Life School

Life School
Life School

Discover life skills, one two-minute lesson at a time. www.trylifeschool.com

  1. 11/23/2021

    🍎 Roasted Vegetables, Slack Community & How to Make Applesauce

    This note is 230 words, a 55 sec reading time. Subscribe here. Hi Everybody - Welcome to the 8th edition of the Life School Weekly! We hope you find something here that inspires you. ✨ 🔦 Featured this week: * Hacks to Prevent Messes: If you prevent the mess in the first place, you’ll waste less time later cleaning up. We scoured the internet for the 15 best tips & tricks to help you keep your kitchen tidy while cooking up a storm.  * How to Roast Vegetables: Served hot or cold, as a side, base, or main, roasted vegetables are a fantastic meal prep staple to master. This guide covers the basics and includes ideas for sprucing up seasonal veggies you like.  * How to Make Applesauce 🎬: Got extra apples? Consider making applesauce! This dish makes for a healthy, easy & tasty side dish or dessert.  ⛱ Sandbox * Slack Group: Do you have questions about cooking, cleaning, personal finance, or other practical life skills? Do you have expertise & advice to share? Come join our community!  🗝 Members-Only ($10/month or $60/year): Subscribe here for a free 30-day trial. * The Etiquette of Overnight Hosting & Guesting: Are you confident in your manners & skillsets as a houseguest or host? This guide covers some basic etiquette tips and tricks. Have a great week! ~ Michelle & the Life School Team * Got feedback or ideas? Please email us.  * Want to learn more? Check out the Table of Contents. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com

