It's something you probably don't often think about, but this morning may be the time to clean your coffeemaker. Fill the carafe with four parts water and two parts white vinegar and run the mixture through the coffeemaker (minus a filter). When it's finished, let the machine cool. Then run a full pot of cold water through the coffeemaker. A thorough cleaning will remove trace minerals left behind and give you a fresher, tastier cup of java.

7/26/09

Here's a fun and easy arrangement you can make for any room of the house: Grab a tall vase and fill it with branches clipped from your backyard. Attach personal photos, notes or cards with paperclips to the branches. Evolve the collection and take your mementos on and off the branches. When you want to take down the arrangement, just unclip everything and throw the branches back into the yard.

7/25/09

If you haven't grated cheese on that box grater for as long as you can remember, here's another creative way to make use of it. Grate a bar of soap into finely shredded soap flakes. Spoon some into a running bath and voila! Instant bubble bath.

7/24/09