Home-Ec Guest Dear Home-Ec 101 Goddesses, Help! I have a fancy party Saturday night, and this is the first time I’ll have been all duded up in years. I bought makeup today. Can you give me a crash course in applying eyeshadow? Signed, I Ain’t Girly Ivy says: Let me just warn you ahead of time that …
Ivy says: As I was laying down to go to sleep last night, the dog in the house behind me decided to start barking. And he barked. And he barked. And he barked some more, for good measure. This happens just about every night, but with the cooler weather, it is worse for everyone that …
Ivy says: Ah, the urban legend. We got an email from a reader concerning an email forward that has been floating around for awhile. It reads like most urban legend stories, a warning about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and a similar product by ScotchBrite. Our reader figured the story was untrue, and writes that …
Ivy says: Today is my dad’s birthday. He’s 56 years old today! His own father died when he was 53 years old, so every birthday now is truly a celebration that my dad is still around. Dad’s got end stage renal failure, so we are truly happy he’s still around. No matter how happy we …
Ivy says: I ain’t gonna lie, kids. My car would easily win the Home-Ec 101 Seal Of Disapproval at any given time. I have three kids and spend a lot of time on the go. Well, a poor excuse is better than none, as my grandma always said. Twice a year, however, it’s all shiny …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I want to know how to get that “not great smell” out of my linens. I wash them and put them away and they smell great, when I get them out to use them there is no smell or an “old” smell to them. Should I wash down the walls & shelves …
Dear Home-Ec 101, My boyfriend has recently gotten bug bites, mostly on his right arm but other places as well (legs, etc.). They are small, red, and itchy. Smaller than mosquito bites. I haven’t gotten any. He thinks they happen more on a particular couch, but it’s hard to pinpoint (the bed and a computer …
Ivy says: It all starts with a tickle in the back of your throat or a case of the green-apple quickstep. Next thing you know, you’re full-blown sick, fever, chills; you know how it is. So, what do you do when you’re sick? Do you let the kids watch TV all day while you convalesce …
Ivy says: It is extremely important to get enough calcium in your diet. Unless, of course, you like the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” look. In that case, skip the calcium altogether. Calcium is more readily absorbed when it is eaten in a food, but some foods are more readily absorbed than others. For example, kale is …
Ivy says: Every once in awhile I read a post where I go, “Whoa, I didn’t know that.” and then want to shout the info from the highest mountain. Since I’m in the Cumberland Basin, I actually live pretty far from a mountain, so Home-Ec 101 will have to do for my shouting. Paul Michael …