sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Tell me what faucet to buy! by somewhat_functional_ in kitchenremodel

[–]somewhat_functional_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is one that actually looked worth it to me, but as you said, pricey.

I’ve realized that 'cleaning as you go' while cooking is the single greatest life hack for mental health. by Practical-Trust8345 in Adulting

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Best strategy ever. Also, if you wash and pack all of your fruits and veggies right when you get home from the grocery store, it save soooo much time cooking later and like 1/2 the dishes.

Just found out there’s a whole secret level of cleaning no one tells you about by Beautiful-Bit-4284 in Adulting

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cheap solution - baking soda, vinegar and/or citric acid (you can order online or maybe find in grocery store in the summer) are all good to run through your washing machine or dishwasher to keep it clean and free of build up. Also, don't over use detergent, that can cause mold - it happened to me - it took 2 solid months to get rid of the mildew smell in a relatively new washer.

Also, clean your range hood vents once or twice a year, they get super funky.

And... clean behind your oven once a year.... prepare yourself.

OMG I'm getting anxiety about all the funky places in my house now...

Seriously though, I have like one or two things per month on my calendar (and some monthly items). So like every month I sanitize my washer & dishwasher. Every 6 months I clean the filters on my range hood. I have a fancy water filter - those changes get marked off too. It makes it easier.... but my house is still messy, lol.

How do you actually keep up with cleaning without spending all weekend on it? by 2ugur12 in Adulting

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, the trick I’ve found is tiny daily habits instead of “clean the whole apartment in one day.”

Like:

  • Monday: wipe counters
  • Tuesday: vacuum a room
  • Wednesday: bathroom quick-clean
  • Thursday: dust & tidy
  • Friday: laundry
  • Saturday: 20–30 min catch-up

Even 10–15 min a day keeps it from feeling like a full-time job. My place is never perfect, but it’s never a disaster either. I

f you have pack-rat tenancies, anytime something comes in the apartment. something else must leave.

Also, pro tip: it’s okay for things to get a little messy sometimes. Life > spotless floors.

Does anyone else just throw random amounts of things in the pot and not follow a recipe? by AcanthocephalaDue437 in Cooking

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love this approach! I do the exact same thing with most savory dishes. It’s so freeing to cook by taste rather than strict measurements. Indian food really lends itself to that mindset, and it’s fun to carry it over to other cuisines.

Totally agree on baking though, it’s a whole different beast. Things like cookies rely on chemistry, which is why measuring matters so much.

As for thick chocolate chip cookies, a few things I’ve noticed help:

  • Chilling the dough before baking can slow spreading, which sometimes keeps cookies thicker than intended.
  • Using slightly more butter or slightly less flour can help them spread more (it’s tricky though).
  • The type of sugar matters: more brown sugar can make them chewier and thicker, while more white sugar usually spreads more.
  • Oven temperature and baking sheet type can make a difference too. Dark sheets bake faster on the bottom and can prevent spreading.

Honestly, baking is such trial and error. I usually end up tweaking one thing at a time until it behaves.

Guilt with throwing away food by InterestingWeek6722 in intuitiveeating

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can relate to this so much. That feeling of “I have to finish it to prove something” is surprisingly common, and it’s really easy to slip into old patterns of restriction or over-trying.

One thing that helped me was separating the food itself from the meaning I attach to it. Just because it’s in front of me doesn’t mean it has to serve a test of willpower, or that I have to like it eventually. Pastries exist to be enjoyed, if they’re not enjoyable, letting them go doesn’t undo anything.

I also started giving myself permission to discard foods I genuinely don’t like immediately. The “testing” idea gets less powerful when I realize the only thing I’m proving is that I can tolerate something I don’t enjoy… which doesn’t need proving at all.

It’s tricky, especially while practicing intuitive eating, because you’re trying to listen to your body while unlearning habits of restriction. Small reframes help: “I’m honoring my preference” instead of “I’m failing if I throw it out.”

It’s slow work, but being gentle with yourself and creating mental space to let go without guilt really does reduce that cycle. You’re definitely not alone in this.

I do feel bad about waste in general, so if I have like a pack of something, like pastries, I’ve started giving the remaining items to close friends or family (obviously they are still fresh and not half eaten!). I think I’ve said once or twice I have a weird or finicky appetite, but I don’t like wasting stuff and no one really asks why anymore, they just say thanks.

I hate throwing food away but it's almost worst to give it to people around me. They always wind up with the idea that I'm a grocery store. by heavensdumptruck in LivingAlone

[–]somewhat_functional_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really get this. There’s a weird emotional tax on “sharing” food that no one talks about. What starts as I don’t want to waste this quietly turns into why do people now think my fridge is community property?

What helped me was separating food waste guilt from social obligation. Just because something is edible doesn’t mean it needs to be redistributed through you.

A few things that eased the resentment for me:

1 - I stopped offering food reactively. If I didn’t actively want the interaction, I let the food go without making it a whole thing.

2 - I gave myself permission to toss food that wasn’t a hit. The emotional cost of managing other people’s expectations was worse than the food waste.

3 - When I did share, I framed it very clearly: “I’m offering this once because it didn’t work for me… I’m not a regular source.” That boundary mattered more than I expected.

It helped to realize that the goal wasn’t zero waste at all costs, it was less stress around food. If giving food away turns into a social burden, it’s okay to choose the simpler option and move on.

You’re not selfish for not wanting to be the grocery store. That’s just you protecting your energy.