Styled and Savored #025
Your weekly curated guide to great finds that make your home life easier, fuller, richer, and happier.
This week’s Styled & Savored is serving cozy with a side of clever and creepy. We’re diving into Better Homes & Gardens x Walmart’s 2026 trend drop, where comfort meets color confidence and proves that “affordable luxury” is no longer an oxymoron. Then we’re heading to Quincy, Illinois, to swoon over a historic 1882 mansion that looks like a period drama set but costs less than a new SUV.
On the DIY front, we’ve got pumpkins for every mood: chaos-free kid projects that keep the knives out of the equation, and French-glazed beauties that bring Parisian polish to your fall decor. Gardeners, we didn’t forget you because we’ve got the dirt on how to fill a raised bed like a pro, no dump truck required. And for the creatives, there’s a book nook DIY that turns your bookshelf into a portal of pure imagination.
We’re also stirring up fall flavor – wrapping up Halloween with flaky, funny mummy dogs, soul-hugging slow cooker chicken pot pie soup, and an apple crumble recipe that’s low on effort and high on cozy. Wash it all down with a Witch’s Mojito because every good spell deserves a little rum and pomegranate magic.
Better Homes & Gardens x Walmart 2026 Trends: Cozy, Colorful, and Totally Curated
If you’ve ever wished your home could feel like a Pinterest board come to life – without the price tag to match – then check out this blog post from The Spruce that details how Better Homes & Gardens and Walmart just made that dream your 2026 reality. The trend lineup is all about mixing cozy nostalgia with modern ease. Think “elevated everyday” but with a sprinkle of comfort-core. Their design direction marries approachable luxury and functional beauty – proof that Walmart’s not just for groceries anymore.
First up, they’re going heavy on earthy warmth because beige is back, baby! Expect rich wood tones, layers of texture, and a newfound love for natural materials. Rattan, linen, and handcrafted ceramics steal the spotlight, while matte finishes keep everything grounded and sophisticated. It’s that perfect “I just casually live in a magazine spread” vibe without the designer markup.
The palette for 2026 is equal parts calm and confidence: cozy neutrals meet grounded greens and moody browns, sprinkled with pops of saturated hues that keep things fresh, not fussy. Better Homes & Gardens is calling it “vintage new”—a style that feels collected, not curated. Translation: your grandma’s quilted throw suddenly looks like a design statement.
And because no one has time for high-maintenance trends, this collab is all about livable luxury. We’re talking plush furniture that’s pet-friendly, statement lighting that doesn’t blind you, and accent pieces that look way more expensive than they are. From earthy dinnerware to stylish storage solutions, it’s about function meeting flair in every room.
Bottom line: the 2026 BHG x Walmart collection proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to make your home look (and feel) like your personal sanctuary. It’s an affordable masterclass in cozy sophistication—where comfort, color, and craftsmanship are the main characters.
Historic 1882 Meriam Mansion in Quincy, IL is a steal at just under $300K
Every once in a while, a property comes along that makes you drop your coffee, clutch your pearls, and say, “Wait – that’s it?!” The Historic 1882 Meriam Mansion in Quincy, Illinois, is exactly that kind of jaw-dropper. Listed for just $295,000, this 19th-century beauty proves you don’t need a billionaire’s bank account to live like you’re starring in your own period drama. Forget $29 million Texas ranches or oceanfront estates, this stunner gives you history, craftsmanship, and character for the price of a modest condo.
Built in 1882, the Meriam Mansion is a love letter to a bygone era – all Victorian elegance, ornate woodwork, and grand architecture that today’s builders can only dream of replicating. You’re greeted with that classic red-brick façade and arched windows that practically wink at you with Gilded Age confidence. Inside, it’s a time capsule of craftsmanship: original millwork, intricate moldings, and soaring ceilings that whisper stories from more than a century ago. There’s a carved wooden staircase straight out of a Gothic romance novel and fireplaces that make you want to curl up with a book and a brandy.
