Guest Post | The Lone Rager

Showing posts with label Guest Post. Show all postsShowing posts with label Guest Post. Show all posts

Thursday, May 16, 2013

how to clean area rugs, courtesy of the dudette

Last week I rolled up our winter rug and cleaned it to put it in storage. I am still trying to decide whether I want to buy a rug for summer or leave the floor bare. What do you do? I was telling Nate about my dilemma when he responded, completely without sarcasm, “But a rug really ties the room together.” I paused mid-way up the stairs, laundry basket in hand, and leaned back my head for a deep rolling belly chuckle. His earnest appreciation for floor coverings smacked so much of The Dude–and so unintentionally so! My favorite times are when one of us is being funny without knowing it. It is truly the best way to get a laugh.

In case you would like to share in my rug-cleaning fun, I am sharing a new article I wrote about how to clean your area rugs. I partnered as a guest writer with the folks at Home Made Simple, a website with inspiring methods for organization, cleaning, and cooking. They offer some great ideas and resources, and I am shamelessly encouraging you to head over there today and check out what I wrote

El Duderino would no doubt agree with me that a clean rug really spruces up your living room. If you need further encouragement to read my article, consider the fact that I used the word “sparkle.” No, really.

Thanks, dudes.
xoxoat2:11 PM 5 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Cleaning,Guest Post

Monday, March 04, 2013

tea in a pouch almost as good as the real thing: {guest post}

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m an avid tea drinker. But up until recently, I had relied on the prepackaged bags. Once I splurged on loose tea I was hooked, but I will admit it is considerably less convenient to use my tea ball than just grabbing a bag. I’m happy to learn from the writer of today’s guest post, Rebecca Nolan, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience. Thanks Rebecca!
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Most genuine tea experts drink only loose leaf tea—and for a very good reason: The best teas typically aren’t bagged. (Let me reiterate that “most” tea experts don’t drink bagged tea; sure as the world you know an expert who does, but he is, pardon the expression, an odd ball.)

The experts realize, having visited a few tea processing and packing centers during their careers, that most commercial tea bags are filled with tea fannings and dust. That is, the bags are filled with the detritus of the good stuff, which was packaged and sold as loose leaf tea.

Think of it this way: when you finish off a box of cornflakes, the bottom of the box has a layer of dust. Because the dust consists of crushed corn flakes, it ought to be as good as the whole flakes, right? So why do you tend to quit pouring the cornflakes before the dust gets in the bowl? Because dust doesn’t taste as good as flakes!

The story is the same with tea in tea bags. It consists of tea leaves that have been crushed, torn, and otherwise reduced to small pieces. They have much less surface area in proportion to their edges, so freshness and nutrients bleed away. That’s an apt metaphor—bleeding. The crushed leaves bleed to death before they can redeem themselves as flavorful agents in a tea cup.

Perhaps you keep tabs on your favorite tea store to make sure it is buying from a good wholesale black tea seller. Go one step further: See if the store is stocking quality tea in tea pouches. That’s right, it is possible to have your quality tea and contain it, too—in tea pouches.

Sounds like snobbery, I guess. Tea bags are no good, but tea pouches are OK! Yet it is true. It is possible to enjoy a tasty cup of tea brewed inside a pouch. A good wholesale blooming tea seller is apt to handle pouched tea, too.

Image Credit: Wild & Bare Co.

The difference is not that “pouch” sounds more dignified than “bag,” though it does. There are three genuine differences between bagged and pouched tea:

First, tea pouches are bigger. This is a case of where bigger is better, because the extra space gives tea leaves room to be fully infused. Many of the best pouches are pyramid-shaped as well, which further enhances circulation.

Second, the best pouches are not bleached, a process that can lead to tea tasting bleached, too. They usually are of a silken material and are hand-stitched to keep any mechanical residue from tainting a cup of tea.

And third, tea pouches are not filled with tea leaf residue but with full-flavored loose leaf tea. Some of the pouches have herbs and spices for additional flavoring. They come in single or double serving sizes.

So, yes, herbal tea experts sing the praises of loose leaf tea, but I bet in a pinch they will brew a cup of quality pouched tea. It can be as pleasurable as the real thing.

Want to stay connected to other tea lovers? Check the Tea Twitterati 100, a list of the 100 most active tea industry social media users. The regularly updated list is posted on the website of quality tea supplier Wild & Bare Co.

