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Travel

I Created 6 Different Travel Outfits With Just 9 Pieces to Keep My Suitcase Light—Here’s How I Did It

I'm preparing for several upcoming events that involve air travel. In fact, I'm currently on a trip, visiting some old friends, and the last thing I want to worry about is dragging my heavy luggage from destination to destination. As part of my effort to pack lightly, I have already dedicated my Calpak Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On Luggage for several trips in my calendar in the next few months. As you can imagine, the mini carry-on bag has only so much room, so it all comes down to packing strategically. I typically plan out a different outfit every day, but with so little space this time around, I need to make the most out of a handful of pieces. So, I planned out six different outfit ideas using just these nine styles from Old Navy, Quince, and more. Travel-Friendly Fashion Finds Anrabess 2-Piece Wide-Leg Pants and Tank Set, $36 (was $45); amazon.com A New Day Button-Front Cardigan, $35; target.com Anrabess Linen-Blend Pants, $36; amazon.com Automet Cap-Sleeve Tee, $13; amazon.com Odoly Adjustable Buckle Sandals, $19 with coupon (was $24); amazon.com Old Navy Sleeveless Button-Front Mini Dress, $35; oldnavy.com Anrabess 2-Piece Wide-Leg Pants and Tank Set A matching set is a travel-friendly essential because you can always take it apart to wear with other separates. I love a nice, cohesive look on its own, but you can't beat this cute tank with chino shorts or relaxed straight-leg jeans. I plan to pair the wide-leg pants with an adorable, tiered tank for another day as well. A New Day Button-Front Cardigan I often get cold, no matter where I am, so I like to carry a cardigan with me. This crocheted number will make a simple top feel like a base layer. This is one of my favorite pieces for unpredictable weather because it's incredibly chic while still keeping me warm when I need it. Additionally, it goes well with just about anything, whether it's a matching set or a little dress. Anrabess Linen-Blend Pants A neutral pair of linen pants is a must-have for the season. Not only are they lightweight and soft, but they also mesh well with a wide range of tops, including blouses, tanks, simple tees, button-downs, and more. I really like how the drawstring waistband cinches me in as well, and I plan to wear these well into fall. Automet Cap-Sleeve Tee I consider this minimalist cap-sleeve T-shirt a style staple. I'd certainly build an entire outfit around it because there are endless ways to wear it. My plan is to team this soft tee with my black chino shorts for one day and with my linen pants on another. But it would also work well with a cute wrap skirt. Don't miss a few more of my favorite travel-friendly pieces below. Odoly Adjustable Buckle Sandals Old Navy Sleeveless Button-Front Mini Dress Quince Organic Stretch Cotton Chino Shorts Old Navy High-Waisted Faux-Wrap Linen-Blend Mini Skort Lulus Tie-Strap Tiered Tank Top

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Gardening

Are You Harvesting Your Oregano the Right Way? What to Know Before Your Next Batch

