The Ultimate Moving Guide, Part Three: What I Keep: Packing for Success
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,...
View ArticleThe 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...
View ArticleFrugal 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...
View ArticleHousekeeping 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...
View ArticleBabies! 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...
View ArticleBabies! 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...
View ArticleHow 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,...
View ArticleTwo 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...
View ArticleIt 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...
View ArticleFraming 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”...
View ArticleThe 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...
View ArticleKeeping 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...
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