‘Hacks & How-Tos’ Category

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5 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

At six months, your baby is busy, busy, busy. But not all this activity is visible. In addition to her physical developments, she is beginning to mentally “organize” her world. This is an age that thrives on schedules and routines, especially for sleeping and eating. If you follow the same routine every night, she’ll soon understand that when it’s nighttime, it’s time to sleep, not play. A good way to begin the bedtime routine is with a warm, relaxing bath followed by a final feed, teeth-brushing, a massage, a bedtime story, then into bed. The key is to help your baby unwind, so avoid any stimulating activities.

Avoid Problem Habits
Feeding, rocking or cuddling your baby to sleep are major causes of sleep problems, so try to break that habit if you’ve established it. Many parents like having their babies sleep in the same room as themselves, and some medical experts agree that this is a good idea. However, at some point, you may choose to move your baby into a separate room. Babies can be easily disturbed while they sleep and may actually wake up when you come into the room to go to bed, or if you cough or turn over.

How Much Sleep?
Between six and 12 months of age, your baby will need about 14 to 15 hours of sleep each day. Babies are busy now, after all! Crawling, rolling over, sitting up – an active baby means a tired baby. It’s important to realize, though, that every baby is different and some babies need much more sleep and others need much less sleep. Most babies take two or three naps a day at six months of age and two naps at 12 months. A few babies, though, give up their morning nap before their first birthday. Another interesting point to be aware of is that many developmental milestones, such as rolling over and pulling up to stand, can temporarily upset your baby’s sleep.

Here are some ways you can help your baby get the sleep that she needs:

1. Set a regular sleep schedule for your baby: Settle on regular naptimes and a bedtime that allow your baby to get all the sleep she needs. Contrary to what you may think, cutting down on naps won’t help at night. It can be a recipe for overtiredness and a worse night’s sleep. But you’ll also want to avoid naps too close to bedtime.

2. Give your baby soothing surroundings: Keep the bedroom dark, cool, and quiet. And make sure the lights and environment are the same at bedtime as they will be throughout the night.

3. Avoid making bedtime feedings a permanent fixture: They rarely help your baby sleep very long or very well. And after six months of age, nighttime feedings are rarely necessary. Move a bottle or nursing time earlier in the evening, to avoid the association between eating and sleeping. At this age, a better way to bond with your baby before bedtime is through massage and bathing.

4. Massage is a great way to help relax your baby: This is true particularly as she begins to use a whole new set of muscles with her newfound movements! Even if you have only a few minutes, the soothing movements will help your baby switch to “nightime” mode. To begin, use a gentle lotion, made especially for babies, to reduce friction. A soothing massage with JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME LOTION® with NATURALCALM™ essences is part of a clinically proven routine to help your baby fall asleep easier and sleep through the night better.

5. Bath time is a happy way to say “it’s bedtime”: If you’ve established bath time as part of your baby’s nighttime routine, you may also wish to use a gentle cleanser with a soothing scent. Help your baby relax and let go of the day’s excitement with the warmth of a bath and your comforting touch. Bathtime with JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® BATH with NATURALCALM essences is part of a clinically proven routine that will help your baby fall asleep easier and sleep through the night better.

On non-bath nights, if you don’t have time for a full massage, you can just take a minute to rub your baby with JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® LOTION. Your gentle touch will help relax your baby.

Setting a regular schedule, providing a calm environment, bathing and massaging your baby, and eliminating bedtime feedings – all are wonderful ways to help establish a bedtime routine for your growing baby. And in addition to giving you a moment to bond with your baby, a good nighttime routine ensures that your baby will get the sleep she needs to stay healthy and happy.

Adapted from Sleeping Through the Night: How Babies, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep by Dr. Jodi Mindell and JOHNSON’S® Your Baby and Toddler, From Birth to 3 Years.

Read more tips and download resources at the JOHNSON’S® Baby site >

How do you get your baby back to sleep in the middle of the night?

Posted in Baby & Toddler, Hacks & How-Tos, New Products | 15 Comments »

Go Back to School with Merry Maids Tips + Giveaway!

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Photo Credit: D Sharon Pruitt.

One might think that fall is the worst time to try to get kids to take on tasks, what with school, sports and homework all beginning again after a nice, lazy summer.

