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I live in the Pacific Northwest, which has notably hot, balmy summers and substantial rainfall the rest of the year. But on cold, dry days throughout the fall, winter, and even into the spring, low indoor humidity can be an issue. When it comes to baby wellness and soothing solutions, Frida is a household name. Having leaned on the brand’s Baby Nasal Aspirator (or “snot sucker,” as enthusiastic parents like to call it) too many times to count, I was optimistic about the Frida BreatheFrida The 3-in-1 Humidifier, Diffuser + Nightlight....

With on-demand videos and free YouTube videos at your fingertips, at-home workouts are becoming increasingly popular. While you can certainly pull off home workouts without any fancy equipment, exercise mats just make the session a little more pleasant. But with so many options, which one should you choose? We tested out the Gorilla Mats Premium Extra-Large Exercise Mat to see what it has to offer and if it could help turn your home into a home gym....

Many of these cultivars also grow variegated leaves, usually in some combination of green, white, and yellow. They also grow small, greenish-white flowers with a vinegary smell. Cultivars of the plant, like ‘Microphyllus’, can be as small as two to three feet tall, but E. japonicus itself is usually in the six to ten feet range and can grow as high as 15 feet if unchecked. It grows in a stiff oval mound, and its foliage is quite dense....

Much like the homes she designed on HGTV’s Fixer Upper alongside husband Chip, Joanna Gaines’s dollhouse through her Target line is timeless. The toy can blend in with any decor and is sturdy enough to become an heirloom piece. But can it keep kids entertained? We tested the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Toy Doll Farmhouse, modeled after the TV host’s own Texas abode, to find out. See if its construction, durability, and features met our expectations....

However, not every home is connected to a municipal system. According to the EPA, more than 20 percent of American households use a septic system to treat household waste. Septic systems are composed of two primary parts: a septic tank and a soil absorption system, commonly referred to as a drain field or a leach field. The upkeep and maintenance of these systems falls to the homeowner. Without regular inspection, treatment, and pumping, the septic system can back up into the home, overflowing through the toilets, sinks, and other drains....

Hardy kiwi should be planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. It will create a visual impact in its first season; however, you’ll have to wait at least three years before hardy kiwi produces fruit to harvest. When growing kiwi vine for fruit, make sure to plant both male and female plants (you need at least one male for every four female plants), or choose ‘Issai’, a self-pollinating variety....

Hanging a Picture at Eye Level You may have heard that you should hang artwork so the center of the picture is at eye level. This tip sounds easy enough until you consider that eye level for you may not be eye level for other people in your household. It also doesn’t take into consideration gallery walls, pieces of art hung above furniture, or frames in especially large or small sizes....

And nowhere is accurate estimating more important than here, since most homeowners find it essential to have their bathrooms up and running as soon as possible. Unless you’re lucky enough to have several bathrooms, leaving the only bathroom incapacitated during remodeling is a major inconvenience. How Long a Bathroom Remodel Takes On average, a small complete bathroom remodel can be done in about 23 days under ideal circumstances. Assuming that no work is done on weekends, this translates to about 4 1/2 weeks—slightly more than one month—if the work proceeds uniformly with no breaks....

Manure Benefits Added to compost and then used in the garden, manure improves the soil’s texture with the bonus of adding some nutrients to the dirt, too. You can use manure from just about any farm animal and even some wild animals as long as they are herbivores (plant-eating animals). Cow, sheep, horse, and chicken manure are the most popular varieties, but there are several more. Chicken manure is also known as “black gold” for a garden....

Why We Love Sparrows At first glance sparrows may seem to be no more than bundles of brown feathers, but while they are often camouflaged in earth tones, they have a subtle beauty and distinct markings. It can be a challenge for birders to learn how to identify sparrows properly, but with practice these little brown jobs will start to stand out. Sparrows are active, social birds that eat great quantities of weed seeds, making them true friends in the garden where they can provide natural weed control....

Overloading a Circuit Standard household electrical outlets are on circuits that are rated for at least 15 amps of electrical current. Newer homes also have a lot of 20-amp circuits, including the outlets in the garage and outdoors. Lighting circuits (which often include outlets) typically are 15-amp. The amp rating tells you how many lights and other devices the circuit can handle without tripping its circuit breaker. The rule of thumb is not to load a circuit over 80 percent, meaning a 20-amp circuit can safely handle 16 amps, and a 15-amp circuit can safely handle 12 amps....