You can’t go anywhere online right now without seeing beautifully decorated apartments filled with healthy happy houseplants. And I am here for that trend–I love houseplants and usually have between 20-25 houseplants at any one time. But I’ll admit that I have killed 8 houseplants in the last 9 months–and I can’t say it’s a fluke and blame it on quarantine. I’m not entirely sure why houseplants continue to meet their end in my house, but I think it has something to do with my particular form of plant neglect. How to take care of houseplants (Don’t listen to me, obviously) Basically, my houseplant care routine looks something like this:…
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Table Settings ~ Pulling Out the Pretties
There’s something so satisfying about pulling out all my pretties and actually getting to use them. I love the idea of using my best china and silver for every day, but I’m too lazy to wash the dishes by hand all the time. Every once in awhile though, it’s worth it! Setting the table with special dishes, silverware, and linens fills me with an unreasonable amount of joy. I’ll admit I’m not really that great at making fabulous table settings–I just love all my pretties and the memories they represent. I am definitely not a minimalist and with two hutches filled with china, silver, linens, and the like, the most…
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Table Manners ~ Lessons from the Past
Table manners and etiquette tips from the past can be as useful today as they were 100 years ago. I have a couple of useful table manners tips from various sources and time periods ranging from the 1850’s to the 1960’s. Some of the advice will sound strange and formal to our uber casual sensibilities, but I think if we dig a little deeper to find the core purpose behind some of these guidelines, we’ll be able to apply the principles to our modern manners. If our actions are rooted in the desire to promote the comfort, convenience, and pleasure of those around us, we will invariably be on the…
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Why Manners Still Matter
How to Not Be a Jerk – Etiquette Tips for the Holidays People are jerks. I’m sure most of us have been both on the receiving end of rudeness and, unfortunately, the giving end. It seems like the difficulties of this year have given people license to behave with appallingly bad manners and a lack of common decency towards their fellow human beings. Taking a peek at some of the etiquette and manners wisdom from years gone by can help us to reevaluate some of the habits that have turned us all in to a bunch of mean girls from high school. “Fanny Reaching” as described in the Oregon College…
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Knitting, Netflix, & Hand Warmers
Let me start by saying that I am a completely amateur knitter. I do things my own way and am not by any stretch a perfectionist when it comes to knitting or sewing or probably most things. So with that disclaimer out of the way, I can share the perils of combining knitting and Netflix. I know there are many knitters that can combine these 2 things with ease and come out with a perfect knitted item. But alas, I am not one of those knitters. The Perils of Combining Knitting & Netflix I decided to make a pair of fingerless gloves or hand warmers for my daughter. I pulled…
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Reading Fingerprint
Mapping my own reading fingerprint has changed the way I read. It has broadened my reading horizons and I have discovered books and authors I never thought I would like. My reading tastes are constantly changing. Circumstances, moods, and the passage of time can all impact what I like to read so I will never be finished. Figuring Out What We Like to Read & Why Delving into a favorite author can be a good place to start exploring your reading interests. Jane Austen is one of my favs so let’s talk about her for a bit. Austen’s novels are generally romantic, but it wouldn’t be accurate to surmise that…