But make no mistake, this isn’t some creaky relic that belongs in a museum. The Meriam Mansion has the bones, the space, and the presence to become the showpiece of someone’s modern fairytale. With over 5,000 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, and three baths, there’s plenty of room to breathe, entertain, or just revel in the kind of old-world luxury that HGTV renovators would sell their souls to recreate. Sure, she could use a little TLC in spots (as any 140-year-old deserves), but that’s half the fun – turning a slice of history into your forever home.
What makes this listing especially refreshing is its price tag, which doesn’t require a trust fund. It’s a reminder that unique properties – especially historic homes with serious character – don’t always have to be reserved for the ultra-rich. While the world gawks at multimillion-dollar estates, this mansion quietly sits in Quincy, offering grandeur, history, and potential for under $300K. You could be sipping morning coffee under a chandelier older than your great-grandparents, and still have enough left in the budget to actually furnish the place.
In short, the Meriam Mansion is proof that dream homes come in many forms, and sometimes, they come with antique charm, timeless beauty, and a surprisingly down-to-earth price. It’s the perfect blend of elegance and attainability, and if you’ve ever fantasized about living in a piece of history without breaking the bank, this is your cue to start packing.
No knives, no tears: 6 adorably chaos-free pumpkin decorating ideas kids (and parents) will actually love
If carving pumpkins feels like a hazardous operation when kids are involved, Young House Love has your back. This post delivers six creative, low-stakes pumpkin decorating ideas that let kids get in on the fun without needing sharp tools or full-grown wizard skills. The motto? More mess, less stress, and lots of giggles.
© Young House Love
First up, the adorable baby’s first handprint pumpkin. Even if your kiddos are barely toddling, their little hands can become stencils. Trace your baby’s hands onto cardstock, transfer that onto the pumpkin, and turn them into “eyes” (or anything else you fancy). It’s more sentimental than spooky.
Then there’s finger-painted stencil pumpkins. Just lay down painter’s tape patterns on the pumpkin, let kids finger-paint over it, and peel back the tape to reveal fun designs. Pro tip: faux pumpkins make this one repeatable year after year. Also on deck, puffy painted studded pumpkins, where you add texture with puffy paint (dots, stripes, even initials), then paint the whole pumpkin afterward to get that embossed look.
The tissue paper Mod Podge pumpkin idea is another winner. Cut or tear tissue paper dots, let kids place them anywhere, and seal the deal with Mod Podge. The post describes layering techniques and how multiple color layers add whimsy. Another quirky option – slip black fishnet pantyhose over a white or faux pumpkin for a lacey, moody effect. The texture pops in all the right spooky chic ways. Last but not least, there’s the Homemade Monogram Stencil Pumpkin. Print a letter or shape, trace it onto the pumpkin, and carve or paint accordingly.
What Young House Love does beautifully is show that pumpkin decorating with kids doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about creating keepsakes, letting kids have ownership, and turning October into a creative memory. The ideas are tactile, forgiving, and full of opportunities for little hands to shine.
Because pumpkin diy projects aren’t just for kids, meet the French glazed pumpkin
If fall decor had a couture runway, Craftberry Bush’s French Glaze Pumpkin DIY would be the supermodel strutting in stilettos made of gold leaf. This isn’t your average “grab a pumpkin and slap on some paint” project. Oh no, this one has European flair. Inspired by antique French finishes and the soft patina of old-world decor, this tutorial transforms humble faux pumpkins into elegant, muted showpieces worthy of a Parisian chateau – or at least your perfectly styled coffee table.
© Craftberry Bush
The process starts simply enough. You’ll need faux pumpkins (foam or plastic), a little paint, and a touch of artistic finesse, but the magic is in the layering. Craftberry Bush walks readers through painting the pumpkins in creamy neutrals and soft whites before applying a thin wash – the “French glaze” – to settle into crevices and give that slightly aged, effortlessly chic vibe. The result? Pumpkins that look like they were hand-finished by a French artisan with impeccable taste and infinite patience. Spoiler: You can fake that in about twenty minutes.