“On the contrary,” say the cleaning experts at Merry Maids. Their research shows that since kids are about to get back into a “work mode” and begin routines again, this may be the best time to begin to assign family chores.

With that in mind, the experts at Merry Maids have developed the following fall cleaning tips — ones that incorporate the whole family (and don’t forget to enter the Merry Maids giveaway below!):

1.  Mats Matter: You’d be amazed how much dirt a sturdy nylon mat will catch. Put one at each doorway. They are reasonably priced and can be found at any of the major discount superstores in the housewares department. Spend a little extra on a larger one to cover the area where kids enter the most. Teach them immediately that the first step in the house after school is where the dirt comes off! Or, make a rule that that’s where all shoes are removed.

2.  Delegating Will Hurt You More Than It Hurts Them: One of the main reasons Mom doesn’t get enough help around the house, is because it is painful to delegate chores. We all want things done “our way.” However, letting go and allowing kids to have responsibilities is important all throughout life, and gives them a feeling of accomplishment. Assign chores around age group. Let each child know that two or three jobs around the house belong to them. They will take pride in these jobs if their efforts are met with praise.

3.  Ages 8 – 12: These kids are ready for some real chores. The last person in the shower in the morning should be handed a spray–on bath cleaner with a little abrasive in it. Steam helps loosen dirt, so once they’re finished, show them how to spray tile in the shower. After they’ve brushed their teeth, they can quickly go over the tile with a sponge kept under the sink.

4.  Ages 3 – 8: Even at this tender age, it’s not too early to develop routine and habits that could last a lifetime. When a child is through playing in a certain area, part of his or her routine should be to put his or her toys away. If Dad is handy, have him build some benches in the rec room that opens to hold toys. Otherwise, large rubber bins are available at discount superstores in a variety of colors and models. Label them with stickers that are lively and that can show a child what goes where.

5.  Does Clutter Make You Shudder? Clutter is inevitable when kids are back to school. They come home with some of the most amazing items. Rather than have feelings hurt by tossing out their precious schoolwork, go to your same discount superstore and buy under the bed storage boxes. Let the kids decide what schoolwork they’d like to save and have them save them in these boxes.

6.  My Child, The Artist: When kids bring home artwork, display the really good pieces on the refrigerator with colorful magnets. Decide what the lifespan will be for each picture — then if it should be saved in a box or not. And when the little darlings use your walls for a canvas, use concentrated dishwashing soap to clean the crayon marks.

7.  Make Family Time Chore Time: Designate a time each week where the family can sit together in the kitchen or den and visit about what’s happening at school, work, etc. Each person can be handling a task during the discussion such as polishing silver, folding laundry or organizing a drawer.

8.  Don’t get Shocked: A portable hairdryer really comes in handy for quick dust jobs like cobwebs. Teach the older kids these shortcuts, but remember to also teach them about safety with electric devices. This is a good time for them to learn these facts.

9.  Hello, Mr. Dustbuster: Another great appliance that older kids can handle. With “after school” comes major crumbs from snacks. Let the kids know right away that you do not want to find any evidence of their snacks around when you come home from work. Have large garbage cans lined with bags accessible in the kitchen.

10.  But Mom . . . But nothing. Let the kids know that their areas, bedrooms and bathrooms are their responsibility. Buy each one their own set of cleaning tools, and let them know they are to use them before any play time after school. Go to an office supply store and purchase desk trays and pencil holders to reduce clutter in their rooms. The trays can be marked “homework to be done” and “completed homework” to avoid morning panic over lost papers. By third grade, kids should be held responsible for these items.

11.  Chore Charts: One of the best ways to start off younger kids. There are commercial ones available or, you can easily make one with a poster board. Have them on a bulletin board with each child’s name and chores listed. Have them check off their chores when they’ve finished. You can also use the “gold star” system for a super job.

12.  Heavy Duty Day: Set aside one time slot a week for a heavy duty chore. Older kids can tackle one of their own, like window cleaning. Use a spray bottle of commercial cleaner, or fill one with vinegar and water. Give them soft cloths or old diapers and teach them the proper way to wash windows streak–free. (Use cotton cloth to dry for this.) Younger kids can help Mom and Dad turn mattresses, clean blinds or wash walls. Getting them involved early is the key.

GIVEAWAY! ONE (1) LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE:

A Complete Merry Maids Housecleaning for the Day – worth $250!

HOW TO ENTER
Merry Maids will give you more time to enjoy all the sports and other activities that come up when school resumes in the fall. With service every week or two, you won’t have to spend your evenings and weekends keeping up with housework and begging your family to help. We’re excited to partner with Merry Maids on this giveaway. Just let us know in the comments…

What’s your best back-to-school tip?

The giveaway will end this Sunday, August 29 at 11:59 pm. We look forward to hearing from you!

RULES
Winners of the giveaway will be awarded a Merry Maids Gift Card valued at $250. Giveaway is open to legal U.S. residents 18 or older residing in the 50 United States (includes DC).  Void where prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families and households) of Alice.com, Inc. are not eligible.  Giveaway entries will be accepted until Sunday, August 29 at 11:59 pm. Winning entry must provide a valid email address (Alice.com will never sell or rent your e-mail to third parties). We will notify the winner by email on or before Tuesday, August 31.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to us with their name and valid U.S. mailing address.  If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.  Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sponsor: Alice.com, Inc.

Posted in Giveaways, Hacks & How-Tos, Home Management | 357 Comments »

You Can Can Vegetables!

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

This fabulous resource comes from contributing writer Kate Forgach at FreeShipping.org.

Like clockwork, Ball mason jars appear at cash registers each August. With equal precision, I’m instantly taken back to my mother’s steaming summer kitchen. The smooth glass and simple metal lids bring back vivid memories of the pots, pans and stacked vegetables of mom’s canning years.

Years later I attempted to create my own rows of multi-colored Ball jars with only a modicum of success. (Pause here to envision tomato-splattered pantry walls.) It wasn’t until I began writing about food preservation for the Extension Service that I replicated Mother’s success. Here’s how.

1. Preparation

  • Not every vegetable is ripe for canning. Pick only the fresh, young and tender pies for the pot and leave the steroid-pumped produce for the rabbits.
  • The sooner you get veggies from the garden to the jar, the better. You want to maintain that freshness factor.
  • Sort by size and ripeness for easier packing and cooking.
  • Wash all vegetables thoroughly under running water, whether or not they will be pared.
  • Don’t soak vegetables as they may lose flavor and nutrients.
  • Handle them gently to avoid bruising.
  • Make sure dirt doesn’t settle on the food.
  • Rinse the sink between washings.

2. Yield
How many quarts of canned food you’ll get from fresh produce depends on quality, condition, maturity and the type of vegetable; the size of pieces packed; and the way the vegetable is packed (raw or hot pack). For example, the following pounds of fresh vegetables equal one quart when canned:

  • Asparagus = 2 to 4 pounds
  • Beans, Lima, in pods = 3 to 5 pounds
  • Beans, snap or green = 1 to 3 pounds
  • Beets, without tops = 2 to 3 pounds
  • Carrots, without tops  = 2 to 3 pounds
  • Corn, sweet, in husks  = 3 to 6 pounds
  • Peas, green, in pods  = 3 to 6 pounds
  • Pumpkin or winter squash = 1 to 3 pounds
  • Spinach and other greens = 2 to 6 pounds

3. Pressure Canners

  • Use a pressure canner that holds at least four quart jars.
  • Small pressure canner saucepans don’t work as well for home canning because they heat up and cool down too quickly for safe heat penetration.
  • Be sure your pressure canner has a tight-fitting cover, clean exhaust vent (or petcock) and safety valve, with an accurate pressure gauge.
  • There are two types of pressure gauges: weighted and dial gauges.
  • Weighted gauges need only to be cleaned before using.
  • Dial gauges need to be checked each season for accuracy. Ask your local Extension office where you can have your dial gauge checked.
  • Get the 5-star rated Presto 16 Qt. Pressure Canner from Sears for $79.99. Use this Sears coupon code to get $5 off this press canner when you shop at Sears.com.

4. Canning Jars and Lids

  • Inspect and toss any jars and lids with cracks, chips, dents or rust. These prevent airtight seals.
  • Only use jars designed specifically for home canning.
  • Commercial food jars (i.e. pickle, mayonnaise, coffee, etc.) break easily in pressure canners and don’t seal properly.
  • Use only the half-pint, pint and quart sizes.
  • Wash all jars, including brand-new ones, in hot, soapy water and rinse well before using.
  • Prepare metal lids according to manufacturer directions.
  • Remove mineral deposits or hard water film on jars by soaking for several hours in a mix of one-cup vinegar per gallon of water.
  • Prevent additional mineral build-up during processing by adding 1⁄4 cup vinegar per gallon of water used in the pressure canner.
  • Target has a set of 6 Leifheit 4-Cup Preserving Jars for $22.95. Use this Target coupon to get $5 off orders over $50.


