No matter the age of a fabric, once it starts pilling, it looks old. And not in a good way. But you can prevent pilling, somewhat. Those little balls of fiber that party on your sweater (or workout pants or sheets) happen when fibers rub against each other (and other fabrics, zippers, buttons, etc.). Short fibers are more prone to pilling, because they become loose and tangle together, forming those little balls. Pilling happens in the wash but also from everyday wear—which is why you’ll more often see them under arms and around cuffs or elbows or between the legs of knit pants. You can remov ..read more

Free Download Get this FREE sheet of tips for removing stains with natural ingredients — and access to all our helpful printables Get Free Download Natural Stain Removal These free Natural Stain Removal Tips will help you keep your clothes looking nice longer using all-natural ingredients. Check out our Natural Stain Removal post for more tips on removing stains naturally. Getting this free printable also gives you access to all the other free tips and guides on our Free Downloads page. Thanks for being a part of our community! The post Natural Stain Removal Tips Download appeared ..read more

August 21, 2021 Hope you’ve been enjoying plenty of fresh fruits and veggies lately — from your own garden, a generous neighbor’s, or your local market. There isn’t a better season for counting our produce blessings! Of course, sometimes we find ourselves with a bit more of a particular fruit or veggie than we bargained for. I don’t can produce anymore (though I admire those of you who do!), but I do freeze some of it. Mostly, though, I search for new recipes to try out using the bounty. Since we learned about choosing and storing zucchini on the blog this week, I thought it would be nice to s ..read more

It’s zucchini season! And that always means there’s plenty to be had — if not in your garden or a neighbor’s, then at your local market. Despite its abundant availability, I like to sometimes pretend that zucchini is a rare treat. Somehow it makes it even more delectable! Zucchini — or courgette (the French name I use for it when I’m pretending it’s gourmet) — is a super-versatile veggie. Stir fry it, roast it, or grill it. Bake it into cakes, breads, brownies, or muffins. Use it to make fritters or pizza, burgers or quiche. Or eat it raw, shaved into ribbons for beautiful salads. Have yo ..read more

August 14, 2021 How do you feel about August? Enough is enough? Or are you — like me — enjoying every last warm temp, sunny sky, and summer raindrop? Road trips are still on my calendar, outdoor plantings top my to-do list, and a backyard celebration is in the works!  I have some household tasks to accomplish yet this month, too, before the fun fall tasks (leaves!) beckon. One of them is stripping laundry, which I like to do while I can still hang things outdoors to dry. Do you strip any of your laundry? I find it especially useful for refreshing towels these days, though when the kids we ..read more

I like things tidy, but I’m ridiculously messy when it comes to painting and other DIY, yard work, crafting, cooking, etc. Stains on my clothing (despite my wearing an apron) are inevitable. You too?  The stain possibilities are endless in most households — grass stains on sports’ uniforms, perspiration stains on t-shirts, spit-up stains on baby clothes, oil splatters on favorite dresses . . .  No matter what the cause of your stains, being able to remove them naturally is a terrific skill to have. There are a few things to know and several ingredients to become familiar with, but re ..read more

August 7, 2021 Gardeners tend to be generous people — and I’m not just talking about all that surplus zucchini! I’ve been gifted heirloom bean seeds, beautiful terra cotta pots, a yard full of daylilies, stunning iris bulbs, and an ornithogalum bulb that is currently stealing the show in our perennial bed.  Those of us who love houseplants tend be good at sharing them, too. My friend Kathy once gave me an aloe vera plant that grew so well I divided it and was able to gift 50 co-workers with baby aloes! And if you’ve read the C2K article about caring for a ficus plant, you know that I took ..read more

I love hands. I always notice them and appreciate them — from sweet, smooth infant hands to old, wrinkled hands that show how much they’ve worked over the years. I strive for brightly clean hands with smartly trimmed nails and soft skin. But I’m a gardener — and cook and crafter and homemaker and DIY project maker. Embedded dirt, dull fingernails, calluses, and cracked skin are par for the daily course. So it seems a losing battle. Especially since I cannot bring myself to wear gardening (or work) gloves. Oh, I promise myself that I’ll wear gloves. I buy new garden gloves and leave them where ..read more

I love hands. I always notice them and appreciate them — from sweet, smooth infant hands to old, wrinkled hands that show how much they’ve worked over the years. I strive for brightly clean hands with smartly trimmed nails and soft skin. But I’m a gardener — and cook and crafter and homemaker and DIY project maker. Embedded dirt, dull fingernails, calluses, and cracked skin are par for the daily course. So it seems a losing battle. Especially since I cannot bring myself to wear gardening (or work) gloves. Oh, I promise myself that I’ll wear gloves. I buy new garden gloves and leave them where ..read more

July 31, 2021 One of the things I love about living mindfully is the enjoyment I get from life’s simple pleasures. There are so many everyday things that I find joy in — like a freshly pressed fabric napkin, a thriving houseplant, and a beautifully made bed. This is one reason I make my bed each and every morning (and why I considered details when deciding how to style my bed). It’s not to meet any expectations of what I “should” do to be a successful homemaker. It’s simply because it allows me to start and end my day with the simple joy of a well made bed. Making my bed in the morning is far ..read more