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This marbling technique is all about experimentation, so have fun! “With marbling, the process is so fluid and unpredictable that no matter the experience level, the end result is beautifully unique,” says Heather Hale, teacher and creative director at Craft, an open studio for makers based in Austin. Her secret to success is confidence: jump in and try different techniques. “During a trial run, I had an ingredient off by one teaspoon and got a completely different result,” says Hale....

To avoid the steep price tag, you can instead opt for a DIY landscaping project. Before embarking on the work, however, be sure to do your research and determine the specific types of plants and landscape elements that will be most appropriate and long-lasting for your property, and region of the country. This extra step will help save you from needlessly wasting money. Here are some of the additional ways to stretch your landscaping budget as far as possible....

However, vinyl siding colors can fade, and uneven sun exposure can leave your home with a patchy facade. While your instinct might be to paint vinyl siding, it’s important to consider the state of your home’s exterior before picking up a few gallons of paint. Additionally, interior paint doesn’t work well on vinyl siding because paint expands and contracts with temperature changes. Instead, vinyl siding requires external latex urethane paint, which contains acrylic and urethane resins, says Josh Riutta, owner of Arizona-based Mikku and Sons Roofing....

Most of the time, muscle cramps go away on their own. But why do they happen in the first place? And what can you do to relieve a cramp the next time you get one? We talked to a couple of experts to find out. How and Why Toe Cramps Occur Cramps happen when one of your muscles suddenly and involuntarily contracts. These cramps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes....

You can often shave down that price a little bit by going to a cut-your-own tree farm, but it can still be a pricey endeavor. On the other hand, some Christmas movies may have you believe you can just go to a woodsy area and chop down a tree of your choosing for free (like when Buddy the Elf cut down a tree in Central Park) but, in real life, that’s definitely illegal....

For a variety of reasons, this concept is much easier to grasp on a map than it is when it comes to our personal relationships. Most of the time, (unfortunately) there aren’t literal, physical barriers between ourselves and other people. And even when there are (think: office cubicles or a large geographical distance), these boundaries don’t always work, and you can find that other people are crossing the line in some way....

Aside from the terrarium itself, you don’t have to buy anything special to assemble or tend to it. A few standard gardening tools will do. Here’s a guide to the ultimate in low-maintenance plants to include in a terrarium, plus how to make your own simple mini tabletop garden. Best Plants for Open and Closed Terrariums A single plant: You don’t need to expend a lot of effort to put together an eye-catching terrarium....

Factors such as the amount of moisture, sunlight, temperature, and oxygen can cause fresh herbs to go bad faster. The key is to find the appropriate balance between these elements, which depends on the type of herb you’re storing. Excessive moisture can cause soft herb leaves to wilt and become slimy, while too little moisture can dry out woody, hard herbs like rosemary and thyme. Excessive light can cause herbs to turn yellow, and too much oxygen will turn your leaves an unappetizing brown....

“The transverse abdominis, or TVA muscle, is the deepest ab muscle, attaching to the anterior lumbar spine and wrapping around the midsection from back to front like a corset or pair of Spanx,” says Ali Handley, founder of Bodylove Pilates in New York City. “When correctly engaged, the TVA cinches the waist, lengthens the torso, flattens the belly, and supports the spine and pelvis.” Just because the transverse abdominis is hard to see and reach doesn’t mean it’s not crucial to keeping you strong, toned, and pain-free....

As Miguel Pires, co-owner of IMBUE The Salon, puts it, most of us have a love-hate relationship with our bangs. “Not everyone has the same hair texture, and oftentimes many people encounter cowlicks around their hairline that make styling their bangs tricky,” he says. “And not all bangs are cut equal! Sometimes your stylist may have not taken into consideration your hair texture or lifestyle that makes styling your bangs a chore....

The fact is, you can transform this space usually used to store cars and household items into a stylish, (semi) outdoor spot to hang out. Tavolino recommends using a Polyaspartic floor coating. The look is similar to epoxy but it has better abrasion, so you won’t see the tire skid marks. Plus, it can be installed in hot or cold weather. The best part? Liquids wipe up very easily, so you can get rid of any car fluids that leak out before your gathering, or soak up any beverages before you park your car....

What Is a Pressure Canner and How it Works With the boom in popularity of pressure cooking using a multi-cooker such as the Instant Pot many people assume it can be used for canning, too (that’s understandable, those appliances have a lot of functions and pressure cooking is similar, just not quite the same.). But no, you cannot pressure can in a pressure cooker, only in a pressure canner. So what is a pressure canner?...

It wasn’t until the K-beauty wave really hit the Western world that I realized how innovative they actually were. You’re probably already familiar with things like BB creams, sheet masks, and sleeping masks—all of which stemmed from South Korea—but here are some additional, super easy ways to achieve aegi eongdongi (translation: baby butt) skin. It’s not exactly the most comfortable thing in the world, but it works similarly to baking by locking in your makeup and giving you matte skin....

Was I going to feel like a character in Little House on the Prairie or end up with buttermilk splattered all over the kitchen? Did I need to buy a butter churner to make traditional, authentic homemade butter? Regardless, I forged ahead. In the end, I just felt like a 21st-century gal who loves butter and only made a slight mess using a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Follow along to see how to make butter at home....

When it comes to buzzy beauty brands that bridge the gap seamlessly between makeup and skincare, nothing has caught my (or my fellow shopping editors’) attention as much as Ilia Beauty in the past few years. The clean beauty company has been leading the charge in editor- and reviewer-loved formulas of tinted moisturizers that double as sunscreen and serum; lengthening mascaras that condition your lashes; and moisturizing lip glosses made with hyaluronic acid to make sure your lips won’t dry out throughout the day....

The Instant Pot—or your preferred brand of multicooker with a pressure cooker function—can ace a wide variety of pressure cooker recipes and can come in clutch for batch cooking and big meals, such as Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you use it to save precious stovetop or oven space, speed up side dish prep, or make easy apps for guests to savor as they await the main event, this countertop appliance is far too valuable to stay hiding in the cabinet on Thanksgiving....

“You should, of course, consider materials and silhouettes. Everything should look like they are at least cousins, share some similar design DNA. But keeping your colors consistent is the safest bet for making your space look put together.” —Emily Henderson, Emily Henderson Design —Amy Sklar, Amy Sklar Design —Taniya Nayak, Taniya Nayak Design —Erin Gates, Erin Gates Design —Tracy Morris, Tracy Morris Design “For a little more impact, start with something simple like a stripe or go for a monochromatic look in varying shades of one hue....

So, when is it worth shelling out the extra cash for locally-grown produce at the farmer’s market, and when do you opt for the organic version? And what does organic actually mean? Freshness Counts In many towns, farmer’s markets only happen on the weekends, which means you may have to plan your meals for the week to know what to buy and avoid waste. Produce at a farmer’s market or farm stand is often picked locally within a day or two, which means you’re getting fresher fruits and veggies than you would at a grocery store....

Marble Is Porous and It Can Stain Marble is a natural stone, which means that it can easily absorb drips, spills, and pigment from food if anything sits too long on the surface. It also doesn’t hold up well to heat, so hot pots or pans should never be placed directly on marble. Time and wear can also cause it to etch, which is just a dulling of the finish....

Sometimes these extended warranties—known more accurately as extended service agreements—are everything you hope they’ll be, and can end up protecting your wallet and your peace of mind. But many other times, they can be your worst nightmare. Extended warranty scams are abundant, and without knowing the red flags, it’s easy to spend your hard-earned money on a useless warranty. Knowing the facts about how extended warranties actually work is one of the best ways to protect yourself, because while you may sign up for a warranty that feels like a great buy, if you don’t read the fine print, you may end up feeling like you were ripped off....