Better Homes and Gardens
November 2021Get Better Homes and Gardens digital magazine subscription today and find out how to turn your home into a comfy, inviting haven. Every issue is packed with bedrooms that wrap you in warmth, kitchens that start your day with sunshine, gardens that greet you with gladness, porches that put you at peace, and recipes that become instant family classics.
in this issue
editor’s letter
a place AT THE TABLE I was invited to a new friend’s house recently for lunch. We’d been out hiking that morning, so we all pitched in to help make the meal and set the table. When I asked which dishes to use, she said offhandedly, “Oh those,” and pointed to a shelf of what looked to me like fancy heirloom china. The plates were beautiful, pastel blues and pinks featuring a gnarled trunk and stylized tree peony-looking flowers (I later discovered it was a 19th-century pattern called Indian Tree). When I complimented the dishes at the table, my friend told me they had been in her family a long time, but she liked using them for informal meals. “Why hide them away for only a big occasion? Plus, you’re here,”…
bhg.com what's trending online
Showstopper Crafts Skip the decor shopping and put your own handiwork on full display this holiday season with our favorite harvest projects, including this dried magnolia leaf wreath. BHG.com/DIYThanksgivingCrafts [SWEEPSTAKES] Win $25,000 to design the kitchen of your dreams. Enter at BHG.com/Kitchen25k for a chance to win. Details below. FIREPLACE CLEANING An annual deep clean of your chimney is essential for safety and keeping your fireplace in peak condition. Our guide breaks down each area to inspect, the tools you’ll need to get the job done, and a cleaning checklist. BHG.com/CleanFireplace RULES FOR KITCHEN SWEEPSTAKES KITCHEN SWEEPSTAKES No purchase necessary to enter or win. Subject to Official Rules available online at BHG.com/Kitchen25k. The $25,000 Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 a.m. E.T. on 7/1/21 and ends at 11:59 p.m. E.T. on 1/3/22. Open to legal residents of the 50 United…
meal-prep tool kit
“Being the old-school cook that I am, I write out an oven schedule and use a multi-timer to keep track of everything.”…
command central
1 FAST FACTS Nothing halts culinary progress like running out of baking powder—or oregano or, gasp, pumpkin pie spice. Our printable list of key ingredient subs will keep meal prep flowing, along with the other helpful guides shown here: measurement conversions, meat temperatures, and a table setting guide. Download below. 2 FLEXIBLE STORAGE Use magnetized stickers to hang a rotating cast of recipe cards or coupons. $15; goodhangups.com 3 MENU PLANNER Post your plans on a dry-erase sheet. Up-Date Weekly, $9; threebythree.com 4 SHOPPING LIST Stick a pad to the door so anyone can add items and you can tear off sheets to take to the store. Keep this low on the door so it’s in easy reach. Fruit print pad, $11 for 3; jotandmark.com PRINTABLES Click here to download our helpful reference guides.…
stain guide
FOOD GREASE Put dish soap on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before laundering with cold water. Repeat if there are still traces of the stain. Remember: You should always confirm a stain is completely gone before using the dryer. PUMPKIN & SWEET POTATO Scrape off any excess with a dull knife and run the fabric inside out under cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible. Pretreat with a laundry stain remover, then wash the fabric on hot. CRANBERRY SAUCE Rinse the stain with cool water. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar and ½ teaspoon liquid laundry detergent to 1 quart cool water. Blot the mixture on the stain with a clean cloth until the spot has disappeared. CANDLE WAX Scrape off what you can with a…
rev up your skincare routine
1 Peptides The little strings of amino acids known as peptides are an important component of any wrinkle-smoothing regimen, says New York dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, M.D., Ph.D. Why? “Peptides are masterful at signaling your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, which directly reduce wrinkles,” she says. They also play well with other skincare. You can apply a peptide cream with your serum or your retinol and not worry about triggering irritation. TRY: Neutrogena Rapid Firming Peptide Contour Lift Cream ($30; target.com) delivers hydration plus smoothing. 2 ANTIOXIDANTS WHAT THEY DO Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals that weaken and break down skin collagen and elastin. WHAT PROS KNOW Antioxidants work stronger as a team, so look for a blend rather than a single one. “You often see vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic…
