If you love to decorate your home with natural materials for the holiday season, be careful if you have pets in your home. Poinsettia, holly and mistletoe all have different levels of toxicity that can make your pet sick -- or worse, kill them. Poinsettia leaves are the least toxic, but the plants are often heavily sprayed with pesticides, which can make your pet sick. Holly and mistletoe are incredibly toxic and can cause seizures and death if ingested. It's best to keep those out of the house and to keep poinsettia far away from where your pet can reach them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

This winter season, if you decide to invest in a snowblower for your home, think electric and not gas. Electric snow removal products are just as good as gasoline-powered ones, but they don't emit any greenhouse gases when being used. There are two options -- cordless and corded -- and either can work, depending on the size of your driveway and sidewalk. Of course, if you have very little to clear, a good manual snow shovel and broom can also do the trick.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know that about 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown away globally every single year? A big part of this waste is leftovers, and the reality is, the majority of it can be saved and consumed later. When you have a large amount of leftovers, consider freezing it for use days or even weeks later. In addition to cooked foods (stored in airtight containers), also consider freezing nuts, whole wheat flour and brown rice, since the natural oils in these items can make them rancid quickly. And leftover bread, herbs and cheese can be frozen and thawed out quickly for use in future cooking, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION