Some people go light, others want to bring the kitchen sink. I belong in a 12-step on the latter, but either extreme appreciates fewer bags to carry. Here's a packing technique that you may want to play with, and it's bailed me out when I've bought more at destination than I really had room to … [Read more...]
Random Stuff
Tips for “Secret Codes” on Price Tags
If anyone didn't happen to be watching ABC this morning at 4am, that's a low news hour when they often air interesting trivia. So this morning, one Kyle James was being interviewed for his price shopping tricks obsession (I want to marry someone like him). I stopped mixing dyes for a gradient yarn … [Read more...]
Fun, Festive and Easy Stained Glass Jello Squares
These are always a huge hit. Ridiculously easy to make, Stained Glass Jello Squares do span two hours to come together, but most of that time is spent with each layer setting up in the fridge while you're doing something else. You just have to show up every 15 minutes. They're also theme … [Read more...]
Time Out for a PSA
If you know someone, as I do, who suffers from "Caregiver Burnout" or another form of acute stress resulting from an unchangeable situation, this weekend I ran across a 1-1/2 hour video on youtube that is absolutely, unequivocally relevant (and possibly health-saving) time well spent for such a … [Read more...]
A Better Mouse Trap
Are you squeamish when it comes to mice? I am VERY squeamish when it comes to mice. One winter we got a bunch of the evil slithery little critters, and I went on a mouse research binge because I'm supposed to be smarter than they are. So far they'd been wrecking my self image in that regard. I … [Read more...]
Give That Car a Blow Out (not meaning a tire blowout)
This is about a really clean car, either following a trip or at anytime. Having hauled hay in mine (nothing more invasive than hay dust), that was only in addition to the normal bits of straw wrapper tear-offs that get between seats and the sand in impossible crevices that no vacuum attachment can … [Read more...]
The Fiber Revival
Short Version: Knitting is bigtime relaxing. It's been proven to lower blood pressure. You see rewarding progress constantly. You can make things of a quality that you just can't buy in stores anymore, and fer cheap (relatively). Men are now doing it, sometimes in secret, other times, like big … [Read more...]