Editor’s Note: Wild & Bare–yes, this is the actual name of a tea company!–didn’t pay me anything for me to include the link. I just love tea and wanted to share! This post is part of Tasty Traditions and Fight Back Friday

at1:18 PM 2 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Guest Post,Health,Real Food,Tea

Thursday, August 30, 2012

{guest post}: four ideas for vocabulary-building projects and games

I am thrilled to have a guest post today by a talented language educator. The hubster and I both love language–vocabulary, foreign languages, etymology, you name it–and it is important to us that our children study language arts. Because we firmly believe language teaching begins at home, I’ve been looking for creative ways to add vocabulary-building to our daily activities. Enter Lily and her fabulous post! Be sure to read to the bottom so you can see her bio and website.

p.s. I must add that the “dictionary game” Lily describes below (known to some as Balderdash) is our favorite adult game at my mom’s famous Christmas Eve party. The rivalry and ribbing are second to none, so only serious competitors need apply.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

guest post at {donuts, dresses, & dirt}: tea tutorials

The beginnings of powdered chai mix.

I hope you’ll go check out my guest post on Sheri’s fabulous blog today! I shared two tutorials: sweet iced tea for hot weather and chai for cold weather. Sheri has done me the wonderful favor of guest posting on this blog twice, on the topics of wardrobing 101 and recession-era gardening. I highly recommend adding her blog to your reader. Living a self-described “well-tended life,” Sheri’s taste is impeccable, and I always come away from her blog with a way to improve my life-tending. She asked me to write on a subject she doesn’t know much about, and since I usually can be found drinking tea while I read her blog, I thought it the perfect subject about which to write.

I am a loyal tea drinker. Summer or winter, cold or hot, I can on most days be found with a cuppa nearby. After you’ve read my guest post, and if you’re interested in reading even more about tea, I’ve got a few other interesting links to share with you. The Splendid Table had a great interview this spring with a tea expert discussing the five types of tea, including and focusing on one I hadn’t previously heard of called “dark tea.” It’s worth a listen.

In addition to the teas I wrote about on Sheri’s blog, I have to say one of my favorites is rooibos from South Africa. Have you had it? It’s mild and naturally caffeine-free, and I find it’s good just about every way I’ve tried. What’s your favorite kind of tea?at7:51 AM No comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Guest Post,Recipe

Friday, August 17, 2012

learning about life and death through chickens: {guest post}

I’m thrilled to have a guest post today from Kassandra. Her ability to change what could have potentially been a disastrous experience with her family into a positive one is an inspiring story. I only hope I can be half as insightful about my own family moments. Be sure to read through to the bottom so you can see her bio and her discount offer to Ranger readers!
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At 6am on a Tuesday morning, I went outside to answer the call of nature and saw that nature had called in a totally unexpected way during the night. Our backyard was suspiciously silent, and as I peeked around the corner I noticed a chilling sight. The night before there had been 10 lively three week-old chicks. Now, five half-eaten chicken filets, and two whole dead chicks lay on the ground. We never found any trace of the others.

Friday, July 20, 2012

guest post at {carrots are orange}: fingerpainting in the tub!

I hope you’ll join me over at Marnie’s fabulous blog, Carrots are Orange, for my post about a Montessori-inspired sensory play activity you can do with your young kids. It’s great for a rainy day…or any day really. It’s the best way I know to get my kids to agree to take a bath, next to bubbles. We paint, and then we bathe and wash it away.

p.s. Please disregard the ugly bathroom tile. It’s a rental!at7:30 AM 2 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Education,Guest Post,Kids

Thursday, July 05, 2012

guest post at {the healthy beehive}: red and green pork

Hi everyone, I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day! In case you haven’t completely gotten grilling out of your system yet, I shared an easy and delicious grilling recipe on The Healthy Beehive today. Check it out!

Hatch Chile Sauce + Red and Green Pork Kebabs

at9:46 AM 1 comment:

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Friday, June 15, 2012

wardrobing 101: {guest post}

Hey y’all,
I don’t think I needed to tell you this post is by a guest because you’ve likely heard by now that I am completely without fashion sense. I either missed the gene or the boat, but either way the proverbial ship has sailed, so I rely heavily on the advice of others. Enter the fabulous, sage wisdom of my blogger friend Sheri. If you haven’t seen her other guest post on recession-era gardening, you should check it out; it’s one of the most popular posts ever. Also be sure to read through to the bottom of this post so you can check out her bio and a link to her blog.
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Why is getting dressed so complicated? Even for women who work in a traditional office setting, there are still nights and weekends to contend with. And for those of us who work from home (either part-time or full-time), “casual” can easily slip into “I’ve given up.”

I’ve been self-employed for 10 years now, running my own landscape design firm from home. When I’m on a job site, my outfit consists of a t-shirt, cargo pants and gardening clogs. Easy. But what about the rest of my week? I have 3 kids –ages 21, 15 and 3 – and my “typical” week consists of working from home (on garden plans or my blog), meeting with clients, playground adventures, and the occasional lunch with friends.