Bursting with flavor, oregano adds a robust dimension to dishes and carries health benefits. How and when you harvest your herb can greatly affect its flavor and health in the long run. Learn when and how to harvest oregano for the best results possible. Meet the Expert Lindsay Etemadipour is a holistic herbalist and the founder of Symbi. What Is Oregano? Oregano is an herb often used for cooking and as an antioxidant for health benefits. Its pronounced flavor is often described as herby, peppery, and minty, with an underlying faint bitterness. As a perennial, oregano will continue to grow year after year without replanting.1 Oregano's name is derived from the Greek, and it means "beauty of the mountain;" oregano can be grown for its appearance, developing small purple flowers that bloom during summer. Left unharvested, oregano can reach up to three feet high. Different Types of Oregano Oregano has 45 species, but a few types are used most often:1 Common oregano (Origanum vulgare): This popular type of oregano is frequently used in tomato sauces and on pizza. It pairs well with basil and thyme. Golden oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'): Golden oregano has a milder taste than common oregano. It is often used as an ornamental plant due to its yellow foliage and pink and purple flowers. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens): Mexican oregano has a more lemony-minty flavor than common oregano, since it's closely related to the mint family. Though its taste is strong, the bitterness is lessened, making it a staple of Southwest and Mexican dishes. When to Harvest Oregano Oregano should be harvested during the growing season, right before or when the flowers have developed.2 Harvest in mid-morning, after dew has evaporated but before heat picks up. The growing season for oregano varies, but in many areas, it is from spring to early summer. Common Pests Though oregano is relatively pest-resistant, watch for aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Harvesting Fresh vs. Dried Oregano While milder herbs like cilantro, basil, and parsley taste better fresh than dried, oregano's bold flavor carries through into dried form. "I keep both [fresh and dried oregano] stocked for different reasons," says herbalist Lindsay Etemadipour. She prefers fresh oregano for concentrated flavor—like as a garnish for salads and pizzas—and dried oregano for soups, stews, and sauces. Harvesting Oregano for Fresh Use When harvesting oregano, snip off the tops of the stems. The stems include the leaves that will be removed for use. Below, leave at least four to six pairs of leaves per stem; this helps the oregano produce more leaves for future harvesting. "When harvesting oregano, you want to focus on three things: time of day, frequency, and maturity," Etemadipour says. "First, you want to ensure that you wait until oregano is about to flower, but not after it flowers. Once the plant flowers, the leaves will start to become bitter." Choosing the best time of day for harvesting is also critical. Harvest mid-morning, after nighttime dew has dried but before the day's heat picks up. "The herb's flavor is most potent at this time due to the oils," Etemadipour says. Be sure to use sharp scissors or pruners, and cut about a third of the way down the stem to encourage it to re-shoot later on. Companion Plants Oregano and basil can be planted together, as they work together to keep mosquitoes, spider mites, aphids, and pests away. Harvesting Oregano for Dried Use Harvesting oregano for dried use is similar to harvesting for fresh use, with a couple of differences. Harvest a few more leaves, and choose stems that are about to flower. Bundle them and hang upside down in a warm, dry area. Give the bundles at least a week to dry out entirely, and then pack into airtight containers until you need to use it. How to Care for Oregano After Harvesting After harvesting, it's important to care for oregano to enable regrowth and for the oregano plant's continued health. "Regular harvesting helps keep the plant healthy and producing," Etemadipour says. "I usually harvest when the plant stems are about five inches tall. This will guarantee a few harvests a season." Water and fertilizer are important, as well as regularly cutting back any flowered stems. Tips for Harvesting Oregano Pick the right time of day, usually mid-morning. Snip the leaves rather than pulling them off by hand. Prune (or harvest) oregano to maintain health, even if you don't plan to consume the herb. Bundle the snipped stems with a rubber band, placing the band on the snipped end. If pruning for plant health only, prune aggressively: as low as 2 to 3 inches.3 For cooking use, harvest oregano around two times per year.3 Rinse the oregano right after harvesting to give it time to air-dry before use.

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Fashion & Beauty

What I Wore This Week On Our Secret Shoot (That Are Pretty Perfect Outfits For The Winter-To-Spring Transition)

For the last 6 days, we’ve had all hands on deck shooting a new line of something we are launching this spring (I’m writing this the day after we wrapped and celebrated so my brain is sooooo wiped I can barely think). We produced this in-house (a huge shout out to Gretch who killed it!!!! It went so well!!) which meant it was a huge financial investment on my part so the goal was to get as many photos, videos, reels, etc as possible in the six days – which meant that I had to change outfits like 6 times a day to take versions with and without me, lying down, being cozy, standing up, fancy portraits, etc. I’ve been doing this for 15 years so I’m pretty comfortable getting my photo taken, but it’s still crucial that I feel good in what I’m wearing. If I don’t feel good, I bring insecure energy, which makes the entire crew suffer because it takes so much longer to get the “right shot”. I’m SOOO grateful that Kaitlin can shoot so fast and makes me feel really comfortable:) Anyway, here are some of the outfits – admittedly that are on the more casual side. But I also think that if you are looking for some good winter-to-spring recs, you’ll find some great pieces in here. The fancier outfits were designer that I rented for the portraits so you’ll see them later :) The jean shacket was a big investment and while I love it I’m hoping to exchange it for a smaller size but it’s really, really cute. The mini skirt is Madewell (via Nordstroms) and I’m wearing a small (Madewell sizing always runs big and I could have sized down but you know how they have like four xxxxxxs sizes which honestly make it confusing to know what size you are). Right now I’m solidly in between a 4 and 6 (so I guess a 5, LOL) if that helps – but I do wish I had bought an XS. It’s tweed and structured and pretty dang cute. The clogs are so comfy (for heels), I wear them all the time and even replaced them already because Buttercup ate one last year. And yes that bear shirt is rad. I knew that this sweater with the big black stripe would be really cute on camera in a snuggled-up shot and it was. The stripe was really graphic and popped really well on camera. I wore it with my Old Navy boyfriend jeans that are still just so cute (and I think like $24 right now). Another cozy look – An oversized cardigan (LOVE) with fisherman vibes, over the bear shirt (from The Great, which you know I love because they do everything casual just perfectly, but are such investments) with the same Old Navy jeans. Don’t hate on my drop crotch R13 jeans – I however, do hate that they are so expensive, but I’ve worn them probably 80 times since I bought them last year for my big Rugs shoot (extremely drop crotch and def not everyone’s cup of tea but I find that they make every outfit look cool and are so comfortable!!). The dark burgundy snakeskin boots make any outfit look more professional, even beat up drop crotch jeans :) Another oversized sweater with a great graphic sleeve punch. This sweater is a bit long and wide (I bought both a medium and a small to see which would fit better and they are both really really oversized. The jeans are Madewell’s barrel jeans that I think are excellent because they aren’t crazy high-waisted like a lot of barrel jeans (with big boobs and a short torso I can’t do both high-waisted and wide-legged). Big fan of these. And those kitten-heel boots are still in the mix – I wear them all the time when I want to dress something up without wearing high heels. The Levi’s are vintage – sorry – that I’ve had forever. I really like this sweater from Rails – cable knit with pretty white stitching. Oh, and I ended up wearing those flats a ton (both in blue and nude) last week mostly because they were easy to pop on and off for our casual snuggling shots that I had to do. Big fan. I was HIGHLY influenced by Kaitlin to get leopard pants and boy am I glad I did. These are SO CUTE and I didn’t realize how easy they are to make a basic outfit look stylish. I think the key is not dressing this up too much or it looks RHONJ, but these pants are dope and I love them with a casual top a lot (I wore it with wooden clogs, too which gave me nice height so that the cropped length was highlighted). Oh and yes, I’m wearing hair extensions in some of these shots :) I bought this new sweatshirt from The Great and god, the slouchy cut is just so perfect but I wish that size 0 was in stock because it’s so oversized (but I know I’ll still wear it so much!!). The pants are old but still available from Free People and pretty awesome. I bought two new denim jumpsuits because my dog ate the crotch out of my old one that I loved soooo much. This one (on the left) with long sleeves is from Amo and I bought both the small and medium, unsure of what size would work, but I’m returning the small because while it technically fit the waist is too snatched and therefore uncomfortable. I really think that brands need to get the memo that these jumpsuits shouldn’t be fitted or body-conscious – the whole point is to rock a utilitarian vibe and be comfortable – we don’t need our waist to look small, we want pockets and a good drape. Pistola does this really well (the camo) and I bought this denim one and LOVED it even more than the camo since it’s just a bit thicker. So while I love the darker wash of the Amo a lot (and I’m keeping the medium size – which I’m wearing above), I think that this Pistola jumpsuit has a better, more casual shape that will be easier to throw on – it just hangs in a nicer way. But if you want to wear a jumpsuit to the office, perhaps the Amo one looks more professional and can be dressed up better, for sure (my goodness that was a lot of talk about jumpsuits – but I wear them a ton, and have for years, because they look good on camera and are so easy to work/style in as well so I feel like I’m a jumpsuit expert). I promise the reveal of the shoot will be worth it (!) and hopefully, some of these outfits have given you some solid winter-to-spring outfit ideas.

