I have been blessed with good skin, and as a result, was always pretty lazy in taking care of it. It wasn’t until I reached my forties that I began to sit up and worry about what to do. I also had my first, and then a second, favorite moisturizer get discontinued and reformulated into … more
This is one of my favorite things. A year or so ago, I decided it was time start researching anti-aging skincare. One of the first things I realized was that I needed a facial sunscreen, since sun exposure is a significant factor in how skin ages. Up til that point, I had only worn sunscreen … more
Since I’ve been on the subject of housekeeping . . . I grew up with a mom who loved to clean and had the whole lineup of traditional products. When I got married, I became enthusiastic about natural living and made my cleaners from things like baking soda, vinegar, and borax. The novelty wore off at … more
“And provides . . . a portion to her maidservants.” Proverbs 31 Our appliances are our modern-day maidservants. It’s worth it to have good ones that will serve you long and well. Here are three gals that keep our household running and whom I can recommend highly: A Bosch dishwasher, entry level After many years … more
Mathematics is a frequent subject of curriculum searches, and most homeschoolers go through a few different programs during their tenure. We’re all looking for a curriculum that teaches the maximum amount of math understanding with the minimum amount of pain. With the multitude of products available these days, and the belief that “different things work … more
If you are lucky enough to have a good windowsill in your kitchen, it makes a perfect place to keep your table butter once the weather gets cold. It stays cool, but spreadable. I love this butter crock, which I purchased while vising the Red Wing Pottery factory awhile ago. (It is a worthwhile stop … more
Since it is Christmas-shopping season, it seemed a good time to publish this post I’ve had on my mind for awhile. I think one of the ways in which our culture is most consumerist is in the area of TOYS. Don’t you agree? The average big-box store has aisles and aisles of colored plastic ready … more
Until recently, I would have considered that an oxymoron. I grew up in a family that was really into coffee and its attendant paraphernalia. My parents were ahead of their time and owned a restaurant coffee maker. When I was a teen, they obtained a commercial espresso machine. Later came a coffee bean roaster. As … more
Every woman needs a tote bag, right? And we all have ideas of what a tote should be. One sees everything from posh designer leather to plastic grocery bags being used as totes. (Don’t be too quick to discount the grocery bags. There really is nothing better for putting wet or poopy clothes into.) I … more
I decided to do something new this year and post a quick review of the curriculum we used last year so we can all see how well it worked. 10th Grade Jacobs Geometry – I will admit it was a rough start, since Dusty was transitioning to self-teaching with a textbook from a video-based program. Once … more