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There’s a reason why many folks have been gifting them for decades—pears are healthy, simple to eat (no prep work needed!), and can certainly alleviate some holiday stress. Learn how to pack and ship pears yourself following the expert guidance below. Or you can order pear gift boxes online from companies like: Sincerely Fresh from Stemilt The Fruit Company Harry and David McCarthy Family Farm After you have your pear gift in order and ready to ship, learn how to tell when the fruit is ripe and how you can bake with them (ripe or not)....

Speed Cleaning Routine Shut off your phone. Distraction happens—even to professionals. It takes Vicki Brown, president of Harmony Clean in Doylestown, Penn., four hours to clean her house—though it should take less than two. “I get sidetracked in my own home,” she says. Streamline your routine by removing as many distractions as possible: Cut down your screen time by setting your phone to vibrate, shut down the computer, keep the TV off, and save detailed projects, like organizing the linen closet or packing away winter hats and scarves, for another time....

That’s not to say I’m any kind of angel when it comes to housework. I rarely take out the compost bin. I tend to clean out the lint catcher after doing a load of laundry—and promptly leave the wad of lint on top of the dryer rather than throw it in the wastebasket that’s mere feet away. And I act like an entitled, grumpy teen when I think the lion’s share of the household chores is falling on my shoulders, even though I haven’t explicitly communicated that I want help....

“When tackling houseplant insect pests, the first step is to ask yourself how much you value the plant,” says Laura Jesse Iles, director of the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University. “There are no quick fixes and it will take time and dedication to manage the pests.” If you decide to treat instead of tossing your infested plant, Iles recommends isolating it to keep the problem from spreading to your other plants....

Secure labels and tags on a clipboard for easy access. Tuck tissue paper in a wire-mesh wall file, and suspend scissors, bags, and wrapping paper rolls, so they’re within reach without cluttering the table. Editor’s Note: Simplify your approach to holiday gift wrapping by sticking with a single color palette. Buying wrapping paper in two solid colors and two patterns will give you enough variety to create many different gift looks....

How Often to Wash a Comforter Many comforters have removable covers that can be washed to remove body soil and stains every time you change the sheets. A thick comforter without a removable cover should be washed at least seasonally and more often if you allow pets on the bed, or if someone in the household has been sick. Always wash a comforter before storing it for the off-season. Can You Wash Your Comforter at Home?...

When Starbucks launched the PSL in 2003, it was an instant hit, according to Starbucks espresso division product developer Peter Dukes, who helped with the initial marketing and rollout. When you look at the data, the PSL started making gains in Google searches in September 2010 and peaked in 2015 (when “pumpkin spice and everything nice” was the thing to post on social media). Now, the term “pumpkin spice latte” is back to its 2012 volume on Google Trends....

You can crank out three dozen of these sweet little iced balls in an hour, so it’s a great go-to for serving a crowd. Get the recipe: Angeletti Store these cookies between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll keep for up to 2 days (if they last that long). Get the recipe: Jam Sandwich Cookies These shouldn’t be confused with French macarons (with only one “o”), which are delicate, airy sandwich cookies with a layer of filling in between, resembling a brightly colored Oreo....

Wawa Apple & Peanut Butter Dipper Milk and Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter Meltaways, Peanut Butter Eggs and Fudge sold through the Wilbur Chocolate store in Lititz, Pa. and online Mary’s Harvest Fresh Foods Celery Peanut Butter Cup G&G and Apple Peanut Butter Cup G&G Garden Cut Sweet Apple Wedges with Peanut Butter, Tart Apple Wedges with Peanut Butter, and Celery Bites with Peanut Butter Coblentz Chocolate Company Peanut Butter Spread, Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Graham Peanut Butter Sandwich, Ritz Peanut Butter Sandwich, Oversized Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Fudge Sampler, and more Fresh Seasons Power Packs Country Fresh Apples and Peanut Butter, Apple, Pretzel & Celery Bites with Peanut Butter, Apples, Cheese & Pretzels with Peanut Butter, and more Del Monte Apple with Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Peanut Butter Snack Pack, and more Walmart and Fudgeamentals Holiday Fudge Tray, Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Bar, Tiger Butter Fudge Bar, and more...

