Disclosure: Tushy supplied product to facilitate this tutorial and review. It had no influence on my opinion because all opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate links for your convenience.
I’m working on the details of the guest bathroom renovation while looking forward to the master bathroom renovation. Well planning actually. I’m not looking forward to this even more involved project where are water leak began.
Anyway.
I would have liked to add a bidet in the bathroom to save on toilet paper because according to Tushy it takes 37 gallons of water to make a roll of toilet paper and most people use 1.5 toilet rolls a week! That is a lot of water to flush down the drain, which doesn't include the amount of water it takes to flush it all down the drain.
But more importantly, with a bidet, even if you run out of toilet paper at the time you need it most, you have an option.
Unfortunately all of our condo bathrooms are too small to add a free standing bidet. I didn’t think much more of it until friends raved about just installing a bidet toilet seat. I was intrigued. A bidet toilet seat attachment I can do. Then I promptly forgot about it because I'm awesome like that.
Showing posts with label hacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hacks. Show all posts
Sunday, March 8, 2020
How to Install a Bidet Attachment
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3/08/2020 07:55:00 AM
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Monday, March 2, 2020
Zero Waste on a Budget: How to Grocery Shop without a Bulk Bin Store
After seeing the explosion of zero waste ideas online (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing,) I get a little worried that people may not try or quit because they aren’t meeting the strict one year’s full of trash in a jar “standard” they see shown on social media.
Which is a bummer because Zero Waste living isn’t black and white or should be so restrictive it is a struggle.
Or at least it shouldn’t’ be.
In reality, shifting your mindset to a lower waste living is much more sustainable because it takes into consideration what you have available locally, what you can’t, or don’t want to give up. Are you seriously going to deny grandma life saving medication because it comes in a plastic bottle?!
Often how zero waste you can go depends upon what is available where you live. Fill your own container bulk bin sections and stores are fairly anemic around here because local code enforcement strongly reminded everyone that shoppers have to use store provided containers. Winter means nothing grows here for 6 months out of the year. Sadly zero waste utopia doesn’t mention that. So what do you do?
You do it by concentrate on reducing and stop focusing on the zero - without guilt.
Guilt is not productive. Trying is.
Which is a bummer because Zero Waste living isn’t black and white or should be so restrictive it is a struggle.
Or at least it shouldn’t’ be.
In reality, shifting your mindset to a lower waste living is much more sustainable because it takes into consideration what you have available locally, what you can’t, or don’t want to give up. Are you seriously going to deny grandma life saving medication because it comes in a plastic bottle?!
Often how zero waste you can go depends upon what is available where you live. Fill your own container bulk bin sections and stores are fairly anemic around here because local code enforcement strongly reminded everyone that shoppers have to use store provided containers. Winter means nothing grows here for 6 months out of the year. Sadly zero waste utopia doesn’t mention that. So what do you do?
You do it by concentrate on reducing and stop focusing on the zero - without guilt.
Guilt is not productive. Trying is.
How to Live Zero Waste When You Shop a Regular Grocery Store
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3/02/2020 05:59:00 PM
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Sunday, December 15, 2019
How to Go Zero Waste on a Budget: Use the Rule of Half
When someone brings up trying to reduce their household waste with zero waste living and one of the first things they ask is me is why does it have to be so strict, expensive, and hard?
I understand how you can get that impression seeing photos online of DIY everything, people using plastic free as a synonym for zero waste (plastic free living is a noble goal but is not the same thing, ) and mason jars full of one year’s trash, but those are the rare, edited for the Internet exceptions, and not the reality.
I get it. I truly do. Local laws prohibit me from using my own containers at bulk bins, my farm markets are only open during the summer, and frankly both of those options are more expensive than Aldi where I can do a monthly grocery shop in under an hour. However, over time I was able to reduce my household weekly trash to a small grocery store size bag a week.
How do we do it?
I understand how you can get that impression seeing photos online of DIY everything, people using plastic free as a synonym for zero waste (plastic free living is a noble goal but is not the same thing, ) and mason jars full of one year’s trash, but those are the rare, edited for the Internet exceptions, and not the reality.
I get it. I truly do. Local laws prohibit me from using my own containers at bulk bins, my farm markets are only open during the summer, and frankly both of those options are more expensive than Aldi where I can do a monthly grocery shop in under an hour. However, over time I was able to reduce my household weekly trash to a small grocery store size bag a week.