What makes this project so irresistible is the balance of sophistication and simplicity. You don’t need fancy materials or years of art school to pull this off – just a willingness to blend, dab, and smudge until your pumpkin looks subtly distressed but still refined. The post also encourages flexibility. You can tweak the tones from creamy beige to warm gray or even pale blush, depending on your personal palette. Each finished pumpkin ends up unique, like something you’d find in a curated boutique instead of a big-box Halloween aisle.
And let’s not skip the ambiance. The photos are pure autumnal mood board material: golden light, neutral tones, and pumpkins that whisper “je ne sais quoi.” Craftberry Bush leans into that cozy-meets-elegant aesthetic that makes you want to pour a latte, light a candle, and redecorate your entire house to match. The soft glaze finish pairs beautifully with linen table runners, rustic wood accents, and subtle metallic touches, making it the kind of DIY that looks far more expensive than it is.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about making pretty pumpkins. It’s about elevating fall decor from basic to breathtaking. Craftberry Bush gives you all the details to turn seasonal clutter into stylish art, proving once again that elegance doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs the right glaze and a little French attitude.
The smart (and surprisingly easy) way to fill a raised garden bed like a pro
Hey, green-thumb dreamer. Before you dump a truckload of soil into your raised garden bed and cross your fingers, Family Handyman walks you through the how-to that matters. Filling a raised bed is more strategy than brute force, and this post keeps it real: balance, drainage, and layering are your best friends in building a soil setup that lasts more than a season.
© Family Handyman
We start with the foundation: coarse fill for drainage. Think broken twigs, small branches, ripped cardboard, or landscape scraps in the bottom few inches. These materials keep heavy rains from drowning your roots and help water move through your bed instead of pooling like a sad puddle. Don’t skip it! It’s not extra, it’s essential.
Next: good soil mix atop that base. The article recommends a blend of topsoil, compost, and organic matter (like leaf mold or manure) to fill most of the bed. This is where the magic happens. Fertility, structure, and microbiome all get layered in. Aim for a mix that’s rich but not soggy, dark but not muddy, with plenty of air pockets so roots can breathe.
Then comes finesse: leveling and settling. Water the filled bed, allow it to settle (expect some sinking), and then top it off as needed. Avoid overfilling before it does its “settling dance” because you’ll end up with low spots or weak soil structure. Gently firm the surface, but don’t press it into cement. Roots hate that.
The article also gives smart pitfall warnings: don’t overload with a heavy auger or rock base (too dense), don’t skip the drainage fill, and watch for compaction over time. The goal is a raised bed that’s lively, breathing, giving, and ready for planting season after season, not just for its first flush.
Bottom line? Filling a raised bed is more art than dump-and-go. With the right layers, patience, and soil smarts, your garden will be a proud, productive base for everything you plant.
Your bookshelf called. It wants a DIY book nook makeover
Say goodbye to boring bookshelves. There’s a new obsession taking over, and it’s tiny, magical, and wildly addictive. Crafty Little Gnome dives into the world of book nooks – those whimsical, miniature dioramas that tuck right between your novels and turn an ordinary shelf into a portal to another world. These are part bookshelf art, dollhouse, and pure imagination. Whether you want a cozy witch’s cottage glowing softly between paperbacks or a bustling city alley straight out of a fantasy novel, this guide gives you everything you need to understand the trend that book lovers (and crafters) can’t stop swooning over.
A book nook, as the article explains, is essentially a miniature scene built to fit the space of a single book (or two, depending on how dramatic you want to be). The best part? You can make them as simple or as extravagant as you like. Some creators go all out with LED lighting, resin rivers, and laser-cut buildings; others prefer something quaint and handmade, like a rustic woodland path or a cozy reading corner. The goal is to spark a little wonder every time you glance at your shelf – like a “Where’s Waldo?” for the imagination.