On most days I wake up at 6am and am dressed and ready for the day by 8. My goal – as often as possible – is to NOT have to change clothes during the day. Which means that I have to look pulled together, be prepared for any number of scenarios, and of course – be comfortable. As I am also of “a certain age”, I’ve been getting dressed for a long time and have pretty much honed my wardrobing down to a science.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

flow: a simple way of parenting

Hello, Readers!
I am pleased to introduce you to talented writer Megan Massaro, who co-wrote the book (The Other Baby Book). The authors of the book are conducting a virtual book tour, where they pop in to blogs and guest post. The Other Baby Book is linked up to my blog in my sponsorships sidebar. As with all the other “sponsors,” I gave an ad spot and post to Megan because I like her and her blog and think you will too. Be sure to read through to the end of the post to see her bio and other links.
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“Balance” is a buzz word for women, and mothers in particular.

As in, “It’s important to have balance in your life.” “Babies, career, friends, partner—it’s a balancing act.”

There’s even a book called The Balanced Mom: Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Self. (I have not read this book, BTW. Just mulled over the title.)

Balancing sounds nice, but it’s better left to pilates classes, not moms of babies. Balancing can be scary. If you don’t hold things in exactly the right way, something’s out of whack.

Enter: Flow.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

simple living: when simple is anything but

Today I am featuring a guest post about simple living by Molly of Molly Makes Do. I hope you will find her post as inspiring and passionate as I have. Be sure to read to the bottom to see her bio and link to her blog.

The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn’t simple. ~Doris Janzen Longacre
According to dictionary.com the word “simple” contains the following five separate definitions:

Simple –

easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.
not elaborate or artificial; plain.
not ornate or luxurious; unadorned.
unaffected; unassuming; modest.
not complicated.

Friday, April 27, 2012

go see Vivi’s cardboard town!

Hey y’all, I have some fun news. I have a guest post up at hands on : as we grow today! I am super excited to share it with you and not at all ashamed to boast about it. I’ve mentioned previously that I’m not the crafty sort, but I am proud of how this craft project turned out. I’ve you’ve got a minute, go check it out and leave a comment letting me know what you think.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

where did the day go?: work flow and routines for the rest of us

Today’s post comes from Barb over at A Life in Balance. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog. I included Barb’s post on Saturday because it’s when I do my breakdown of how the week went and what I need to do the following week to keep the household running smoothly.
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Here’s a little secret about me: I don’t follow a schedule.

Friday, April 20, 2012

rabbits: the ideal home-scale meat

Today’s post comes from Chandelle over at Chicken Tender. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog. I’ve also written a few of my own thoughts about her post.

(N.B.: This is a post about raising rabbits for food, so there is some minor discussion of animal slaughter).

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RABBITS: THE IDEAL HOME-SCALE MEAT

Several years ago, while living in a dumpy apartment in Salt Lake City and dreaming of greener pastures, I read the bookFarm City, by Novella Carpenter. Pored over it, more like. Here was a lady without much money (like me), without land (like me), without a family history of farming (like me), who somehow got it into her head to be a farmer (also like me), and carried it out despite the obstacles, with a severe wit and a willingness to Dumpster-dive to feed her animals. (This last part was not like me, not yet.)
Read more »at7:30 AM 13 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Farm,Guest Post,Real Food,Urban Homestead

Thursday, April 19, 2012

fun with pop can tabs!

Today’s post comes from Jamie over at hands on : as we grow. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog. She makes me miss Wisconsin the way she calls them “pop cans;” where I’m from–Atlanta–they are “coke cans,” no matter what beverage they contain.
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Simple toys. Gotta love them. I’ve been collecting pop cans tabs ever since I collected ideas for the Upcycle Your Recyclables roundup. I couldn’t for the life of me find any way to use pop cans or the pop can tabs. I know the pop cans have the sharp edges at the mouth, so I’ve put that idea aside for awhile. But we did have some fun with the pop can tabs. So, if you have a collection of pop can tabs. Add some pipe cleaners to the mix and you’ve created a threaded activity for the kids to keep busy with. (Plus the dumping out and picking up of the pop can tabs can definitely keep them busy in itself.)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

recession-era gardening

Today’s post comes from Sheri over at Donuts, Dresses, and Dirt. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog. I’ve also written a few of my own thoughts about her post.
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Coconut lime echinacea

As a professional landscaper and a homeowner, I understand the challenge in figuring out where and how best to invest in your home and property. It may be tempting to let those overgrown shrubs go for another year.

