Until recently, my husband and I had a chronic problem with clutter on our dining table. Mail, pens, coupons, coins, grocery lists, etc. were always scattered on the tabletop. Our solution to this problem was to create a command center, which is an area in the home designed to keep the family organized. Let me describe the components we … [Read more...] about Building a Functional Command Center
Archives for 2016
When Public Restrooms Have No Changing Table
I’m not sure that I ever paid attention to whether or not there were changing tables in restrooms until I became a mom. Now I definitely notice! While we were driving across several states for Thanksgiving this last year, we encountered numerous restaurants and gas stations that did not have changing tables. Each time this happened I … [Read more...] about When Public Restrooms Have No Changing Table
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Shells
I’ve mentioned before that cheesy dishes tend to be hits in my house. This easy-to-prepare one is no exception. Ingredients 32 oz. chicken broth 1 1/2 cups water 16 oz. small shell pasta 2 garlic cloves, minced 2-3 cups frozen broccoli, partially thawed and chopped 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces … [Read more...] about Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Shells
How to Keep Internet Technologies from Becoming Time-Wasters
Email, social media, and blogs are useful for staying in contact with loved ones and for entertainment, but they can easily become significant time-wasters. Thankfully, by being judicious in our use of these technologies, we can reap their benefits without being distracted from the many important tasks before us. What does it look like … [Read more...] about How to Keep Internet Technologies from Becoming Time-Wasters
Why Do Fruits Ripen so Quickly When Placed in Paper Bags?
I’ve always heard that you can accelerate the ripening of fruits by placing them in paper sacks. I know from personal experience that this works quite well, but why is this? The curious side of me can’t help but wonder what is so special about paper sacks. According to this cooking website, paper sacks trap a gas around fruits that … [Read more...] about Why Do Fruits Ripen so Quickly When Placed in Paper Bags?
What Exactly Is Romance and Why Does it Matter in Marriage?
Back when my husband and I were dating, he asked me what I thought about romance. I don’t need flowers, chocolates, and Hallmark cards to make me feel loved, so I told him I wasn’t that romantic. This exchange occurred via email, so I was able to keep his response to my statement. It was quite insightful. “I would define things as … [Read more...] about What Exactly Is Romance and Why Does it Matter in Marriage?
Revisions and Customizations to My Cleaning Schedule
After sharing back in October of 2013 about my inability to find an effective cleaning schedule, I quickly learned that many of you shared the same struggle! My solution was to develop a cleaning schedule that was unique to my needs. My biggest quibble with the cleaning schedules I had seen previously was that they had various cleaning … [Read more...] about Revisions and Customizations to My Cleaning Schedule
Nacho Soup
Traditional favorites like chicken noodle soup will always be popular in my house. On occasion we like eating soups that are a little less predictable, though, including this zesty Nacho Soup. Ingredients 1 pound lean ground meat (I use turkey) 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons spicy taco seasoning mix 2 cups cheese sauce or 1 … [Read more...] about Nacho Soup
