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Bride and Groom at Ceremony Altar Credit: Corbin Gurkin You don’t have to have seen Father of the Bride a dozen or so times to know about the time-honored tradition of the father walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. But the reality is that this scenario is not ideal for everyone. Not everyone has a father-or father figure-in their life and, even if they do, they may choose to have someone else escort them down the aisle....

Labor Day in the United States takes place annually on the first Monday in September. While some may associate this holiday with summer nearing its end, the day as a whole dates back to the late 1800s, and it was meant to create fair treatment for workers. According to Teresa Ghilarducci, Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz professor of economics and the director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), the year 1883 is when members of the labor movement specifically disputed overwhelming working hours....

martha-planting-climbing-hydrangea-161-d112299.jpg “First it sleeps, then it creeps, then it leaps.” This old gardener’s saying fits the climbing hydrangea perfectly. And gardeners take heed, because this excellent vine, which can add tremendous beauty and lushness to your property, can become an addictive feature in the landscape. It should be used carefully—not overly lavishly—because once established (which takes two to three years), a single vine covers a very large area! I first saw climbing hydrangeas at Frank Cabot’s wonderful Stonecrop, in Cold Spring, New York, now a public garden....

peeled lychee next to pile on table Credit: Stanislav Sablin / Getty Images peeled lychee next to pile on table Credit: Stanislav Sablin / Getty Images peeled lychee next to pile on table Credit: Stanislav Sablin / Getty Images peeled lychee next to pile on table Credit: Stanislav Sablin / Getty Images If you’re a fan of fresh and floral flavors, you’ll want to add lychee to your rotation. The juicy fruit is wonderfully aromatic, making it a lovely addition to sweet and savory recipes alike....

One exciting aspect of the holiday season is ripping the wrapping paper off your presents and seeing what’s inside. However, despite that magical feeling, new research reveals that people actually get more enjoyment from giving holiday presents than they do from receiving them. According to the survey, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Minted, 68 percent of Americans are more excited to give gifts this year than they are to open them....

patriotic party couple portrait Credit: Kate Headley Deciding to marry your partner means you’re signing up for more than just a wedding ceremony and reception. In fact, it’s kind of like signing up for nine different parties, all designed to celebrate this important occasion. While each is undeniably exciting, hosting a handful of events is no easy task. Here’s the skinny on what parties you’ll be organizing, planning, and just plain showing up for....

` 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 By the time your wedding reception beings, guests are ready to party....

frittata-062-d112989.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner frittata-062-d112989.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner frittata-062-d112989.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner frittata-062-d112989.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner Starting the day off right should be a joy not a struggle. These healthy one-pot breakfast recipes will help you get a fresh, balanced meal on your plate fast—without piles of dishes to clean up afterwards. Our options cover a range of preferences; eggs, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are just some of the good-for-you ingredients featured....

Martha Stewart with black clydesdale horses. Credit: Fadil Berisha Martha Stewart with black clydesdale horses. Credit: Fadil Berisha Martha Stewart with black clydesdale horses. Credit: Fadil Berisha Martha Stewart with black clydesdale horses. Credit: Fadil Berisha Good health, vibrant energy, clear thinking: That’s what I strive for every day. And I always have. My parents taught me and my siblings positive habits early on, encouraging daily exercise (we walked and rode our bikes, instead of being driven), nutritious eating (no fast food), and proper hygiene for hair and skin....

dishwasher-224-mld110766.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner dishwasher-224-mld110766.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner dishwasher-224-mld110766.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner dishwasher-224-mld110766.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner On This Page Cleaning the Exterior Getting Rid of Mildew Removing Rust Stains Dealing With Brown Stains Treating Red Stains Eliminating Green Stains Managing White Film Buildup Washing with Vinegar The dishwasher might be the one thing in the kitchen that works harder than you. Return the favor and learn how to keep it functioning efficiently and looking spic and span with our comprehensive guide to cleaning it inside and out, thanks to Martha’s Homekeeping Handbook ($24....

vinegars-hyt-0511med106942.jpg Credit: Con Poulos vinegars-hyt-0511med106942.jpg Credit: Con Poulos vinegars-hyt-0511med106942.jpg Credit: Con Poulos vinegars-hyt-0511med106942.jpg Credit: Con Poulos Acerbic, aromatic, and nose-wrinklingly useful, vinegar is the under-appreciated condiment that can assert or retreat, adding body by the cup or by the discreet teaspoonful in any recipe. The type of vinegar you choose to use when cooking is as much about the dish you are preparing as it is about the source ingredient from which that vinegar is made....

