Better Homes and Gardens January/February 2023

THE HOLIDAY BUZZ HAS RECEDED. Outside, it’s gray and cold. The green shoots of spring are a couple months away. Can you tell I’m not really a winter person? Granted, I know that many of you love the special qualities of the cold season—snuggling up under a throw or careening around outdoors on skis or skates—but as someone obsessed with gardening, I’m more of a May/June guy. Simply put, I love watching things grow. So until that commences, I’m often a little susceptible to the winter blues. Our health column this month (page 102) is about this topic of how to avoid seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “SAD is not considered a separate disorder but is a type of depression characterized by its recurrent…

This year I’m inspired to revive a tradition that started years ago when I lived in New York City. A friend was moving and had a bunch of “must-dos” she couldn’t believe were still on her NYC bucket list. So we started The Things Club. Once a month a different person picked a date, time, and thing, and anyone who was available would show up to check it off the list. We rode the Staten Island Ferry (free!), ordered high tea at Bergdorf Goodman (not free!), and on and on. Now my Des Moines list has gotten long, but I’ll make a point to break my routines and start exploring all The Things. KATY KIICK CONDON, home editor It’s about time for me to return to a walking practice. I’ve found, no…

SMALL BUT MITEY “I explored Dyson’s testing facilities in Malmesbury, England, including the dust mite lab where we got up close to those creepy-crawlies. Biggest takeaway: I’m definitely not vacuuming my mattress enough.”—CAITLIN SOLE, home editor NEW AND BLUE “Last summer I visited NYC for garden tours and the launch of the ‘Pop Star’ hydrangea. Look for it in nurseries this spring—you’ll know it by all the electric-blue flowers.”—VIVEKA NEVELN, garden editor BUSINESS OR PLEASURE? “I went to Tillamook Creamery in Oregon to try new ice creams and learn about cheese pairings. It was glorious!” (And it’s open to the public, so you can taste-test too.)—EMILY TEEL, food editor STAY AWHILE “I toured a Home Depot/Vrbo rental in the Berkshires and learned the good host golden rule: If a guest is gonna touch something, make it nice.”—KATY…

Down-Shift Designed to encourage conversation and lingering relaxation, the sunken living room in Australian creative consultant Camilla d’Antoine’s home acts as a de facto hug within the ultramodern architecture. Her lounge sits two steps down—nearly 16 inches—and with its palette of cool blues and beachy woods is a serene, soothing version of one in a house Camilla visited as a child. The space’s many horizontal lines—a pair of low-profile sofas, the fireplace’s long shelf, even the dining area half-wall—work together to draw the eye down. And the recessed area, she says, “creates separation from the kitchen and dining zones and makes the room feel voluminous by increasing the ceiling height.” When creating your own sunken space or embracing one that exists in a midcentury-era home, Camilla’s advice is to nestle a…

Creative ways to make your valentine smile Carnations usually play second fiddle to roses this time of year, but floral designer Jill Rizzo has us looking at them from a fresh perspective. She tucks variegated mini carnations into a wood fiber core for a pomander version of a kissing ball (a decoration that dates to Victorian Christmases). Gift them on their own, use them as present toppers, or hang them mistletoe-style above doorways. MINI-CARNATION POMANDER Materials • 50 mini carnations• Excelsior wood shavings• Bind wire• Thin ribbon• Floral glue Step-by-Step 1. Prep the mini carnations by trimming the stems to about ½" long. 2. Gently compress the excelsior wood shavings into a sphere about the size of a tennis ball. Secure by wrapping a piece of bind wire around the circumference of the sphere and twisting the…

Swirled Meringue Hearts HANDS ON 15 min. TOTAL TIME 2 hr. 15 min. 1 cup sugar¾ tsp. cornstarch⅛ tsp. baking powder4 egg whites, at room temperature¼ tsp. cream of tartar½ to ¾ tsp. desired flavor extract, such as raspberry, strawberry, or cake batterPink, red, or purple paste or gel food coloring 1. Preheat oven to 225°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place oven racks in top and lower third of the oven. 2. In a medium bowl combine sugar, cornstarch, and baking powder. In a large bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar with a mixer on medium until soft peaks form (tips curl). Increase mixer speed to high, adding sugar mixture, 1 Tbsp. at a time, over a 2-minute period until sugar is dissolved and mixture still forms soft peaks. 3. Reduce…