Many people have a passion for baking. Baking can be a rewarding hobby and fill a home with an aroma that’s unique, welcoming and instantly identifiable. There’s no shortage of options when the desire to bake arises. Homemade bread is a go-to among baking enthusiasts, who can whip up a loaf of this ...

Reading is a beloved pastime that’s having a moment. A number of variables have helped to renew people’s interest in reading. BookTok, a popular subcommunity on the social media platform TikTok in which users create videos to recommend and discuss books, is one such variable. The BookTok trend has h...

As we continue to push through the darker half of the year, many of us notice that the lessened daylight has an impact on our mental and physical health. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2024), two in five Americans report a worsening in their overall mood during winter months, exp...

While indoor gardening helps stave off post-holiday blues and cabin fever, windows providing full sun can be scarce. Light stands take up needed space. What’s a gardener to do? Build a dish garden! Dish gardens are collections of plants sharing a single container. Terrariums are enclosed dish garden...

Homes are often characterized as sanctuaries for their inhabitants. When a home is warm and welcoming, it can be the perfect place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Though no one wants to imagine danger lurking in their homes, certain areas of a home, including the b...

The TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of backyards, public parks, school yards and other green spaces, predicts 2026 will be a year of purpose, precision and pet-friendly landscapes. The era of the purely aesthetic lawn is over; the future is about the high-performance, consc...

Tax season, which begins in January and ends in April with the tax-filing deadline (tax day falls on April 15), can be a stressful time for people in the U.S. Individuals and businesses are required by law to file their income tax returns with the federal government and either await a refund or pay ...

The Virginia Egg Council used the American Egg Board’s 2025 campaign, “Meant to be Broken,” in last year’s search for the best egg recipes that would be appropriate for holiday entertaining, gifting or enjoying. Sixteen local fairs across Virginia hosted preliminary competitions throughout the summe...

Winter has officially arrived, bringing unique challenges in caring for houseplants. At this time of year, we experience less intense and fewer hours of sunlight. For most indoor plants, the lack of daylight signals a special kind of dormancy called quiescence. During this period, plants conserve th...