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open bar wine bottles Credit: Megan Kelsey Photography To cut costs, many budget-savvy couples choose to stock their own reception bar-assuming their venue allows this, of course. But the process isn’t as simple as walking into the liquor store and picking up a few bottles of your favorite booze. Here are seven things to know about bringing your own alcohol to the wedding. HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON ALCOHOL FOR YOUR WEDDING BAR Talk with Your Vendors Before stocking up on liquor, check with your venue....

portrait of tonya rapley pf my fab finance Credit: Courtesy of Tonya Raply / Instagram ` Net Worth Logo View Series Five Steps to Take Now to Catch Up on Retirement Savings How to Start a Retirement Fund at Any Life Stage How to Maximize Your Retirement Accounts Three Things You Need to Know If You’re Considering Early Retirement portrait of tonya rapley pf my fab finance Credit: Courtesy of Tonya Raply / Instagram portrait of tonya rapley pf my fab finance Credit: Courtesy of Tonya Raply / Instagram...

wedding cocktails Credit: Johnny Miller ` Martha Stewart Weddings View All A Musical Festival and a Green Couch Inspired This Couple’s Whimsical Garden Wedding in California 9 Wedding Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2023, According to Wedding Planners and Event Designers 7 Wedding Dress and Accessory Trends Every Bride-to-Be Needs to Know About in 2023 Princess Eugenie Is Pregnant With Her Second Child—and Is Due This Summer wedding cocktails Credit: Johnny Miller wedding cocktails Credit: Johnny Miller...

The upheaval of building boxes, stashing them with all of your belongings, and transporting them to a new home is enough to spike anxiety levels in most humans—but for pups, who don’t have a clue what’s going on, the sudden disarray can be particularly jarring. Not to mention their territorial tendencies and affinity for a regular routine, both of which are bound to be uprooted by a move. “Dogs can often pick up on cues that things are changing and tend to be weary of that,” says New York City-based veterinarian Lisa Lippman....

Creeping avens, also known as Geum reptans, can make a cheery addition to any home garden. The yellow blooms grow as a natural groundcover but can be contained to smaller areas with regular maintenance. Follow this advice from two professional gardeners and get the most from these herbaceous perennials this growing season. creeping avens growing amongst rocks Credit: Federica Grassi / Getty Images Start with Plants While there are plenty of different flowers you can grow from seeds, our experts suggest starting your creeping avens from a plant for the best results....

After a meal, scrubbing your dishes clean is a must. Post-wash, you should do the same to their temporary home—it’s time to get your kitchen sink clean and sparkling again. “Dried food is a combination of starch, protein, and sugars that can adhere to the edge of the sink, making it difficult to clean,” says Julie Utschig, of Caldrea R&D. “This combination, mixed with deposits from hard water, can produce buildup....

If you’re unfamiliar with popcorn ceilings—also known as stipple or acoustic—allow us to give you a refresher: The once popular texturized finish was applied to the ceilings of residential properties before the 2000s; at the turn of the millennium, the trend turned towards a cleaner and more modern look. Most older homes still retain this relic, namely because the process of removing it is laborious and messy—but someone has to do it....

A decorative bowl of oranges or a fruit display piled high with juicy grapefruits, pomelos, and tangerines looks fabulous, but is this aesthetically pleasing setup really how you should store these juicy fruits? We spoke to experts to find out the right way to store citrus for peak flavor and freshness. How to Store Oranges and Other Citrus While different types of citrus are distinct in flavor, color, size, and texture, they all belong to the same family, meaning they can all hang out together....

stefanie drew wedding photobooth Credit: Julie Livingston Photography Photo booths seem to be ubiquitous with modern weddings, but they’re certainly not a requirement. Whether you’re considering a vintage booth, an open-air setup by your photographer, or a DIY backdrop that guests can pose in front of, you may find yourself considering whether this is an expense that’s really worth the splurge. Here are some of the pros and cons to help you make the decision that’s best for your wedding and your budget....

opened petroleum jelly jar on blue background Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / EyeEm / Getty Images opened petroleum jelly jar on blue background Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / EyeEm / Getty Images opened petroleum jelly jar on blue background Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / EyeEm / Getty Images opened petroleum jelly jar on blue background Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / EyeEm / Getty Images A quick fix for chapped lips or a patch of dry skin often involves a dab of Aquaphor ($4....

