Living Without A Microwave Oven: Why?

January 17, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Home Management

Living in America means that I have a very comfortable life. However, my family and I also live a fairly unconventional life for Americans, considering some of our lifestyle choices. So today I'm launching a series of blog posts highlighting some of the items that we don't own or use, and why we've chosen to live that way.

In 2006, I read a Pew Research study stating that 68% of Americans considered a microwave oven an essential item, compared with just 32% of Americans ten years earlier. Apparently my mindset matched the cultural shift, because at that time I couldn't imagine getting by without a microwave.

When Gifts Go Wrong

December 17, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Home Management, Reflections on Parenting

I gave a terrible present this week. It was the wrong gift for a wonderful person, and though she politely thanked me, I knew before she opened it that it was a poor choice. The truth is this: I had forgotten to buy her a gift, ran out of time to shop, panicked, and wrapped a new item I had at home. Frankly, I hadn’t wanted it either. And her quick thanks and perfunctory facial expression told me what I had feared—she was disappointed.

All-American Chocolate Chip Cookies and A French Treat Cookbook

December 10, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Home Management

Do you have a cookie recipe that you use over and over? In 2008, I discovered No-Fail Chocolate Chippers in the Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook, and I've made them about once every month or two ever since. What makes this recipe amazing? It uses oat flour as well as all-purpose flour, which makes the cookies chewy and substantial.

Homemade Brown Sugar: Simple, Fast, Fresh

December 09, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Home Management

'Tis the season for baking cookies, so I'm happy to let my four-year-old show you one of the most basic tips all bakers should know: how to make brown sugar. With only two ingredients, it couldn't be simpler, and it's certainly more fresh and moist than store-bought. Brown sugar is also a key ingredient in our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

How to Make Brown Sugar:

Fêtes sans stresse: What Children Can Teach Us

November 27, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Home Management

Quel joie, les fêtes! What joy it is to celebrate! But how easy it is to let stress sully our holiday preparations. As a mama of young children, I am reminded of a few tips little ones can offer us during the holidays:

Aim to bless, not to impress. The heart of hospitality lies in our motives.

DIY Dry Erase Family Calendar (Great for Classrooms Too)

November 19, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources, Home Management

Tile board is great dry erase material! It can be used at home to create large family wall calendars or to display the week's menu. As a foreign language teacher, I used shower board to make a classroom set of mini whiteboards. (We used them for translation games.) If you're interested in making a large dry erase family calendar, read on. Frankly, this DIY project is incredibly easy, since the home improvement store employees can cut the tile board for you.

Tips for Choosing Toys That Will Be Loved

November 13, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

As we express our appreciation this month for what we've been given, we also start thinking about what we want to give. Of course, experiential gifts, such as a trip to the aquarium or a live performance of The Nutcracker, are a fantastic alternative to material things. But when we do purchase things for children, we want those things to bring joy and contentment for as long as possible. I haven't purchased any Christmas gifts yet, but I'll be acting on my ideas soon.

Establishing The Children's Hour

November 05, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

When is The Children's Hour? Longfellow wrote about it in a poem by the same name. Today's culture has essentially forgotten that this daily interval has a name, but the timing remains the same: it's the hour after dinner and before bedtime. For many families, it's the only free hour together. Here are some ideas for making the most of this time: