Helpful Hints with a Side Order of Sarcasm
Hang a three-tiered wire kitchen basket from the ceiling of a closet for extra storage in empty corners. It’s a great spot for socks.
Put instruction manuals in a three-ring binder and you’ll never rifle through drawers again. This will also make it easy to find and send the manuals with the equipment should you ever give it away to someone else or sell it at a garage sale !
Attach a piece of corkboard to the inside of your linen-closet or laundry-room door and use straight pins to affix extra buttons and packets of thread. (I throw mine into an old jar !)
Repurpose ice-cube trays as desk-drawer organizers.
Stuff plastic grocery bags inside an empty tissue box for compact storage and easy retrieval. (My daughter and I decopaged wrapping paper on an old tissue box so it would be more attractive just for this purpose !)
Put “expiration dates” on labels for files that store credit-card and bank statements, tax returns, receipts, etc. so you’ll know when to shred them.
Tuck all your takeout menus — arranged by type of cuisine — inside a 3-ring binder and keep it on top of the fridge or somewhere handy in the kitchen so you'll never have to search for them all over the house again.
Mark the contents of plastic food-storage containers with a dry-erase pen. The “labels” will come off when you wash the items. (As if food lasts that long at my house....)
Fill empty votive-candle holders with small things that tend to get misplaced, such as paper clips, bobby pins, rubber bands, and pieces of ribbon, and keep them on a desk or inside a drawer.
To prevent jewelry tangles while traveling, place your necklaces and bracelets on a sheet of bubble wrap, roll up the sheet, and secure with tape. (The key to this is after you've done this, NOT to leave it in the freaking hotel bathroom when you leave, as I did when we went to New York in May 2006.)
Stash a small flashlight in your lingerie drawer and it will be easy to tell the black tights from the navy ones. (Lola, you probably already have a flashlight in there, don't you ?)
Use a decorative wooden ladder to hang magazines and even clothes. (Hang clothes ? Yea, right !)
Repurpose a standard desktop organizer to hold bathroom essentials, such as makeup, cotton swabs, brushes, and combs.
Depending on its shape and size, a wine rack might store magazines and newspapers. (Jan, I know your wine rack is full, so disregard this tip !)
Did you recently repaint? Slip those paint chips inside your wallet, just in case you find a great upholstered chair and want to see if it will go with your room.
Take an extra travel pill box with you on your next vacation. It’s great for stashing earrings and rings. (And you'll need something to store the Benydryl in to keep the kids 'calm'.) (YES, I'm kidding.)
Tuck a cardboard six-pack container in a tote bag and you’ve got an organizer for garden tools.
Install a drapery rod in the laundry room as an extra-long drying rack for sheets and tablecloths. Add finials for a decorative touch. (You're supposed to wash those things ???)
Place the lids of large plastic storage tubs on the floor underneath pet-food bowls to contain spills, or use them in the garage or the mudroom to hold wet boots. (I'm thinking of using this idea under MY DAD'S plate.)
String up a hammock in the corner of the garage, where it can hold roly-poly sports equipment, like basketballs. (Or, just don't HAVE any roly-poly crap laying around, and then you won't need the hammock !)
Wash socks in a mesh bag and never lose a pair again. (I'm pretty sure the washer / dryer would eat the entire mesh bag.)
Styrofoam Peanuts
Original Purpose: Cushioning delicates for shipping.
Aha! Use: Replacing potting mix in a large planter. Fill the bottom half with leftover peanuts before adding soil. They are light and improve drainage, which promotes healthy roots.
Reward: Hearty plants at half the weight.
Original Purpose: Cushioning delicates for shipping.
Aha! Use: Replacing potting mix in a large planter. Fill the bottom half with leftover peanuts before adding soil. They are light and improve drainage, which promotes healthy roots.
Reward: Hearty plants at half the weight.
Croquet Wickets
Original Purpose: Marking the field of play.
Aha! Use: Corralling a garden hose. Make an arched pathway from the waterspout to the flower bed, then feed the hose through the wickets. Now the hose can’t migrate and crush your impatiens. (Again, I can't use this, as my Dad simply steps on the plants that he doesn't take out with the garden hose, anyway.)
Reward: Fragile flowers won’t get hosed.
Original Purpose: Marking the field of play.
Aha! Use: Corralling a garden hose. Make an arched pathway from the waterspout to the flower bed, then feed the hose through the wickets. Now the hose can’t migrate and crush your impatiens. (Again, I can't use this, as my Dad simply steps on the plants that he doesn't take out with the garden hose, anyway.)
Reward: Fragile flowers won’t get hosed.
Bar of Soap
Original Purpose: Lathering away a layer of grime.
Aha! Use: Keeping nails clean. Before working in the garden, scrape your fingernails across a bar so soap lodges under them, blocking out soil, sand, and other muck. Later, simply wash out the soap with a nailbrush.
Reward: Cleaner tips on your green thumbs.
Original Purpose: Lathering away a layer of grime.
Aha! Use: Keeping nails clean. Before working in the garden, scrape your fingernails across a bar so soap lodges under them, blocking out soil, sand, and other muck. Later, simply wash out the soap with a nailbrush.
Reward: Cleaner tips on your green thumbs.
(I'm thinking of making my Dad do this to his hands before he enters our bathroom each time. Never know what's under those nails, you know ?)
Dust Lamp with Lint Roller
Original Purpose: Restoring your black turtleneck to its fuzz-free glory.
Aha! Use: Dusting a lamp shade. Run the roller up and down the outside to get rid of what shouldn’t be there.