Malene Barnett Credit: Alaric Campbell Photography ` You’re Invited Franchise Logo View Series 6 Accidents to Expect at Your Summer Parties—and How to Avoid Them 16 Best Shatterproof, Durable Dish Sets for a Season of Outdoor Entertaining Our 14 Favorite Front Porch Decorations for the Fourth of July 3 Summer Hostess Mistakes to Avoid During All of Your Warm-Weather Soirées Malene Barnett Credit: Alaric Campbell Photography Malene Barnett Credit: Alaric Campbell Photography...

glazed baked ham Credit: Ryan Liebe Putting a grand-occasion meal on the table really can be fuss-free-if you’re serving ham. A baked ham slathered with a sweet-tart glaze is the cook’s greatest ally. There’s no real cooking involved; you simply heat it through. But to the uninitiated, buying a ham can be a bit intimidating, so it helps to know what you’re looking for. A whole ham is the entire hind leg of a hog; it can weigh upwards of 15 pounds....

four variations of rich deviled eggs Credit: Kate Sears four variations of rich deviled eggs Credit: Kate Sears four variations of rich deviled eggs Credit: Kate Sears four variations of rich deviled eggs Credit: Kate Sears A classic that’s also a crowd pleaser, deviled eggs are a favorite at holiday parties and summer potlucks. When it comes to this iconic appetizer, the devil is in the details: We cook the eggs for exactly eight minutes, then whir butter into the yolks for pillowy creaminess....

Various flower pots at yard Credit: Maskot / Getty Images Various flower pots at yard Credit: Maskot / Getty Images Various flower pots at yard Credit: Maskot / Getty Images Various flower pots at yard Credit: Maskot / Getty Images Unlike indoor plants—which you can provided tailored care for in the form of temperature control, water, and sunlight adjustments—outdoor varieties are more susceptible to their environment and, let’s face it, neglect....

blue shutters on white window frames Credit: Getty / Marik Lengauer / EyeEm blue shutters on white window frames Credit: Getty / Marik Lengauer / EyeEm blue shutters on white window frames Credit: Getty / Marik Lengauer / EyeEm blue shutters on white window frames Credit: Getty / Marik Lengauer / EyeEm You don’t need to be an interior designer to experiment with paint color in your home—you just need to follow along with Fresh Coat....

By Caroline Biggs and Nashia Baker Few things dress up a lackluster staircase faster than a fresh coat of paint. This is often a necessary upgrade, when you consider where your stairway is typically placed. It’s a structural centerpiece, since it’s usually the first part of your home guests see upon their arrival. Even if your staircase isn’t the first thing you see when you get home, it can still set the tone for the rest of the house, says Nivara Xaykao, a color marketing and development expert at Benjamin Moore....

woman using brava tabletop smart oven Credit: Courtesy of Brava woman using brava tabletop smart oven Credit: Courtesy of Brava woman using brava tabletop smart oven Credit: Courtesy of Brava woman using brava tabletop smart oven Credit: Courtesy of Brava Kitchens are getting smarter: Smart speakers, smart phones, and tablets allow home cooks to access recipes, cooking videos, order groceries, and more with one tap of a screen or by asking the right question....

Have you heard of San Marzano tomatoes? They’re considered the Ferrari or Prada of canned tomato varieties, and loyalists say they are well worth the higher price tag compared to other canned Italian tomatoes or domestically produced canned tomatoes. Recently there has been some controversy about this famed Italian food product, so we set out to find out why San Marzano tomatoes are so beloved and whether or no they are actually as good as fans believe....

calligraphy pen on organized desk space Credit: Nicola Tree / getty images calligraphy pen on organized desk space Credit: Nicola Tree / getty images calligraphy pen on organized desk space Credit: Nicola Tree / getty images calligraphy pen on organized desk space Credit: Nicola Tree / getty images Calligraphy is a beautiful form of handwriting. You can use it when writing invitations, letters, or notes for friends and loved ones, but when you are a beginner in this technique, should you start with the traditional nib and ink or use brush marker pens?...

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton ` Martha Stewart Weddings View All A Musical Festival and a Green Couch Inspired This Couple’s Whimsical Garden Wedding in California 9 Wedding Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2023, According to Wedding Planners and Event Designers 7 Wedding Dress and Accessory Trends Every Bride-to-Be Needs to Know About in 2023 Princess Eugenie Is Pregnant With Her Second Child—and Is Due This Summer Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton...