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Forty years ago, when I was first living in Mexico, a new friend offered me my first slice of pan de muerto. Back then, I didn’t know its original story, or the importance this bread continues to hold during the Day of the Dead—an overnight, two-day religious, spiritual, and secular celebration that the living offer in gratitude for the lives of relatives who have died. It’s important to remember that the Day of the Dead isn’t Mexico’s Halloween....

To create a seamless look, the cabinets, walls, and trim are painted the same shade of white. The table-style red island is the perfect pop of color, while the mix of metal baskets infuses cottage style and a vintage flair. Cottage kitchen design ideas. A built-in plate rack near the range is an ode to old-fashioned cupboards, but it is also practical. Hanging vintage plates on the wall is classic cottage, and the grouping brings the room’s color scheme together....

Willow received a bachelor of science degree in Nutrition from the University of New Mexico. She focused on public health programming. She then went to Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She received a Master of Science degree in Nutrition Communications. Willow runs a private practice in NYC where she works with individuals and families to help them develop a healthy and happy relationship with food and body....

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Yellow Bells Care Must-Knows lthough it’s a tough plant tolerant of many soil conditions, yellow bells must be planted in rich, well-drained soil, with medium moisture, for the most impressive display of blossoms and lushest foliage. That lengthy bloom time means yellow bells appreciates soil amended with organic matter. If you want to grow yellow bells in a container, plant them in a general-purpose potting media mixed with a slow-release fertilizer....

My vision was to freshen the Craftsman house with a modern farmhouse twist, but I didn’t want it to look brand-new even though the place needed an extensive renovation. I decided to live here for two months before starting so I could really understand what to keep and what had to go. I also realized I could save money by becoming my own contractor—a first for me—which meant I had to be the quality control person while also managing the schedule, budget, and crew....

Prep the Corn For 1 quart or 2 pints of canned corn, you’ll need about 4½ pounds of corn (the weight before you cut off kernels). Start by removing the husks, then scrub the ears with a vegetable brush to remove the silks. Wash each ear and drain. In a large pot cover the ears of corn with boiling water and boil 3 minutes. Cut the corn from the cobs at ¾-inch depth of the kernels (in other words, don’t scrape the cob)....

Catmints are fast-growing plants. When they first begin in spring, they form tidy little mounds of neat new foliage. They quickly grow outward and begin to set their buds for their flower show. Many species of catmint can become weedy in the garden setting. If you are worried about this, look for sterile varieties like ‘Walker’s Low’ that will not seed about and cause any future problems. Catmint plants are a wonderful source of nectar for many pollinators and are known to withstand harsh winters....

Where to Plant Crepe Myrtle Need shade near a petite patio? Or do you garden on a tiny lot? Crape myrtle may be the tree for you. In colder climates where winter injury can be a problem, this plant grows about 6 to 10 feet tall—which suits smaller landscapes. In warmer climates it grows up to 25 feet tall, but you can prune it to limit growth. In addition, plant breeders recently have introduced a host of semidwarf and dwarf cultivars that are especially well-suited for tight planting spots like narrow foundation planting beds, curbside areas, and even large pots....

If you’re afraid of pruning your trees, know that some pruning is better than no pruning–especially when trees are young and benefit from shaping. It’s also worth noting that trees are resilient and most moderate pruning can later be corrected as the trees grow over time, so there’s reason to learn how to prune a plum tree. Fruit Trees vs. Flowering Trees When it comes to plums, there are really two types: those grown for their fruit and those that are grown for their flowers....

Before you panic, we’ve got a few tips and tricks that are sure to get stubborn stripped screws out and your home improvement project back on track. So before you further damage the screw head, take a look at the list below to find a method that works for you. Why Old Screws Always Seem to Strip Why is it that every DIY project seems to involve an untimely battle with a stripped screw that just doesn’t want to loosen?...

Purchasing, Storing, and Washing Peppers No matter what kind of pepper you are purchasing, look for one with glossy, bright skin and a shape that is normal for the variety. If a pepper is bruised, shriveled, or has soft spots, it is past its prime. Store sweet peppers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store chile peppers in the refrigerator, unwashed and wrapped in paper towels in a plastic bag, for up to 10 days....

Jenna, who shares her projects on her blog Jenna Sue Design, stenciled a design to mimic Moroccan tile. The 28x28-inch stencil created a single, high-impact medallion. “There was a point a few hours in where I thought, Wow, what was I thinking?” she says. But after getting the hang of it, she cut her time from 25 minutes per medallion to 5 minutes, completing the stenciling in 27 hours over two weeks....