The KitchenAid stand mixer has been a well-known kitchen staple for decades with loyal shoppers who recall baking cookies throughout their childhood with their parents to using this appliance as adults. So what makes it so special? Keep reading to learn more about the KitchenAid Professional 5-Quart Stand Mixer that’s $200 off for a limited time at Target. To buy: $250 (was $450); target.com. Along with being a lovely item to display on any countertop, the KitchenAid stand mixer is a multipurpose appliance for prepping meals and sweets....

Maude and Iris Apatow have acted alongside their mom in various comedies directed by Mann’s husband, Judd Apatow, over the course of the last two decades. One of the family’s latest joint projects is Mann’s Jergens campaign with Maude. And although she’s a phenomenal actress, she really isn’t acting in those commercials—she says the entire family has been using Jergens Original Scent Cherry Almond Dry Skin Moisturizer since her grandmother started using it, so much so that it’s the family signature scent....

No matter your home decor style, consider these eye-catching living room color schemes for your next paint makeover. Beige and Green Beige is a classic neutral for the living room, but in this stunning space designed by Amber Interiors, the rich green curtains add an unexpected hue. While bright green would be shocking, a deep green blends seamlessly into this more traditional design. Follow their lead, and choose a neutral sofa you love, then let curtains, throw blankets, or other textiles introduce the accent color in the room....

For this party, I decided to host a pamper night with a twist, a DIY spa product night, and had all of my girl friends come over to create their own spa products to take home and pamper themselves at home whenever they need to de-stress or take a break from real life and their little ones. The theme of the party was lovely in lavender, and I used lavender, mint, and purple colors throughout the party....

Mint green may not be at the top of the kitchen cabinet paint colors wish list, but it’s a surprisingly excellent pick for any kitchen, especially smaller ones. Take the above space, located in a 100-year-old home in Austin, Texas. Designer Maureen Stevens chose mint green paint—Mint Condition from Sherwin-Williams—for the cabinets to help make the small, rather dark space look brighter, and the results are enough to make anyone reconsider opinions on light cabinet paint colors....

Kayla has been making good money, and was the breadwinner in her marriage. Fast forward through a divorce and the pandemic, and Kayla is struggling with her finances—she has been paying alimony to her husband, dealing with a lack of child support, and trying to get adequate child care to cover her son after his preschool shut down due to COVID. “This year, childcare has been like the moving target to kill us all....

Drew and his siblings have already spent more than $15,000 on attorney fees in their battle over the estate, and they’re still not close to getting resolution. “I fully expect it to probably be, like, over $50,000 whenever this is all said and done,” he says. “I’ve drained a lot of my savings and I’ve had to pull from my 401k.” Money Confidential host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez tapped Cameron Huddleston, financial journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances, about the need to have these conversations as soon as possible....

According to the FDA, Clostridium botulinum (botulism) has not been found in any products thus far, but the agency is warning consumers not to drink any of the recalled items, even if they don’t look or smell spoiled. They are being recalled due to sterility concerns. “Root cause analysis indicates that the products did not meet commercial sterility specifications,” the FDA said in a statement. A list of the newly recalled products is below....

For retailers, this tax can be a way to offset other rising costs related to inflation and supply chain issues. Retailers might also charge more for pumpkin spice items to capitalize on consumer fears of missing out on these seasonal items that are only around for a brief period of time, and might sell out due to their popularity. So, aside from the PSL, what are the seasonal foods that have the highest pumpkin spice tax?...

But wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to travel to indulge in some watermelon jerky and peanut butter blondies? To make Trader Joe’s more accessible to all, the national grocery store chain is constantly adding new locations, with many openings for 2022 already in the works. Trader Joe’s isn’t in all 50 states just yet—the chain is currently in 42 states, plus the District of Columbia—but it’s surely on its way to national domination....

We know what you’re thinking: How could a basic robe help melt away stress? But Gravity’s Weighted Robe does just that thanks to its super plush material and a 3-pound collar insert. Oh, and it happens to be a whopping 60 percent off at Nordstrom right now, bringing the price down from $130 to $52. Imagine getting a massage on your neck—that pressure helps you relax and reduce tension. When you wrap yourself in this weighted robe, the 3-pound weight sits right at your neck to target stiff muscles....