When Sugar Plum Fairies Won't Do the Job

For restless sleepers on Christmas Eve, husbands included

Find Lost Stuff With Suction!

Color-Code Keys

Instant iPod Docking Case

Take This, Hacker Chick

Well, this isn't really a fix, but it is farfetched. Except it really happened. Well most of it anyway, there is a bit of exaggeration in the video that I couldn't resist ...

When our computer and personal information were severely compromised by a Trojan Horse virus downloaded from CNET, all we could do was laugh. Well, laugh, and change our bank account, alert our credit card company, re-image our computer 376 times, contact the authorities, and finally, after exhausting all other alternatives, move to the Bahamas with our new lap-abacus. Hope you enjoy this spoof I did after the worst was over!



Hey! This video may take my new blog to 1,000 visits. How fun is that? A small victory for cyberspace!

"Cooler Corn"

I thought Thanksgiving would be a great time to re-post this fantastic idea!

This method for perfectly cooking loads of corn on the cob is simple genius!

Take a large cooler, wipe it clean, and fill it with shucked ears of corn. Cover the corn with boiling water and close the top.

Then nothing.

Thirty minutes later you can sit down to dinner and enjoy perfectly cooked corn on the cob, en masse! I'm told that the corn will remain at the perfect level of doneness for a couple of hours.

Thanks to my sister-in-law Stephanie W. for submitting.

Dishwasher Pacs? We've Been Duped!

Ooooo, pretty!

I was loading one of these pacs into my dishwasher a couple of months ago and got a revelation. Instantly, I flashed back to the installation of my new dishwasher. The nice man told me to use these special pacs and kindly gave me some free samples, "The new dishwashers run much better with these than the liquid, Ma'am."

Indeed, my liquid did not perform as well as the lovely and mysterious little pacs in the new machine, so I bought some. Ahhh, the marvels of modern technology. First, HD television and the iPhone and now these nifty pacs, I mused.

Homemade recipe,courtesy lightlycrunchy blog

Anyway, back to the aforementioned revelation: I was loading the beautiful little packet into my dishwasher, and ... it broke open. Do you know what spilled out? Dishwasher powder!!! Dishwasher powder???? Those little weasels!! So, there is no secret formula inside these little gizmos? No super-powered cleaning formulas? The pack casing performs no miracle?  The pretty green and blue swirls? Well, I haven't figured that out yet. Probably colored goo. (I do know the generic swirl-less packs work great.)

Ahhh, the marvels of modern marketing schemes. Will the wonders of the new millennium never cease?

Cheapo generic powder

Takeaway:
When you run out of these expensive little pacs,
go buy some cheap dishwasher powder.
Dollar Tree, here I come!

Gardening Tip to Protect Hands & Nails

Re-potted orchid & clean nails with
indoor greenhouse in the background

I love plants, always have. I have a little indoor greenhouse that I absolutely love, a couple of orchids,  succulents, ferns and herbs in my windowsill. In fact, it is fall here in the south-central US and time to plant pansies and prepare our outside gardens for winter. (Born and raised in Denver, but living in the South since 1996, I love it here. What a delight to have pansies blooming in my yard in December!)

Anyway, I was re-potting an overgrown orchid (above) and some spearmint I bought from the grocery store this afternoon and remembered a tip I got from a book on houseplants years ago. Before you begin working with the soil, slather your hands with lotion. Especially, gook lotion under your fingernails.

Then you can wash your hands easily without any residue left under your nails. Also hands don't dry out and nails are not likely to break or split.

Old Fashioned Quick Fix for Makeup

If you are running late in the morning, or are away from home without makeup, or you're just a no-frills kind of girl, you might like this old fashioned tip. Put on lipstick, blot it with a tissue and apply to cheeks. It gives a subtle color that perks up your face and blends with your lip color.

Freeze Your Bread

Refrigerated bread gets stale overnight. Freezing a loaf of bread keeps it fresh and preserves taste and texture. Don't worry about thawing: by the time I make a sandwich, my bread has thawed -- and I pop it from freezer to toaster with no problem.

Tip: Before freezing, gently grab both ends of the loaf and wiggle it like an inchworm walking. This will keep the slices from freezing together so they are easy to remove from the bag one at a time.

Perfect cuticles

My secret? Lip balm! Any product will work but my favorite is Carmex. The signature lip balm of the Marines (and they ought to know) was developed by a pharmacist in the 1930s. This family recipe has endured because it works. It is nourishing and healing to skin. Also, the "magic ingredient," salycilic acid, exfoliates.

Keep lip balm at your bedside and put some on before you go to sleep. During the day, when you use it on your lips, include your cuticles and there won't be a hangnail anywhere. :) Works great for elbows and callouses, too!

Sink-O-Matic

Rack makes your sink a level, germ-free working surface. Very nifty.

Update Problem Hair

My hair mostly fell out a year ago due to thyroid problems and grew back in frizzy, thin, and scraggly. I found this nifty way to fix my hair in Style magazine. Twist back into 4-5 mini-buns and pin. Got the pretty barrette at Walgreens. It's a big improvement, as it adds texture, volume, and interest -- as well as an updated look.

