July 4th Party Hacks for the Perfect Backyard BBQ

I hosted a July 4th party three years ago that was a minor disaster. The burgers ran out. The ice […]

Get Rid of Ants Naturally Without Toxic Sprays

Every June the ants find their way into our kitchen. A thin black line marching from the window sill to […]

Replace Wired Smoke Detectors the Right Way

Smoke detectors expire. Most people do not know this. The sensor inside degrades after about ten years. If your smoke […]

Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

Our plunger vanished. I do not know where it went. Maybe it got thrown out during a bathroom cleaning binge. […]

Replace an Electrical Outlet and Make It USB Charging

You know that power strip with six USB chargers plugged into it that sits on your kitchen counter? The one […]

Troubleshoot a Dead Outlet Before Calling for Help

An outlet in our living room stopped working. I assumed the worst — bad wiring, maybe even a problem in […]

Breathing Exercises That Stop Anxiety in Minutes

I used to roll my eyes at breathing exercises. “Just breathe” sounded like something you tell a toddler, not a […]

How to Power Nap Without Waking Up Groggy

Twenty minutes. That is the number. Set a timer for twenty minutes and you will wake up refreshed. Set it […]

Are You Washing Your Hands Long Enough? Most People Aren’t

Go ahead — count to twenty while you read this paragraph. One Mississippi, two Mississippi… done? That is how long […]

Parental Controls That Do Not Make You Feel Like Big Brother

My kid is nine. She got a tablet last year for schoolwork and the occasional game. I did not want […]