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On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into effect, which freed enslaved people of African descent, declaring “…all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State… shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free…” Great, right? The only problem: More than 250,000 enslaved folks in Texas didn’t get the memo. In fact, they didn’t find out the news until a full two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865, when Union troops, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with the announcement of their freedom....

The process of making sticky buns begins with a caramel glaze, which gives the buns their name. The glaze is poured into the baking dish first, followed by toasted pecans. The buns are placed atop the sticky mixture, and after baking, the pan is inverted so that the glaze is on top. The sweetener in the glaze varies—you’ll often see granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, or a combination....

Unlike mortgages (used for home-buying), car loans (used for buying cars), or student loans (used to pay educational expenses), personal loans can be used for almost any purpose—even debt consolidation. Used carefully, personal loans can help reduce your debt burden or further your financial wellness. As with any other type of debt, though, when taken out carelessly, personal loans can put you in a difficult situation. Used well, personal loans can give you a little more flexibility and liquidity....

Keep reading for more ways on how you can improve your next trip to Whole Foods by making it less stressful and less expensive. RELATED: 9 Fuss-Free Ways You Can Grocery Shop Faster Right Now RELATED: 12 Trader Joe’s Shopping Mistakes You Should Avoid at All Costs

Sorry for the insane amount of pictures in this post, there were just so many cute details that I couldn’t choose which ones to share. So I’m sharing them all! Let’s start with the main party table. Since this was a welcome home party, I wanted to put the emphasis on the “There’s no place like home,” so you’ll see a lot of red ruby slippers, hot air balloons, and yellow brick roads....

It’s become more important than ever to make your home feel like its own little escape. And that’s where products like these Fern and Willow pillows come in. The luxurious down alternative pillow is designed to feel just like duck and goose down. However, unlike their true feather counterparts, these pillows come with major ease of use. That includes the ability to machine wash, and they’re even allergen- and cruelty-free....

I interviewed gardening expert Melinda Myers, author and host of The Great Courses How to Grow Anything series, and the first thing she told me was that perhaps the plant just wasn’t my perfect match. “Trust me, there’s somebody out there killing the same thing as you,” she laughed. “There are the over-waterers, who kill a plant with kindness, or the ones who can never remember. The difficulty is matching the plant to the person who will take care of it....

However you choose to honor it, Earth Day is a great way to jumpstart a lifetime of taking better care of our planet. While you’re celebrating Earth Day (or making plans for the eco-conscious day), take a minute to read our favorite Earth Day facts. Earth Day facts

A good hairstyle can inspire your whole look, or in some cases, be the look itself. Here you’ll find the how-tos for 12 easy Halloween hairstyles. Let them influence you to dive into DIY costume-making headfirst (so to speak). First, apply mousse to damp hair and blow-dry, tousling with your fingers. Next, using a 3-barrel curling wand, like Beachwaver Midnight Rose 3B Waver ($89; ulta.com), clamp, hold, and release strands of hair to create crimpy waves....

Mid-Century Modern Decor Under $200 At this price range, you can find furniture for the dining room, living room, and home office. Shop desks, dining chairs, cabinets, and full-length mirrors featuring signature mid-century modern elements. Think tapered wooden legs, gold accents, and sharp lines. Mid-Century Modern Decor Under $100 Mid-Century Modern Decor Under $50

According to Michael G. Schmidt, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina and chair of the American Society of Microbiology’s Council on Microbial Sciences, hard, nonporous surfaces cleaned frequently and touchless technology can help prevent the spread of microbes. “After washing your hands, the best way to prevent the spread of infectious disease at home is to clean your house,” says Schmidt. “The simple act of using a microfiber cloth dipped in a solution of an all-purpose cleaner and hot water to wipe down common use hard surfaces will lift and dilute any microbes that have settled on the surfaces....

Aside from the obvious checklist (clothes, bedding, school supplies, etc.), here are some items that never seem to make the to-pack list—but are bound to be something you wish you have in your dorm room. To buy: $25 for 10; oldnavy.com. To buy: $5; homedepot.com. To buy: $149; amazon.com. To buy: $13; amazon.com. To buy: $24; hydroslife.com. To buy: $4; walgreens.com. To buy: $8; target.com. To buy: $3; walgreens.com. To buy: $168; jcrew....

Our favorite one-stop mega retailer actually has several collections dedicated to moms and what their particular interests might be. Everyone from brand new moms who are celebrating their first ever Mother’s Day to seasoned moms who could use a day at the spa are covered—and yes, that includes plant moms and pet moms, too. To buy: $13; target.com. If your mom is a fantastic cook who loves to experiment in the kitchen with her many specialty cookware products and gadgets, we found one she might not have....

For instance, you can shop art prints for your home from Shea Design and gourmet sauces to stock your pantry shelves with from Trufflin. There are also plenty of fashion and beauty brands just waiting to be discovered: Think gold hoop earrings from Mireille and spa-worthy foot treatments from Footnanny. And don’t forget about all of the celebrity labels, including Lionel Richie’s eponymous home goods line; Venus Williams’ activewear collection, Eleven; Tracee Ellis Ross’ hair care brand, Pattern; and Rihanna’s lingerie empire, Savage x Fenty....

Though using fresh tortillas will enhance any dish calling for them, some preparations can thrive even with old tortillas. So next time you have a half-sleeve of tortillas past their prime, consider, rather than tossing them, these three tasty saves. With tongs, remove newly made tostadas from the pan, gently shaking off extra oil. Carefully set them on a dish covered with paper towels, for catching drippings. Now you have the wafery base of a hearty, crunchy meal....

There’s nothing better than getting outside during the fall when the air is crisp, the leaves are changing colors, and things just seem a little more beautiful than normal. There’s a reason that so many of my fall party ideas are outdoors! One of my favorite activities to do with the entire family is a scavenger hunt where you get a list of items and go try to find them – either as race to be first or doing it together....

Ever since I made my Christmas Oreo truffles, I’ve been totally addicted. So I thought it would be fun to make some Oreo Easter eggs for the upcoming Easter holiday. These taste just as good as the Christmas ones but they’re even cuter because they look like decorated Easter eggs. Plus, they’re really fun to decorate. The last time we did this as one of our Easter activities and the kids all helped decorate their own!...

So we asked Real Simple readers to tell us what children’s books turned them on to reading and have stuck with them since. Here, dozens of readers reveal their favorites in their own words. To buy: Ages 5 to 8; $6, amazon.com. To buy: Ages 4 to 8; $8, amazon.com. To buy: Ages 3 to 5; $5, amazon.com. To buy: Ages 3 to 7; $5, amazon.com. To buy: Ages 4 to 8; $7, amazon....

In your own closet, use these hooks to hold those favorite handbags you reach for most often. Good news for those with poor penmanship: you can buy standard labels in Teplin’s signature font from the Container Store, or you can order customized labels on their website. In your own closet, these drawers can hold everything from hair clips to costume jewelry. If you tend to hold onto family photos, holiday cards, and sentimental notes, set up extra space in your closet to stash them....