How do we do it?
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12/15/2019 08:30:00 AM
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Monday, November 18, 2019
10 Quick, Easy, and Eco Friendly Kitchen Cleaning Hacks
I love a clean and tidy kitchen but I don’t love spending all of my time cleaning and organizing it. That especially goes for the holiday season when I’d much rather be entertaining my guests than slipping out to the store because I ran out of some disposable cleaning doo dad or supply in the middle of cleaning up after dinner.
Because if I run out of something, it is always going to be when I need it use it immediately.
It. Never.Fails.
Luckily I developed have several hacks that replace disposable kitchen cleaning tools with reusable and others that make those disposables last a little bit longer so you aren’t stuck with a Holiday Hostess Fail in the middle of your party fun!
Because if I run out of something, it is always going to be when I need it use it immediately.
It. Never.Fails.
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11/18/2019 06:11:00 PM
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Sunday, August 25, 2019
How to Wash a Baseball Cap the Easy Way
I like to wear hats. Hats keep your head warm during the winter and jazz up your outfit any time of the year.
Not to mention, putting on a hat = instant good hair day!
Baseball caps are my casual hat go to. I often wear one when I am working in my workshop to keep my hair out of my face and out of the way of power tools.
Which means over time, my baseball hats can get sweaty, yucky dirty.
How do you wash a baseball cap without ruining it?
There is no way I am ruining my favorite baseball cap by using one of these ball cap washing things to wash my hat in the dishwasher. Washing dirty clothing in the same place and time I wash the dishes I eat off of skeeves me out. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
More importantly, most dishwasher detergents aren’t made to clean fabrics and have ingredients that fade fabric.
But mostly it’s the heebie jeebie skeeved out thing.
Fortunately there is a very easy and non toxic way to clean a baseball cap that doesn’t involve doing dishes or ruining your hat in the dishwasher or washing machine. Here’s how.
Not to mention, putting on a hat = instant good hair day!
Baseball caps are my casual hat go to. I often wear one when I am working in my workshop to keep my hair out of my face and out of the way of power tools.
Which means over time, my baseball hats can get sweaty, yucky dirty.
How do you wash a baseball cap without ruining it?
More importantly, most dishwasher detergents aren’t made to clean fabrics and have ingredients that fade fabric.
But mostly it’s the heebie jeebie skeeved out thing.
Fortunately there is a very easy and non toxic way to clean a baseball cap that doesn’t involve doing dishes or ruining your hat in the dishwasher or washing machine. Here’s how.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Costume Sewing Bee
My renaissance festival performer friends and I recently got together for a sewing bee of sorts. We all have slightly different costuming, prop making, and sewing skill sets which is a fantastic resource when you aren’t quite sure how to make the item you’ve drafted on paper or, like me, its been awhile since you’ve built a particular garment and a second pair of eyes would be massively helpful before you cut fabric incorrectly and hope the store has more.
Or is that just me?
For one glorious afternoon we turned a condo clubhouse into a dressmaking workshop just like in the movie Cinderella but without the birds and mice helping with construction.
But let me tell you I totally would have taken Fairy Godmother’s help with her wand. Just sayin’.
Or is that just me?
But let me tell you I totally would have taken Fairy Godmother’s help with her wand. Just sayin’.
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8/13/2019 02:53:00 PM
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Tuesday, May 14, 2019
12 Ways to Reuse Old Pillows
When our bed pillows flatten I fluff them up after washing them by popping a couple of dryer balls like these into the dryer along with my pillows. (I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.) That usually does the trick but after many years, there isn’t much left to fluff in our current set of bed pillows. It is time to replace them.
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5/14/2019 10:44:00 AM
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Monday, April 29, 2019
Gardening Hack: How to Know When to Water Your Vegetable Garden the Lazy Way!
The only reason my first attempt at growing a vegetable garden survived is because my husband and I worked on the project together.
Basically, I forget that plants need water to grow.
Gardening experts say vegetable gardens should be watered 2 to 3 times a week to promote healthy growth and nice deep roots. I start out doing that after I plant my garden but once you throw rain into the mix, I either accidentally over water or under water depending upon if I wait for a rainstorm.
Either it doesn’t rain enough to water the plants enough or I don’t want to take a chance on the weather forecast for rain failing me again and water the garden only to be followed by a heavy thunderstorm.
So yeah, up until now my garden fails are a result of watering too much or not enough.
Basically, I forget that plants need water to grow.
