Table Cloths for Tools

The next time that you start a project, grab a vinyl table cloth from the local discount store, or an old one that you have lying around the house.

Place it over your work table or work bench. Now when you sand, glue paint, whatever the project may be, clean up will be a snap.

Most glues will peel off after it has dried, and you can gently lift it off and dump any shavings into a trash can.

Enlightening Pasta

You are trying to light your candles and you cannot find your box of tall matches. All is not lost! Reach into your pantry and grab a piece of spaghetti.

Light the end of the spaghetti with a lighter or a match. Now you can light all of your candles with out burning your fingers.

Do not forget to dunk in water when you are finished to completely extinguish, and NEVER leave a burning candle unattended.

Picky Tape

You are getting a box ready to ship and you grab your roll of shipping tape. An hour later you are still trying to find the end of the tape and get it pulled up to use. A simple solution is in your kitchen.

Grab a toothpick from your supply. Once you find the end of the tape and get it pulled up, place the toothpick just under the end of the tape. Now the next time that you are ready to use it simply pull up on the toothpick and the end of the tape will be released.

Packing Dishes

You are having to pack up the house to get ready to move. You have all the big stuff taken care of, but now you are down to the dishes.

The easiest way to pack your plates is to pick up a package of paper plates.

When you are ready, pack a regular plate, then a paper plate. Alternate between each one until all your dishes are packed. This will help to keep the dishes from rubbing together.

Make sure that the box is clearly marked as dishes and pack the top and the bottom very well with newspaper.

Now when you get to the new house you can unpack your dishes and still have some paper plates to use for the first few nights with out worrying about washing dishes.

Old Kitchen Towels

Everyone has them in their kitchen. The towels that are the faithful standby, but you don't want to be seen by anyone.

I have a few of those myself, and it is good! These are the towels that I use when thing are going to get really messy!

I don't feel bad if they get ruined or stained. I use these as my "counter top" towels, and the nicer decor towels are on the handle of the range for drying hands.

If your standby towels become too worn I retire them to the garage when they can still last several more years. They are great for wiping up messy spills from vehicles and the garage, as well as washing cars.

If you need a smaller cloth, no big deal, cut cut it down in size.

If one becomes too stained, you do not need to worry about tossing it, by this time it has usually led a very full life!

I keep a separate laundry basket in the garage just for these "shop" towels. About once a month I will wash the entire load together so I don't ruin any regular clothes.

Honey Helper

Honey is a staple in most households. Did you know that you can use it for more than just cooking? Honey can be used as an antibiodical ointment to help wounds heal.

Clean your wound with some water to remove any debris.

Place a small amount of honey to the affected area and cover with a sterile wrap.

The honey will keep the wound slightly moist for healing as well as reduce some of the swelling.

An enzyme called Inhibine in the honey will help prevent infection.

Honey is also universally been used for relief from bronchial ailments such as coughing.

Give one teaspoon as needed to help quiet a cough.

DO NOT give honey to infants under the age of one, and only give children pasturized honey as it can contain bacteria that can be very harmful to infants and children.

The Wonders of Olive Oil

Olive Oil, the same stuff that you use to cook with actually is a wonderful item to have on hand for several ailments. For these purposes, you will get the best results if you use Extra Virgin.

Constipation: Yup, we all get it and it is uncomfortable. If you suffer from occasional constipation you can take 1 teaspoon of Olive Oil mixed with some Lemon Juice on an empty stomach.

Moisturizer: You can even use Olive Oil as a moisturizer. Simply massage into affected areas and let soak overnight.

Loosening Lids

You grab the jar of molasses (or enter sticky item of choice here) and you cannot get the lid off. This does happen frequently so here is how you can fix it now and prevent it from happening again.

If you have a jar lid that is stuck now, run the lid under very warm water for a few minutes. Grab a towel and gently twist off the top.

Now, to keep if from happening again..... Before you place the lid on the container, use a warm damp wash rag and gently clean the rim of the jar and the lid itself. For extra insurance you can spray the inside of the lid with a bit of cooking spray before placing it on the jar.

CHIPPED CUPS

If your favorite china cup got chipped, don't fret too much. You can find lots of new uses for old dishes or cups that are not quite perfect.

You can place a potted plant in the cup and place it on a windowsill or other location suited for the plant that you placed in it.

Now just turn the cup so that the chip does not show.

Now you can see the cup all the time, and your visitors will think that it is a lovely decorative piece. (If you aren't real good at growing plants, you can use some silk ones)

Aluminum Wrap Up

Sometimes you find the perfect gift, but it is little and a little oddly shaped.

An easy way to wrap these presents is with aluminum foil.

It molds to the item easily, looks impressive with any color of ribbon.

It is also very easy for small kids to open. Just watch out for any little pieces that might choke and infant or toddler.

Vinegar Usage II

Vinegar is the unsung hero of the kitchen. It has plenty of uses around the house, besides just cooking.

