With each generation, I feel like a few things are gained and a few things are lost. I know that my parents and grandparents have a lot of tricks for things that I wouldn't have even thought about. Some of the tips are a bit easier, while others are not. So, here are six of my favorite old fashioned tips and tricks to make life a little easier sometimes! ... [ Read More ]
Create Your Own Garden Record Book
I have the memory of a goldfish. If you asked me what I had for breakfast yesterday, I'm not sure I could tell you most of the time. So, when it comes to remembering things like the name of the delicious tomatoes that I grew on my porch a few years ago, I'm hopeless. But, as it turns out, there's an easy solution: A garden record book! I actually first got this idea from a record book kept by former president Thomas Jefferson, who was a stickler for keeping records and such. In his garden ... [ Read More ]
15 Coolest Chicken Coops
Chickens are pretty fun to have, and of all the barnyard sort of animals, I think they're probably my favorite. I don't currently have any chickens, but that certainly hasn't stopped me from finding some of the most adorable and unusual chicken coops that the internet has to offer! They're just way too adorable; I want one of each!! Check it out for yourself: ... [ Read More ]
Tips for Drinking More Water
I'm sure that I don't need to tell anyone that drinking water is super important. Being hydrated has been linked to all kinds of crazy health benefits including losing weight, lowering cholesterol, improving brain function, improving memory, slowing aging, lessening allergies, combating fatigue... the list goes on and on and on. But, it's one thing to know that you need to drink lots of water and another thing entirely to actually drink water. Drink more water If you do a bit of research, the ... [ Read More ]
Monkey Bread Recipe
Monkey Bread is one of those delicious treats that I only make every once in a while because it's just so sweet. I've seen dozens of recipes out there and they are all good but I personally find that having a guideline instead of a solid recipe works better for things like this. So, think of this recipe more like a suggestion. And believe me, your family will have absolutely zero complaints! (disclaimer: In the interest of being honest, I forgot to take a picture of my bread so the one ... [ Read More ]
20 Foods You Don’t Need to Refrigerate
Refrigerators are modern marvels that have greatly expanded the life and safety of many different foods. However, our culture has this odd idea that everything should go in the fridge; that it's this magical box that will keep everything good forever. Well, that's far from the case! Here are 20 foods that, while you can put them in the fridge (and even I sometimes do) it's totally not necessary: Bananas - Banana skin will become a really gross color in the fridge (although they will taste ... [ Read More ]
Best Mosquito-Repelling Plants
While I love the outdoors, I could totally do without mosquitoes. Those little suckers are my absolute bane. I'm not sure if I just taste sweeter to them or something, but whatever the case may be, I always end up with a ton of bites if I stay out too late in the afternoon or venture in the woods. Turns out some people are just genetically lucky like that. So, naturally, I looked to see what I could to in order to try and reduce some of the bugs around my house. While nothing really beats OFF ... [ Read More ]
Use it Up, Wear It Out, Make it Do or Do Without!
Whether you're a dedicated homesteader with your own farm or you're simply a fan of the old-fashioned lifestyle and of living more simply, you probably know how hard it can be sometimes. There are days when nothing seems to go right, and no matter what you try, things just don't work. Believe me, we've all been there, and you'll make it through! While roaming about the internet one day, I came across this awesome saying that was apparently very common during the Great Depression, when ... [ Read More ]
8 Reasons to be Proud of Being Old-Fashioned
I grew up living out in the country and while my parents weren't farmers, we did have all number of farmyard animals throughout my childhood including cows, chickens, rabbits, geese and more barn cats than you could shake a stick at. We baled hay and had a huge garden. My father made a lot of our furniture and my mother sewed clothes and did crafts. Every night we sat down at the table and ate together with cloth napkins and homemade food. I never thought about these things as ... [ Read More ]
14 Tips for Baking The Best Cookies Ever!
There are few things as delicious and homey as warm, homemade cookies fresh out of the oven. When I was a kid, chocolate chip was the family favorite, and there were always homemade cookies in the house whenever we came in from playing outside. It's absolutely the best smell and taste in the world! However, baking is just as much (probably more) of an art as a science, and if you're looking to make the best cookies ever then here are some tips and tricks to make your sweet tooth say ... [ Read More ]