5. Fill Jars and Adjust Lids

You can either pack produce raw or preheat the vegetables and pack them hot. See the table at the bottom of the page to determine which method is appropriate for the veggie you’re canning.

Raw pack

  • Put cold, raw vegetables into jars and cover with boiling water.
  • Pack most raw vegetables firmly into the jars.
  • Loosely pack starchy vegetables like corn, peas and Lima beans. They will expand during processing.

Hot pack

  • Heat vegetables in water or steam before packing.
  • Loosely pack the hot food.
  • Cover with boiling cooking liquid or clean water.

Both pack types

  • Use enough liquid to fill around and cover the food.
  • Read the directions in the table for each vegetable to judge the space needed at the top of the jar. Good headspace gets a better seal.
  • If you add salt for seasoning, use 1/2 tsp. of canning salt per pint to prevent the liquid from turning cloudy.
  • To remove any trapped air bubbles, slide a nonmetallic spatula between the food and jar. Slowly turn the jar and move the spatula up and down to release the bubbles.
  • If necessary, add more liquid to obtain the proper headspace.
  • Wipe the jar rim with a clean, damp paper towel to remove any food bits.
  • Place pretreated lid on the jar.
  • Firmly screw on the sealing band with your fingertips. (Not too tight.)

6. Pressure Canning

  • Read the manufacturer’s instructions and know your altitude. It affects how much pressure is needed.
  • Put 2 to 3 inches of hot water in the canner.
  • Place filled jars on the rack using a jar lifter.
  • Fasten canner lid securely.
  • Keep all weight off the vent port or open the petcock.
  • With heat on a high setting, let the canner steam for 10 minutes.
  • Place weight on the vent port or close the petcock. The canner will pressurize in the next three to five minutes.
  • Start timing the process (see the table below for times) when the dial gauge shows the appropriate pressure for your altitude. With a weighted gauge, this happens when it begins to jiggle or rock.
  • Regulate heat under the canner to maintain a steady pressure at or slightly above the correct gauge pressure.
  • Avoid quick and large pressure variations. They can drain much-needed liquid.
  • Weighted gauges should shake slowly throughout the process.
  • Turn off the heat when the timed process is completed.
  • Remove the canner from the heat and let it depressurize.
  • Don’t cool the canner by pouring cold water over it!
  • When the pressure gauge shows zero, wait a minute or two then slowly open the petcock or remove the weighted gauge.
  • Unfasten the cover and tilt the far side up so the steam will escape away from you.
  • Carefully remove jars from the canner and place on a rack, newspapers or several dry towels.
  • Allow jars to cool untouched and away from drafts for 12 to 24 hours before testing seals.

7. Day After Chores

  • Test the seal by pressing the center of the jar lid. Lids should bend in slightly and not shift.
  • Remove the screw bands.
  • Label the sealed jars with contents, canning method (hot or raw) and date canned.
  • Store in a clean, cool, dry and dark place.
  • If this is your first attempt, you may want to place the jars inside plastic bags to contain any splatters should the bottles burst or seep.
  • Treat jars that didn’t seal properly as fresh food and eat immediately, refrigerate, freeze or reprocess.
  • If you reprocess some veggies, repeat the entire process.

8. Watch For Spoilage

Look for bulging lids or leaking jars.

Look for other signs when you open the jar, such as mold, spurting liquid or an odd odor.

Be aware that low-acid canned vegetables and meats may contain botulism toxin without showing any signs of spoilage.

Just to be safe, before tasting you should boil all home-canned vegetables in a saucepan for 10 minutes.

Boil home-canned spinach or corn for 20 minutes.

Discard if the food looks spoiled, foams or has an off-odor during heating.

Posted in Hacks & How-Tos, Kitchen | No Comments »

Fourth of July Treat: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Thursday, July 1st, 2010


Today’s post is from contributing writer Liz over at Hoosier Homemade.

