Do you have cleansers, creams, lotions, serums, sprays, perfumes, deodorants, and cosmetics packed in your bathroom drawers and cabinets? If so, you’re not alone. A 2004 Environmental Working Group (EWG) survey found that the average adult uses nine personal care products, containing 126 unique chemical ingredients, each day.
These products are expensive. More alarmingly, according to [...]
Archive for the ‘Household’ Category
Simplify Your Personal Care
Posted in Health, Herbs, Household, Simple Living, tagged Cosmetics, Herbs, Personal care on February 18, 2010 | 8 Comments »
Simplify Your Time Online
Posted in Household, tagged Organizing, Simple Living on February 1, 2010 | 19 Comments »
I’ve had no Internet connection or a very spotty one for the last week. I rely on the Internet for my work, not to mention to create this blog, so it’s been frustrating, maddening, and at times, depressing to be disconnected. But it’s also been eye-opening.
During my first hours without the Internet, I thought of [...]
Do-it-yourselfing
Posted in Family life, Gardening, Household, tagged beer, brewing beer, Do-It-Yourself, fermentation, Gardening on January 26, 2010 | 19 Comments »
Sometimes, just occasionally, I’ve been known to go a tad over-the-top when it comes to do-it-yourselfing.
My husband’s a good sport, but he’s been a much-needed balance when I come up with a new lofty idea.
For instance, several years ago, he (and every gardening book I read) warned me that I should start with a nice, [...]
Coming out of a rut
Posted in Family life, Household, tagged Routines, Seasons on January 21, 2010 | 3 Comments »
I love the feeling of coming out of a rut.
The rhythms of life sometimes go stale. You find yourself preparing the same meals every week, going through the same routines, taking the same walk, doing the same chores.
Then one day the whole world feels electric again, your brain buzzes with ideas, and you can’t wait [...]
Resolve to Get Organized in 2010
Posted in Household, tagged Household Management, Meal Planning, Organizational tools, Organizing on January 5, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I’m still astounded by how much harder it is to keep up a household with the addition of just one extra (very small) family member a year and a half ago. Maybe that’s because my son is a wizard at unfolding laundry, removing the contents from cabinets, and tucking away valuables in top-secret hiding spots? [...]
Farewell Fall
Posted in Household, tagged Christmas, First day of Winter on December 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I’ll be taking the next week off to celebrate the First Day of Winter and the Christmas holiday with my family. I’ll be back next week. Happy Holidays!
A Wabi Sabi Life
Posted in Family life, Household, Parenting, Simple Living, tagged Family life, Housework, Parenting, Simple Living, Wabi Sabi on November 17, 2009 | 9 Comments »
I first learned of the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi many years ago. It is a tool for contemplation, or a philosophy of life, that finds beauty in things that are impermanent, imperfect, and incomplete. In other words, it’s the notion that patina; wear and tear; chips, cracks, and fissures; assymetry; flaws; and defects actually [...]
From the Archives: The Art of Meal Planning
Posted in Health, Household, Whole foods cooking, tagged Cooking, Family life, Health, Housework, Parenting, Simple Living on November 6, 2009 | 2 Comments »
*I’m taking the week off for my birthday. This post was originally published back in March. I’ll be back with new posts next week, including an update to the Hen Diaries. We’ve had some dramatic ups and downs in chicken-keeping lately, which I can’t wait to share.*
Every year I used to buy a pocket calendar [...]
From the Archives: Business is Booming
Posted in Alternative transportation, Gardening, Household, Simple Living, Whole foods cooking, tagged Alternative transportation, Bicycles, Cooking, Gardening, Libraries, Simple Living, Sustainability on November 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
*I’m taking the week off for my birthday. This post was originally published in March. I’ll be back with new posts next week, including an update to the Hen Diaries. We’ve had some dramatic ups and downs in chicken-keeping lately, which I can’t wait to share.*
These are just a few of the headlines that blared [...]