perfume-092-d111038.jpg Credit: Greg Vore RomanticTerry de Gunzburg Bleu Paradis is a tropical blend of litchi, rose, and cedar ($195, barneys.com).FreshWith hints of bergamot, lemon zest, and mimosa, Clean Cool Cotton channels a clothesline with laundry flapping in the warm air ($69, cleanperfume.com).NostalgicCalyx became a cult favorite as part of the Prescriptives line way back when; now the one-of-a-kind grapefruit and leafy-green scent is back, but at clinique counters ($52, clinique....

chair-bouquet-shoes-034-d111763.jpg Credit: Alpha Smoot THE TOOLS Butcher paper or plasticUtility paintbrush in desired widthSilk paint1 yard silk crepe de chineIronSynthrapol or other gentle laundry detergentCutting matScissorsStraight pins or clampsMetal straight edgeRotary cutter silk-ribbon-017-d111798.jpg Credit: Bryan Gardner HOW-TO 1. Protect your work surface with butcher paper, plastic wrap, or any clean, dye-free cover. 2. Dip brush into paint and apply to crepe de chine; let dry. Iron fabric for 3 minutes to set dye....

Christmas cookies and milk Credit: Nastasic / Getty Images Christmas cookies and milk Credit: Nastasic / Getty Images Christmas cookies and milk Credit: Nastasic / Getty Images Christmas cookies and milk Credit: Nastasic / Getty Images Christmas involves plenty of traditions—like decorating the tree, gift giving, and holiday dinners—but one many families look forward to year after year is baking festive cookies. Whether you make the treats as part of an annual cookie swap or to package and gift to loved ones, the delicious baked goods are a staple of the holiday season....

honeycomb cake with floral garland Credit: Steven Karl Metzer This cake has honey power to the third degree! It’s flavored with honey-in both the cake and the frosting-and it looks like a honeycomb. Best of all, this is one of the easiest cake decorating techniques you’ve ever tried. Make this beauty for Easter or any spring celebration. It’s also makes for a wonderful birthday cake for loved ones young and old....

Whether you’re new to gardening or have a certifiable green thumb, where you place certain plants in your garden can make all the difference in terms of their success. A surefire way to make the most of your garden is by companion planting. This gardening method involves placing certain plants next to each other so that they can benefit from one another’s qualities and nutrients. Good companion plants will either offer protection from predators, a distraction from pests, or necessary amendments to the soil....

greenhouse party Credit: Billye Donya St. Patrick’s Day revelry is forever associated with that signature emerald hue. Shamrocks are a given and the drinks are a must, but how do you give this traditional holiday a fresh modern look? Take note: When a St. Paddy’s Day soirée is planned by Royale Ziegler of But First, Party! and Rachel Huntington of Bonjour Fete, you can expect that go-to color and a little more - elegant cocktails, an abundance of living botanicals, and gigantic balloons....

Sipping a bottle of chilled wine with friends is, without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable ways to pass a summer evening. Warm-ish wine is decidedly less enticing. But what about overchilled wine—is there such a thing? And can too much of a chill ruin your treasured vino and the drinking experience? “Temperature is a critical factor. The effects of serving temperatures on the flavor of a wine cannot be overstated,” says Chevonne Ball, a certified sommelier, French Wine Scholar, and owner of Dirty Radish, which hosts private wine tastings, wine events, and wine tours in Willamette Valley and Portland, Oregon, and in Beaujolais, among other French regions....

baked chicken legs with chickpeas olives and greens Credit: Johnny Miller baked chicken legs with chickpeas olives and greens Credit: Johnny Miller baked chicken legs with chickpeas olives and greens Credit: Johnny Miller baked chicken legs with chickpeas olives and greens Credit: Johnny Miller Chicken is a crowd-pleasing dinnertime staple and the most consumed meat in the United States. A lean and affordable protein with a mild flavor, it cooks quickly and is endlessly versatile, starring in all kinds of dishes from curries to casseroles....

woman using spoon to mix butter and sugar Credit: Image Source / Getty Images woman using spoon to mix butter and sugar Credit: Image Source / Getty Images woman using spoon to mix butter and sugar Credit: Image Source / Getty Images woman using spoon to mix butter and sugar Credit: Image Source / Getty Images Missing an electric mixer in your hour of need, when you’re ready to cream butter and sugar?...