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Instead of getting discouraged (or deciding to omit the ingredient altogether, which could result in an unfortunate baked good), we’ve put together a comprehensive list of simple baking substitutions for a number of common ingredients, from buttermilk to brown sugar (which, have no fear, you can DIY with white sugar and molasses). Though we wouldn’t recommend making a habit out of using the substitutions for too many ingredients, some of these swaps may pleasantly surprise you....

Where Did Upside-Down Christmas Trees Come From? Though interest in the upside-down Christmas tree has spiked in recent years, historians have traced the centuries-old tradition to Europe. The inverted triangle design is said to have been used to explain the Holy Trinity, and it was later adopted by working-class households as a space-saving approach to Christmas decorating. The concept continues to grow in popularity around the world as an alternative to the traditional upright tree....

The Fall Flannel Patterned Sheet Set from Target’s Threshold brand is made from 100 percent cotton, meaning the sheets are warm but have an airy feel and don’t trap in too much heat. The set is available in twin through king sizes—the twin set comes with one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase, and all other sizes come with two pillowcases. I recently purchased a set of these flannel sheets for myself, and I’ve been so impressed with just how soft they are....

The Hotel Sheets Direct Bamboo Sheets have more than 18,000 five-star ratings because they’re ultra soft and keep you cozy as you sleep. Made from 100 percent bamboo-derived viscose, the sheets are designed to feel silky yet substantial. Similar to breathable cotton and linen materials, bamboo sheets are also thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, which prevents you from sweating and helps you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer....

The best-selling set includes 9-inch and 12-inch tongs, so you’re actually walking away with a bonus tool for the price of one. The sturdy tongs have a locking clip that keeps them closed when they’re not in use, which is space-saving. Plus, the non-slip surface gives you ultimate control over whatever you’re gripping, ensuring sauce and meat doesn’t splatter across the floor. To buy: $9 (originally $15); amazon.com. “I absolutely love this set of tongs,” another reviewer shared....

There’s a plethora of dresses online, so to spare you the exhausting search for the best holiday dress, we found these gems from Macy’s Friends and Family Sale. And even better, these dresses are under $100 when you use code FRIEND at checkout. Be sure to grab these styles before the sale ends on December 7. Macy’s Holiday Party Dresses Under $100 INC International Concepts Sequin Mini Wrap Dress, $70 with code FRIEND (was $100) Kensie Ruffled Faux-Wrap Dress, $90 with code FRIEND (was $128) MSK V-Neck Metallic Midi Fit & Flare Dress, $56 with code FRIEND (was $79) CeCe Crushed Velvet Tiered Dress, $70 with code FRIEND (was $99) Guess Metallic-Striped Faux-Wrap Maxi Dress, $97 with code FRIEND (was $138) Sam Edelman Plisse Sleeveless Midi Dress, $69 with code FRIEND (was $98) Bar III Metallic Eyelash Off-The-Shoulder Dress, $70 with code FRIEND (was $99) Rachel Rachel Roy Halter Sheath Dress, $77 with code FRIEND (was $109) Kensie Velvet Faux-Wrap Long-Sleeve Dress, $90 with code FRIEND (was $128) INC International Concepts Bow-Back Shift Dress, $56 with code FRIEND (was $79) Charter Club Cable Sweater Dress, $47 with code FRIEND (was $90) Sam Edelman High-Neck Sleeveless Chiffon Dress, $76 with code FRIEND (was $108)...

Searches for painted floor tiles were up 1,276 percent on Pinterest in 2018, so plenty of people are interested in the option, and a plethora of DIY guides to painting tile floors are floating around online. But while cleaning floor tile grout is an easy and effective way to improve the look of a space, painting tiles floors can quickly go wrong. Drawbacks to Painting Tile Floors Peeling and Bubbling Paint “Because tiled flooring is commonly found in high-traffic areas, such as the bathroom or kitchen, there is a risk the paint will peel or bubble up from being frequently scratched or exposed to moisture, regardless of the amount of paint layers applied,” says Hunter Macfarlane, project expert at Lowe’s....

To buy: $20; amazon.com. “This small jewelry box is perfect for travel or to just keep a few favorite pieces of jewelry handy on the dresser. The velvet covering is nicely done, and the compartments inside the box are a good size,” wrote one five-star reviewer who is planning to give two boxes as holiday gifts. The exterior of the case is made from faux velvet for a luxurious look and feel, and the interior of the case has seven rolls that are ideal for storing rings or hoops, three sections for bracelets or statement earrings, a built-in mirror, and a separate hook compartment for necklaces (located behind the mirror)....

No need to be intimidated by the idea of DIY ice cream. It’s actually incredibly easy, so long as you know the proper method to make it. We spoke with Kris Hoogerhyde, a Partner and Pastry Chef at Bi-Rite Creamery, to find out what that is. She’s whipped up more batches of butter pecan, cookies and cream, mint chip, and more than you can imagine (file under: dream job), so needless to say, she knows a thing or two about homemade ice cream....

To buy: $12; amazon.com. “I was keeping the caps on a shelf, and typically they fall off or get covered up. The hangers are an ingenious way to keep them together and organized,” shared a five-star reviewer. “This was the perfect solution to organizing my hats. I like that I can hang different types of hats, easily see and access each one, and it takes up little room,” wrote a shopper....

“They’re enjoying a new phase of life,” says Regan Baker, the principal of a namesake design firm. “It became a great juncture to evolve their home and tell a story of the family’s time together over the years.” The original staircase was encased in a dark wood trim with an off-white paint on the walls that tinted yellow. Traditional sconces, a runner, and a bench matched that more subdued palette, and although sunlight streamed through, the space was mostly shadowed....

To buy: $29 with coupon (was $35); amazon.com. “The fabric is extremely comfortable and the material is not see-through. I love any dress or top with pockets, so that is another plus for this casual dress,” shared one five-star reviewer. “Such a flattering and comfortable fabric,” wrote a different shopper who added that they “love the pocket depth.” The scoop neck and elastic waist only add to the comfort of the swing dress, and it’s worth highlighting is how easy it is to put on: The dress simply pulls on over your head....

Searches for “fancy non-alcoholic drinks” are up 220 percent on Pinterest, “mocktail bar” up 75 percent, and “fancy ice cubes” up 75 percent, proving that people are putting more thought and intention into their sips. Thankfully, delicious mocktails, lighter spritzers, and low-ABV drinks are more popular than ever so it’s easy to find recipes and order something tasty at the bar without feeling left out. Plus, trendy zero-proof spirits, non-alcoholic wine, and booze-light or -free aperitif brands are a dime a dozen these days....

Right up there with price comes another great benefit: ease of cooking. You can scissor off the plastic top, carefully pour the still-frozen dumplings into boiling water, and have dinner ready in under 15 minutes. You can steam these dumplings. You can give them a pan-fry. You can even, if you want really crispy skins, go for a full-on deep fry. (Just be sure to defrost the dumplings first.)...

Vinmax’s Lazy Reader Glasses may look like a wacky headset you’d wear for a 4D experience at an amusement park, but the design is actually fairly simple. They use mirrors to reflect anything in your downward line of sight upwards. So if you’re laying totally flat on your back but have a book propped up on your chest, you can read it with ease—no neck craning necessary. “I didn’t know what I was missing until I used this....

Salt lamps (sometimes referred to as Himalayan salt lamps) are a perfect example of a wellness product with a controversial reputation. While it’s one thing to enjoy a salt lamp’s soft pink glow in your home, believing that they posses healing properties—or taking it a step further and attempting to use it as a treatment for a medical condition—is something else entirely. Here’s what to know about what salt lamps can actually do—versus what medical marketing claims they can do....

But have you ever wondered what happens in your body when you drink caffeine and alcohol together? Is this drink (or other liquor-caffeine combos) safe to enjoy—or should we actually avoid mixing them altogether? To find out exactly how this type of cocktail affects your health, we tapped Seema Bonney, MD, functional medicine doctor and founder of the Anti-Aging and Longevity Center of Philadelphia, to break it all down....

“In an 1883 issue of The Magazine of American History, the editors wrote that it was in Virginia manor houses where the ‘great Christmas beverage, eggnog’ was invented—replacing wassail. They reported that it was served in a ‘huge silver vessel’ and ‘was one of the distinctive features of the season, as remains, and deserves all the praise that has been accorded to it as a beverage,’” Forrest says. While that late-1800s mention was likely among the first recorded instances of eggnog appearing on holiday menus, it probably wasn’t the first time eggnog recipes were made....

Unlike mortgages (used for home-buying), car loans (used for buying cars), or student loans (used to pay educational expenses), personal loans can be used for almost any purpose—even debt consolidation. Used carefully, personal loans can help reduce your debt burden or further your financial wellness. As with any other type of debt, though, when taken out carelessly, personal loans can put you in a difficult situation. Used well, personal loans can give you a little more flexibility and liquidity....

Since tap water is “hard water” (that is, it contains minerals); when it dries, it often leaves water marks and spots on some types of fabric and glass. The solution: Pick up a bottle or two of distilled water—aka water that has been boiled and condensed back into a liquid to remove the minerals. Include distilled water in your cleaning kit now, so you can reach for it when tackling any of these cleaning tasks....