Ivy says: From our good friend Rachel at Women’s Health News, here’s a comprehensive list of the recalls from the FDA. Note how many pet products are on there. Scary! In other news, there’s a tutorial coming either tonight, tomorrow, or Sunday (nothing like being specific, ha) on how to use knitting looms. Keep an …
Ivy says: Oh, Home Eccers, I nearly forgot you! I was having a massive freakout over my electric bill this month. With the 20% TVA increase and a possible 5% fuel surcharge that we may or may not be paying, plus a surprisingly cold winter, my electric bill is the highest it’s ever been. We’re …
Ivy says: Last week, we advised the newlywed. This week, let’s advise a pal of mine who’s going to have a baby who I know reads this site. The very best advice I can give is this: everyone will advise you about your baby, from your mom to the little old lady at the library …
Ivy says: I watched Becoming Jane* this past weekend and was struck with one thing. People sure used to be a lot more polite than they are now. They went around bowing at each other all the time and I’m pretty sure if someone forgot a “please” or a “thank you”, they would have been …
Dear Home Ec 101, How do you clean ceiling fans? I’m especially wanting to know how you manage to clean them without dust bunnies falling down onto the furniture. Signed, A fan of fans Ivy says: I suppose, theoretically, if you cleaned your ceiling fans constantly that there’d never be any little bits of dust …
Ivy says: One might call me frugal; one might even call me cheap, especially when it comes to certain things. For example, I’ve needed new underwear for the longest time. It took Mr. Ivy begging me to spend some money and buy some underwear to get me to buy any. And even then, I bought …
On Saturdays, we like to take the day off and spend it with our families. Sometimes. When they’re behaving. Here’s a blast from the past: Dear Home-Ec 101, How do I remove blood stains from fabric? Signed, Lizzie B. Ivy says: Turn yourself in, Dr. Michael Baden‘s on the case now, I hear. I’ll answer …
Dear Home Ec 101, I just found out that I am pregnant (starting my 6th week) and have been unable to eat most everything. Luckily my cravings have been running mostly to fruit and chicken, but it is difficult to know what I will or won’t be able to eat on a given day. And …
Ivy says: Dangit all, have a few days of confusion, sickness, meetings, and general disarray, and you wake up to what I woke up to this morning: a house that would undoubtedly earn the Home Ec 101 Seal Of Disapproval. Yes, my darling Home Eccers, while I do generally keep my home in some semblance …
Ivy says: My mom always said there’s something very spiritual about washing your windows. Her theory on this is that the windows are the eyes of your home and by washing the windows, you’re opening up those eyes to let the sun shine in. It’s a newish year, and if you’re an American, we have …