We discovered some surprisingly germy spots in the kitchen that tend to get overlooked, so in this episode we dig into where bacteria likes to hang out and what you can do to keep things cleaner. We also explain why we moved away from meal delivery kits and found a different approach that works better for our family. On top of that, we share strategies to make shopping for home items less frustrating and more efficient, and we offer tips to help you choose with confidence. You’ll also hear an update on our backyard battle with deer — spoiler: things are finally looking up — and what face-care tool Sherry is using these days.
Where Germs Hide — And What To Do About It
We leaned on a couple of reputable pieces of research to put together a simple, practical guide to the kitchen spots that tend to harbor the most germs. Some of the findings are counterintuitive: items you expect to be dirty might actually be relatively clean, while unexpected objects can be real hot spots. The takeaway is to clean smartly and consistently — prioritize the things you touch the most or that are in constant contact with food, and use appropriate cleaners and drying methods to keep bacteria from thriving.
Meal Kits: Why We Stopped
We sampled several meal delivery services in the past and shared those impressions in an earlier episode. While one brand stood out for its balance of flavor, simplicity, and cost, we eventually decided meal kits weren’t the right long-term fit for our household. They were handy for variety and convenience, but between packaging, cost over time, and the level of cooking effort we wanted to do, we found a solution that better matches our lifestyle. Occasionally we still pick up single boxed meal options from the grocery for a quick, no-brain meal — we buy and test these ourselves to see what works and what doesn’t.
Backyard Progress: Deer Win Some, Then Lose
Last year our new landscaping didn’t stand a chance — the deer favored anything with new growth and stripped a lot of plants down to nothing. We tried a few odd deterrent strategies, and after a year of consistent effort using commercially available repellents, the yard is finally recovering. The cherry and gingko trees survived and have come back even stronger, and the shrubs that were once chewed to bare stems are filling out again. Photos tell most of the story: where there used to be damage, we now have healthy green growth.
Shopping Smarter for Your Home
Shopping for the perfect home item — a light, sofa, table, basket, or tile — can easily eat up hours. Our philosophy is to wait for the piece that truly excites you rather than settling for something mediocre. That said, if you’ve looked long and hard and nothing feels right, a temporary, inexpensive secondhand option can buy you time without forcing a compromise. You can usually resell that stopgap piece later, so it’s a low-cost way to avoid rushing into a purchase you’ll regret.
To speed up the search, we use broader shopping tools that aggregate results from many retailers so we can compare options quickly. Using a centralized shopping search or large retailer marketplaces helps you scan lots of styles and price points in a fraction of the time it would take to visit multiple individual sites. It’s not perfect, but it dramatically shortens the hunt and surfaces things you might otherwise miss.
We’re Digging
We’ve been enjoying magazines and activity books that are great for kids. A few subscriptions and Hidden Pictures puzzle books have been a big hit with our kids and make excellent gifts for young ones. The specialty puzzle books — themed editions focused on animals, adventure, and playtime — are especially engaging and keep little hands and minds busy for longer stretches.
Sherry’s current beauty tool of choice is an ice roller for the face. When she’s feeling puffy or didn’t sleep well, she keeps the roller in the freezer and uses it to give her skin a quick, cooling de-puff. It’s an occasional extra step in her routine for days when a jade roller alone isn’t enough.
Extras and Resources
If you want to revisit things we’ve recommended in the past, we keep an organized list of products and book recommendations from previous episodes. It’s a helpful reference if you’re trying to track down an item you heard us mention or to explore all the books we’ve discussed as part of our Book Club.
We’d also like to thank the sponsor for this episode. They offered a limited-time discount around a recent holiday and a continuing promo code that listeners could use on certain mattress purchases. As always, we share deals we think are relevant to listeners and try to be transparent about promotions.
Thanks for listening and reading. We appreciate you following along with our trials, triumphs, and small victories at home.
*This post contains affiliate links*