Ivy says: I have been using online banking to help me with my budgeting for years now. My bank now offers something called “My Portfolio” where I can see how much money I have been spending in certain categories. I know I could do this in Quicken or MS Money, but I’ve been remiss and …
Ivy says: It’s been awhile since Kathy T has graced us with her Stupid Questions. I’m glad they’re back! On with the questions. 1. I’m having a terrible time with my vacuum cleaner. It blows instead of sucking. I know this reads like a dirty back-of-the-video-store room, but it’s my carpet that’s the dirty boy. …
Ivy says: When you get super busy, you’ll forget something. And it’ll always be something important, like paying your auto insurance at renewal time. And you’ll only remember that you need to pay your renewal when you nearly wreck into someone. And then when you call to get that fixed, the computers at your insurance …
Dear Home-Ec 101, It seems that the birds are talking in my neighborhood….what’s the twittering about? “There’s a neighborhood swimming hole AND buffet.” Yup, it’s true, all the little birds are coming to my house to swim, bathe, and snack in the DOGS WATER DISH! Every day I have to swab the back deck with …
Ivy says: I saw this post earlier today, and while the original poster was actually talking about something different than the rest of us thought, it did make me think. (It’s a dangerous pastime, I know) Anybody ever read Dicey’s Song? When I was younger, I strongly identified with her hatred of Home Ec. My …
Heather says: Coffee and toast appear much faster when the respective appliances are plugged in, so I have heard.
Ivy says: Ah, depression. It strikes at predictable times, it strikes at totally unpredictable times. Sure, you can go to the doctor and get some Zoloft for that, and if you really do have a chemical imbalance, it might be a good thing to get some Zoloft. But if you’re like me, it doesn’t really …
Dear Home-Ec 101, Ok, so I don’t know if I’ve just noticed it, or if it is getting darker (is this what aging does to you?!?), but suddenly, I’m noticing fine but dark hair growing on my face. What do I do?! I don’t want to nair it, because that upsets my skin. Can I …
Ivy says: The aspirin mask is pretty well known around the internet, but I still find people who haven’t heard of it, so I thought I would share it here. Aspirin is high in BHA, or beta hydroxy acid- a form of salicylic acid that is in nearly every anti-acne medicine you can buy over …
Ivy says: Just wanted to wish all of you mothers (as compared to muthas!) a very happy Mother’s day! I’ve gotta know: What did you get for Mother’s day? And, to make it more fun, what did you really want? Me, I got an outfit I got to pick out myself (yay!) and my daughter …