Ivy says: I come from a very long line of accountants. In addition, I have a close family friend that is an IRS auditor. (Yes, he does have a pocket protector and calculator at his side all the time. No, he doesn’t have a sense of humor that he is aware of.) Because of that, …
Heather says: I was picking up my bedroom the other morning and I opened the curtains to take advantage of the bright sunshine. Of course, that bright sunshine also made it clear that the doors were grimy. Over the past few years I have been working on reducing our paper consumption. Contrary to what commercials …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I am a new reader of your site and am convinced that you may be the only ones able to help me. I am pregnant and because of morning sickness and the fact that my husband does not think vomit adds to his dinner, I’ve had to leave him to his own …
Heather says: I’m sure Home Eccers have been feeling the pinch with rising food costs, I know I have. Higher fuel costs translate into higher grocery bills. If you are looking for ways to help those grocery dollars stretch a little further, Mygrocerydeals.com has teamed up with The Dollar Stretcher to offer a free …
Heather says: Leavened breads are those lifted by tiny bubbles. Most of the bread we eat today is leavened, with a few exceptions for items such as tortillas or other flat breads. The lift is provided by chemical, mechanical, or biological reactions. Chemical reactions provide the lift for quick breads, which are your typical …
Heather says: Using a stand mixer can be a great way to knead dough a little faster and without as much physical effort. Personally, I enjoy a chance to work off a little steam. (I have three kids under five, I’m human, there is steam.) When using a stand mixer like a kitchen-aid begin timing …
Ivy says: The very best time to go buy your first pattern is when they’re having a hot sale. Simplicity and McCall’s patterns go on sale frequently at the fabric stores I go to- JoAnn’s and Hancock Fabrics. Don’t take any kids with you if that’s at all possible- you want some time to sit …
Ivy says: People are always asking us, “When are you going to have a book for us to buy?” We usually answer something like, “Um, well, um, and, er…” You get the picture. The problem is not knowing how to proceed, whether there’s interest in a cookbook or something general like the site is, or …
Ivy says: So, to begin my “How to sew for people who have no clue” series, let’s talk about what you are going to need. The first thing that comes to mind usually, other than a sewing machine, is material and patterns. Because, come on, there’s nothing more enticing than a pattern for a gorgeous …
Heather says: I enjoy seeing what brings Home Eccers to our site and I spend far too much time looking at our statistics. Every once in a while the queries either repulse me or cause me to laugh hysterically. I won’t share the depraved, but here are a couple that gave me a giggle. Kool-aid …