If you have painted a room and the smell of paint is taking a long time to dissipate, place a bowl of vinegar in the room. The vinegar will help to dispel the paint odor.

If you have a clogged showerhead from hard water and minerals, place the showerhead into a bowl. Pour in enough vinegar to cover and let set for 15-20 minutes. Remove the head from the bowl and scrub with a toothbrush. Place the showerhead back on the nozzle and run water though to make sure that all the holes are cleared. If you still have a few plugged holes just use a toothpick, when the water is off, to break any clumps free.

If you happen to get stung by a bee or mosquito, you can place a paper towel soaked in vinegar on the site to help alleviate some of the pain and itching.

After you have washed your hair, mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water and use as a final rinse. This will help strip any extra soap buildup and help your hair to shine.

Home Made Body Scrub

Instead of paying the big bucks for body scrub, you can make your own at home with ingredients in your kitchen!

When you are ready just mix together ½ cup Epsom Salts, 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (or Canola Oil) and a few drops of any citrus fruit (orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime)

Combine well and with your fingers gently apply to dry skin in a circular motion. Rinse well.

Self Tanning Streaks

You are using a self tanning lotion, but you are beginning to notice a few streaks.

Grab some pure lemon juice and using a cotton ball gently rub over the streaks. The citric acid in the juice is a natural exfoliater and lightener to help remove the streaks.

Don't have any lemon juice handy? Grab some baking soda and sprinkle some onto a damp washcloth. Gently rub the streaks in a circular motion. Baking soda also acts as an exfoliant to start removing some of the streaks.

To help prevent the streaks when you apply your tanner, combine the tanner with an equal amount of moisturizer. Mix it gently with your palms before applying and it will help to give you a more natural looking color.

Cranky Candles

If you have problems getting your candles to sit up straight in their holders, here are a few hints.

If the candle is a bit to large for the holder or just won’t stand up straight, bring a large pot of water to boil on your stove top.

Once the water has reached boiling, dip the bottom 2 inches of each candle into the water.

Let it warm up in the water for several minutes.

Pull it out and gently press into the holder. The candle should gently form to the base.

If the candle is not soft enough, simply place the candle end back into the water and wait a few more minutes until the candle is pliable.

If the candle is too small for the holder you can use some double stick foam tape to hold it in place.

Don’t forget to never leave a candle burning unattended.

Butter Boat

You are preparing your recipe and it calls for quite a bit of melted butter. Only problem is that when it get's poured into the mixing bowl it spills everywhere.

Next time you need to melt butter, do so in your gravy boat.

Place the butter into your gravy boat (make sure it is microwave safe) and place in the microwave for 30 second, and then 10 seconds at a time until melted.

Now you can easily pour into your mixing bowl with out making a big splash!

So You Want to Learn How to Cook

So you have finally decided to learn how to cook, or you know someone that wants to learn. Although everyone says that cooking is so easy once you know the basics, the basics can still be frustrating.

Every one has to start somewhere, so start easy. Go to your local book store or library and find a kids cookbook. Read through them and make sure that they have recipes that look good and go for it.

The books are very simple and should not confuse you with terms that you don't understand when you are beginning.

I have been cooking for years and I still go back to my basic cookbooks for recipes and ideas. I also live on cooking shows. One of my favorites is :Good Eats" (if you don't have cable, you can rent or buy the episodes on dvd) The show is great for teaching the basics and how foods work together.

Diet Dilemma

You have been dieting for a while and you are used to measuring your food. Have you ever thought about measuring your drinks also?

Glasses come in all shapes and sizes. What you think may be an 8 ounce glass, may actually be 10-12 ounces. Those extra few ounces can add up over time.

Measure each glass and make a note as to which glass is which size to make sure that you are getting the proper amount.

Curious Calories

You hear the word Calorie used all the time these days. Food commercials, packaging, everywhere you look. You know that there is a certain amount that you should eat each day, but when looking at foods it is hard to tell if it is an ingredient or what.

A Calorie is actually a measure of energy. When the term was created the base of one calorie was established as the amount of energy that an approximately 150 pound person burns each minute while sleeping.

It really doesn't matter what you eat or how you eat it. If the food says that it has 80 calories, whether it be Meat, Vegetables, Candy, Bread it is still just 80 calories.

Eating the calories is not what causes weight gain. It is eating too many and burning too few that will cause weight gain.

Vinegar Usage IV

Vinegar is the unsung hero of the kitchen. It has plenty of uses besides just cooking.

When baking bread you can brush a little vinegar on the top just before baking and it will help keep the crust a bit softer.

If you have problems with hard water buildup on your chrome fixtures, just soak a paper towel in vinegar and place it on the affected area. After about 5 or 10 minutes, rub vigorously to remove the stain.

If you are preparing fish and you find that your hands smell more like fish than your dinner, rinse them with vinegar and then wash. This will also work with other strong odors like onions.