1/30/09

Trash to Treasure: Remember that large terra cotta saucer that once was the base of a now-dead houseplant? Well, rescue it from the garage and give it a second life. Give it a good scrub and place all your cooking essentials on top of it: olive oil, vinegars, salt, spices and more. Keep it by the stove for quick access when you're cooking up a storm. The terra cotta will keep everything organized and will serve as a barrier between your countertops and messy spills.

1/29/09

When you care enough not to send your very best, think "draft mode." When using an inkjet printer, consider using the lowest printing quality mode your printer will allow. Most printers are defaulted to print pages with a higher quality, meaning more ink is used. By using a draft mode, you'll save ink and extend the life of your pricey cartridges. P.S. -- Be sure to recycle your old inkjet cartridges; many office-supply stores will take them back for recycling and will even give you a few dollars in store credit for future purchases.

1/28/09

How many times have you tried to relight a candle only to find the wick is buried deep in the wax? Or dropped a taper candle and it snapped in half? Don't toss them in the trash; instead use them around the house. Add wax to stuck doors and drawers to make them work better. Simply rub wax all over the sides and edges (be generous), and it should help them glide in and out with ease.