All Posts By Jennifer

Let me paint you a picture. You’ve just finished tidying up the kitchen, the counters are gleaming, and the coffee’s brewing… and then you see it. One tiny ant. Then another. And before you know it—bam!—a whole marching band of the little pests is parading across your backsplash like they own the place. Ugh, right? Now, I’m not one to panic, but ants in the kitchen? That’s a hard no. Still, I’ve never liked the idea of spraying chemicals where I prep food. I’ve got grandkids, I cook a lot, and I just don’t want to take that risk. So …

Alright, friend—you’re locked in the basement, zombies groaning outside, and you’re staring down a stack of canned chili like it’s mocking you. No can opener. Just your wits, a few odd tools, and a growling stomach. Let’s fix that. Here are a few surprisingly effective ways to open a can without the traditional tool. But hey—fair warning: these methods leave sharp, jagged edges. If you’ve got gloves, use ’em. If not, just be slow and careful. 1. The Trusty Spoon (Seriously.) Sounds ridiculous, but this one actually works. What you’ll need: A sturdy metal spoon A little grit How to …

We all love a big, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. It’s crisp, sweet, and just downright refreshing. But let me ask you something—have you ever cut into a watermelon and noticed it… foaming? Yep. Foaming.Not fizzing like soda. Not a little juicy drip. We’re talking actual bubbles, sometimes spilling out like your watermelon just took a bubble bath. If you’ve seen it, you know how odd (and a little creepy) it feels. And if you haven’t? Well, let’s hope you never do—but just in case, here’s what you need to know to stay safe and smart. First of …

Alright, I’m just gonna say it—I used to hate polishing silver. It felt like one of those chores you put off until the holidays, when suddenly you’re scrubbing spoons like your life depends on it. The smell of those chemical polishes? Gave me a headache every time. And the rubbing? My wrists would ache for hours. So, for the longest time, I just let the silver sit there. Tarnished. Sad. But still too sentimental to toss or pack away. Then one day, my Aunt Margaret—bless her—came over, took one look at my dull old serving spoons and said, “Oh honey, …

Look. I love my jewelry. But cleaning it? Not so much. Some of my favorite pieces have been tucked away in boxes because they got too grimy to wear—tarnished silver, greasy rings, gunked-up earrings… you know the drill. And honestly, I didn’t want to spend money on those little cleaning pots that smell like chemicals and guilt. So when my grandma showed me this weirdly simple trick for getting jewelry sparkly again, I was suspicious. But I tried it. And I’ve never looked back. It takes like 15 minutes, zero scrubbing, and you probably have everything you need already sitting …

Alright, let’s just say it—I love Dawn. That little blue bottle has been parked by my sink for as long as I can remember. Cuts through bacon grease like nothing else. I’ve even used it to pre-treat laundry stains (don’t tell my husband, but it once saved his favorite fishing shirt from a ketchup tragedy). But here’s the thing: as much as I adore it, Dawn isn’t a “clean everything” solution. There are places where that stuff can cause more harm than good. And yes, I’ve learned a few of these lessons the hard way—cue the cracked leather purse and …

Let me tell you—white plastic cutting boards are one of those things that seem like a great idea when you buy them. Clean, lightweight, cheap. They go with everything in the kitchen. But give it a few months, and they start showing their age real fast. Before you know it, they’ve picked up every stain from dinner last week—and a few mystery ones, too. Tomato juice, turmeric, garlic smells… it all clings to those boards like nobody’s business. Well, a few years back, my ma shared a little trick with me that she swore by. And like most things ma …

Now I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing that gets me reaching for my cleaning gloves faster than spotting a trail of ants in the kitchen—or worse, a sneaky little roach scurrying under the fridge. Ugh. No thank you. But here’s a little secret passed down from my great-aunt (who swore by vinegar for everything): borax + wax paper + a smart hiding spot = a pest-free home—without spraying every corner of your house or calling in the big (expensive) guns. So grab your borax and a piece of wax paper—we’re going old-school today.  What’s So Great About Borax …

Okay, confession time: I used to never clean my toaster. Like… ever. Sure, I’d empty the crumb tray once in a blue moon (usually when I dropped a slice of bread and noticed the toaster looked like it was full of burnt snowflakes). But actually cleaning it? With soap and water and effort? No thank you. I had more important things to do. Like eat the toast. But one afternoon, I was at my Nana’s house, and we were making grilled cheese (on the stove, not in the toaster, don’t worry), and I casually mentioned that my toaster had basically …