Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four Once I have made a plan and decided what to get rid of, I start packing what I do want to keep. I set aside any storage items that I am keeping first. Then, I go through all of the rooms and pack non-essentials....
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The Ultimate Moving Guide, Part Three: What I Keep: Packing for Success
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The Ultimate Moving Guide, Part Four: Moving as a Family—the Kids and the Food
Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four When moving, besides planning, paring down, and general packing, there are specific considerations for moving with a family…especially if that family includes little people. We have always driven when we moved, whether it be ten minutes or 24 hours of minivan time. Jenny has...
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Frugal Fridays: Baking Soda: My Bathroom BFF
I can pick up a box of baking soda for 52 cents, and pick them up I do. I have about a dozen boxes on hand right now. Some belong in the kitchen for baking and sink cleaning, and others live in the bathroom for their deodorizing magic. We’re in the trenches of potty-training my...
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Housekeeping Wars, or, How I Keep My Carpet Clean Using Lavender Essential Oil
(This edition of Mommy Wars is brought to you by Swiffer WetJet: because clean enough is clean enough!) Sometimes I wonder if my posts belong here at Real Housekeeping. I mean, if any of you actually saw my house, you would not want my advice about keeping house. What is Real Housekeeping? We write all...
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Babies! Simple Fold Over Bonnet Pattern
I absolutely adore this simple yet versatile bonnet for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers…so warm and cute! They knit up very quickly in stockinette but can be jazzed up with lace, cables, or Fair Isle. Below is the pattern for a stockinette bonnet. Here is the Ravelry entry for the pattern. Simple Fold Over Bonnet Pattern...
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Babies! Knitted Newborn Hat
One of my cousins is having a baby, so of course I had to start knitting a newborn hat! After spending years searching for just the right pattern, I developed my own approach to making the perfect little hat. I wanted it to fold over for extra ear warmth and flexibility of sizing. It’s knitted...
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How to Use Essential Oils to Clean Dirty Pans
I have been playing around with essential oils. Before I continue, I’ll acknowledge that essential oils are sometimes a source of irritation. Are you annoyed by people responding to every question, “There’s an oil for that!” Not yet? You and I must run in different circles. Still, they certainly have their uses as solutions to...
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Two Ways to be Rid of Wrinkles (No Irons Required!)
My husband wears a dress shirt and slacks to work every day. Naturally, he does not want to wear these things in wrinkled form. But because we have a growing family of little people and a lot of things to do around here (homesteading, cooking from scratch, and homeschooling, to name a few), taking out...
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It is (Almost) Finished! Insider Tips for Kitchen Remodeling
The end is in sight! Our kitchen remodeling project is nearing completion. As many projects go, one thing leads to another and pretty soon the whole house is in a state of chaos. We’ll celebrate the accomplishments and worry about the remaining projects another day (like when the bank account says “proceed”). As you might...
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Framing on the Cheap
Framing is expensive. Expensive. Not every photo or print requires custom framing, and yet even standard picture frames and mats can cost a pretty penny. For years I had been saving a set of 5”x7” IKEA prints of historic postage stamps and recently decided to frame and display them in my upstairs bathroom. However, I...
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The Mad Hatter’s Guide to Tea Party Housekeeping
If we were sitting down to tea with the Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland, he would have some basic housekeeping rules already established and in place for us. Also in place, mind you, would be the tea cups, saucers, and pots enough to move around the table, so (here’s his first rule of housekeeping)...
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Keeping House Like Caroline Ingalls
I’ve always loved the Little House on the Prairie books, and find Caroline Ingalls so inspiring. One of the things I love the most about her is her simple, effective way of keeping house. Inspired by her, I’ve adapted her tips for our home. I call this “cleaning the Little House Way.” 1. Pick one...
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