Country Living May 2013

To nab a spot in our annual "50 under $50" roundup, a bargain's really gotta be a bargain—not just cheap, mind you, but worth every cent. Each object also has to pass muster with multiple editors, which usually weeds out the eccentric obsessions of individual staffers. This year, however, a few folks found it hard to let go. That's why I'm holding a lightning-bolt power strip at left. And why Natalie Warady suddenly yelled "Holla!" in a meeting. (Don't even ask about the mess Carla Gonzalez-Hart's roller skates left on my pristine white floors.) After you ogle the oddities below—a bottle opener that looks like dentures! Cookie cutters that create ninjabread men!—be sure to turn to page 27 for the real, crowd-pleasing deals. Sarah Gray Miller, Editor-in-Chief "Add color, tweak…

The March cover was spectacular. I am a librarian in a small town, and our card catalogs have been replaced with not-nearly-as-adorable computers. Happily for me, I was able to take an old card catalog home, where I now stash items from ribbons to paper clips to candles—plus, the drawers are a perfect fit for bottles of wine! —Maria Heck, West Pittston, Pennsylvania I absolutely adored every detail of Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen's Southern California home. It's refreshing to see two successful actors and their four sons enjoy such a laid-back lifestyle. Many thanks to them for sharing how to have a super-comfortable space without spending a fortune. —Debby Stoner, Ormond Beach, Florida What a great idea! Isn't that how most of your letters begin? But you've really outdone…

When it comes to arrangements, peonies and roses get all the glory. But this season, think beyond the cutting garden: A simple snippet of a vine, like the jasmine or flowering clematis shown here, can yield a graceful arching habit. Even plain old ivy looks dreamy—especially in designer John Norton's mirrored laboratory-style vases, which, unlike mercury-glass containers, are waterproof. ($19–$58 each; 704-786-0987)…

In 1868, Joseph Ray Watkins bought a doctor's recipe for a pain-relieving liniment, which he began whipping up in his Plainview, Minnesota, kitchen for door-to-door sale. Watkins felt so confident of the camphor-and-capsicum elixir that he offered a full-money-back guarantee—the first of its kind in the United States. Here's what happened next: 1885 Watkins moves his name-sake firm 40 miles away to Winona, Minnesota, a transit hub on the Mississippi River. 1917 After branching out with more remedies, the company unveils a vegetable-based soap. The tagline? "Pure enough to eat!" Over the next 90 years, a variety of cleaning products come and go. 1978 Still peddled door-to-door, the brand is sold to the Jacobs family, who introduce a retail model in 2004. 2005 A body care line debuts at Target,…

Back in 1984, Susan and Donny Davis ditched their Baton Rouge, Louisiana, careers—public relations for her, wildlife biology for him—to tend heirloom vegetables in Susan's hometown of St. Francisville, Louisiana. There was just one hitch: Farming wasn't exactly lucrative. But Susan came across a potential sideline while poring over her grandmother's stash of buttons. "Some glass ones were pretty enough to make into earrings," Susan recalls, "so I did just that." FIRST STEPS She named her endeavor—what else?—Grandmother's Buttons. The Davises started out peddling Susan's jewelry, featuring pre-1960s buttons, at crafts fairs. "Our kids, Ben and Anna, grew up at trade shows!" Susan confesses. In 1989, she got a big break: An area department-store chain picked up the line, prompting Donny to quit farming and manage the business. Today, some…

Snacks from Scratch These new cookbooks serve up divine homemade takes on familiar treats—candy bars, crackers, even soda pop. HAND-CRAFTED CANDY BARS Chef Susie Norris teamed with Country Living contributor Susan Heeger to demystify the process of tempering chocolate—so you can spend a sweet afternoon whipping up Melty Chocolate Minties (above), Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cups, and other indulgences. ($24.95; Chronicle) CRACKERS & DIPS No, really, it's possible (easy, even!) to make crackers as tasty and crunchy as anything from a box. Baker and food writer Ivy Manning proves it's true with 55 recipes, from tangy Cheddar bites to "ritzy" butter crisps. While your nibbles are baking, dig in to the chapter on tempting dips, like mint-and-cilantro chutney. ($19.95; Chronicle) TRUE BREWS Soda machines may be a hot at-home trend,…