Oh my, my! Two years ago our neighbors brought over a small bucket of tomatoes from a local farm and left them on our porch. The kids said they were the best tomatoes they’d ever had and they were. He later told us that he and his wife visit a local farm every year. We’veContinue reading “Practical DIY 12: Easy Stewed Tomatoes”
Category Archives: Practical DIY
Practical DIY No 10: Removing Sticker Residue
I like a good drop-and-go type situation. It makes me feel like I’m working smarter, not harder. For example crock pot meals, drop everything in the pot, walk away and you have dinner 8 hours later. Or using vinegar to clean nasty food off of my stainless steel pans. Fill the bottom with straight vinegar,Continue reading “Practical DIY No 10: Removing Sticker Residue”
Practical DIY No. 9: Seven Simple Ways to Declutter Without Buying Almost Anything
One thing that drives me a little nuts is the idea that you have to buy organizational tools to declutter. It’s not hard to find pics on the web of perfectly organized pantries with cutesy clear containers of grains and spices, void of manufacturers’ cereal boxes and generic brand pasta cartons. I always wondered whereContinue reading “Practical DIY No. 9: Seven Simple Ways to Declutter Without Buying Almost Anything”
Practical DIY No. 8: Turning Anything into a Planter
Ok, not anything, but anything that holds liquid that you may want to drain liquid. I am a terrible green thumb, but I have learned that most pots need drainage holes to prevent overwatering and root rot if you plan to keep a plant alive for an extended period of time. I learned this whenContinue reading “Practical DIY No. 8: Turning Anything into a Planter”
Practical DIY No. 7: Caring for A Cast Iron Skillet
Do you want to cook with a cast iron skillet but don’t know how to clean it? Have you heard that a cast iron skillet is easier and healthier than traditional cookware, but then somebody says you have to “season” it and you’re checked out? Me! I was that girl and I’ve learned how toContinue reading “Practical DIY No. 7: Caring for A Cast Iron Skillet”
Practical DIY No. 6: Hair Ties and Push Pins
I’ve struggled with losing hair ties at the bottom of my drawer. Even if I always place them in my bathroom cabinet drawer, they seems to slowly disappear over time until I’m hard-pressed to find one. I needed a better solution.
Practical DIY No. 5: The Bird and The Squirrel (Lamp)
My husband says I’m difficult to shop for. It’s probably because I say things like “I hate lamps that look like lamps, but we need some lamps for the house.” In my head I know what I mean, but in his head anything he buys is going to be wrong.
Practical DIY No. 4: Phone Pocket Thing
I had some Command Strips left over from DIY No. 1 and I really needed a place to keep my phone close by but off of the kitchen counters, which is frequently wet or gross, because… I have kids, or maybe I’m just gross. I wanted something relatively cheap that didn’t look like I’d cutContinue reading “Practical DIY No. 4: Phone Pocket Thing”
Practical DIY No 3: Spool Stool
I don’t know why we called it that, because this DIY is not a stool at all. It’s an end table. I’ll be honest, it didn’t turn out as lovely as I’d hoped but good enough to keep. I should mention that we moved three months ago after living in our first home for twelveContinue reading “Practical DIY No 3: Spool Stool”
Practical DIY No 2: Art Display
In my very first post, Manager of Stuff, I mentioned that we throw away 98% of the papers my kids create. One life ago, before we decided to homeschool, my kids attended church preK programs and then public school. The first few years of school are so much fun, especially for a first-time parent untilContinue reading “Practical DIY No 2: Art Display”
Life Less Cluttered 