Reusable vs. disposable — which is best?

August 29, 2012
Thumbnail image for Reusable vs. disposable — which is best?

Marketing companies have drawn a pretty clear line in the sand between disposable products and reusable ones. Disposable is synonymous with convenience, ease of use, and less work — but you pay a higher price for that convenience. Reusable products are better for your wallet and the environment, but harder work. Is this always the [...]

5 comments MORE ...

The best times to tackle deep cleaning projects

August 13, 2012
Thumbnail image for The best times to tackle deep cleaning projects

Most people feel motivated to clean and reorganize in the spring. Since most of fall and winter is spent indoors, I prefer to prepare for the long winter hibernation by cleaning, purging, and reorganizing. I’ve been creating a to-do list in my head of things I’ve been putting off all summer, and it got me [...]

1 comment MORE ...

Losing

July 17, 2012

I know I’m not the first person to say this — and certainly not the last — but living with a toddler feels like a losing battle. Every day, every hour, sometimes every minute there’s a new battle to wage, a new argument, usually an argument that we just had 20 minutes ago. I know [...]

6 comments MORE ...

Staying cool without air conditioning

July 9, 2012
Thumbnail image for Staying cool without air conditioning

Our air conditioner has been out since Thursday. While I’m a big believer that air conditioning is a luxury, not a necessity (the vast majority of people on the planet don’t have access to air conditioning, and many of them live in much warmer climates than the United States), I am honest about the fact [...]

4 comments MORE ...

ABCs

June 29, 2012

Did you guys know I’m an oversharer on social networks? I’d love to connect with more of you now between posts. You can follow me on Instagram @karenmsams, check out my Flickr uploads, like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or find me on Vimeo for our home videos. I posted this little gem [...]

MORE ...

One room at a time challenge – Laundry room

June 27, 2012
Thumbnail image for One room at a time challenge – Laundry room

After spending the weekend really thinking about my priorities as far as time management goes, I made the decision that decluttering our space should be close to the top of the list this summer. We keep our living areas pretty tidy (most of the time), but behind closed doors, I’ve let clutter take over. There’s [...]

1 comment MORE ...

Confessions of a work-at-home mama

June 25, 2012
Thumbnail image for Confessions of a work-at-home mama

One of the biggest misconceptions that I find myself correcting since Judah was born is the idea that life without a full-time office job is a 24/7 party/nap/pajama fest. While I continue to feel blessed that I’m able to be at home with Judah during the day and earn an income at the same time, [...]

1 comment MORE ...

Shopping for new cookware? Consider stainless steel.

June 11, 2012
Thumbnail image for Shopping for new cookware? Consider stainless steel.

Tony and I have been married for four years (seriously? Only four?) In that time, we have bought three sets of nonstick cookware. Is it normal for cookware to last under two years? I don’t know. But as any cook will tell you, cheap cookware isn’t worth the cost of its excessive packaging, so replacing [...]

11 comments MORE ...

Eighteen months

June 4, 2012
Thumbnail image for Eighteen months

It’s been so long since I wrote one of these, I don’t even know where to begin. He’s changed so much since his first birthday. Our tiny little baby has been replaced with a giant, walking, talking, long-legged, climbing little man. It’s hard to believe he wasn’t even walking last time I wrote one of [...]

5 comments MORE ...