Heather says: Eating locally and seasonally is a popular trend, with good reason. Choosing foods grown locally and in season reduces the energy needed to bring the food from the farm to your table. It isn’t always convenient or practical in colder climates, as late winter can mean nothing is actually “in season.” In that …
This week’s organizational challenge will tie neatly into the next few weeks. We’re getting started on clothing and laundry. I usually see it recommended to start by putting all the clean laundry away. I generally have a hard time putting clean laundry away when the act of actually getting the laundry put away becomes an …
Hello Home Ec 101, I love and desperately need your site! Thank you! Adulting IS hard. I didn’t see anything in the windows section about how to clean the window muntin (mine appear to be painted with a non-slick paint) or the window frames (mine appear to be painted with some kind of slick paint). …
Disclaimer: If you’re teaching a young child to cook, these are intended to be a good starting point, but children will still need supervision as knives are sharp and stoves are hot. Capiche? Heather says: ♫ Let’s start at the very beginning A very good place to start When you read you begin with A-B-C …
Clothes can get clean with just the basic soap and water, but good laundry supplies make doing the wash much easier. There are many detergents, softeners, and accessories and we’d like to help you figure out which ones work the best for you. Following are articles answering reader’s questions and sharing tips that we have …
If Home-Ec 101 were a magazine, there would be a photo gallery of entryway tables and adorable mail sorters with chalkboards to write your inspirational quotes on. I’m not that person. If you are, I probably drool over your inspirational Pinterest pictures. I’ve also lived in apartments with no foyer, just hello, welcome to the living …
This year we’re going to focus on getting our house in order. This concept applies to the literal and the figurative. Yes, we’re going to organize and find a place for everyone’s things, but we’re also going to work on creating and sticking to a family budget, we’re going to work hard to give back to …
Heather says: Last year was a year of big changes and uncertainty. Ray and I knew our feelings for each other, but as people with children and co-parents who will always be actively involved, there’s more to life-changing decisions than our own feelings. We began navigating the uncertain waters of “Can we make this work …
This post is important enough to share yearly. The holidays are a difficult time of year, especially if you have recently suffered a loss or are in a transition period, like divorce. Please remember, if you ever do feel hopeless, help is available, whether it’s through IAmAlive.org, 1-800-SUICIDE, 211, or reaching out to a friend. …
Heather says: Over on the Home-Ec 101 Facebook fan page someone asked: What would be on your list of skills to know for a homemaker and adult in 2015? This list is by no means complete: Prepare a meal without setting fire to the kitchen or poisoning guests. Keep a living space clean. Encourage a …