Heather Solos's Blog, page 20

Home-Ec101.com Is turning 10

Home-Ec101 is turning 10 and it’s about to get personal. If you don’t want to know the back story, we’ll see you next week.

We could just talk about the numbers, more than 16 million people have visited and read more than 30 million pages of this site. I can no longer wrap my head around this. That’s like almost everyone in Mumbai or 3/4 of Mexico City stopping by to say hey. 

We could talk about the most popular posts, but does that matter to you?

For me, the important thing has been the journey. (And thank goodness my photography improved along the way.)

Flashing back to 2007, I was working part time for the local newspaper covering the local blog community. Every couple of weeks I had to say, hey, are you going to pay me? Twitter was barely on the radar and Facebook was just for college kids looking to hook-up. My long-time internet friend Ivy and I decided that, hey, we should start a website. What should we write about? I don’t know, we’re both decently educated and are always looking up things how to do things around the house, what if we learned that stuff and explained it in the way we’d like to hear it? And the rest, as they say, is history.

Except it isn’t history when you’re in it every single day; it’s just life. 

In 2007, I was pregnant with my youngest child and naively trying to make my life work according to someone else’s standards. (Pro-Tip: That doesn’t work long-term) I was attending a church that may have been a good fit for some but was absolutely poisonous to me. I just didn’t recognize it at the time.

In 2010, Ivy stopped writing for this site and I took it solo.

In 2011 I finally realized the feeling eating away at me wasn’t homesickness. I’d moved home 7 years ago. It was loneliness. It’s funny—not ha ha funny—when you’re constantly busy taking care of everyone else, you can forget how to assess how things are for you. That’s not healthy. That’s not safe. 

In 2011, the book Home-Ec101 Skills for Everyday Living came out. The advice was good enough, according to my publisher, to be worthy of publication. Thank goodness I stuck mostly to the how to cook and clean sort and only felt mildly—OK wildly— hypocritical as my personal life dissolved around me.

2012 – 2013 was a hell of a time. I began my current career, there was therapy, and then I asked for a divorce. Shortly thereafter my step-sister died of an overdose. I moved out, began to build a new life and a few weeks later, my baby sister was killed by her husband, and I kind of had a meltdown. 

I disappointed a lot of people in a lot of ways.

Slowly I came out of the dark; it wasn’t all at once and it wasn’t easy. Somewhere in there, I met Ray and began the dance of dating with kids. I bought a house that had been abandoned for years and slowly began renovating it, room by room. It’s still not done, but it’s coming along, a lot like me.

Ray proposed in November of 2015 and I surprised him with a small wedding just this Christmas. I know that sounds absurd, but I was pretty confident he’d be happy. You’d think I knew the guy or something. We’re navigating the life of a large, blended family. The other parents of our children have a large impact on our day to day. 

And all along, I’ve been writing, mostly regularly, for this site. I know the tone has changed. People change and their websites often come along for the ride. I’ll keep answering questions sent in, but I’ve gained perspective. Some things are worth a lot of effort, making sure you and your family are healthy and happy come well before freaking out over a stain that won’t come out. 

Reaching out to those around us who may need help, offering a meal, babysitting, doing a load of laundry matters. Reaching out when we need help matters more. I want, when someone searches about being overwhelmed for them to find a place and a community that understands that being a grown-up is hard. In the last ten years the language has changed, now we jokingly call it adulting. I just bought a refrigerator and I still don’t feel like I know what I’m doing. We’re all in the same boat, I research and hope for the best.

I just finished the first Home-Ec101 ebook. I don’t think I’ll ever go the traditional publishing route again, even if they still cut me a small check twice a year. This is available for $3.99. It’s 20 tried and true recipes. That’s the price of a latte. If you don’t want to pay for it, the recipes are on the site, you can find them with that handy-dandy search bar at the top of the site. If you do, thank you.