Gardening experts say vegetable gardens should be watered 2 to 3 times a week to promote healthy growth and nice deep roots. I start out doing that after I plant my garden but once you throw rain into the mix, I either accidentally over water or under water depending upon if I wait for a rainstorm.
Either it doesn’t rain enough to water the plants enough or I don’t want to take a chance on the weather forecast for rain failing me again and water the garden only to be followed by a heavy thunderstorm.
So yeah, up until now my garden fails are a result of watering too much or not enough.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
6 Ways Plastic Helps Me Live Zero Waste
Almost every blog post I read that offers tips and tricks how to live Zero Waste they almost always use plastic free as a synonym. They say something like, “We got rid of all of our plastic stuff and bought the same exact thing in wood/bamboo/natural fiber to replace it and wow how cool we are living zero waste now!”
It. Drives. Me. Crazy.
Throwing away usable items to buy a cool looking replacement is the exact opposite of zero waste living folks!
Zero waste living means giving up using disposable single use plastic and items as much as possible, not no plastic at all.
Plastic free is great but that is a different goal.
It. Drives. Me. Crazy.
Throwing away usable items to buy a cool looking replacement is the exact opposite of zero waste living folks!
Zero waste living means giving up using disposable single use plastic and items as much as possible, not no plastic at all.
Plastic free is great but that is a different goal.
6 Easy Ways to Live Zero Waste (ish) and Save Money Doing It!
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Sunday, March 3, 2019
15 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Store on the Back of a Bedroom Closet Door
I like living in a condo, but there are days when small space living feels a little too small. One of my favorite daydreams to is to have a bedroom full of closets that are bigger on the inside like Doctor Who’s TARDIS (learn more about my favorite sci fi show here.) Oh, think of how many shoes they could hold! *drool*
Sadly Time Lord technology is not available to Earthlings (and firmly lives in the land of make believe,) which means I have to find and use as much clever and often looked over storage space to organize my clothes – by using the back of our closet doors.
I use a combination of door organizers that hook over the door (which perfect for renters!) and screw into the door itself. If you want to hang your organizers on a hollow core door, you will need to install drywall and hollow core door anchors like these first. That’s what I use on my hollow core closet doors and I haven’t had anything come crashing down yet! (Disclosure: I am including some big bold affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
Sadly Time Lord technology is not available to Earthlings (and firmly lives in the land of make believe,) which means I have to find and use as much clever and often looked over storage space to organize my clothes – by using the back of our closet doors.
I use a combination of door organizers that hook over the door (which perfect for renters!) and screw into the door itself. If you want to hang your organizers on a hollow core door, you will need to install drywall and hollow core door anchors like these first. That’s what I use on my hollow core closet doors and I haven’t had anything come crashing down yet! (Disclosure: I am including some big bold affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
15 Small Space Bedroom Closet Organizers You Need Right Now!
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3/03/2019 09:00:00 AM
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Sunday, January 27, 2019
How to Make a Bed with Folded Hospital Corners
Apparently it is a huge big deal whether or not you make your bed and use a top sheet. This something that is totally out of my frame of reference because if you don’t use a top sheet, you need to clean blankets and/or duvet weekly and is way too hot and gross to use during the hot and humid summer.
In other words, not making a bed without a top sheet is gross! Don't do it!
Stuffing a king size top sheet in a washing machine on the regular is way easier than trying to cram king size anything thicker than a sheet in a washing machine. If you have a smaller size bed than I do I guess it might be easier but nonetheless I’m rather replace a worn top sheet than shell out the extra bucks to replace s spendy duvet
I understand the argument of the to sheet getting all twisted up and becoming tucked itself when tossing and turning while you are sleeping. I get it. That used to happen to me until I found an easy fix: Make your bed with hospital corners. Problem solved!
In other words, not making a bed without a top sheet is gross! Don't do it!
Stuffing a king size top sheet in a washing machine on the regular is way easier than trying to cram king size anything thicker than a sheet in a washing machine. If you have a smaller size bed than I do I guess it might be easier but nonetheless I’m rather replace a worn top sheet than shell out the extra bucks to replace s spendy duvet
I understand the argument of the to sheet getting all twisted up and becoming tucked itself when tossing and turning while you are sleeping. I get it. That used to happen to me until I found an easy fix: Make your bed with hospital corners. Problem solved!
