My Letter to Fear
Based on interviews with women, these essays about life (and all of its funny, sad and ridiculous aspects) were published in 2014.
Testing Ridwell to Meet Our Recycling Goals
We were shocked to find out how much of the material we put into our main recycling bins really doesn’t get recycled. And then we learned about how little of the clothing we donated for re-use ends up overseas or in landfills. So, when we downsized and moved into our cottage, we started looking for
Have You Tried the 20/10 Home Organizing Method?
Home organizing methods always get my attention. This was true when we lived in a large apartment, and it was even more true once we bought a 900-square-foot cottage in Venice. I’m a fan of editing and decluttering. But ultimately, organizing our home in a way that makes sense for day-to-day life while removing clutter
Gray Paint Trends
Let’s talk about gray paint. Over the last five to six years, gray paint has become the go-to neutral color. While it will likely always be a stylish (even elegant) choice, I’m seeing gray get pushed out for warmer, richer tones in that color family. And it’s not a moment too soon for me. I
Growing Potatoes in Containers: The Harvest
Growing potatoes in containers can be fun, relatively easy, and inexpensive. Don’t have a large plot of land to plant seed potatoes in the ground? Not a problem. Containers make growing potatoes of all varieties possible, even if you have a tiny garden or live in an apartment. BUT You knew there would be a
Seed Potatoes – Growing in Late Spring in SoCal
I’ve been staring at a catalog of seed potatoes for months. I feel like I’ve seen every variety of organic seed potatoes, and I’ve fallen in love with them all. Of course, next to chocolate, potatoes are my favorite ingredient. So, I was bound to be fascinated with the idea. But I live in Southern
Growing Sugar Snap Peas in a Hanging Basket
I was obsessed with growing sugar snap peas in container gardens in 2022. They were the perfect late fall crop, and we had an excellent harvest using a raised garden bed with a trellis. Now that we are in The Cottage and have less horizontal growing space, I’m turning my attention to growing sugar snap
How to Grow Blueberries in Containers
I was obsessed with learning how to grow blueberries in a container garden even before we moved. While we didn’t have ideal growing conditions in the backyard of our old apartment, I was determined not to let that stop me. Okay, I had no idea what I was doing and was just winging it because
Searching for Closet Shelving Ideas?
Are you searching for closet shelving ideas that won’t cost a fortune and don’t require specialized tools (or a professional) to install? I was, too. I found the perfect solution that took less than 20 minutes to install and cost considerably less than hiring a professional to organize the closet. Storage Problem When we moved
When Time Gets Away From You
Do you ever have those moments when you wake up and realize that 10 months of your life have sped away in the blink of an eye? That was me today. Since I last wrote on the blog, I’ve lost my father and embarked on the somewhat overwhelming task of emptying my childhood home. With
Clean Out Your Refrigerator
There is no time like the 9th day of the 30-day decluttering challenge to clean out your refrigerator. When I set myself this task yesterday, I realized that the holidays could still be felt inside my refrigerator. If you suspect this is the case for you, it is time for a clear-out. This way, you