Back when I first started Home-Ec101 the idea of earning money for writing a blog was hotly debated. I came to peace with it a while ago. The time and money I put into researching, photographing, writing, and hosting this site are an investment that costs money and time that I could spend with my family. You search Google for how to fix your garbage disposal, see an ad, solve your problem, we all win. 

I know a few of you have been around since the very beginning and I am grateful that you keep coming by to see how things are going. Ivy and I are still friends; she’s doing well. My stepdaughter—she’ll always be family— is an amazing young woman, attending college in Utah after spending two years on a mission in Spain. The kids are getting bigger, smarter, and more snarky every day. The curse of may you have a child just like you is coming full circle.

Life is happening and this site is a huge part of who I was and who I am. I’m healthier and we’re all happier. 

It’s been ten years and a hell of a ride; thank you for sticking around. 

The post Home-Ec101.com Is turning 10 appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsThanks for all you've done! I have your weekly chore chart on ... by DonnaLife . . . it's a wild ride. Thanks for sharing your journey ... by MarshaCongratulations!!! So proud of everything you have done and the ... by MichaelThis was a fun ride down memory lane! by heidi  

Can I Mix [cleaning product] with Bleach

Dear Home Ec 101,


I love your site! Love the 50’s look!


I want to mop with bleach once a month to help keep our grout white, but mopping with bleach and water does not seem to clean the floor well. Your site came up when I googled which cleaners/soaps can safely be mixed with bleach? In other words, can I mix chlorine bleach and Fabuloso or Pinesol or Simple Green?


Signed,


KABOOM

Heather says:

No.

Never mix chlorine bleach with other general purpose household cleaners.

This is a practice that can have deadly results; I cannot emphasize this enough. Chlorine bleach is a fantastic disinfectant and has many safe and useful applications around the house, but you must use good judgment.

You may mix chlorine bleach with laundry detergent but this isn’t great for your purposes.

Why?

Cleaning action is created through four different mechanisms:

Heat – the hotter your solution the more dirt can be in the solution -think of how salt dissolves better in hot water
Agitation / Physical – scrubbing (yay) removes dirt particles from the surface they were stuck to
Chemical – different chemicals can increase the number of particulates that can be suspended in a solution
Time – chemical reactions are not always instantaneous, and sometimes different solutions need time to work. Keep in mind that this can be both your friend and your enemy. For example, if you soak a stain in a detergent, the chemicals can do their job on the stain, but if given too much time they may also damage fibers and not just the stain.

Chlorine bleach is great for disinfecting and of course bleaching. However, as you have noted, it’s not that great at cleaning. Bleach can clean, but the molecules are quickly used up if the solution is used to remove organic matter -a nice way of saying dirt and filth.

Sometimes cleaning is best done in a two-step process.

This two-step process is crucial if you are looking to sanitize or disinfect a surface, such as with cutting boards and food preparation areas in the kitchen. First, you want to get rid of the organic matter (dirt) by washing, and then you want to deal with the stains or possible lingering bacteria.

I also want Home Ec 101 readers to understand that bacteria does not have magical abilities to cling to surfaces. If a surface has been thoroughly washed, it’s usually not necessary to go back and disinfect, unless we’re discussing a food preparation surface or dealing with compromised immune systems.

As far as your specific question about tile:

While sealed ceramic tile will generally not be damaged by MOST household cleaners, the grout is more easily damaged. Grout and the sealant that protects it from staining can be damaged by acidic or caustic (like bleach) cleaners.

If your grout is stained, clean it thoroughly and then stain and reseal your grout. The sealant will protect your grout from future stains.

Related posts:

What Can You Do to Fix Stained Grout

How to Scrub a Tile Floor 

How to Use Chlorine Bleach Safely

Good luck, be careful and thank you for the compliment!