How to Keep Sheets from Slipping off the bed
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Sunday, October 28, 2018
The One Thing You AREN’T Doing to Save Money on Your Heating Bill but Should!
In 2008, my husband and I started a year long project to reduce our utility bills by what we though was a too lofty goal of 20% with cheap home improvements and new habits. We beat our original goal and reduced our electricity and natural gas our use by 32%!
We’ve kept our yearly average lower than comparable size energy efficient rated homes in our area for 10 years running and with all of the things that make life worth living: holiday lights, electronics, and toasty warm toes in the dead of winter.
So while my heating bill stayed low and the rest of the house is toasty warm (thanks in no small part to adding weather stripping like this to the bottom on my window sashes installing a programmable thermostat like this one and using it) my laundry room was always colder than the rest of the house. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
We’ve kept our yearly average lower than comparable size energy efficient rated homes in our area for 10 years running and with all of the things that make life worth living: holiday lights, electronics, and toasty warm toes in the dead of winter.
So while my heating bill stayed low and the rest of the house is toasty warm (thanks in no small part to adding weather stripping like this to the bottom on my window sashes installing a programmable thermostat like this one and using it) my laundry room was always colder than the rest of the house. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Small Space Garage Workshop Organizer Ideas for Short People
It is amazing how the size of an empty garage shrinks once you park the car. Or at least it felt that way after we bought our condo. I have to get really creative when it comes to carving out but storage space AND workspace in a small garage. Add to the mix that I’m short gal and most organizers are made for people much taller than me and really creative turns into super duper really creative.
Starting the right of my workshop is my shop vac (This is the exact wall mounted remote controlled wet dry vacuum I bought ) that is always right where I need it for dust collection when I’m working with power tools on the workbench. I thought I’d miss having the giant size shop vac like everyone says you are supposed to have but I really like the smaller size because it is much easier to empty (compost bins LOOOOVE sawdust!) and heft around the house. Not to mention, it won’t get buried under stuff hanging on the wall.
Starting the right of my workshop is my shop vac (This is the exact wall mounted remote controlled wet dry vacuum I bought ) that is always right where I need it for dust collection when I’m working with power tools on the workbench. I thought I’d miss having the giant size shop vac like everyone says you are supposed to have but I really like the smaller size because it is much easier to empty (compost bins LOOOOVE sawdust!) and heft around the house. Not to mention, it won’t get buried under stuff hanging on the wall.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
7 Recycling Solutions for Small Houses, Condos, and Apartments
When we first moved into our condo my husband and I were looking forward to having room for a recycling center in the kitchen. I had my eye on this double pullout trash and recycling bins for under the kitchen sink but as luck would have it, it was too big for my condo sink cabinet.
I installed a smaller single pullout garbage can similar to this one (mine is discontinued) and I’m glad I did. (I can’t live without the products I mention in this post and believe in them so strongly I’m willing to use my affiliate links to do it!)
Little did I know that using a kitchen trash can smaller than our household recycling bin would be the incentive for my family to eventually start recycling and reducing waste in almost every way we can. In addition to reusing, and refusing, we starting recycling to the max using local businesses and organizations that recycle the items our curbside city recycling program does not.
How do I recycle in a small space while keeping the collection bins accessible and from cluttering up the house? Keep reading and I’ll show you how!
Let’s take a tour of my small space recycling centers!
I installed a smaller single pullout garbage can similar to this one (mine is discontinued) and I’m glad I did. (I can’t live without the products I mention in this post and believe in them so strongly I’m willing to use my affiliate links to do it!)
Little did I know that using a kitchen trash can smaller than our household recycling bin would be the incentive for my family to eventually start recycling and reducing waste in almost every way we can. In addition to reusing, and refusing, we starting recycling to the max using local businesses and organizations that recycle the items our curbside city recycling program does not.
How do I recycle in a small space while keeping the collection bins accessible and from cluttering up the house? Keep reading and I’ll show you how!
7 Small Space Recycling Solutions
Let’s take a tour of my small space recycling centers!
Sunday, February 11, 2018
10 Easy Ways to Lower Winter Heating Bills
In 2008, my family went on a year long experience to try lowering our heating bills by %20 thinking it was a lofty goal we may not meet. a slew of Greenzillas swore up and down that the only solution was to trash everything that came new with our house (and was working great) and replace it by buying new top of the time super energy efficient everything. Replacing working and still fairly new things didn't seem very eco friendly. Instead we focused on changing old habits and a few inexpensive home improvements.
