Of The Hearth

Embracing Quirks

November 6, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

Sometimes my husband comes into the kitchen as I finish preparing dinner. He’ll share a story or ask me a question as I line up our drinks and food to be transported to the table. I feel it’s pretty obvious at these times that I could use a hand transporting our dinner to the table, yet my husband exits the kitchen completely oblivious to my … [Read more...] about Embracing Quirks

Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Lint in Clothes Dryers

November 4, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

Lint can be very pesky as it accumulates in and around clothing dryers. Removing lint is a critical part of dryer maintenance. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryers are responsible for approximately 2,900 fires in residential buildings in the U.S. each year. This risk is minimized when dryers are maintained properly. … [Read more...] about Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Lint in Clothes Dryers

Protect Yourself from the Silent Killer

November 1, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

We’ve already discussed how we can use the spring and fall time changes as cues for testing the smoke alarms in our homes. Daylight saving time ends this weekend, so it’s time to check these again. As we do, let’s consider another important safety device and the threat from which it can protect us. Carbon monoxide (CO), often referred … [Read more...] about Protect Yourself from the Silent Killer

The Masks We Wear

October 30, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

Whether you celebrate Halloween or not, you likely see Halloween paraphernalia, including masks, in stores during the fall months. Children who are in search of treats aren’t the only ones who wear masks. As we attempt to be “good” Christian women we often wear them, too. Why we wear masks We wear masks when we don’t want our true … [Read more...] about The Masks We Wear

All About Apples

October 28, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

Is the produce department at your grocery store packed full of apples? I’ve seen quite a few where I shop and I’m eager to bake some sweet treats with them. I looked up some general information about apples as I perused recipes. Apples are pretty awesome for being such an understated fruit! Varieties Though there are nearly 100 … [Read more...] about All About Apples

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Should I Be Concerned?

October 25, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

The cold and flu season is quickly approaching, making this an apt time to consider one of the biggest fears of public health experts: The arrival of a post-antimicrobial era—one in which bacterial infections cannot be effectively treated or cured with existing antibiotics. Let’s take a closer look at antibiotic resistance so we can … [Read more...] about Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Should I Be Concerned?

Emergency Fund Basics

October 23, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

How would you make ends meet if your family experienced a job loss? If one of you developed a serious illness, would you be able to pay the medical bills? Though challenges such as these occur without notice, you can be prepared to handle their financial implications by diligently creating an emergency fund. My husband and I are not … [Read more...] about Emergency Fund Basics

Encourage Others in Hospitality: Be a Good Dinner Guest

October 21, 2013 By Shannon This post may contain affiliate links and this site uses cookies. Click here for details.

When I think about hospitality, I often consider ways my husband and I can bless others in our home. Which friends can we invite over for fellowship? Are family or friends in need of a place to stay while vacationing in the area? Can we host a baby shower or birthday party for a friend? It recently occurred to me that I can encourage … [Read more...] about Encourage Others in Hospitality: Be a Good Dinner Guest