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

The post Can I Mix [cleaning product] with Bleach appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsCan you expound on what exactly you are looking for. Are you ... by HeatherSolosWhere can I find more information about disinfecting and proper ... by christyWhere can I find more information about disinfecting and proper ... by christyYou know, I'm looking at the Dawn website and it looks like ... by HeatherSolosJust a heads up: my bottle of original blue Dawn dish detergent ... by LucyWe had a neighbor who cleaned her tiled bathroom floor by ... by sandyspeed  

Tackling Difficult Stains on a Smooth Top Stove

Dear Home Ec 101,

I am well acquainted with the razor blade to clean the dried food spots on my smooth-top stove; however, there are “places” on my stove that cannot be felt with the fingers, and there is nothing to scrape with the razor blade, they’re just mars, I guess. I have a less than two-year-old stove that has these little places all over the burners and do not come off even with the special cleaner.


Do you have any ideas about these stubborn spots?


Signed,


Stuck in Stuart

Heather says:

I did some research, and this does seem to be a very common complaint among owners of black or speckled cook tops. Since your stove may still be under warranty (1 – 5 years generally), please call and see if they’ll replace or repair the top or if they have specific instructions for dealing with this type of mark or damage.

If calling the manufacturer doesn’t work

Do I have to tell you to make sure the stove is cool before cleaning it? If not, please wait until the stove isn’t going burn you severely —or even minimally. Try making a paste of

Try making a paste of Bar Keepers Friend and water OR baking soda and water, OR dampening a paper towel with white vinegar and placing any one of these over the stained areas. Allow this to sit for several hours before trying a nylon scrubby style sponge.

Never use copper or steel wool on your ceramic cooktop, no matter what you see people recommending on sites like Yahoo Answers. This is a quick way to seriously scratch your cooktop, and once it’s scratched, there’s really no recourse. And if you say you don’t care about scratches, remember that scratches catch dirt and make your stove even harder to clean.

I have seen MAAS recommended by some home care experts, but I would suggest discussing this with the manufacturer of your stove first, to avoid voiding your warranty or inadvertently causing further damage. Yes, this may mean a second phone call. I hate them, too. 

Electric stoves or ranges have a lifespan of 11 – 15 years.

The lifespan of your range will depend upon several factors:

The quality of the stove itself
The amount of use the stove receives – if you use the stove multiple times a day, it will not last as long as a stove that gets used infrequently. This guideline is based on average use. If you have a large family and cook often, you are not average. Sorry?
Whether or not the stove is regularly cleaned. 

An unfortunate fact of life is that some stains and wear are inevitable in our homes and at some point, you try to fix them, realize that it’s going to be more effort than it’s worth and start calling it a patina. I hope one of the suggestions listed above is helpful, but really, don’t get your hopes up too high. Sometimes stains are permanent. 

Unsolicited budgeting advice¹ to make life easier in the long run.

Consider setting up a “sinking fund” for your home’s appliances. In addition to my regular bank, I use an online bank that lets me have 26 free savings accounts. Each one of these accounts is dedicated to looming expenses. I have things like the car repair fund and the braces for the minions fund. Even if you only start by putting $5 a paycheck into your appliance replacement fund, you’ll be glad it’s there the day the refrigerator quits or the repairman tells you that fixing the stove or dishwasher will be more costly than replacing it. You will reduce the amount of money that comes out of your regular budget. To be clear, a stove qualifies may qualify as an emergency, but the dishwasher doesn’t. You can suck it up and handwash dishes. Needing to eat out will blow through more of your budget in no time. 

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

We’ve got a new Facebook Group. Join us!

¹Official CMA statement


Home-Ec101.com is not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, Financial Analyst, Financial Bank, Securities Broker or Financial Planner. The Information on the Site is provided for information purposes only. The Information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other advice, is general in nature and not specific to you. Before using Home-Ec101.com’s information to make an investment decision, you should seek the advice of a qualified and registered securities professional and undertake your own due diligence.

