Ask the Audience: Making Your Home a Haven

Heather says: It’s Friday and the sunshine is calling my name, which of course means it is time for Ask the Audience. Ready? Good. There is more to keeping a house than keeping it clean.  Is your home simply a place to stash or your stuff or is it a place you enjoy spending time? …

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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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No Sew Hem Repair, A Temporary Fix

Dear Home Ec 101, The hem is pulling out of my neutral fall-back pants, the ones I wear nearly every day when I’m not inspired to pick out anything else. The stylishness and variety of my wardrobe aside, there is no way I’m actually fixing that sucker with a needle and thread right now – …

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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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Grilled Onions

Heather says: While I’m lucky enough to live where it’s comfortable to grill outside most of the year, once the hot weather hits, grilling is a great way to help keep the house cooler.  We love grilled onions and they are simple to prepare.  One onion is typically enough for two adults. For best results …

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This blog has gone to the dogs (and cats)

Ivy says: Anyone who has ever read me over at Animal Shak knows I’m somewhat of an animal advocate. I love animals. LOVE! I have 3 pets- 2 cats and a dog who were all rescues or quasi-rescues. I have a hard time understanding why people are still buying dogs and (sometimes) cats from backyard …

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Happy Mother’s Day From Home Ec 101

Ivy says: I don’t want to sound like a beer commercial, but I must. So, Here’s to you, moms. Here’s to all the sleepless nights from staying up with a cranky baby to waiting around late at night for your teenager to come home. Here’s to all the sacrificing you do of all the things …

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Retro Saturday: Grilling Asparagus

Heather says: Nothing says spring like fresh asparagus. Well, that is not quite true, there is also: pollen, hay fever, the first gnats of the year, and rain. However, there are few things I look forward to more than the price of asparagus dropping. Yes, I am still exaggerating, but it is a nice perk. …

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Teacher Gifts Without Spending A Fortune

Ivy says: This morning, I went to “Muffins For Moms” at my daughter’s school. It was really nice, but LOUD! I admire Meg’s teacher greatly for being able to handle the loudness. I was there for 45 minutes and had to turn my radio off on the way home to enjoy the silence. I couldn’t …

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