1. Making your own soda is fun. As Cait says: “I just got a [soda maker] for Christmas and I am obsessed. I am a big seltzer drinker so this saves me trips to the store and cuts down majorly on waste. The bottles are much sturdier than I thought they would be.” Read more about how to make your own soda here.

2. Flatware is one of those things you should touch before you buy. Lorri says: “I’d be careful buying over the internet unless you’ve seen and handled the pieces in person. The trend for awhile was for everything to be oversized. The soup spoons were almost like serving spoons – too big for most people to use comfortably.” Read about our favorite flatware here.

3. Next time a recipe calls for ground veal, Ron says: “Try ground turkey instead. It has the lighter texture of the veal and the lighter flavor as well.” See an amazing spaghetti and meatballs recipe here.

4. We’ve discovered a not-new shelter magazine we love. Pencils wrote: “I love Atomic Ranch! I have years of them stacked up in case we end up in a midcentury house. I miss Cottage Living, though.” Read about this new favorite here.

5. Your New Year’s Resolutions reminds us of what ours should be: Sarah wrote: “Paint, paint and more paint. We’ve been in the house 8 years. Would it be easier to just move? : )” See more — and share your own! — here.