elmcclell's Profile

This article reads as incomplete. Heat the mattress how? Surely not by turning up the thermostat. It may be cute to end the story by implying we turn up our thermostats, but it's not very helpful.

Did Re-Nest really just link us to the Walmart site for the Ball canning set? I know Walmart has been making strides toward becoming greener lately, but sure there's a source for this product with a better reputation for treating its employees fairly and the environment with respect?

Personally, I feel like all the matching automatically makes a space look dated.

I also found this recipe in the Gourmet Cookbook. I like a brownie that's just a touch more cake-like, so I add an extra 1/8 c. flour to the recipe. Super good!

I'm hesitant to act on the first idea - use a plastic plant pot to displace dirt in a larger pot. If I were growing herbs, or small veggies, in that pot, I'd be concerned about chemicals in the plastic reaching into the soil, then the plant, then the edible parts.

I love the look, but I'd be worried about the plants' roots getting under the stones and un-leveling them over time. Does anyone have experience with this?

I was looking for a new spatula last fall, and I was having trouble finding one that met all my criteria - sturdy, silicone, all one piece for easy cleaning, fit well in my hand, and scraped bowls well. I finally found a review of spatulas in Cook's Illustrated (http://www.cooksillustrated.com/equipment/overview.asp?docid=10272), and went with the Trudeau silicone spatula. I have the orange 12-inch spatula (larger head) and the red 10-inch spatula (smaller head), and I really couldn't be happier with them. Between the two of them I can handle most jobs, they're very sturdy, the heads never come off (because they can't), and I don't have to clean around that little seam where the handle and head come together (because there isn't one). They seemed a little heavy in my hand at first, but now that I'm used to it I don't even notice anymore. And the unique shape of the head scrapes down bowls (especially the on my stand mixer) really really well.

Trudeau doesn't seem to be carried in most cookware stores - I had to go to a local independent hardware store to find mine - but you can get them on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hg?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=trudeau silicone spatula&x=0&y=0). Very highly recommended!

It warmed up early here in Texas, so I got a head start. I built the raised beds last month (I opted for cinder blocks over treated lumber), then added an organic garden soil and amended with some compost. I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, serrano peppers, and assorted herbs on Monday. I opted to use a soaker hose instead of a drip system - I needed to get some sort of watering system in place ASAP, and I was worried drip would take more time (and money) than I had. Maybe I'll upgrade to drip next year.

So far, no frosts or freezes - I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Generally, it depends on how many hands I need. In my house, I'm handier than my husband, so often times the most he can do is run and fetch me whatever tool I need (which I totally appreciate, honey!). So, if a project requires 2 sets of hands, I'll generally call in a handyman. Anything requiring new electrical lines, or anything where the finish work is extremely complicated or absolutely *has* to look perfect also gets hired out. I have found that the longer I've lived in my house, the more willing I've become to hire a handyman or a contractor. Sometimes I just want it to be done!

I bought one once when I was in grad school, but that was during an especially financially desperate time in my life. I put one of those plastic mattress liners on it, just for peace of mind (whether it was effective or not is another matter). I've also sold mattresses on Craigslist, but always making clear that they're used.