The post Tackling Difficult Stains on a Smooth Top Stove appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsI had a boil over of cranberry sauce and it was really stuck to ... by MicheleTry repair clinic.com for the part, you will probably need the ... by John Graybeal@KeterMagick: How did you get the new contold? My 'big burner' ... by casey1977I recently had a huge mess on my black (speckled with a little ... by KeterMagick  

How to Fix Dye Stains in the Dryer

Dear Home-Ec 101,


I’ve noticed inside the drum of my dryer that there are blue and gray streaks, they look like they are from jeans. How do I get rid of these stains in my clothes dryer?


Sincerely,


Blue in Bluffton

Heather says

The simplest thing you can do is to close the dryer door and not worry about it. The stains or more accurately dye transfer aren’t going to damage your other clothing and if your company is coming over to inspect the inside of your clothes dryer, you need new friends.

However, if these stains truly bother you, get two damp cloths and get ready to spend some time on your knees working with your favorite laundry detergent and some elbow grease. It doesn’t matter if the detergent is liquid or powder, you’ll just want to make sure it can be rubbed into the stain. If you’re working with powdered detergent, make a paste out of it. Apply it to the stain and rub vigorously until the stain is gone. Once the stains have all been removed, wipe the inside of the drum thoroughly with the other damp cloth to remove any detergent residue which can leave marks on your clothing. If this does not work, contact your manufacturer for further suggestions.

Important:

Now, this is very, very important. If you have a gas clothes dryer, you must solemnly swear to not even think about getting creative and use any potentially flammable cleaners as a shortcut. If you do this, close the door and walk away, the fumes from the cleaner could ignite causing an explosion. Then you will have a much bigger mess on your hands and you’ll also have to deal with things like insurance agents and maybe EMTs. Not. Cool.

If you have an electric dryer, it is still never a wise idea to ever use a flammable (or inflammable, remember they mean the same thing) cleaning agent in the drum of your dryer. Why? Your dryer gets hot, hot + flammable things = fire. The fire can go right through the vent of your dryer which probably has bits of dry lint which is also incredibly flammable and you have a recipe for a house fire.

To reiterate, your options are:

Close the door and don’t let it worry you.
Scrub the heck out of the stains with laundry detergent and then wipe the drum clean with plain water.

Your option is never to try to take a shortcut and use a cleaning agent that might be flammable.

Capiche?

Yes, I know that’s a washer she’s looking into, but stock photos are sometimes a real pain in the rear to search and I didn’t feel like posing in front of my dryer. 

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

We’ve started a new Facebook Group for people interested in learning life skills. We’re just getting started.

The post How to Fix Dye Stains in the Dryer appeared first on Home Ec 101.

                

Wash the Walls, Really?

Dear Home Ec 101,


My living room desperately needs to be painted and I’ve rounded up a few friends willing to help sell their time for beer and pizza.  I really want to do this right, is it true that I have to wash the walls before I paint?


Signed,


Short-Cut Shelby

 

Heather says:

Look at it this way, washing the walls can save you money and time in this project. Seriously. Anytime you cook, open the window, spray hair spray, etc. particles that can adhere to your walls, do. Over time this creates a thin, mostly invisible but greasy layer of dirt and dust on your walls. This layer of funk isn’t evenly distributed, making it difficult to evenly apply your new coat of paint.

Any degreaser will do, but if you want the job to go quickly with little elbow grease, check out TSP or Trisodium Phosphate. This chemical, when mixed with water has a high enough pH to saponify grease. This simply means that it turns the grease on your walls into soap. TSP used to be included in both laundry and dishwasher detergent until it was found that algae really loved all the extra phosphorous in the water supply. Since then it has been phased out of detergents, but it’s still appropriate for small applications.

TSP is not your, gee-the-walls-look-a-bit-dirty-but-I’m-not-going-to-paint wall wash. Trisodium Phosphate etches or chemically scratches the paint surface while it strips away the grease. If you’re getting ready to apply a fresh coat of paint, this is pure win as it gives the new paint better adherence.