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Make a Manicure Last 7-10 Days

My nails after 7 days

You can make a manicure last week to 10 days by putting a quick coat of clear polish on every day (or not as good ) every 2 days. I usually put it on as I check my email and it's dry in a couple of minutes. I use Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails with nylon and retinol as my clear coat.

A great product that I get at Sally's is Nail Life Gripper Base Coat. That is another key to getting your manicure to last - a good base coat. It makes the polish really cling. For the color, I used Sally Hansen Smooth Perfect Color Care in Satin 04.

I tipped the nails with cheap white polish, swiping up on each side into a "V." That is easier than trying to make it round and it makes your nails look long and elegant.

I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and always hate trying to drain a heavy pan of scrambled beef or sausage into the garbage or some other container. The other day, I grabbed a slotted serving spoon and scooped the meat out of the skillet. It left the grease behind and the cleanup was much easier. :)

From Jewelry to the Toilet ...

In my quest for the cheapest, easiest, most effective, all-in-one cleaning product, I have come up with something that I love.

3-in-1 Recipe

1 cup Generic Glass Cleaner
1 cup Rubbing Alcohol
1 cup Hydrogen Peroxide


I have used this to clean jewelry that I thought would never shine again and make it glisten. I have killed germs and mildew in the shower and lifted age-old dust out of crevasses.

The Hydrogen Peroxide (preferred by most hospitals over bleach) digs deep and bubbles out grime and germs. The Alcohol cuts grease and sterilizes. The Glass Cleaner shines.

Use caution with porous products like wood but go for it in the kitchen around grimy stove burners, flooring, and windows.

To really pack a punch use a microfiber rag ... find these in the automobile department. You'll never clean with cotton rags again. :)

Happy cleaning!!!




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Keep Your Laptop Cool

My husbands laptop on our coffee table ...

Kept cool by a cookie cooling rack!

Fireplace Ambiance in Summer

I love sitting by the fire with a good book, but always associated that favorite activity with winter. Then I came up with a summer use for my fireplace that creates a very pleasant atmosphere ...

I scoop out the ashes (I hate that job, but at least this forces me to get it done once a year!). Then I  put in candles. It is actually quite beautiful ... the picture doesn't do it justice.

Here is what it looks like up close, so you can get some ideas to create your own. (Again, I'm not a photographer and I couldn't get the lighting right; it's much prettier "in person" -- or should I say "in candle" :)

All the holders are from the Dollar Tree except the tallest ones which were a wedding gift. The trick is to get lots of different sizes, shapes and textures and put them at different levels. I think there are 14 here.

The best way I can explain the way to arrange them is that you know it's working if it's easy on your eyes. In other words your eyes feel rested and drawn to the gentle flow of the arrangement.

If it's not arranged well, your eyes feel kind of like they are pulled this way and that, not knowing what to focus on -- as if competing candles are demanding your attention. Sorry that's not very objective and step-by-step, but it's the only way I know how to explain it.

You can use votive or tea-light candles. I think the tea lights are lower maintenance and if you buy the bag 50 or 100 they are dirt cheap.

Oh, one more thing ... those lighters that look kind of like a gun (not sure the official name) -- the ones with the flexible "spout" -- are a lifesaver. Also treat yourself to a snuffer with a bell that dangles -- also available at the Dollar Store.

Hope this gives you a place to recharge from time to time, even in the heat!

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A Salty Fix for Your Drink

Know how the napkin under your beverage always gets wet and sticks to the glass when you pick it up? Try putting a little table salt on the napkin and it will no longer stick.

Thanks to Karen L. for this idea!!




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Anti-Aging Makeup Tips

If you're over 45 and you want a fresher look, this post may be for you! From time to time I get a compliment on looking younger than my almost 52 years, and I think makeup is part of that. I only spend 5-10 minutes on makeup, but a little know-how can go a long way.

BTW, I really put myself out there on this one, so go easy on me. :) lol










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Double Veggie Life With Do-It-Yourself Vegetable Bags

Do you buy fresh vegetables with good intentions only to find them rotting in your fridge a few days later? I sure have. But I figured out that the number one thing to remember when keeping vegetables fresh is that they are just living plants that need to breathe. Watch this 3-minute video for details and more tips!

Keep Fresh Strawberries and Other Veggies Fresh!

The secret is to soak them in a diluted vinegar solution for 2-5 minutes. I use about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar in a bowl (about a quart) of water. (You don't have to be exact.) This reduces the growth of mold and other microorganisms, and also helps rinse off pesticides!!

NOTE: Don't wash off the vinegar solution. Depending on the veggie, let them air dry on a towel or put them away slightly damp.

The result with fresh strawberries is particularly amazing. After their soak, don't put them back in the original packaging. Store them in the refrigerator in an uncovered colander. Mine last for at least a week when I do this.

ALSO NOTE: Fruits and vegetables are alive and need to breathe. Coming soon is a solution for super-cheap and easy veggie storage bags.




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Grime Around Faucets

I could never seem to get that ring of grime off that grows around the edges of my kitchen and bathroom faucets. About a year ago on an impulse I poured hydrogen peroxide over the faucet and around the edges.

It worked awesome! It bubbles out the grime and you can just swipe it away ... no more scrubbing with a toothbrush and bleach!

(Hint: If it's really bad, add a spritz of your favorite bathroom cleaner to the hydrogen peroxide.)

Let me know how it works!!




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