Better Homes and Gardens May 2022

selective FOCUS I’m about to embark on a big renovation on the new (very old) house I bought a year ago, so I have research to do and choices to make: Like should I get an induction cooktop instead of my beloved gas? Or how should I future-proof the HVAC system to accommodate changing technologies and climate? All these decisions—big and small—can freeze us in our tracks. The house has been fairly unrenovated for 30 to 50 years, so we know we need a drastic update. There are rooms where you can only turn on the light by screwing in the bulb. The 1990s kitchen is an eyesore, and the oven operates only on convection roast mode at odd temperatures like 377°F or 433°F. (Thanksgiving took a lot of work-arounds!) A hidden rainbow…

TIME FOR RHUBARB This favorite early-summer stalk gives both sweet and savory dishes just the right amount of tartness. Add a burst of its signature pink to pork and chicken as well as pies, breads, and streusel muffins. Browse our recipes online.BHG.com/RhubarbRecipes 100 Years of Home Trends To celebrate BHG’s 100-year anniversary, we’re looking at the past century of home design. Travel through the decades with us as we examine how world events shaped our home, culture, and style movements—and the trends that endure today. BHG.com/100YearsDesign Click here to read our design story. Grow Your Own Bouquet From garden to vase—learn which perennials are best to plant for a cutting garden that will produce colorful, homegrown bouquets through spring and summer. Mix and match from favorites like garden phlox and peonies. BHG.com/CuttingGarden [SWEEPSTAKES] Win $25,000 to design your dream…

MOM•TRA Our editors share their words to live by as we embark on another year of momming. CELEBRATE SMALL WINS “And use the good dishes monthly for candlelight dinners with my kids!”RACHEL WEBER, BHG.com Take Care “I schedule my mammogram and checkups in May. Mother’s Day is a good reminder that they’re something to do for the sake of my kids.”KIT SELZER, home editor“Be the surprise! I want to break out of our routines. Could be an unplanned trip or getting our nails done.”JAN MILLER, food editor #PROOF OF MOM Let this simple prompt by Susie Allison (@BusyToddler) remind you to hop in front of the camera while you’re out making memories. “I’m using the One Second Everyday (1SE) app to document my baby’s first year.”CARRIE BOYD, food editor“My mom has Alzheimer’s, and I know there will be…

● STARTING POINT Pick a frame (you can size your silhouette to suit). The trick: Go no smaller than 5"×7" (to cut in details without a microscope) and no larger than 11"×14" (to fit a standard-size piece of paper). ● SOURCE IMAGE Find a bright spot and position your child or pet so you see a sharp profile. The tricks: Have them sit up extra straight and take the photo from their eye level. ● TEMPLATE Print the photo or enlarge to size on your computer screen. Tape on a sheet of tracing paper and draw the silhouette. (No tracing paper? Shade the back of your printout with a pencil; tape it lead side down to a blank sheet and firmly trace the outline.) Use artistic license to insert eyelashes, add a…

ATTENTION, FAMILY! If you’re planning to treat Mom to breakfast in bed, follow our tips to help the meal live up to its pampering ideal. The Strategy ● Begin by preheating the oven to 150°F. Pop in plates to warm while you prep the rest. ● Make two bedside trips. Start with a tray carrying everything but the food: napkin, silverware, magazine, bud vase, and hot drink. Mom can wake up and enjoy a little quiet time. PRO TIPS Sidestep potential messes. If kids are carrying the drink, let it be in a thermos with the cream and sugar added. Opt for squat, stemless glasses and shallow pasta bowls in lieu of plates. The Look ● If you don’t have a special tray, use a large rimmed baking sheet lined with a tea towel. Add a matching cloth…

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 1927 From a reader letter: Instead of flowers, “Give her a growing plant. Last year [we] gave our mother rose bushes, so this year she had many beautiful flowers.” 1942 Our suggestions included a new doorbell, so “there’s music in the air” whenever it rings. A 2022 update: Give her a video model. (We like the Google Nest Doorbell, $229, or if she’s in an apartment, Ring Peephole Cam + Chime, $150.) 1960 “Not one thin dime to rub against another? Don’t despair! Give her a seed catalogue wrapped and trimmed with a rose.” And add a coupon for labor. [JUST BETWEEN US] “The family pie secret: Always a dash of grated lemon rind in the meringue and two teaspoons in the filling.” BACKSTORY In anticipation of Mother’s Day 1940,…