Do Just One Thing

Just because a food item is stamped "organic" does not necessarily mean it's healthier or better for you. When it comes to liquors like tequila and vodka, there are no added health benefits in buying certified organic. The reality is, hard liquor -- conventional or organic -- is not healthy for you and should be enjoyed in moderation, but the distillation process removes trace pesticides. The only exception to this rule is wine. When it comes to a good glass of vino, organic wines are better than conventional wines, since preservatives like sulfites cannot be added to the wines if they are certified organic. Only naturally occurring sulfites are in organic wines, and for people who have allergic reactions to sulfites, organic wine may be the way to go.

If you dread ironing clothes, here's a simple tip to speed up the process and help you save energy: Remove the fabric cover from your ironing board and cover it with a few sheets of aluminum foil. Then place the fabric cover on top of the foil. When you iron, the heat will be transferred to the aluminum foil and reflect back to the surface, creating a dry, hot surface that doubles the efficiency and halves the time when you iron. If you ever need to take the aluminum foil off, just toss it in the recycling bin.

December and January are the best times to find deals on new suitcases, since retailers are trying to close out old models to bring in the new ones. In fact, many stores will bundle suitcases together at incredibly low prices. There are many foster agencies that are in need of new suitcases to give to children who do not have luggage. Instead of donating a used suitcase, why not give new ones, especially when you don't need all the pieces from a new set? And if the set you are replacing is lightly used, find out from your local Department of Social Services if it can take it or recommend a charity that can.