6 Tips for Returning Holiday Gifts
At this time of year, everyone wants to know what to do with gifts they’ve received but don’t need or want. Here are some handy suggestions about what to do with unwanted or not needed holiday gifts. Regardless of which of the 6 tips for returning holiday gifts you choose, a thank you note is {6 Tips for Returning Holiday Gifts}
Green Living Is Often Grey
Sometimes the environmental cost involved with “green living” isn’t exactly what we expect. When I wrote about using reusable cotton or canvas grocery bags, as opposed to using plastic grocery bags, who knew that, scientifically speaking, the best choice was a reusable bag made of recycled plastic rather than cotton? Green living is often grey {Green Living Is Often Grey}
Plastic Grocery Bag Alternatives
Ever since our first home exchange to Paris in 2004, I’ve been making a real effort to not use plastic grocery bags. While on our trip, with my starving family (they weren’t really starving but that’s how they were acting!) waiting in the car, I ran into a grocery store in Germany to buy a {Plastic Grocery Bag Alternatives}
Hanging Clothing to Dry on Laundry Lines
Now that you know why I’m a lazy laundress and why I hang the clean laundry inside my home rather than outside and you know how to install an inside laundry line in your very own home, here’s how I use the laundry line. Once the washing machine is done, I place everything in the {Hanging Clothing to Dry on Laundry Lines}
How to Decorate a Mantel for Halloween
When it comes to decorating my mantel for Halloween, I try to use what I already have around my house. Decorating for a holiday or a particular season doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money or buy new items. Start by looking around your house first to decorate. You’ll be surprised at how {How to Decorate a Mantel for Halloween}
Organizing Food Storage Containers
It’s the first Monday of October and you know what that means – it’s National Match-Up Day – the day when all drawers and cupboards that hold all of our plastic and glass food storage containers get cleaned out and organized. This almost nationally recognized holiday takes place the first Monday of October, which is {Organizing Food Storage Containers}
Frugal and Green Living
I’m always looking for the sweet spot where green and frugal living come together. That’s where good for the environment equals good for my wallet, too. These are some things I do that save my family money and help lower the cost to the environment. I’m saying “me” and “I” here but really it’s “we” {Frugal and Green Living}
How to Install an Inside Laundry Line
Since now you know I’m lazy when it comes to drying laundry outside and how I picked up the idea of inside laundry line from a previous home exchange our family did, I want to show you how easy it is to install an inside laundry line in your home. Most hardware stores, big and {How to Install an Inside Laundry Line}
My Great-Grandmother’s Recipes
I inherited something recently that is very precious: this little notebook. It’s filled with recipes from the kitchen of my maternal great-grandmother, Clara E. Walters. Here’s a picture of her, at age 20, back in 1906. She was an original – for many reasons. I love how she wrote down recipes on the backs of {My Great-Grandmother’s Recipes}
Why I Use an Inside Laundry Line
I have a confession to make. I don’t hang my laundry up to dry outside because it’s too much work and I’m lazy when it comes to laundry. To go from my laundry area in our basement to the backyard, I have to unlock the door, carry the collapsing laundry line outside, set it up, {Why I Use an Inside Laundry Line}
Slipcover or Reupholster? Which to Choose?
When it comes to having chairs and sofas redone, there’s usually two choices: slipcover or reupholster. But, which to choose? Either will give you a lovely end result – a new outside garment for a piece of solid furniture – but slipcover or reupholster? Having this type of sewing work done for you can be {Slipcover or Reupholster? Which to Choose?}
Souvenirs from Spain
When we travel and home exchange, we travel pretty light so we are not usually very big on bringing home a bunch of souvenirs. That being said, who doesn’t like to come home with some small reminder of a great trip? Our compromise is to combine getting something we need while on the trip with {Souvenirs from Spain}
How to Make New Candles from Old Candles
“In case you ever want to live off the grid,” was the answer I gave my 15-year-old son as the reason he should make candles with me. As you can imagine, this was met with a jaw-dropping, wide-eyed dazed look that comes from a teen who would like nothing better than to be plugged-in and {How to Make New Candles from Old Candles}
Frugal Living with Style Talk
Hi everyone…just a quick reminder that I’m speaking this Saturday, July 26th, 2012 at the Kenton branch of the much loved Multnomah County Library system. My talk begins at 3pm and it’s free! Please come and say hello. If the weather is beautiful and sunny in Portland, I know it won’t be a large crowd. {Frugal Living with Style Talk}
Sewing Machine Tune-Up
My longtime friend and fellow sewer, Lisa, e-mailed me recently with a question. Lisa wrote, “I’m wondering with all the sewing you do, do you do your own sewing machine tune-ups? Or is there a good deal around town?” Short answer: I do my own now but I’m not allowed to disassemble items that have {Sewing Machine Tune-Up}
