Maybe my mind repressed this memory, but toddlerhood is so messy. Fun, absolutely. But oh my Goddess, my house sometimes looks like a !@#$%^ crime scene. While I’m all for kids making “memories,” mine are going to learn that they can also make Mama happy by learning to clean up after themselves. I’ll occasionally use commercial cleaning products, but for the most part, I prefer to make my own. Here’s…
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Sustainable Homemaking
Your Home Already Has a Rhythm. Here’s How to Read It.
If you struggle to stick to a cleaning schedule, or find that somehow, your cleaning routine falls apart the moment you have a real life problem, I want to assure you, it is not you. I’m willing to bet that whatever resource you are using, it isn’t designed around the way you think, your preferences, your life. I’m willing to make that bet solely on my personal experience. I have…
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Gamifying the Chores – A Cozy Magic Home Experiment
For the next 30 days, The Cozy Magic HQ will be conducting an experiment. My family and I have agreed to hold a housework competition. Our goal is to see if gamifying chores will: Disclosure: This post/page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you What makes me think it might? Going on a slight tangent,…
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A Quick Guide to Installing a Rain Barrel
Guide for Installing a Rain Barrel Did you know plants need water? And while I love Illinois and it is well and truly home now, something I do not like is the doolally weather, and the stonking hot summers. Also, the price of everything is dumb right now, including basic utilities. So, in an attempt to be a little greener for my raised beds, I started looking into installing a…
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Vertical Pumpkin Gardening – Practical, Not Pretty (yet)
You’ve seen what I’m growing in my raised beds this year, but I wanted to try my hand at growing some pumpkins too. And aside from the starter plants, I’m proud to say that I didn’t buy anything new for this project! I’m most proud of trying to use up the wood pile in our back yard. A couple of years ago, the ash tree in our backyard was struck…
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How to Revive a Neglected Compost Tumbler: 5 Simple Steps to Garden Gold
When I bought this Compost Tumbler around three years ago (I think), I remember thinking that THIS was the product that would change me into the eco-homemaker I’ve always wanted to be. Between health issues, babies, and life in general, this compost bin has been neglected for at least 2 years. If I am completely honest, when I realized I need to start composting again, I almost got rid of…
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The Alchemy of Scraps – Reusing Food Waste
I wish my concentrated efforts were eliminating food waste in my home, but it’s a work in progress. We are doing baby-led feeding with my little one, so a lot of meal times look like this: But progress is being made. While my fridge contained a lot of food waste, my freezer has been my hero. So much so, I’m seriously considering investing in a larger freezer (not a chest…
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From Chaos to Clarity: My April Fridge Experiment & Food Audit
From Chaos to Clarity: My April Fridge Experiment & Food Audit Last week, I learned that I was a climate villain, and decided to take steps to correct this starting with food waste in my kitchen. And what a week to start. This is embarrassing to admit, but this was my fridge a week after the flu struck my house: I’m try to be mindful as I wipe down these…
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The Alchemist’s Redemption: Turning My Carbon Footprint into Hearth Magic
I learned I’m a Climate Villian 🙁 As April is Earth Month, I thought a fun learning activity to do with my daughter would be to calculate our carbon footprint as a family. Admittedly, I knew it wasn’t going to be great. Since having my second baby 18 months ago, I’ve definitely chosen the easier option for a lot of things (like individual snack packs). But I do general recycling,…
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