Click the picture for more tips!

I strongly urge you to read and follow the directions and safety precautions. While the highly alkaline nature of TSP makes it fabulous for stripping grease off of walls, it also can cause chemical burns if it gets on your skin. Keep it in perspective, chlorine bleach also causes chemical burns when used inappropriately.

In other words, wear gloves while using the TSP according to the label directions.

You should be able to find TSP at home-improvement stores.

Good luck!

Send your domestic queries to helpme@home-ec101.com.

The post Wash the Walls, Really? appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsI was wondering about the rinsing aspect of this stuff. That's ... by imchrisannI have washed my mobile home walls which are that fabricated ... by BonnieWear gloves! Like yellow kitchen gloves, and cuff the ends, so ... by KatieHow do you avoid TSP coming onto your skin? I do agree that ... by Scott Websterugh, i never thought about sanding. i wanted to repaint our ... by rin-illPlus 9 more...  

Menu Monday Week 4

Heather says

We keep on keeping on. Life got away from us over the last couple of weeks, but it’s the 4th Monday of 2017 and that means a brand new chance to get on track.

We have joined a local CSA*, which means we receive a weekly dividend of vegetables. We have limited choice (I just take what they give) and it is late winter in the LowCountry of SC. This means we are swimming in greens. Yesterday I played with pasta e fagioli and instead of pasta, you guessed it, greens. This week I have a better idea of what’s coming (Thankfully, I don’t mind playing iron chef, I just like to be able to plan the other ingredients with slightly more forethought)

Right now we have plenty of kale, pac choi, and turnips to use up. 

At the butcher I bought a chuck roast, two small chickens, and our usual chorizo. The goal is to not hit the grocery store until Saturday. (Except for milk, we go through about 4 gallons a week and there’s just not room in the refrigerator that)

What will you be having this week? Here is a printable to make planning your menu and grocery list simpler. 

Monday Pot roast with spring onions, carrots, and turnips


 
Tuesday Kale Caesar Salads with grilled chicken breasts (from the whole chickens, I’m also hoping to post pictures of my father-in-law’s version of Caesar dressing, it’s very garlicky, so it’s good for impending vampire attacks, just make sure everyone in the house has it.)
Wednesday Chicken Stir Fry using the thighs and drumsticks with the pac choi and rice. I’ll also be throwing in whatever odds and ends I won’t be using for the next day’s soup.
Thursday Chicken Noodle Soup





I’ll use the bones from the chickens for the stock and the remaining meat for the soup. This is also vegetable pick up day
Friday Tuna cakes, cheese grits, sauteed greens (as I know there will be more) 



Saturday Tacos (I need an easy night)
Sunday To be determined based on what’s on sale at the butcher and what the greens situation looks like

I hope you have a wonderful week. Feel free to share what you’re having over in the new Facebook Home-Ec101 Group. We’re just getting started, so it’s a leetle quiet right now. 

*Why we use a CSA is covered in what I call the Home-Ec101 Manifesto

 

The post Menu Monday Week 4 appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsWe're working hard to increase the total amount of vegetables ... by Heather SolosBoo on greens!! But that pot roast looks positively yummy. by Michael  

Menu Monday Week 2

Heather says

A few *ahem* years ago I had a teacher whose catchphrase was “Monitor and adjust”. It was her way of having a plan, but rolling with the punches and not going completely off the rails just because life isn’t playing the way you think it should. 

Last week was one of those weeks and we played along. We got takeout and made some comfort food, but it’s all okay. 

And? It’s not the menu planning that failed last week. We had the options, we chose not to use them and some of the items will be made this week. For instance yesterday, instead of making meatloaf, I roasted two chickens. The leftovers from last night are going to be used in an experiment, a planned over, that will either be amazing or dreadful. Since we rarely have dessert, tonight I’ll also make an apple crisp, just in case the experiment is not what we envisioned. 