    2 min
  2. The Etiquette of Overnight Hosting & Guesting 🏡

    11/22/2021

    The Etiquette of Overnight Hosting & Guesting 🏡

    This guide is 1,277 words, a 5 min and 6 second reading time. Subscribe here.  📍 Introduction:  An overnight invitation - whether with a friend, family member, or new romantic prospect - is an honor, and responsibility! Both hosting and guesting can lead to awkward or uncomfortable interactions. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." Whether hosting or guesting, a little etiquette know-how can go a long way towards receiving that coveted return invite. Let's dive in.  Part I: Hosting ✅ Instructions: * Invite your guest(s) & set the dates. * Ask about dietary restrictions. * Share your address & relevant instructions (e.g., gate code).  * Prepare the guest room (e.g., wash linens, make the bed). * Stock the kitchen & bathroom (see reference guides below). * Host with style!  📝 Notes, Tips & Tricks:   Before & Upon Arrival * If a guest is flying in, ask for arrival & departure information so you can track easily. If your home is in a remote area, offer to help your guests figure out transportation. * Seek to make your guests feel welcome (e.g., ask about any special requirements or needs, show excitement for their visit). * Upon arrival, greet your guests and show them to the room and bathroom they will use. Show them how to adjust the heating or air conditioning and where the light switches are. Give them a moment to relax and get settled.  * Share your routine with your guests and give them a heads up on any absences. (e.g., "Monday evening I have a work dinner, but let's plan on getting dinner together on Tuesday.”) * The more comfortable the bedding, the happier your guest will be. While it's tempting to skimp on guest pillows & sheets, provide bedding you would be excited to sleep in.  * Want to provide next-level sleeping arrangements? Provide a couple of different types of pillows (e.g., soft, medium).  During the Stay: * Aim to make your guests feel as comfortable as possible by being attuned to their needs.  * Instruct your guests to help themselves to the kitchen or bar. If there is anything you don't want to share, tuck it away.  * Have some activities in mind to do with your guests, but also leave them time to relax or explore independently.  * Share with them some of your favorite restaurants, hikes, local museums, or other activities in the area.  After the Stay:  * Assist your guests with their departure. (e.g., help them figure out transportation, see them to the door). * Thank them for any gifts or contributions and for the time together. * Take a moment to relax!  📓 Kitchen Stocking Reference Guide  * Morning Beverage (highly recommended): Coffee or black tea; milk (or dairy-free alternative), sugar/honey * Breakfast (recommended): Bread & butter/jam, granola, yogurt, fruit (e.g., bananas, berries, apples); eggs * Snacks (optional): fruit, crackers, cheese, nuts, olives, chocolate * Afternoon/evening beverage (recommended): wine, beer, sparkling water, juice, herbal tea * Information (highly recommended): Wifi login (ideally written or printed) 📓 Bedroom Stocking Reference Guide  * Bedding (recommended): comfortable pillows, extra blanket, fresh sheets   * Closet (recommended): Hangers and space, 1-2 empty drawers  * Other (optional): a carafe of water and drinking glasses, reading material (a newspaper or magazine), extra phone charger, a snack.  📓 Bathroom Stocking Reference Guide   * Shower (recommended): shampoo, conditioner, soap (e.g., liquid, wrapped/fresh bar)  Sink (optional): toothpaste, extra toothbrush, sunscreen, body lotion * Misc (recommended): hairdryer, feminine supplies, toilet paper, plunger, toilet brush  Part II: Guesting  ✅ Instructions: * Receive invitation graciously (e.g., "thank you so much!")  * Accept or politely decline. * Schedule transportation & other relevant logistics (e.g., cat sitter).  * Procure host(ess) gift. * Pack.  * Travel. * Arrive & enjoy!  📝 Notes, Tips & Tricks:   Before Arrival: * When receiving an invitation, either accept or reject promptly within a couple of days. Do not waffle or ask to "play by ear"; this can signal that you aren't excited to spend time with your host. It can also make it difficult for the host to plan (e.g., stocking the fridge). * Do not cancel unless necessary.  * In general, plan to stay no more than three nights. If your host is a close friend or you have visited before, it is common to stay longer. Listen to your intuition.  * Offer to bring treats & supplies (e.g., unique items from where you live, things you can pick up on the way). * Share your expected arrival and departure times with your host, and do your best to be prompt.  * Offering some gift or token of appreciation upon arrival is suggested but not required. You can also provide a gift upon departure.  * The best gifts are personalized & shareable (e.g., if the host has children, bringing something the whole family can enjoy). Upon Arrival & During the Stay  * Upon arrival, greet your host, share your gift, and thank them for hosting you.   * Minimize your impact as much as possible; a great guest doesn't add much work to the load. Be tidy and keep your items contained in your bedroom/area.  * Make your bed each morning and keep your room relatively organized (e.g., no clothes on the floor). * If your host offers you hangers or drawer space, unpack & use them.  * Keep the bathroom clean & tidy (e.g., wipe the counters, hang towels, tidy the countertops, clear the drain of hair). * Bring your toiletries; do not use your host's supplies without asking first.  * Help your host with their daily routine (e.g., offer to set the table, wash the dishes, make a favorite dish, or keep their children entertained).  * Always help clean up after meals unless you are firmly told not to. At the very least, clear your plates & dishes.  * Offer to help with errands (e.g., a grocery run, gassing the car) * If you use the kitchen or any other common areas, leave it cleaner than you found it. (See The Daily Kitchen Cleaning routine for more information).  * Respect your host's plans and schedule (e.g., be timely, allow your host privacy, check with your host before making plans with others). * If making plans with others, it's nice to invite your host, but not necessary. Keep your host in the loop on your plans, however, regardless of their invite status.  * If visiting a friend with roommates, it's nice to gift something that the whole group can enjoy. You're visiting their space, too.  Departure:  * Ask your host how they would like you to leave the bedroom (e.g., make the bed or strip the sheets).  * Leave on time and thank your host.  * If you didn't bring a gift, order/procure one. * The next day, follow up with your host by sending a thoughtful thank you note. While handwritten is traditional, email is now commonly accepted.  ✍️ Sample Thank You Note:  Dear Danielle,  Thank you so much for hosting me this past weekend. What a fantastic time I had! From walks to cooking together to binging on The Great American Baking Show - everything was just so much fun. Getting to spend some quality time together was incredibly special. How lucky I feel to have you as a friend. I can't wait to see you out in New York in a few weeks!  Lots of love,  Michelle 📓 Host(ess) Gift Reference Guide Upon Arrival * Food & Beverage: Wine, champagne, olive oil, chocolates, cookies, herbs, spices, gourmet salts * Household items: candle, set of linen/cloth napkins, dish towels * Plants: cut flowers, herb, orchid, indoor plant (ideally potted) * Other/Misc: book (e.g., one you have enjoyed or think they would appreciate), board game/puzzle During/After the Stay:  * Financial contribution: Covering the bill (e.g., for an outing, restaurant meal, or groceries)  * Household items they don't have (e.g., cheese board, pitcher)  * Liquor (especially if you consumed a decent amount during your stay)  * Flowers (can't go wrong)  🎓 Further Study:  * The Daily Kitchen Cleaning Routine [Life School] * Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition  🙏 Have feedback? Did we miss something? Please leave a comment. Life School’s mission is to improve your quality of living, one new skill at a time. We send a weekly newsletter with three free lessons. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com