Hello Alice fans! Thanks so much Rebecca, for having me, I’m just thrilled to be sharing this yummy Fourth of July treat with you! Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays! I’m not sure if it’s the festive hometown parade, the fireworks or all the delicious food that I like the most! These festive Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are sure to be a hit at your Fourth of July cookout or get-together!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies:

  • 2 cups Flour
  • 2 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1/2 cup Buttermilk (No buttermilk? learn how to make your own)
  • 1 oz. Red Coloring (Wilton No-Taste Red is the best)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, just until incorporated. Blend in vanilla. Beginning with the dry ingredients, alternate with buttermilk, beating after each addition. Blend in food coloring.
Drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet, flatten slightly. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Marshmallow Filling:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 jar (7 1/2 oz) Marshmallow Fluff
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla

Directions:
In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add Marshmallow Fluff and vanilla, whip until well combined.
This filling also makes a great frosting for cupcakes! I used it on my Fourth of July Cupcakes!

Assemble:
Place one cookie upside down on a plate, add a heaping spoonful of Marshmallow Filling. Add another cookie on top and dip edges in Sprinkles.


Enjoy! Happy Fourth of July!
Liz is the Hoosier Momma from Hoosier Homemade. She is a SAHM of 3 teenage boys, that keep her running with their sports and school activities. Most of the time you can find Liz creating her cupcakes for Cupcake Tuesday. But, she also shares her baked goods, Budget Friendly Meals, and decorating tips and tricks, all to help you “Make Your House a Home.” And when she’s not at Hoosier Homemade, you can find her having a party over on her new blog, It’s A Blog Party. Or you can follow along with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Posted in Easy Entertaining, Hacks & How-Tos, Kitchen | 4 Comments »

Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Photo Credit: John Beagle

Today’s post is from contributing writer Christina over at Northern Cheapskate.

Looking to raise some extra cash from a garage sale this summer?

Here are a few things you can do to ensure your garage sale is a success:

Advertise. Taking an ad out in your local newspaper is an expense some people may not want to incur, but a well-worded listing in the garage sale section of the classifieds can really drive traffic to your sale.  Items people are always on the hunt for:  baby & kids items and clothing and furniture.  Don’t forget to share the details of your garage sale on your local online forums, such as Craigslist.

Put out lots of signs. Not everyone will pick up a newspaper and you want to grab impulse shoppers in your neighborhood, so make sure you place large, easy to read signs that give all the pertinent details for your sale:  Days, times, and location.

Prepare everything well in advance. My top tip:  Mark your items for sale as you’re clearing out your closets.  If you wait until all of your wares are piled high in your garage, it will be a daunting task.  Clean up dusty items and make sure you have all the parts and pieces so you can get the most money for your items.   If you’re holding a sale with friends and family, be sure to use different color stickers or initials on the price tags so that you can make sure each person gets paid for the items they sold.

Consider offering coffee and treats. In the early morning hours of the sale, you may want to consider selling coffee, soda, or treats like doughnuts or cookies.   This is a great way to bring in some extra money from the sale, and is a great project for an older child who wants to help out at the sale.

Have plenty of change available. Always have plenty of change.  It’s almost a guarantee that someone will stop in and buy a dollar’s worth of items with a $20 bill.  Be ready.

Forget about the sunk costs. You’re looking to move this clutter out of your garage.  While it’s natural to want to make a little bit of money from your sale, you need to be realistic about what you can really get for an item, so don’t obsess about how much you paid for an item originally.

Be willing to deal. Garage sale shoppers are looking for a bargain.  You’re looking to get rid of your stuff.  Be willing to make a deal.  I will sometimes tell folks they can have something for a lower price if they take another item off my hands.

And last, but not least, be smart. Don’t leave your money unattended.  If you can, you may even want to carry it on your person in an oh-so-fashionable fanny pack.   Don’t let people into your home to use your bathroom, etc, and keep your home locked unless you have a family member inside.

Garage sales are a lot of work, but they can really help you clear out your clutter and raise a bit of spending cash.

