PlanetKid » Household

Yard Sale Love and Other Emotions

Jacki Donaldson — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:50:58 +0000

Had a yard sale last weekend, and boy, oh boy, am I glad we aren’t knee deep in the madness this week. It wasn’t all bad, though, and, actually, I sorta like the process — the preparation, the organizing, the sign-making, the mingling with customers, the money. The clean-up, not so much, but overall, it’s a satisfying endeavor. Still, it’s tiring — both physically and mentally. And by mentally, I mean it’s pretty wearing to spend all day negotiating with folks who want to bump a quarter down to a dime. Anyway, loved last Saturday’s sale, yet so happy to not be doing another one today. What’s your view on the yard sale — love it, hate it, somewhere in between? Share in comments, please.

A Doll of a Measuring Cup

Jacki Donaldson — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:19:35 +0000

Photo: Amazon.com

Your kids might think these are nesting dolls, but, really, they are measuring cups, modeled after the traditional Russian matryoshka. (Of course, when you aren’t using them to measure stuff, you could pass them off to the kiddos for playtime, or, better yet, invite your little ones to use them to help you cook a gourmet dish.) We love them—and we really adore the price. Just $9.94 at Amazon.

Crafty Containers

Jacki Donaldson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:31 +0000

(Click on image for more information and photo credit.)

Living on Less

Jacki Donaldson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:58 +0000

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Simple Steps for Upgrading Kids’ Rooms

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:37:40 +0000

My kid wants a locker for his room. A real metal locker like he sees school kids using on TV shows like iCarly. I’ve got it on his Christmas wish list already, and I’m looking into some other bedroom ideas recommended by Real Simple, like chalkboard paint for the walls — let your kids scribble at will, no punishment or major clean-up necessary. I also like the thought of a cozy sitting place for reading, complete with a bright light with a bendable neck. If you’ve got girls, or babies, Real Simple has some great tips for you too — tie ribbons on dresser drawer knobs for an instant and inexpensive room upgrade, for example. In all, there are 20 crafty creations you can sink your teeth into. Check them out, then implement.

Photo: Donna & Andrew, Flickr

Laundry – Do You Know What You’re Doing?

Jacki Donaldson — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:54:47 +0000

Every capable adult knows how to do a load of laundry — right? And anyone with kids has got to be a pro at sorting, washing, drying and folding. It’s like a full-time job, managing all the soiled socks and such. Ah, but maybe you could be doing a more effective job, and Real Simple magazine has the stuff on how to do laundry — the simple way. Well, it might not seem simple at first, but once you buy into their tricks, you’ll surely save time and frustration in the end. For example, did you know you should unfasten all buttons on clothing before tossing them into the washer? Yep. And you should pre-treat collars every time you wash them. Hmmm. More on all that here.

Photo: thadman, Flickr