Reward: No citations from Sergeant Clean Sweep, a.k.a. Mom.
Aha! Use: Dusting a lamp shade. Run the roller up and down the outside to get rid of what shouldn’t be there.
Reward: No citations from Sergeant Clean Sweep, a.k.a. Mom.
(This one's simple, with two dogs and eight cats, we simply do NOT have any dust in our home to worry about !) (If you're wondering where all of it goes, just check the seat of my pants each morning when I leave for work. I'm pretty sure all of the cat hair in the house ends up there.)
Remove Food Stains with Lemon
Original Purpose: Cooking.
Aha! Use: Removing tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Reward: A house that smells like a lemon grove.
Other Use: Washing up after eating or cooking fish. Rub lemon on your hands and rinse
Aha! Use: Removing tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Reward: A house that smells like a lemon grove.
Other Use: Washing up after eating or cooking fish. Rub lemon on your hands and rinse
Deodorize Shoes with Dryer Sheets
Original Purpose: Softening clothes and reducing static cling.
Aha! Use: Refreshing smelly shoes and sneakers. Put half a scented Bounce sheet in each shoe. (Everyone take note: buy stock in Johnson & Johnson. If I start doing this to C's shoes, the sales for Downey drier sheets will SKYROCKET.)
Aha! Use: Refreshing smelly shoes and sneakers. Put half a scented Bounce sheet in each shoe. (Everyone take note: buy stock in Johnson & Johnson. If I start doing this to C's shoes, the sales for Downey drier sheets will SKYROCKET.)
Remove Adhesive with Oil
Original Purpose: Frying.
Aha! Use: Removing adhesive from glass. Apply cooking oil to the sticker using a paper towel or a soft cloth, rub firmly, then rinse with warm, soapy water. (If the adhesive is stubborn, use a dab of toothpaste along with the oil.)
Aha! Use: Removing adhesive from glass. Apply cooking oil to the sticker using a paper towel or a soft cloth, rub firmly, then rinse with warm, soapy water. (If the adhesive is stubborn, use a dab of toothpaste along with the oil.)
Dish Drainer
Original Purpose: Drying dinnerware.
Aha! Use: Organizing coloring books and art supplies. Stack the books like plates, between the prongs. Store markers, crayons, and pencils in the utensil caddy.
Reward: A neat way to serve up art supplies at playtime.
Aha! Use: Organizing coloring books and art supplies. Stack the books like plates, between the prongs. Store markers, crayons, and pencils in the utensil caddy.
Reward: A neat way to serve up art supplies at playtime.
Garden Hose Reel
Original Purpose: Keeping a hose from becoming a snake in the grass.
Aha! Use: Winding up strings of holiday lights. Coil them round and round for knot-free hall decking. (Or you could use the Redneck method, and just leave your lights up all year long.)
Aha! Use: Winding up strings of holiday lights. Coil them round and round for knot-free hall decking. (Or you could use the Redneck method, and just leave your lights up all year long.)
Pencil Erasers
Original Purpose: Getting the lead out.
Aha! Use: Keeping your hanging art on an even keel. Cut the erasers off a pair of No. 2’s and glue them to the bottom corners of a frame. They’ll keep everything straight and prevent scratches.
Reward: Walls that stay in picture-perfect shape.
Aha! Use: Keeping your hanging art on an even keel. Cut the erasers off a pair of No. 2’s and glue them to the bottom corners of a frame. They’ll keep everything straight and prevent scratches.
Reward: Walls that stay in picture-perfect shape.
Empty Toilet Paper Rolls
Original Purpose: Moving the toilet tissue round and round.
Aha! Use: Storing an extension cord. Coil the cord into a hank about 1 1/2 inches thick, then slide it through the tube for a neat package that won’t come unwound.
Reward: Tangle-free power wherever you need it.
Aha! Use: Storing an extension cord. Coil the cord into a hank about 1 1/2 inches thick, then slide it through the tube for a neat package that won’t come unwound.
Reward: Tangle-free power wherever you need it.
Tall Glass Vase
Original Purpose: Showing off all those long-stemmed roses from gentleman callers.
Aha! Use: Helping toilet paper hide in plain sight.
Aha! Use: Helping toilet paper hide in plain sight.
Cling Wrap
Original Purpose: Covering last night's lasagna.
Aha! Use: A super-strong handle for carrying awkwardly shaped packages. Pull out the length of wrap you need and twist it to make a rope. Wrap it around the box, then create a handle or a tie. (Packing tape also works great for make-shift handles.)
Aha! Use: A super-strong handle for carrying awkwardly shaped packages. Pull out the length of wrap you need and twist it to make a rope. Wrap it around the box, then create a handle or a tie. (Packing tape also works great for make-shift handles.)
Zip-Loc bags
Original Purpose: Food storage.
Aha! Use: Packing. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw in a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove straw, seal, and cushion cargo. Wrap delicate items with newspaper first. (And heirloom china should wait for that bubble wrap.)
Reward: Girl Scout pride.
Other Use: As a pastry bag; Fill with icing, zip shut, snip off a corner, and squeeze.
Aha! Use: Packing. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw in a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove straw, seal, and cushion cargo. Wrap delicate items with newspaper first. (And heirloom china should wait for that bubble wrap.)
Reward: Girl Scout pride.
Other Use: As a pastry bag; Fill with icing, zip shut, snip off a corner, and squeeze.
**Please note: All images and info came from REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE
**Please note: All sarcasm came from ME. =)
I've been on a real reading streak lately. Granted, I read all the time, but I've really been BLAZING through the books lately. Here are a few that I've enjoyed a lot:
