xnikki118x, posting in hip_domestics:
I scored a sandbox off Freecycle. Awesome! The lid was long gone, though, so my husband and I put a tarp over it and anchored the tarp down with some rocks. This was fine for about a week but then mold, or what really looked like mold, started growing on the top of our sand. We left the tarp off for two weeks and the mold is gone now, but is the sand safe for my two year old? Should I clean it somehow? Scrape off the whole top layer of sand and throw it away? And what can I do to stop this from happening again? I don't want to leave the sandbox open permanently since there are stray cats and it isn't protected from the rain or anything, but I don't want to keep covering it if it's just going to grow mold. Help me HD!

hadespuppy, posting in hip_domestics:
I am in the process of cleaning my apartment in preparation for a move, and I have discovered a patch of mildew on one wall. I cleaned it as best I could with hot water, soap and vinegar, but there is still a dingy grey spot. I can't use bleach, as I have a bird, and it is poisonous to them. Is there anything else I could use to brighten up that spot?

aeryn, posting in hip_domestics:
I need new bed sheets and I have NO idea how to shop for them.

The set I have is maybe 5 years old and has gotten "rough" from years of use. It also feels very stuffy when I sleep now.

When I go home to visit my mom, she has a VERY OLD set of sheets (literally 10-15 years old) on the bed there and they feel so soft and cool. And not rough at all! Very lightweight. This is what I want!

I have always thought that a higher thread count, although better quality, would make me feel hot and stuffy when I sleep. But maybe I'm wrong?

I get hot when I sleep and since summer is quickly coming, I want a very lightweight set of sheets that lets my skin breathe.

So, hipsters, how the heck do I shop for sheets?!

alibee:

what I did this afternoon

Originally uploaded by alibee09

mahasin, posting in hip_domestics:
So my boyfriend has several pairs of cargo pants from Old Navy like these, that he loves and wears pretty much whenever he's not wearing his work uniform (he's not a fan of jeans and doesn't like skinny type-pants). 

The problem is, it doesn't matter what we do, after washing and drying them they come out wrinkled to all hell. Of  course we can and do iron them, but I'm hoping one of you might have a better suggestion for washing + drying where they won't come out looking like a hot mess.

So far we've tried:

Shaking them out after taking them out of the washer with a full load
shaking them out after taking them out of the washer when they were the only things being washed
shaking out immediately after drying and folding (they come out wrinkled)
shaking out immediately after drying and hanging up
drying with tennis balls

Any other ideas? I'm probably missing something basic so feel free to be all "try this, duh".

Alternatively, any other people who are or have men who hate skinny style pants and know of a good place to buy wash dry and go cargo pants?

rainbow_goddess, posting in asperger:
The Jenny McCarthy–supported organization Autism One, which supports a number of pseudoscience treatments and "cures" for autism, is promoting a product called "Miracle Mineral Solution," given either as a drink or as an enema, to cure autism in children. The problem (besides the obvious "cure" aspect)? Miracle Mineral Solution, when used as directed, produces the exact same chemicals found in industrial bleach.

People have died after consuming Miracle Mineral Solution, which is touted as a cure for everything from HIV to cancer to malaria to acne as well as autism. Others have become seriously ill. It was banned in Canada after a man fell ill and almost died after consuming it. A woman died in Vanuatu after drinking it to prevent malaria. However, it is easy to get online, and the proponents simply state that people are not using it "as directed" if they get sick after using it.

Autism One promotes some other "cures" and treatments for autism, including chelation, chemical castration, and fecal transplants.

Link about Autism One, Jenny McCarthy and Miracle Mineral Solution: You Can't Bleach Autism out of a Child.

azbutt3rfly, posting in hip_domestics:
Help! I have 2 boxes of muffin mix and I was thinking about using one today. However, I just realized I do not have any more muffin tins since I moved. Either they got lost or I threw them out. Not sure. Either way they are gone.

So I was wondering, if I mix up the ingrediants and put it into a regular baking dish how much does the baking time change?

kadevha, posting in hip_domestics:
We might get a traverse curtain rod for the humongous living room window. It measures approximately 96" wide, so I am looking for panels for it. Ideally, I want a valance with a panel on each side that will hang down on either side of the loveseat in front of the window.

I think I might get these curtains as they are simple and come in a cream color. However, it says the width per pair - is that per panel or the width for both together? I know the general rule of thumb is twice the window width but these will stay open the majority of the time. It would be nice to close them if we don't want glare on the TV though. So, I don't really care how they might look when they are closed.

strangemodegirl:

I hate the days like this when I have so many things I want and need to do, but I ache everywhere, my head hurts and I have zero energy.

I feel like such a waste.

aeryn, posting in hip_domestics:
My coworker is getting married in September. We work in the IT department so she and I, plus one other older woman, are the only females in the group. The rest are guys. (Not your typical anti-social computer geeks - they're incredibly smart and witty but absolutely HILARIOUS. It's like working with clowns sometimes.)

We're a close-knit group so I want to organize something unique and fun for a bridal shower, and since we're mostly guys, I don't want to do something really girly. She's already having a private bridal shower that her maid of honor is throwing her, which is a surprise party (I'm also invited to this).

So for our own little group, what are some fun and "different" ideas? We'll obviously get some food and drinks and I'll ask everyone to chip in some money for a gift card, but what else can we do for a work "bridal shower"?