It’s a special time of year for many of us who love hunting for Morel Mushrooms. More Than Mushrooms Hunting for morels has always meant something special to me. When I was young, my mom used to take me mushroom hunting. Sometimes with her dad, sometimes with my youngest brother. As the years went on, the tradition continued. It was always a bonding moment between her and I. A few hours in the woods, chit-chatting about life. She passed away young five years ago last. A Generational Experience Since my mom passed, I have made it a point to bring my six-year-old to the same spot I went with my ..read more

Hunting for morels has always meant something special to me. When I was young, my mom used to take me mushroom hunting. Sometimes with her dad, sometimes with my youngest brother. As the years went on, the tradition continued. It was always a bonding moment between her and I. A few hours in the woods, chit-chatting about life. She passed away young five years ago. A morel mushroom grows in a forest, emerging from the ground next to a fallen log and leaf litter, ideal for foraging morel mushrooms.A Generational Experience Since my mom passed, I have made it a point to bring my six-year-old to t ..read more

It never even crossed my mind that the light bulb inside the dryer might one day stop working. I was shocked but not surprised when, one day, I opened the dryer, and there was no light. I took that light for granted. I put off changing the bulb for a couple of months, even suggesting my husband do it and create a blog post. That never happened, so I took matters into my own hands. How hard could it be? I was pleasantly surprised at just how simple the task was and kicked myself for putting it off for so long. How Long Have You Owned Your Dryer? I’ve been using the same dryer for nearly 10 yea ..read more

In an era where excess has become the norm, Americans are increasingly finding themselves trapped in a cycle of accumulation, leading to an unprecedented surge in the use of self-storage units. As of 2023, the U.S. boasts over 2.04 billion square feet of rentable storage space, equating to about 6.1 square feet per person. 11.1% of households, approximately 14.6 million families currently rent a storage facility​​. This trend underscores a deeper societal issue: the tangible and intangible costs of clutter. That’s where my “One-Year Rule” comes in to play. The One Year Rule of Decluttering is ..read more

We love going on trips. But I tend to try to look for the less popular but still fun trips. They tend to be less crowded and we also get the most fun for our money. One thing I have wanted to do for awhile is a River Cruise. So I started researching all of the lessor known river cruises in North America, and decided to share my findings with you. I expanded it a bit to include more than river cruises, but the focus is still on the lessor known ones. For many people the concept of a cruise conjures up images of lazing by the pool as the horizon slides by, of sun-drenched Caribbean beaches, and ..read more

Spring brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and budding trees, but it also means the return of pollen and for many people, allergy symptoms. Pollen, the fine powder from plants, trees, and grass, is a major trigger for allergic reactions, impacting the quality of life for millions globally. Young woman with allergy symptoms, sneezing, blowing her nose, springtime According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 67 million adults in the United States alone suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, which is caused largely by pollen exposure ..read more

Turning 50 is often seen as a milestone in one’s life, signifying half a century of experiences, challenges, and achievements. While age is just a number, this stage in life brings about a series of considerations, especially regarding health and lifestyle choices. It’s essential to recognize that getting your body the help it needs is crucial in prolonging your life. From this point on, certain activities and habits are either no longer worth your time or should be avoided. Obviously, for the sake of this article, 50 is a semi-arbitrary age. The entire point is that as we age, there are certa ..read more

Americans are increasingly burdened by their own stuff, and it’s coming at a high price. Recent statistics reveal that, cumulatively, US residents spend billions a year on self-storage units. This is an astonishing amount just to store things they don’t have room for in their own homes and apartments. In an era when living spaces are filled to the brim, many are looking for ways to reclaim not just square footage but mental clarity. The idea of simplifying life and decluttering is more than just a seasonal fad of clearing out a messy closet or garage; it’s about taking a measured approach to ..read more

As a couple that retired young thanks to side hustles, we’ve written about many side hustles here at ChaChingQueen. Another side hustle that is rapidly gaining traction, thanks in part to technological advances, is teaching English as a second language online. In a world where over 1.5 billion people communicate in English, either as their mother tongue or second language, the power of this global language is undeniable. Given the popularity of English, and the demand to learn the language, I decided it was time to dive deep into Teaching English Online as a side hustle. This post is my compr ..read more

I will never forget that when I was growing up, eggs were good for me, then eggs were no longer healthy, and then they were healthy again. It was all so confusing. It still is. I am not alone. Every day, we find ourselves navigating through a deluge of dietary advice, where what’s considered a superfood one day might be deemed a dietary villain the next. It’s a landscape marked by shifting sands, where the only constant seems to be controversy. With this ever-changing backdrop, certain foods have risen to the forefront of nutritional debates, dividing experts and enthusiasts alike. To cut thro ..read more