    10 min
  3. 11/05/2021

    🥚🍲🥂 Medium-Boiled Eggs, Grain Bowls, & Dinner Party Club

    This note is 327 words, a 1 min 18 sec read time. To watch, click here. Hi Everybody! Welcome to the sixth edition of the Life School Weekly. This week we are featuring three guides that we hope will help elevate your quality of living. We also have a few new concepts in beta that we’d love to share with you. If you have any feedback, please do post in the comments below. Okay, let’s dive in! 🔦 Featured this week: * 7-Minute Eggs 🥚🎬 (1 min 20 sec): Packed with protein & speedy to make, hard (or medium)-boiled eggs are a delicious, timeless, economical treat.  * Grain Bowls 🍲📓 (2 min 33 sec): Allowing you to use what you already have on hand, grain bowls are the ultimate, elegant MaxF meal. These delicious, nutritious, and fun-to-make bowls require no unique ingredients or techniques. Additionally, they serve as a delightful blank canvas for endless experimentation and creativity. * Pickled Red Onions 🧅🗝 (1 min 5 sec): Pickled red onions are a secret weapon of an organized home chef. Tangy, sweet, and a little crunchy, they help brighten & sharpen the flavor of whatever they top. Given their short prep time (~5 min), and long shelf life (a few weeks in the fridge), this condiment registers as seriously high leverage. Go ahead and try adding these to salads, sandwiches, tacos, grain bowls, meat dishes, & more. We bet you'll be adding this to your meal prep repertoire in no time. ⛱ Beta/Sandbox Experiments: * Dinner Party Club 🥂: Are you interested in joining others as we explore the art of hosting a dinner party? We're going to team up & learn together about how to host a dinner party in January. Join the waitlist here. Life School Premium Members will have priority.  * Better Than Takeout 🥡: Are you sick of wasting money on takeout?  Learn how to make meals in less time than it takes to decide what to order.  Sign up for our free 5-day email mini-course here. Have a great weekend! ~ Michelle & the Life School Team Life School’s mission is to help motivated, curious learners elevate their quality of living, one new skill at a time. For access to the archive and our private community on Slack, become a member. It’s $5/month or $50/year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com

    3 min
  4. Chicken Salad, Overnight Etiquette & Kitchen Organization 🏡🥪⏲

    10/30/2021

    Chicken Salad, Overnight Etiquette & Kitchen Organization 🏡🥪⏲

    This note is 316 words, a 1 min and 15 second read time. Hi Everybody - Welcome to the fifth edition of the Life School Weekly! This week we are unlocking three guides that we hope will help elevate your quality of living.  🔓 Unlocked this week: * Chicken Salad 🎬📓 (2 min): Chicken salad is one of the most delicious, nutritious, versatile, and high-leverage meal prep items you can make. A neutral base primed for creativity & experimentation -- you have an ultimate say on this tasty lunch creation.  * The Etiquette of Overnight Hosting & Guesting 📓 (5 min): An overnight invitation is an honor, and responsibility! Both hosting and guesting can lead to awkward or uncomfortable interactions. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." Whether hosting or guesting, a little etiquette know-how can go a long way towards receiving that coveted return invite.  * Kitchen Organization (1 min): Rummaging through cupboards looking for all the items you need to prepare a dish is time-consuming and frustrating. Use these tips to get your kitchen into working order for faster and more efficient cooking.  🗝 Premium-Only ($5/month or $50/year): Subscribe here for a free 30 day trial. * The Balanced Salad (mini-course): A tasty salad is a glorious thing - and fortunately, with a little practice & know-how, they are well within reach for a beginner home chef.  What is a balanced salad? It has a mixture of complementary flavors (e.g., salty, tart, bitter & sweet) and textures (e.g., crisp, soft, crunchy, creamy). When these flavors and textures meld, the salad transforms from a meal “should have” into a star unto itself. A delightful, healthy, exciting component of a fulfilling meal. This mini-course includes 11 lessons about creating delicious salads.   🏸 Other:  * Why I’m building Cooking Without Recipes 🎬: Video & audio recording with some context on the origin story of CWR (& Life School).  Have a great weekend! ~ Michelle & the Life School Team * Got feedback or ideas? Email us.  * About Us * Symbol guide: 🎬 = video | 📓 = reference guide This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com

    2 min

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Discover life skills, one two-minute lesson at a time. www.trylifeschool.com

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