Dear Home Ec 101, I have a condition called schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia and bipolar). My life and my house are a mess. I don’t even know where to start. Is there a step-by-step online course I can take or anything like that? Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thank you. Anonymous Heather says: Before I …
Bobbie says: Ah, summer. The scorching heat, the overwhelming humidity. Fun times. Well, when life hands you lemons, shake things up a bit and make Lemon Shake-Ups. Depending where you live, you may have had these treats at a local fair or carnival. For the uninitiated, a Lemon Shake-Up is basically a freshly made, individual lemonade. …
Without any more procrastination or delay here is the Home-Ec101.com Knife Sharpening Tutorial. I talk about knife skills and the importance and safety of having sharp knives, but how do you get and keep your knives sharp? First, let’s start off with a little anatomy of a knife. This is my favorite knife, it’s a …
We’ve spent the last few —figurative, I hope— weeks in the bathroom. This week, we will begin organizing the bedroom. If you have older kids, you may wish to tell them to get started on their own rooms. If you have young children, you’ll want to lend a hand to ensure the mess doesn’t just …
Recently we worked through organizing the kitchen. See Challenges 9 – 17 or 18, depending on where you keep your medication. Today is another budget-focused, pen-and-paper exercise combining our work in the kitchen with our last couple of weeks of financial focus. I want to be very, very clear. I know that little tips like …
Hi, I have hardwood parquet flooring. When we moved into the house the previous owners told us to use Johnson’s One Step No Buff Wax liquid on it. I have used it every few months (especially on the kitchen floor) since 2000. The kitchen floor now looks terrible — darker with grime and dirt kind …
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 …
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 …
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. …