My rambling point is this, menu planning isn’t graded on a pass or fail basis. Some weeks will work and others, not as well. At the end of the week, no one is going to shame you for sticking to it or not. It’s a tool that you can choose to use or deviate from as needed. Having a plan just gives you more options and less overwhelm.

Here is a printable to help with your menu planning. 

What will you be having this week?

Monday – The great experiment: Chicken pot pie, but with a tater-tot crust. I’ll make it in a casserole dish, instead of a pie tin. I saw it on one of those little videos that are incredibly popular on Facebook. It intrigued me, but not their version (it was all canned this and that). I’ll use my chicken pot pie as the base, and go from there.  
Tuesday – Taco Tuesday, there is a butcher we visit almost every week. They make their own chorizo (Mexican, not the Spanish version) and we just can’t get enough. Salads
Wednesday – Hoppin John, cabbage, cornbread 



Thursday – to be determined
Friday –  Red Curry, coconut rice
Saturday – Baked potatoes and chili
Sunday – Shrimp Etouffee

The post Menu Monday Week 2 appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsWhere is this butcher that makes chorizo? And I want pictures ... by Michael  

Pantry Moths in Pasta

Dear Home-Ec 101,


I put my pasta in a new container to store in my pantry and still found moths. What did I do wrong and how can I prevent pantry moths in the first place?


Sincerely,


Bugged in Buckhead

Heather says

Unfortunately, pantry moths are a part of life. We can take a lot of preventative steps to ensure that the moths do not infest all of our dry goods, but the one thing we can’t control is where the moths come from. Pantry moths get into dry goods while they are in storage waiting to be shipped elsewhere or sometimes even at the processing plant itself (although storage is the more likely of the two).

It’s important to remember that the term pantry moths is a generic name for a few different insects. The important thing to remember is that having the pests show up in your pantry is not a reflection on you or your housekeeping. 

Yes, you did the right thing putting the pasta in a sealed container, the problem was that the pantry moths went into the container with your pasta. The eggs of both the Indian Meal Moth and flour beetles—two common pantry pests—are tiny and sticky which means they’ll be covered with whatever food they were laid in and very easy to miss.

The good news is the sealed contain you put the pasta in did its job. The infestation was limited to the one box of pasta. You didn’t lose all of the grain products in your pantry, and this is a very, good thing. While you should check the other items in your pantry, the good news is you probably aren’t going to have to do a full-scale pantry moth/meal moth extermination. To be sure the pantry moths are limited to the pasta, grab a stepladder and flashlight. Look in the uppermost interior corners of your pantry for moths or pupating larvae. The larva is very small and will typically be wedged in the corner. 

While it is almost impossible to never bring pantry pests into your home, there are a few things you can do to reduce the chance and prevent pantry moths. When you pick up a grain product at the store always inspect the package, if there are any rips or tears, where food can get out, pantry moths or flour beetles can get in. If you have the room, you can also store grain products in the freezer for a few days before placing them in the sealed containers in the pantry. The freezer will kill some of the more delicate species, but only slow down the hardier varieties. Finally, if you have a choice, try to buy your grain products and cereals from stores with a reasonable turnover.  

Just remember that even doing all of these things, you still have the chance of running into these pests on occasion. They are a fact of life. 

For those who aren’t already storing their grains, cereals, and pasta in sealed containers, in a pinch, gallon size zippered bags work, but they need to be doubled up, or a tiny tear can allow pantry moths in or out. I like these Rubbermaid Modular Containers for the pantry. 

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

Hungry for pasta? Try these two recipes: Pasta Salad and Easy Greek Pasta Salad – or maybe you need to make new noodles from scratch!

The post Pantry Moths in Pasta appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsWe're taught or absorb culturally that bugs mean poverty, ... by Heather SolosLong, long ago (25 years) in an apartment far, far away ... by Bobbie Laughman  

Menu Monday Week 1

Heather says

There’s nothing like a new year to rekindle the desire to be more organized, keep better tabs on the budget, and to be more efficient with my time (so we can do more fun things with our evenings together). 

