Dear Home Ec 101, I have a dresser that my mother gave me. She had a doily thing on it with a plastic backing. When I removed the doily, there where sticky spots in a lacy pattern from the doily. What can I use to remove this without damaging the stain on the dresser? Thanks, …
Heather says: There is only one week left until Thanksgiving. Today we have a few items to cover. First, your mission is to create a cooking schedule. Look at your menu and recipes. What dishes can be made the night or even a few days before? Write clearly and post the schedule in a prominent …
Ivy says: It’s the world’s oldest meme, I’m sure. You know, the question about, if you could invite anyone living or dead to dinner at your house, who are the three people you’d invite? Invariably most people end up saying Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, and Oprah. Or, some combination including one of those three people. So, …
Ivy says: So far this morning, I’ve been a hairstylist, a garbage (wo)man, a pharmacist, a taxi service, and a waitress. Welcome to mornings at Chez Ivy. I can’t even tell you what I would give for kids who knew how to straighten their own darn hair. This all got me to thinking, however. When …
Dear Home Ec 101, My two year old has started potty training. She’s very good at taking off her clothes and getting naked, not so good yet at actually making it to the potty on time. So, I was wondering if you had any brilliant tips for cleaning toddler poop out of carpet? I do …
Heather says: This week we’ve discussed our favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Now it’s time to ‘fess up and share the worst thing you’ve ever tasted at the Turkey Day table. I’m not sure if the dish that immediately springs to mind was ill-prepared or simply a travesty to start, but I will never forget a dressing …
Heather says: I’ve just been drooling over a slide show of dressings. Seriously, it’s taking a lot of will power to not put on my shoes and drive all the way across town to the fancy schmancy grocery store to grab the ingredients for a dressing half my family would snub anyhow. (That really just …
Heather says: With the menu planned, it is time to check the pantry and fridge and make your shopping list. If you use a frozen turkey it can be purchased any time, but fresh turkeys will need to purchased no earlier than the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Fresh turkeys are highly perishable and should be stored …
Ivy says: While my one grandma is still going strong at 91 years old, we lost my other grandma very suddenly on August 31, 2007. She was 79 years old. As that grandma was part mom, part grandma, and part friend, it was a very deep loss for me. Now I’ve had over a year …
Ivy says: I’ve been reminded several times over the past weeks that I have an “unusually old” grandmother. She’s 91 which is pretty old, alright. She was born in 1917, which means the changes she has seen in her lifetime are amazing. She was born into a household with no electricity or indoor plumbing. By …