And we beat our goal by reducing our use and bill by 32%.
10 years later and we’re still using less energy to heat our condo than comparable energy efficient rated homes in our area – and we’re toasty warm doing it too!
And we beat our goal by reducing our use and bill by 32%.
10 years later and we’re still using less energy to heat our condo than comparable energy efficient rated homes in our area – and we’re toasty warm doing it too!
10 Super Simple Hacks That Keep Your House Warm and Your Heat Bill Low
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
What’s in Your Trash and How Do You Reduce it (or Not?)
I’ve been thinking a lot about trash lately. The stuff in the bin outside your house, not about tawdry things. Lacey is a genteel lady who not tolerate dirty things in her home (unless it is something muddy or smelly to roll in.)
I’ve been mulling over ideas to share how to reduce your household trash since the New Year. I’m coming up short because every draft I write sounds like some big green guru sitting on a mountain top looking down her nose at the world thinking that my Swiss Army knife of low waste options are the Pinnacle of One Size Fits All Solution to reducing household waste.
Or at least it feels that way and that is not my intent at all.
I want to offer options not absolutes because, honestly, there aren’t any one size fits all eco friendly low waste living solutions. It all depends on where you live, how you like to live, family size, etc.
I love mud!
I’ve been mulling over ideas to share how to reduce your household trash since the New Year. I’m coming up short because every draft I write sounds like some big green guru sitting on a mountain top looking down her nose at the world thinking that my Swiss Army knife of low waste options are the Pinnacle of One Size Fits All Solution to reducing household waste.
Or at least it feels that way and that is not my intent at all.
I want to offer options not absolutes because, honestly, there aren’t any one size fits all eco friendly low waste living solutions. It all depends on where you live, how you like to live, family size, etc.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
DIY Flannel Pajama Pants
My 2016 World of the Year was Hygge – the Danish concept of what loosely translates as a feeling of happy coziness which I had no idea Hygge became A Thing but it has.
Well, well, well lookit me being all bleeding edge hipster because I wanted to share the concept of Hygge with my family in the form of handmade pajama pants as Christmas gifts last year.
Well, well, well lookit me being all bleeding edge hipster because I wanted to share the concept of Hygge with my family in the form of handmade pajama pants as Christmas gifts last year.
I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
10 Ways to Reuse Plastic Food and Laundry Measuring Scoops
Even though Husband and I try to run a low waste home with careful shopping and find new reuses for what we can't recycle through our city's recycling program, there is one thing we are swimming in and loathe to regularly send to the landfill: plastic laundry and food measuring scoops.
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Tuesday, April 26, 2016
7 Dog Owner Hacks: Number 3 Makes Life So Easy!
This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and Petco Repeat Delivery blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. #PetcoDelivers
Being a rescue dog with a truck load of fear and anxiety issues makes living with Lacey sometimes a little difficult. That’s why I try to make the day to day dog owner stuff as easy as I can as we work with Lacey on her issues. Here are a few of my favorite dog owner tips and tricks.
1. Use two plastic bag dispensers to collect extra plastic bags for doggy duty. Keep the empty disposable bag dispenser in the kitchen to fill with plastic bags. When it is full of plastic bags hang it by the door next to your dog’s leash and put the empty grocery bag holder in the kitchen to fill with empty plastic bags. That way you’ll always have potty where you need them - before you walk out the door with your dog.
Being a rescue dog with a truck load of fear and anxiety issues makes living with Lacey sometimes a little difficult. That’s why I try to make the day to day dog owner stuff as easy as I can as we work with Lacey on her issues. Here are a few of my favorite dog owner tips and tricks.
1. Use two plastic bag dispensers to collect extra plastic bags for doggy duty. Keep the empty disposable bag dispenser in the kitchen to fill with plastic bags. When it is full of plastic bags hang it by the door next to your dog’s leash and put the empty grocery bag holder in the kitchen to fill with empty plastic bags. That way you’ll always have potty where you need them - before you walk out the door with your dog.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
20 DIY Earphone Cases
I’m more likely to listen to music on my phone if I have earphones with me. Unfortunately most of my earphones sit all by themselves in a drawer. Even the cute painted earphones I made over (read the tutorial here.)
My earphone cases are long gone. I need replacements. Yes, replacements.
My earphone cases are long gone. I need replacements. Yes, replacements.
20 Clever Earphone Holders for Music on the Go
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