*Cue up the broken record*

Menu planning is a great way to get your grocery budget under control, prevent unnecessary trips to the store, and to reduce the amount of brain power you have to use on decision making. Remember when we talked about the book Your Brain at Work? Who couldn’t do with a little extra mental energy in their day? I’ll take all the help I can get, even if it means spending a little time on Sunday planning out the week ahead. 

Here’s a menu planning printable to make writing up your menu plan a little bit easier. One of my colleagues has turned me on to the Commit30 Planner and I’m giving it a serious try. The serious try includes some ridiculous things like trying to not get discouraged by my terrible handwriting. I say these things because I really do get just how easy it is to find excuses to not do the things that benefit us in the long run. If you find yourself coming up with a hundred reasons not tackle your menu for the week, stop. Take a breath and list three reasons it will help and then just do it. Here, I’ll help:

you won’t have to think when you’re tired
you’ll have an answer when someone asks what’s for dinner
you’ll have a head start on your grocery list for the week

So what are we having this week? And what are you having? Please feel free to leave your ideas in the comments.

Monday – Albondigas



Tuesday – Simple Sausage Skillet






Wednesday – Clean Out Refrigerator Night
Thursday – Dilled Salmon, Lentil Pilaf, Roast Broccoli



Friday – Falafel, but I’ll be doing a Tex Mex twist, subbing out chili powder and increasing the amount of cumin, serving them as tacos with cabbage slaw and chipotle sauce. When I make the chipotle for a sauce, I add an equivalent amount of sour cream to the recipe.



Saturday – Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Caesar Salads



Sunday – Meatloaf, rice, roasted carrots

If you want to get the most bang out of your menu planning, take a tour of your refrigerator and pantry before brainstorming. This way you’ll know what needs to be used and you’ll reduce the overwhelm of unlimited choice. Looking at the weekly grocery circular helps, too as you can limit your choices to what’s on sale.

The post Menu Monday Week 1 appeared first on Home Ec 101.

                

Organizational Sunday Week #1

Heather says:

This week you’ll need to repurpose or buy two containers, the type of containers will depend on two things, your budget and space. Personally I like Rubbermaid style totes, if you have the room they will work for most of our projects and you can find them at any big box store. One will hold items for donation and the other to take to your county’s waste disposal. Most of the time the items you’ll be getting rid of will be clean and dry, but there may be a few weeks where this isn’t the case. 

If you are short on space heavy duty trash bags or reusable shopping bags will work. The goal is to have containers that are easily accessible.

Put the containers somewhere that makes sense for you. If you have room in the garage, great. Otherwise it may be the bottom of a rarely used closet or in a corner of the laundry room. Whatever works for your household.

Now here’s the catch, finding the two containers isn’t this week’s challenge. Since you had to get the containers ready, we’ll keep the challenge simple.

Organization Challenge #1

Take a look at your coat closet (or entry way or mudroom, if that’s where you keep your winter coats and shoes). Donate any coats that no longer fit (whether it’s due to kids getting bigger or your own changing taste). If you don’t love it and you already have a replacement, it’s time to  ♬ let it go. 

Easy enough, right? 

That’s the plan, most weeks we’ll tackle a section of the house and by this time next year, those little changes will have turned into a big one. 

Click the picture for the list of challenges

*Want to earn a little extra credit?* If you’ve got a pile of shoes in the bottom of that closet, consider some cubes to divide and conquer.  The problem with this solution is you need to make sure the other people involved actually use it. This may take coaching and guidance. Good luck!

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

The post Organizational Sunday Week #1 appeared first on Home Ec 101.

               
CommentsHeh I broke the site in March. It's why I disappeared for a ... by Heather SolosI can't access the links. For some reason when I click them it ... by RAAWell, I did it! The coat part, at least. It actually wasn't ... by Narariel