Posted in Checklists, Dialogue, Hacks & How-Tos, Spring Cleaning | 3 Comments »

How to Organize Your Refrigerator

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Photo Credit: DePrefundis

While I find grocery shopping relaxing, I don’t particularly enjoy the task of keeping my refrigerator organized for all the foods I buy. The different temperatures, drawers and shelves don’t seem to help

One of our favorite blogs, Unclutterer recently posted some ever-inspiring tips:

  • If you or your family regularly consumes drinks from cans, you might benefit from a beverage dispenser or a can organizer.
  • Instead of cans, if you store a lot of bottles, you might need a bottle stacker.
  • Stackable, removable shelves are helpful for adding surface space in refrigerators and freezers.
  • And, shelf liners can keep foods from rolling to the back of a shelf and being forgotten. Shelf liners are also nice because they make cleaning shelves easy.

I like the idea of shelf liners because clean up from spills would be so much easier then. Do you have any organizational genius you can share?

Posted in Hacks & How-Tos, Kitchen | 9 Comments »

Packing Tips from Flight Attendants

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

The New York Times had a fabulous article and slideshow recently on how to pack for your weekend trips and summer vacations (h/t Elysa Rice, Unclutterer). And since we recently shared ways to save extra money for a family vacation, we thought it would be nice to share advice from the experts: flight attendants!

Heather Poole, a flight attendant interviewed for the article, can fit more than 40 pieces of clothes and two pairs of shoes into her carry-on bag. She primarily rolls her clothing, but also “wraps” her nice clothes around her rolled casual items (which, are mostly 50-50 cotton-polyester).

My favorite part was seeing the image of  her suitcase if her clothes were just folded regularly, and then another image of her suitcase packed using the “rolling method.” Magic!

How do you travel efficiently? Any tips for traveling and packing light with kids? Share your tips and tricks in the comments!

Posted in Dialogue, Hacks & How-Tos, Travel | 3 Comments »

Bring the Outside in for Frugal Decor

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Once you’re done Spring Cleaning, you might decide your home needs a little more warmth.

Clair at Mummy Deals shares her top ways to decorate your home by using things from the outside that don’t cost a lot, but look great. Step outside and look for things like twigs, berries and more to bring the outside in for decoration. Make it a family activity by going on “a scavenger hunt” for nature’s decorations.

Thanks for the help, Clair! How do you decorate on the cheap? What are you tips for making things look good on a budget?

Posted in Hacks & How-Tos, Home Management | 2 Comments »

Creative Ways to Re-Use Aluminum Foil

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Wisebread recently published a great post on 12 Surprising Ways to Reuse Aluminum Foil. Here are our favorites:

Reduce static cling

I don’t understand how it works, but if you throw a crumpled piece of aluminum foil into the clothes dryer, it seems to magically reduce static electricity. A true miracle of cheapskate science.

Wash it and use it again (and again)

I swear my mother is still reusing foil from the time of Christ for wrapping and rewrapping leftovers in the fridge. Just wash it in soap and water, flatten it out with a rolling pin on the kitchen counter, and it’s good as new. (Caution: Foil that has come in contact with raw meat should not be reused for other food purposes.)

Scrub grills and baked-on messes

A wad of used foil makes a great scouring pad for cleaning the gunk off BBQ grills and stuck-on food from pots, pans, and inside ovens.

Sharpen scissors and garden shears

Fold used foil so that it’s six to eight layers thick, then cut thru it a few times with dull scissors to instantly sharpen them. To sharpen hefty garden and pruning shears, fold the foil so that it’s even thicker.

Read all 12 ways to reuse over at Wisebread >

Do you have creative ways to reuse foil? Is anyone still using it to fix your TV reception?

Posted in Hacks & How-Tos, Kitchen | No Comments »

You’ll need these the next time you travel

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Spring break is coming up, or maybe you’re just planning a trip to escape the Winter blues. Myself, I have a conference planned for next month. And I love traveling once I’m at the destination, but I get testy on the way there. It’s never the expected things like a baby crying on the plane, but the little things that get under my skin at the airport and in the air. These EarPlanes ear plugs are sure to help me tune a lot of that out. They help relieve air cabin pressure discomfort and of course reduce noise.

EarPlanes are a soft, hypoallergenic latex-free silicone and are disposable once you arrive. No drugs and no ear pain. Arriving relaxed and rested? I could get used to that. (Oh, and they have EarPlanes for Kids too.)

What about you? What are your travel secrets? How do reduce the stress?

Posted in Hacks & How-Tos, Medicine Cabinet | No Comments »

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