Crafty Little Gnome also gets practical. You can buy ready-made kits from Etsy or Amazon that are perfect if your crafting skills top out at “hot glue and hope”. Or you can build your own from scratch using materials you’ve probably got around the house. Think cardboard, popsicle sticks, paint, scrapbook paper, or even dollhouse miniatures. The post encourages crafters to mix textures and layers – wallpaper for backdrops, moss or fake grass for realism, and lighting for drama. Because, let’s face it, if your fantasy tavern doesn’t glow mysteriously from within, are you even trying?
But the real fun is in the storytelling. Each nook becomes a tiny narrative. Maybe it’s a secret library, a fairy-lit garden, or a hidden train station where the Hogwarts Express might pull in any minute. Crafty Little Gnome emphasizes that there’s no wrong way to create one, as long as it makes you smile. You can even theme them after your favorite books – imagine a misty Narnia wardrobe or a hobbit hole tucked between Tolkien tomes.
So yes, book nooks are adorable, creative, and slightly addictive, but they’re also a chance to unlock imagination. They transform your bookshelf from simple storage into storytelling art. Whether you’re a hardcore crafter or a DIY newbie, Crafty Little Gnome’s guide makes it clear: Once you make one book nook, you’ll be itching to build a whole street of them.
Wrap up your Halloween party with these ridiculously fun mummy dogs
Move over, fancy hors d’oeuvres. Mummy dogs are here to steal the Halloween party spotlight (and probably your heart). In this frightfully fun post from Ask Chef Dennis, our culinary ringmaster of easy entertaining shows how to turn a humble hot dog into a spooky showpiece with nothing more than crescent roll dough, candy eyes, and a sense of humor.
© Ask Chef Dennis
The recipe itself is so easy it’s almost scary. You start with eight hot dogs and a single can of crescent roll dough, which you’ll cut into long, thin strips. These strips become your mummy “bandages,” wrapped around each hot dog like they’re heading to a monster movie premiere. Once they’re all swaddled up (with a little face space left open, of course), they bake until golden, flaky, and bubbling with spooky charm. A quick dot of mustard or ketchup can hold those candy eyeballs in place, and voila, your mummies are ready for the runway – or the buffet table.
Chef Dennis keeps things delightfully practical, too. Brush the dough with a touch of beaten egg for that perfect shine, and if you’re feeding a crowd of ghouls and goblins, you can even prep the mummies ahead of time and refrigerate them until party hour. Once baked, they’re crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and absolutely begging to be dunked into your favorite condiment. Ketchup? Mustard? Spicy mayo? The post doesn’t judge. It just encourages snacking enthusiasm.
What really makes this post sing is the presentation factor. The photos show the little hot dog monsters lined up like a creepy-cute army, ready to march right off the plate. Whether you’re serving them at a school party, adult gathering, or your own living room movie marathon, they’re guaranteed to draw smiles (and seconds). The best part? Kids can help make them, turning this recipe into a family activity instead of another kitchen chore.
At the end of the day, this post perfectly captures some tasty Halloween magic: An approachable recipe that looks way more impressive than the effort it requires. “Easy Mummy Dogs” proves you don’t need witch-level skills to conjure up Halloween fun – just a baking sheet, some dough, and a willingness to play with your food.
Slow cooker magic: All the pot pie comfort, none of the crust drama
If comfort had a scent, it would smell exactly like Pinch of Yum’s slow cooker chicken pot pie soup bubbling away on your countertop. This isn’t your grandma’s pot pie – no crust, no fuss, just a velvety bowl of creamy chicken goodness that delivers all the cozy nostalgia without turning your kitchen into a pastry war zone. Pinch of Yum calls it “a hug in a bowl,” and honestly, they’re not wrong.
