Who doesn’t like more for less? While bagels may not be the biggest financial investment you make this week, why not maximize what you get while shaving a few calories at the same time? Instead of buying thinner bagels—often labeled bagel thins or bagel slims—that pale in comparison to the real deal, slice your favorite […]
While I love my Magic Eraser (I find the name brand and generic versions work equally well), sometimes I want to use a more natural product. Luckily, baking soda is an effective and eco-friendly alternative. Yes, the household staple that is great at deodorizing also KOs many challenging household stains. As always, test the surface […]
Last week I shared one of my favorite—albeit simple—cleaners, Dawn dish soap. This week I’m letting you in one of nature’s best-kept cleaning secrets—the sun. You might be skeptical. I was at first, but after I put a few soiled garments in the sun for a few hours and saw how effective it was, I’m […]
Pumpkin Spice ’n’ Everything Nice Looking for a way to spice up your favorite foods this holiday season? This slightly sweet pumpkin spice goat cheese is the perfect addition to bagels, crackers and even apple slices. INGREDIENTS 8 ounces goat cheese ¼ cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling) 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ½ […]
Stain Solution Tip To kick off a miniseries of stain-fighting tips, I’m sharing my almost fail-proof stain solution: Dawn, the original blue dish soap. This ubiquitous gem has serious fighting power for all kinds of stains—fresh, as well as set-in, common and complex stains The fact that Dawn removed a set-in chocolate stain from my […]
Truth be told, there are very few “must-haves” when it comes to newborn baby equipment. But the Halo Bassinest is one of them. The Bassinest takes the idea of co-sleeping and makes it more convenient and, for many of us, safer. Consider it “close sleeping” as opposed to “co-sleeping”. The Halo Bassinest sits right atop […]
Apple of Everyone’s Eye Instead of OD-ing on pumpkin spice lattes this season, create a healthier sweet treat of your own. Apple cider syrup is delicious on many things, including French toast, pancakes, winter squash and ice cream. And, it’s a cinch to make. The only ingredient is apple cider (fresh is best). First, gather […]
Why wait till the holidays arrive to decorate your front door? For mere pennies—and very little effort—you can create a leafy wreath for the fall season. And if you have children, it’s a fun project to do with them. The least expensive way to make a leaf wreath is to simply cut a wreath shape […]
Few baby toys are worth their salt, considering babies don’t need much to be entertained in their first few months. But when you need a few moments of quiet, a simple yet stimulating toy is worth its weight in gold. Luckily, the Oball Classic fits the bill. Costing around $7, this flexible ball is simplicity […]
As we begin to spend more time indoors, it’s tempting to light a scented candle or use air freshener to rid your home of stale air. But most conventional products—and even a few products labeled “natural”—contain undesirable ingredients, including synthetic fragrances and additives that can even be more harmful to our health when heated. So […]
If you smell a not-so-pleasant aroma emanating from your basement, getting rid of it can be challenging. Most commercial products or even home solutions are formulated to cover up offending odors rather than eliminate them. What’s a better solution? Charcoal. Similar to fresh coffee grounds, charcoal helps absorb, rather than mask, stinky smells. But charcoal […]
Last post I tackled pantry moths. This week I’ll address clothing moths. As temperatures start to dip, it’s the perfect time to take preventive measures to avoid these unwanted pests. First, treat all clothes as potential targets and wash after every use, since body odor, perspiration and food traces attract these insects “like moths to […]
Fresh Herb & Sea Salt Roasted Beets This recipe is from Boulder’s Mediterranean Restaurant, which recommends using fresh farm beets from Isabelle or Red Wagon farms. INGREDIENTS 5 pounds farm-fresh beets (medium size) ½ cup olive oil 5 sprigs fresh rosemary 10 sprigs fresh thyme 3 fresh bay leaves 2 whole cinnamon sticks ½ teaspoon […]
Herb Chicken with Cucumber and Herb Salad This recipe comes from chef William Kelley of Zucca Italian Ristorante in Louisville. “This is a popular recipe we serve here from time to time,” he says. “It’s a simple grilled chicken dish with fresh herbs and a fresh herb salad.” INGREDIENTS 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves only 1 […]
This unique home took a huge leap from gloomily historic to pleasantly zany. By Lisa Marshall photos by Alive Studios www.alivestudios.com Some homeowners remodel with resale in mind. Others do it to accommodate growing families or elderly parents. Artist Coco Gordon had a different objective. “I need to live in a house that delights me—that provides an […]
Fall is the perfect season to camp. Cool nights, warm days, fall foliage. Here are ways to elevate an ordinary campsite to “glamping” status. By Eli Wallace There’s nothing quite as cozy as cuddling up at home during a bout of cooler temps. But with fall encroaching, there’s plenty of mountain activities calling us outside. The […]
Tucking in a garden for winter is mostly about cleaning up and covering up. Hopefully, your trees and shrubs grew stronger this growing season.
Now that the weather is cooler, let’s talk moths. From the pantry to the closet, these little pests can chomp their way through food and clothes. Pantry and closet moths are different species, so they require different prevention and elimination measures. This week I’ll share a three-pronged approach to ridding pantry moths. First, clean out […]
Many celebrations cast a huge environmental footprint through disposable décor and tableware.
A look at the local facility that holds our agricultural future in its vaults. By Eli Wallace When fire blight decimated the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Apple Collection—an orchard in upstate New York that preserves the world’s apple strains—federal officials turned to Fort Collins, Colo. A squat building on the Colorado State University campus harbors […]
