Christmas Simmer Pots, Bread Machine Tips, Maximalism Decor, and More

December 22, 2021

Tip of the Day

Measuring out a sticky or thick substance like honey for a recipe? Give the measuring cup a little spritz of non-stick spray before measuring so the sticky ingredient slides right out.

Happy Wednesday! Here’s a perfectly Christmasy Hump-Day camel fact to share this week. If you visit Mount Vernon this time of year, George Washington’s historical estate in Virginia, you can meet Aladdin the Christmas Camel. Why does George Washington’s estate have a Christmas camel? In 1787, Washington paid to have a camel brought to Mount Vernon to entertain guests at his annual Christmas party. Today, the estate hosts a camel at the holidays as a nod to that fun little bit of historical trivia.

Speaking of the holidays, if you’re traveling this Christmas here are the best (and worst) times to travel. Staying home? Here’s how to infuse your home with the smell of Christmas using a simmer pot. And if holiday planning has you also in the mood to update your living space, the maximalism trend is still going strong for 2022.

Another 2021 trend that’s showing no signs of slowing down for 2022 is the love affair with charcuterie boards. The newest iteration is a snack-lovers dream.

And water cooler trivia? You know Wednesday is a double-trivia sort of day where we start with a camel fact and wrap up with a bit of history. Here’s a holiday-cheer moment perfect for this time of year. On this day in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was opened, officially signifying the reunification of East and West Germany and allowing families who hadn’t seen each other in decades to celebrate Christmas together.

– Jason

Want to make your house smell great with an all-natural approach? Meet your new best friend: the simmer pot! Read More »

Even if you don’t have the extra time or money to donate to a charitable cause this holiday season, you can still do something to give back. It’s as easy as buying your makeup and skin care products from companies that support philanthropic causes. Read More »

There’s so much more to bread machines than just basic loaves! If you’ve been wanting to try some new recipes in yours, it’s as easy as choosing the one that sounds the tastiest. Read More »

Don’t let a prestigious name like “Olympic” make it seem out of your league.
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Pouf ottomans are trendy ways to add a cozy and textured touch to your home decor.
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If you’ve seen enough white cabinets and neutral couches to fill a warehouse, you’re about to be very happy with a predicted 2022 design trend. Read More »

If you haven’t heard of simmer pots, they’re a simple way to make your home smell incredible. A viral TikTok recipe is promising a festive, must-try recipe. Read More »

Even if your travel plans aren’t already set, it might be time to revisit them. For those driving to their holiday destination, there are some good and bad times to be on the road. Read More »

Charcuterie boards have long been a staple in entertaining, but in 2020-21, these appetizer and snack boards saw some major upgrades. Now, it looks like yet another version is coming in 2022. Read More »

If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect holiday cocktail, a famous coffee shop might just have you covered this year. Read More »

If you’re looking for a new topper for your Christmas tree this year, you should consider building one out of LEGO bricks, like this guy did. LEGO builder JK Brickworks built one that even looks like it twinkles, thanks to some creative thinking. Read More »

Streaming services promised to save us from cable and its terrible monthly fees. But the giant media corporations screwed everything up—streaming is too expensive, and there are too many services demanding your money. So before you join yet another Netflix clone, give the free Roku Channel a shot. Read More »