© Pinch of Yum
The recipe starts with boneless chicken breasts, onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, celery, and peas, all tossed into the slow cooker for a casual culinary mic drop. Add in some chicken broth, thyme, and a touch of magic (okay, that’s actually half-and-half, but it feels like magic), then walk away while your slow cooker does the work. A few hours later, the house smells like home, and your soup is ready to swoon over.
The blog post keeps it playful and practical with flaky biscuits on the side – because what’s chicken pot pie without that golden, buttery partner-in-crime? Whether you bake up the frozen kind or go full Michelin-winning chef with homemade ones, it’s the perfect dunking situation. The soup itself comes out thick, creamy, and hearty.
It’s also one of those recipes that looks impressive but is ridiculously easy to pull off. You can throw everything in before work and come home to instant comfort, or whip it up on a lazy weekend when the weather begs for carbs and cozy vibes. It reheats beautifully, too – if it lasts that long.
This is comfort food that’s simple, reliable, and endlessly satisfying. No crust, no chaos, just straight-up creamy perfection that tastes like home.
Apple pie’s chill cousin just stole the spotlight
If fall had a dessert mascot, it would absolutely be The Cookie Rookie’s apple crumble. It’s simple, rustic, and bursting with cinnamon-scented charm. This is the ultimate easy recipe for when you want something warm, sweet, and nostalgic without rolling a single pie crust. This is apple pie’s low-maintenance cousin: equally delicious, but way less drama.
© The Cookie Rookie
The base is straightforward: tart apples, peeled and sliced, tossed with sugar, cinnamon, and a little lemon juice to keep things bright. Then comes the best part – the crumble topping – a mix of butter, flour, brown sugar, and oats that bakes into golden, crispy perfection. The result? Juicy apples bubbling beneath a crunchy, buttery blanket that’s basically the definition of fall comfort.
This isn’t a “special occasion” dessert. It’s the one you make just because it’s Wednesday and your sweet tooth needs satisfaction, and you want your house to smell like Autumn. And if you’re serving it to guests, a scoop of vanilla ice cream (melting dramatically over that warm crumble) is absolutely non-negotiable. Presentation-wise, if you do want to make it all fancy, the post offers up the genius idea of individual ramekins.
It’s perfect for when you want the cozy satisfaction of a homemade dessert but don’t feel like rolling out dough or getting flour in your hair.
This recipe proves that fall desserts don’t have to be complicated to be amazing. This apple crumble is warm, gooey, golden, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell like a Hallmark movie in the best way possible.
Brewing up a Witch’s Mojito for Halloween
This cocktail recipe comes to us from the Instagram account of cocktailswithval. It’s a fantastic Halloween twist on the classic mojito. Pomegranate, sage, and the perfect cocktail glasses make this a tasty-looking witch’s brew. Go follow cocktailswithval because she’s got a TON of great adult libation recipes.
From cocktailwithval’s Instagram post: “These skeleton glasses are so fun, and this was the perfect spooky drink to make in one! Pomegranate is good year-round, but it feels especially appropriate for the Fall.”
Cocktail Recipe
- Mint
- Sage
- 2-3 bar spoons of sugar
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- 1.5 oz rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- Soda water
Quote of the week: Appreciating freedom
Mark Twain’s quippy quote below reminds us that freedom isn’t just about having rights written on paper – it’s about what we actually do with them. Freedom of speech and conscience are treasures, yet they’re often underused, either because we’re cautious, uncertain, or afraid of rocking the boat. True freedom is living boldly enough to express ourselves and act according to our beliefs, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. Twain’s humor underlines a truth: rights are only as meaningful as the courage we muster to exercise them.
“It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.”
– Mark Twain (1835 - 1910), Following the Equator (1897)
That’s it for this week. Let us know your thoughts about any or all of the featured posts in this edition of Styled & Savored, and tell us what you’d like to see us cover in future editions as well.
