redhead68's Profile

At least once a day for our family of four and a lot of home-cooked meals.

I like all of your suggestions, except the one about leaving things uncovered because the fridge is a dehumidifier, which shortens the life of many foods. Wrapping preserves the moisture.

I use food-safe plastic containers for home-cooked leftovers and at the grocery bulk bins, and I always keep a few in the car to use for restaurant leftovers. They wash well, resist odors, and, if properly cared for, will last for years. I don't feel the least bit guilty about it.

I live in Denver, where the humidity is negligible and temperatures are generally mild. I take a short shower and wash my hair every other day. On off days, a soapy washcloth takes care of the dirty bits. I have never used deodorant or antiperspirant, but clean underclothing is a must!

We just finished building redwood boxes for raised beds on the sunny side of our house, and we have just a couple feet left. Now, I know exactly what I'm going to put there. Thanks!

Birds eat earwigs. A well-placed bird feeder and bath would be my first step in controlling them.

Unless you live in a tremendously humid climate, whole house fans work very well. They're inexpensive compared to central air and they cost just a few dollars a month to run. Also, have a professional check your roof vents to make sure they are sufficient, and add a few if necessary. (This made a HUGE difference in our house!) Install and use ceiling fans. If you have a two story house with a bedroom(s) over the garage, insulate the garage walls. To manage heat, install lined curtains and keep them drawn during the hottest part of the day. Optimize your landscaping to shade the house from the hot southern/western sun. On a daily basis, avoid the oven and plan to eat summer salads that don't require cooking.

The second car, many small kitchen appliances and useless pots and pans, a room full of furniture, a complete set of wedding china, lots of extraneous clothes, and hobby materials for crafts I don't enjoy any longer.

Can't see the purpose in this in light of party rental places that will rent wine glasses and plain white dishes by the case at very reasonable prices. Bonus: I don't have to store them! Also, after relocating from one end of the country to the other three times in five years, I know how much it costs to move dishes. Movers charge by weight, so the fewer heavy items the better.

Having overflowing cabinets or boxes of dishes stuffed in a closet doesn't make one a grown-up. I have never understood this line of thinking. Less is enough.