But keeping your property in good shape is critical to maintaining (and even increasing) its value. Landscaping is an investment that actually improves over time as plants and trees grow and mature. And if you are in the process of selling your home, creating “curb appeal” is essential to attracting interested buyers and reducing the amount of time your home is on the market.

Proper landscaping has other benefits too:

It lowers your energy costs – strategically placed trees can shade your home and reduce the need for air conditioning – lowering your electric bill in the process.

Read more »at7:30 AM 8 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Frugality,Gardening,Guest Post,The Three Rs

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

strawberry pecan studded brie

Today’s post comes from Jane over at The Healthy Beehive. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog.
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Hello, Lone Home Ranger readers! Thank you, Justine, for this opportunity to share a post on your blog, and I hope you are having a great week off!

I love my crockpot. It seems so many people have crockpots that just sit in the cabinet, never used. I find the crockpot such a source of help in the kitchen, and I use it at least once every week, all year round! I work 12 hours days at my real job, and the last thing I want to do is come home and stress over dinner!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Earth Day resist painting

I invited some fabulous bloggers–and fellow home rangers–to write guest posts on The Lone Home Ranger for this entire week during Vivi’s Spring Break (called “April Vacation” in Beantown). These lovely ladies will be bringing you features focused on healthy, natural, and simple living. Enjoy!

Today’s post comes from Marnie Craycroft. Be sure to read through to the bottom of the post to see her bio and link to her blog, Carrots are Orange
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We fell in love with resist painting this past fall working on Letters then again for Valentine’s Day. The best part about resist painting is that your kids get a great sensory experience and get to be messy! In the end, the result always seems to be beautiful.

Here is how we created an Earth resist painting.
Read more »at7:30 AM 12 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Education,Guest Post,She’s Crafty,The Three Rs

Saturday, April 14, 2012

guest post at CityKids Homeschooling + my series this week

I am honored that Kerry of City Kids Homeschooling–a fellow Bostonian!–asked me to be a part of her DIY homesteading and natural family living series. My guest post is up today, and in it I discuss my ‘Made from Scratch’ Life. Among other things I never thought I’d do, I’ve been making crackers, y’all! I hope you’ll go check it out, and while you’re there, you can read the other fantastic posts in the series.

Speaking of guest posts, I am hosting my own {Simple and Healthy Living} series starting on Monday and running the whole week. Seven brilliant bloggers will be coming here to share their tips and tricks with you. I hope you’ll join me in reading their stories. I’m excited about all that I’ll learn from them!at9:27 AM 1 comment: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:DIY,Guest Post,Home ranging

Friday, April 13, 2012

hello new peeps

Hello! This is my first time joining up with the Ultimate Blog Party. I’m a little late to the party, as I just discovered many people sign up at midnight with their posts. These must be the twentysomething bloggers. If you are a veteran reader, you can probably skip this post, unless you’d like to meet moi all over again.

So hi there! Allow myself to introduce…myself. I am an urban homesteader who writes about natural family living. I strive to do more with less. My posts vary from recipes to daily life to parenting, but they all generally originate from my simplicity-focused philosophy on life, aka. my {minimalist manifesto}. You can learn more about me on my {first time here?} page and {about} page. There’s even more to learn on my list of {32 things} and my post about {the fam}

That’s a lot about me! But I’d also like to learn about you. I welcome comments, and I hope this blog will become a place that you come to share ideas and learn from each other. I have also begun welcoming guest posts, so if you would like to contribute to the blog, please email me at lonehomeranger [at] gmail [dot]com. I welcome ideas related to real food, do-it-yourself homesteading, and any other topic related to simple and healthy living. I hope to have a page up soon with some guidelines to help you get the most out of contributing a guest post.

Today has become a twosome post kind of day, and depending on when my contributions to other blogs air, it could become a threesome or foursome kind of day. Which is not a bad thing at all!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope you’ll be back soon.
xoxo
~Justine

at10:13 AM 11 comments:

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Monday, March 05, 2012

DIY reading nook: my first guest post {squeal!}

Y’all probably know by now I’m not a squealer, so my news today must mean a great deal to me because I can’t stop squealing when I see it: my first guest post on another blog! I was so pleased that Emily from S.A.H.M. i AM asked me to return the favor she did for me a few weeks back. Emily is a great friend, and she shares the unique distinction of being the only virtual-world bestie of mine; I’ve never met her in person but we’ve gabbed by phone, e-mail, and gobs of blog comments. I was drawn to her blog the first time I participated in NaBloPoMo, so I emailed her to tell her how much I loved it, and the rest is history. And get this…we even share a birthday!
Read more »at7:30 AM 7 comments: Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestLabels:Design,DIY,Frugality,Guest Post Older Posts HomeSubscribe to:Posts (Atom)

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