Urban Homesteading is Cottagecore IRL—Here's What You Should Know

The time for long evenings and summer parties in our backyards is finally here. If your backyard is needing some rejuvenation this season, you’re probably itching to get started.

One major rite of passage for any thrifter is attending their first estate sale. Unlike shopping at a flea market, you get to peruse one person's life collection.

Cleaning the house makes you wish for a magic machine that can do it for you. And turns out, you have one right in your laundry room—the washing machine, of course.

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We’ve all been there. A fern that flopped, a salvia in sad soil, and even a mighty monstera with too petite of a pot. While keeping a close eye on your houseplant and its day-to-day health is part of being a good plant parent, we’re all guilty of being a bit accident-prone or neglectful. Fret not friends! There’s usually time to step in when the green girls are screaming SOS—we’re going to help you build the ultimate houseplant emergency kit to tackle any ailments that come your way. From being ready to pot-up at a moment’s notice to making sure those pesky fungus gnats stay at bay, here are the skills we keep sharp and the tools we’re packing in our at-home horticultural kit.

There’s no question that people love Trader Joe’s, and while you might be popping in for the current end-cap display of Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix or Pizza Party Potato Chips, I’m taking full advantage of the springtime buffet of blooms. For me, there is no greater pleasure (or budget-friendly flower shopping) than building your own bouquets out of TJ’s flowers and fillers. Whether you’re looking to make an arrangement for someone you love, or just to add a little splash of seasonal style to your tabletop, here are a few tips and tricks to take your springtime stems to the next level. 

There is a certain day in the calendar year, a date that marks the dividing line between its two halves, whose significance as an important horticultural turning point is not lost on experienced gardeners. Known as the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere it was yesterday, June 21st, the longest day and shortest night of the year, when the North Pole was at its greatest tilt towards the sun.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been skittish around animals. This is perhaps why birds have always been among my favorites—they like to keep their distance from me as much as I do them.

As far as all of the pieces that make up a bedding set go, pillowcases are the most important to keep clean. Your pillow makes prolonged contact with your hair and skin oils—and, if we're being honest, sometimes drool.

There’s much to love about hydrangeas, whether it’s their voluminous blooms, vast range of species and colors, or varying heights. This all means the options for incorporating hydrangeas into your yard are nearly endless. But, if having so many options to choose from sounds more intimidating than invigorating, Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living® Plant Collection advises looking to your yard for the best fit.

There’s nothing like the clean lines of freshly cut grass. But, what if we told you skipping your final step of bagging those grass clippings can actually help you grow lusher, thicker grass—and at no additional cost to you? Allowing your mower to leave behind grass clippings can have a variety of benefits for your lawn.

Scraping off greasy grime and burnt residue from an oven is no joke—it takes hours and requires some serious elbow grease. But, it doesn’t have to be this way as long as you stick to a regular cleaning schedule.