Margaret Arnold • February 8, 2025
Humble Helpers: Six Kitchen Tools for Simple Living

At a recent social event, I met a woman who helps families downsize their parents' homes. We clicked instantly over our shared passion for simple living. Our brief conversation confirmed what we both knew: the kitchen is where simple living often begins — eliminating duplicate storage containers and saying no to large gadgets because of space, etc.


That conversation made me reflect on my own kitchen essentials – the simple tools that I use every day.  I’ve discovered that humble little tools, not fancy hard-to-store gadgets, are the extraordinary helpers for simple, sustainable living. Many were inspired by, or came from, family and friends, and I treasure them, not only because of their purpose, but their small size and mighty reuse.


The kitchen is where simple living begins ...



My kitchen's most treasured tools, each with a short

description:

  • Elegant Wood Bag Dryer for Plastic Bags – I use this rack for drying my plastic storage bags (except those used for meats and oils). My goal is at least two safe uses.
  • Decorative Compost Bin – This decorative bucket with charcoal filters makes year-round composting easy and convenient (and easy to look at).
  • Silicone Bowl Covers – Perfect replacement for paper towels and plastic wrap when reheating and storing – a cost and waste savings, too.
  • Cloth, Insulated Tortilla Warmer – One of the best cooks in my life used this at my 60th birthday dinner. Another paper towel saver. Where was this when I was cooking for six people every day?
  • Ceramic Knife – Years ago, watching my sister-in-law’s impressive chopping technique led me to this knife. I now have multiples, gift them often, use the product warranty (a future post on product warranties is coming) and watch for promotion codes (current code I've received is CRAFTLOVE).
  • Blue Mason Jar Storage – Our mother, a home economist/dietitian, canned while raising her large family. I cherish these blue mason jars – some from her, some from other sources. See her alma mater’s article on the proper vintage jar storage.


After decades of cooking for a busy family of six, I’m now drawn to (and more confident with) uncomplicated cooking that is healthier and less wasteful. These humble little helpers are with me every day.


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Past Blogs

An Earth Day Project to Last a Decade

By Margaret Arnold • April 26, 2025
Earth Day has significant meaning for me. Beyond falling during my wedding anniversary week (4.23), this global day has involved cleaning ditches with my children and outdoor spring projects. It's ideal for honoring Earth's wonders as nature awakens in Minnesota. For a third year, my gift to Earth is a forest management project first shared last year on LinkedIn . My husband and I have tackled buckthorn eradication , transforming our woods to reveal 300-year-old oaks, black cherry, cedar trees and the land's natural contour. While I attempt to embrace simplicity, this conservation project isn't simple! Eradicating this invasive shrub (and larger old trees) from our forest will take a decade or more. It demands physical work and resources, but the rewards extend beyond restoring native habitats in my corner of the world. my gift to the earth is a forest management project ...

Miles, Enduring Friendships and Loose Change

By Margaret Arnold • April 13, 2025
Last Sunday, three friends and I celebrated spring birthdays with a long walk and brunch. Though still brisk walkers as former "runner girls," we paused to appreciate the beautiful spring morning as we wound through streets, a wooded trail with frozen ground, and finally a shared-use path. Greeting passing runners reminded me of my younger self, but I've grown content with my natural walking habit. Four years ago, I retired from decades of running for a consistent walking routine. I no longer feel compelled to justify my walking routine against running and have fully embraced this new habit and discovered unexpected treasures beyond the well-known health benefits. EACH WALK OFFERS BRILLANT SUNRISES, UNIQUE CLOUD FORMATIONS, CHATTERING BIRDSONGS ...

Warranty Wisdom: A Mother’s Lesson

By Margaret Arnold • March 30, 2025
While I'm not an expert on warranties, I am the daughter of a mother who took advantage of them for small home products. With three daughters in the house, she purchased a few blow dryers especially when her three teenagers cared enough to wake up early and style our hair. I remember our mother packaging up a non-operating Conair blow dryer and shipping it to take advantage of the product warranty at the time (today it’s three years). Decades before the internet, there is no doubt she kept the product literature to reference the important warranty and shipping information. In her last months of life, she once instructed me to look up warranty and replacement information on her favorite Ottlite sewing lamp she had in her office that wasn’t working. She loved this lamp and was determined to have it in use again. I remember lovely conversations with the customer service person explaining the issue, what we should do next and even a friendly follow-up email! In that spirit, and with the ease of the internet, I have taken advantage of a few product warranties. My research and approach are based on my love of the product itself and doing a quick cost-benefit analysis, including product quality, time and shipping costs. However, I have found the first step is to create a simple warranty tracking system for my favorite products – whether through browser bookmarks, email folders or paper files – just as I’m sure our mother did with her product literature as there wasn’t a piece of paper she won’t hold on to “just in case.” "A Customer is never out of warranty, even if his product is." Seth Godin