Eco-Friendly

I could start this post with some extreme, hippie, Earth-worshipping comment about reducing your carbon footprint and never touching a chemical cleaning product again… but I won’t, because frankly, that’s just not me.  Yes, our family makes an attempt...

Want to save money & have clean clothes? Try out the homemade laundry detergent I use for my family of eight! Any questions I can answer for you? With a family of eight, we've probably been through it all!  

During our first year living abroad in Spain we’ve had many firsts. Unfortunately one of those firsts was NOT an enjoyable experience: Piojos, which translates to…lice.  My youngest daughter had woken up one morning and would NOT stop itching her head....

Today’s blog post is less about babies and more about nurturing something else…my garden!  I have had a small container garden for a few years, but this is our first summer having a real garden.  Tom and a friend...

The delicious summer bounty is beginning to arrive. Whether you grow it in your garden or gather it at the Farmer’s Market, summer produce is rolling in and I hope it is rolling in your door! I love how meal...

It’s helpful to know how your stuff can find new life - and stay out of the landfill - through donation or consignment. Read on for Iowa City area donation and consignment locations that will bring a spark of...

Nothing says summertime like freshly-picked fruits and vegetables.  We all know that tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and all manner of other produce tastes best when they are in season and picked as close as possible to when they are eaten. ...

We are fortunate that we live in an area of Iowa where it is never too difficult to find something fun to do.  If you travel in a 30-mile radius you can find many small (and charming) towns, parks,...

This time of year, there are a lot of habits that cost money.  The cable bill supports your love of Hallmark holiday movies.  The grocery bill takes care of all the flour and sugar for cookie exchanges.  Isn't it...

Should I buy organic? Does it matter? Is it worth the extra cost? If I can't afford to buy everything organic, how do I choose which foods to splurge on and which ones to save on? The Environmental Working Group creates...