Retro Saturday, a day late: Stupid Questions Edition

I’m running a bit later than I wanted to for church, so here you guys get retro Saturday on Sunday! This edition of Stupid Questions ran on May 12, last year. Ivy says: After a brief hiatus, Kathy is back with more Stupid Questions! Thank God, because I have had the crappy day to end …

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What can be worn more than once

Ivy says: The problem with writing for many, many other blogs is that eventally, you won’t be able to find a post you have written that you want to share with people. More than a year ago, I wrote a cute post about how often you should wash various clothing and household items. I could …

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The standard school attire dilemma

Should I buy more school uniforms?

Dear Home Ec 101, Here’s my dilemma –now that school is nearly out, it’s like a “Click and Clack” theoretical dilemma, but a month ago, it was the hot topic in the house. I know other people have wondered, too. So here it is. I didn’t really buy enough standard school attire outfits at the …

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Cleaning up the lawn furniture

My Darling Home Ec Divas, I’m all set for Memorial Day weekend. I have family and friends coming over for a barbecue. The menu’s set, the food is bought, the house is clean (well, it’s getting there), I’m ready. Well, except for one thing. My lawn furniture is ewww and funk. Seriously, I don’t know …

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Flowers for Kitty

Hi Home-eccers- I would hate to have a whole month go by without asking a new question! Hopefully you can help me with this one. I have two small kittens (check out the picture, they’re way cute) and I live in a wee little Chicago apartment. Now that it’s spring, I’d like to have some …

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Summer fun for not too much dough

Ivy says: Recently Meredith and I had an email exchange where she asked me what I had planned for the kids to do over the summer. I never answered her, because as anyone who has ever emailed back and forth with me knows, I’m spotty about answering email. It’s not y’all, it’s me. I put …

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Reader Tips: Gift Cards And Super Cheap Plates

Ivy says: Every now and then we get some tips from readers to pass on to you. Today is one of those days! First up is an awesome tip from JayMonster, a frequent commenter who blogs at the very fabulous Triple Venti: Well, Home Ec 101 has helped me quite a bit, so I thought …

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Seriously, he looked at me like I had 2 heads

Ivy says:

This is part story time and part ask the audience. Let me tell you about my teeth, internets. Between my heredity, TMJ, not having dental insurance for most of my adult life, and my love for Dr. Pepper, I have terrible teeth. Several years ago, my TMJ and a couple of bad teeth pushed my pain level to something I couldn’t stand and I went to an oral surgeon and had a ton of teeth removed. Now the only molars I have left on my bottom jaw are bad, and I’ve got to decide what to do. Crap.

Now, I have dental insurance that doesn’t cover much, but some is better than none. And I have some money saved. But to completely fix my teeth with root canals and implants as so many dentists insist on, I don’t have that kind of money. The local dental school has a 5 month waiting list and isn’t even putting people on the waiting list right now. And there is a local dental charity, but we make slightly too much money for it, and we have dental insurance. Rats.

So, with all that said, I gathered my resolve and headed to a local dentist today, determined to make it work- get the dental care I needed and not go into debt for it. The way I figure, I could get partial dentures on the bottom until I can eventually afford implants. You know, not get into debt, do it a piece at a time as I can afford it. That sounds fairly reasonable, right?

Apparently not.

(Click on over to read the rest)

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Moldy Shower Tile, Cha-cha-cha

Dear Home Ec 101, What is the best way to clean that black yuk that tends to grow in the corners of the shower? I have a ceramic tile shower and I have used every mixture I can think of to rid the shower of the black stuff from straight Clorox to the gimmicks from …

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