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Katherine started out at HowStuffWorks.com as the corporate librarian. She's since edited and written her way through a series of books, a newspaper column, Express magazine and the Web site. A southerner for real, Katherine has a deep and abiding love of sweet tea and can rock an accent on command. Her life's soundtrack would absolutely include Bessie Smith, Dolly Parton, Louis Prima, the Pressure Boys, Santigold and the Beastie Boys. Katherine currently resides out in the country with her hunky ex-rugby playing husband and their scarily intelligent Jack Russell/Beagle, the S-grrrl. She prefers freestyle to scripted, hand-beaded over bedazzled and figures the mobster lobsters from Vegas could probably crush onion head. You can find Katherine on Twitter at @HowtoStuffHSW and on Facebook at the official How-to Stuff page.
Most Recent: Katherine Neer Postings
When I walk into the room, this is what I see — visually alluring creations all filling me with glee. ZZZZZZZpppp. Sorry, I seem to have a serious LMFAO earworm going on this morning. So yeah, like a lot of people, I love a good gallery crawl. I especially loved them when I was a recent graduate with a very limited budget. Find out why after the jump.
How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
by Katherine Neer | December 13, 2011
For many of us, the holidays can make us nostalgic. It’s the perfect time of year to reminisce about family, friends, past holiday celebrations and favorite joyful traditions. Over the years as we grow and change, we forge new festive practices with our nearest and dearest, but we also hang on to certain tried and true ones, some of which involve favorite recipes. Get more, including a tasty recipe, after the jump.
It’s inevitable — if you have a pet, at some time you’re going to have to face the loss of that pet. There are countless articles containing suggestions on how to prepare for that loss and how to cope once it’s happened. But there don’t seem to be that many that cover how to know when it’s time to bring a new pet into your home. I know this because I’ve been looking for some guidance in this area.
As I write this, it’s been exactly four months and four days since our dog succumbed to cancer. She was just one week from reaching her 11th birthday, and she’d spent pretty much all of her almost-11 years as part of our family. Well, if truth be told, she wasn’t just a part of our family; she completed it.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden, then you know the full joy of planting, tending to, picking and then preparing the fresh fruits (or veggies) of your labor. Sadly, I’ve not got anything resembling a green thumb. But I can (happily!) rely on the kindness of gardening friends, farmer’s markets and pick-your-own places for just-picked goodness. And, loving to cook and bake, I know some pretty tasty ways to put all this good stuff to use. Mouth-watering apple pie info after the jump …
I’m one of those fortunate people who are surrounded by creative (think imaginative, artistic, inspired and inspiring) people in both my work and personal life. They’re all amazing — some are talented artists, some are impeccable storytellers, some are gifted craftsmen (and women), some make robots and some simply have incredibly creative minds; they seem to approach everything in life with creativity. And then there are a few people I know who aren’t so creative … yet. You see, I think anyone can be creative — it’s just a matter of finding your inspirational niche.
How to Make a Pair of Earrings in 5 Minutes (or Less)
by Katherine Neer | August 23, 2011
The perfect shoes: check. Best jeans ever: check. Fabulous new top: check. And just in time to go out tonight. But wait, what about the accessories? You’ve scoured your stuff and nothing’s quite right. All isn’t lost. Find out how to make a pair of earrings in 5 minutes flat … after the jump.
How to Keep Kids (and Everyone Else) Happy on a Road Trip
by Katherine Neer | August 5, 2011
Are we there yet? When are we going to stop? It seems like we’ve been in the car for 30 hours already. I need to go to the bathroom. I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I think I’m carsick. Why do we have to go to [insert destination here]? Are we going to have fun when we get there? — If you’re going on a road trip, you’re likely to hear at least a few of these … and just wait until the kids chime in.
There’s a certain cereal that — well, for more than 75 years — has claimed it is THE breakfast of champions. Since I don’t know that I’ve ever eaten that particular kind of cereal, I can’t really comment on its claim. But what I can comment on is what I think is the BRUNCH of champions. More after the jump.
Summertime is grill time for many of us. Who doesn’t love coming home from the local farmers’ market with a bag full of fresh, savory goodies ready for the grill — eggplant, peppers, corn, mushrooms, steak, bratwurst, chops. You’re set for a flavorful lunch or dinner that you can make and eat al fresco. But what about dessert? Does that require heading inside to bake something in the oven? Nope … more after the jump.
If you’ve read “How to Spruce Up a Green Space,” “How to Make a Difference in Four Hours” or “How to Discover Your Impact,” then you know Jessika and I are pretty keen on volunteerism. And you also know what Jessika did to celebrate Discovery’s Discover Your Impact Day. Although I would have loved to join Jessika in ATL at the park cleanup, I needed to opt for something I could do from my desk. Find out what that was after the jump.
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Sailing, Takes Me Away…To The Seychelles
- Cute Animal Tuesday: Black Vulture
- Traveling on the Orient Express
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- The Seven Deadlies: Pride Cometh Before the Brain
- Warhammer 40K: 25 Years of Orks in Space
- A Visit to the Tellus Science Museum
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Was Chrysler’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial a little too political?
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
How-to Stuff
- How to Make the Most of a Gallery Crawl (When You’re on a Shoestring Budget)
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 43: Drag Queens: You Better Work!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 42: Road Trip!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 41: Celebrity Couples
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