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Gardening

5 Trees You Should Never Plant Near Your Home, According to Arborists

There’s nothing like a well-placed tree to elevate your home’s curb appeal and provide shade, privacy, and structure to garden beds. However, some trees have invasive roots or weak limbs that are prone to breaking and commonly cause property damage when they’re planted near homes. In the guide below, you’ll discover the top five trees to avoid planting near homes and office buildings, and learn which trees to plant instead. Meet the Expert Alex Kasprzak is a certified arborist and owner of Elevated Tree Care tree removal and care services. Karen Manix is the co-owner of Walker Farm, a plant and tree nursery in Vermont. Kevin Cleveland is a certified arborist and the president of Tree Tech Inc. Willow Although they are visually stunning, it's not a great idea to plant a willow tree next to your home. “They have some of the most intrusive root systems, and their weak wood grain commonly causes branches to fail," says Alex Kasprzak of Elevated Tree Care. Their root systems mimic the look of their sprawling branches, and this can be a bad sign for any buildings planted nearby. “That root system can damage your home’s foundation, or roots may tunnel into septic systems in search of more water," says Karen Manix, co-owner of the Walker Farm plant and tree nursery. Alternative: River Birch or Weeping Beech Homeowners often choose willow trees due to their high water tolerance, but there are other water-loving trees to try. River birches, for instance, can handle wet areas, but their root systems are relatively shallow. Weeping beeches also have less aggressive roots and their trailing branches have all the charm of weeping willows. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! Bradford Pear Bradford pears flower in spring and they’re commonly planted in gardens and along neighborhood streets. But these trees aren’t recommended by tree pros for proximity to buildings. “Bradford pears have poor branch structures, which makes them highly susceptible to limb failure,” says Kasprzak. “Their roots are mildly intrusive too.” Keeping Bradford pears away from your home can help you avoid some potential issues, but growing them at all can be tricky because they are considered invasive. Even when they’re planted in gardens, Bradford pear trees can escape into the wild and cause issues for native plants and wildlife. Avoiding these trees all together is the best way to limit their spread. Alternative: Serviceberry or Eastern Redbud Instead of growing invasive Bradford pears, look for native flowering trees like serviceberry or eastern redbud. These trees both provide food and shelter for native wildlife, and they look just as pretty as Bradford pears when they bloom in spring. Silver or Norway Maple Maple trees have a stunning disposition, and there's nothing more beautiful than watching their leaves turn in the fall. However, you have to be careful about which type you choose, lest you threaten your home with burrowing roots or falling branches. “Of the all members of the maple family, silver maples have the most intrusive roots,” warns Kasprzak. “They also have a fast growth rate that leads to weak branch attachments and increases the likelihood of fallen limbs.” Aside from silver maples, it’s also a good idea to avoid planting Norway maples. Like Bradford pears, Norway maples grow invasively in many areas and they can outcompete sugar maples and other native trees. Alternative: Red or Sugar Maple Red maples and sugar maples have a similar look to silver and Norway maples, but they pose fewer risks for homeowners. Not only are these trees native to North America, but red maples delight with fiery red autumn foliage and sugar maples are the best trees for maple sugaring. Ash Ash trees have a stately look and a dense canopy of leaves that supports an assortment of wildlife. But these trees are on the decline in many areas due to invasive emerald ash borers. These small, green beetles lay their eggs on ash tree bark and can cause even large trees to die in just a few years. “With the heavy infestation of emerald ash borers, it’s no longer advisable to plant ash trees,” says president of Tree Tech Inc. Kevin Cleveland. “If you do plant them, they’ll need immediate and consistent treatment to survive.” Alternative: Birch or Oak While emerald ash borers do a lot of damage, they generally aren’t interested in trees outside of the ash family. Birch and oak trees are usually safe from these voracious beetles, and have a similar look and feel to ash trees. Black Walnut Aside from willows and Bradford pears, Kasprzak had one last tree on his avoid list: black walnuts. “Branch failure is also common with these trees, and their roots are more invasive than most other deciduous trees,” says Kasprzak. Black walnut trees also release a toxic substance, known as juglone, into the soil, which keeps other plants from competing with black walnuts for space. Unfortunately, if juglone gets into your soil, it can make it hard to grow other ornamentals, and even interfere with the growth of edible crops like tomatoes. Alternative: Black Cherry or Staghorn Sumac The compound leaves of black cherries and staghorn sumacs have a similar look to black walnut tree leaves. However, these native plants don’t release juglone into the soil, and they attract finches and other wild birds.

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