to miss the gorgeous feature wall!). Go Bold with a Moody Wall Color The first thing you notice when you step into the office (see it up-close in the 360° video tour) is the dramatic paint color. The surefire way to give any room a fresh new look is to brush an unexpected color on the walls....

Enter: duck, a bird similar yet completely different. Duck is richer than chicken. It has something similar to the mineral, steaky quality of read meat. It also has a thick, fatty skin that crisps beautifully and renders fat that provides an ingredient you can use to crisp other foods, like potatoes. Zooming out to the big picture, cooking duck feels special. If you’re new to duck, here’s how to approach the two easiest and most widely available cuts: whole animal and breast....

Quick disclaimer: To ensure effectiveness and safety, you’ll always want to consult with your technician about any allergies, sensitivities, and underlying conditions (including pregnancy). “This is followed by vortex extractions with an infusion of active serums for clearing out pores, along with a blend of antioxidants (like vitamins A and E), botanical extracts (such as white tea, rosemary, and horse chestnut), and hyaluronic acid for improving texture/clarity and providing additional hydration,” she explains....