Domestic Goddess Tip of the Day

Store 'Early' Holiday Decorations Separately

This year, when you put your holiday decorations into storage, think ahead to next year. Put the decorations you use first in a separate box and store them where you can get to them easily. For instance you may want your advent wreath and calendar, and holiday card basket available early in the season. Mark the box "December 1," and make a corresponding note on next year's calendar as to where the box is stored.

For more holiday organizing ideas, click here! http://interiordec.about.com/library/bl_cmasstorage.htm

Gift Tags and other tips -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recycled Gift Tags If you saved last year's holiday cards, there's no need to buy gift tags this year. To make tags, cut an image from the card that has enough blank space surrounding it to write "From" and "To," and fill in the names. Punch a hole at the top of the tag, thread a ribbon through and attach it to your gift. Use fancy-cut scissors if you have them. Can't visualize it? Click the link below to see examples.

- Peggy Clements

Be Careful What You Put in the Trash! Legal experts say that you should tear up credit-card bills (after you've paid them!) or any sensitive documents. Do not throw out personal letters or credit information. Protect your social security number. There are scam artists and others who steal identities, who go through the trash to get personal information

Finding The Lost Box

Hanging drywall? You should know that it is not uncommon for one to "lose" a switch or receptacle box when hanging drywall. These boxes sometimes inadvertently get covered over. If this happens to you, don't panic. Finding a lost box is usually pretty easy. Here are two ways:

1. Boxes are usually nailed to a stud at a certain height. Hold a straight edge against the wall where you suspect the box is located and try to locate a hump in the wall.

2. If this fails and you have a stud sensor with a live wire detecting function, turn on the power to the circuit and use the stud sensor to track down the box.

- Stephen Corwin

Newspaper Logs for the Fireplace Recycle that big pile of newspapers into fireplace logs. First take out all the slick magazines, inserts or Sunday color comics. Then tightly roll the newspapers and tie with string. Store them outside and let them get wet and then dry. They will be ready to use in the fireplace

Inside Air

In the good old days of drafty houses, the inside air was pretty much the same as outside air. As newer buildings get tighter, though, the inside air is an area of concern.

Many of the pollutants in the house used to blow out the cracks but occupants now must inhale the pollutants. Filtering can take care of particulate problems but residents are stuck with gasses that can't be filtered.

Combustion byproducts pose serious health risks. Gas stoves, kerosene heaters, and vent-less fireplaces all produce gasses that are hazardous to health. Always use exhaust fans when cooking with gas and never try to heat with a gas range. Strictly follow the instructions when using un-vented fuel burning appliances -- it is serious business.

- Stephen Corwin

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Answers

Door Seal

Refrigerator door seals eventually need to be replaced and it doesn't have to be a tough job. The first step, of course, is to purchase a new seal. You'll need the appliance model number and seals are available at the parts store or online.

The tricky part is removing the old seal. Don't take the seal off all at once, instead remove several feet of the old seal and replace it with the new seal. Eventually work your way around the door. Why? Because if you remove all of the fasteners holding the seal at once, the inside panel of the door will probably come off and you may find yourself cleaning up mustard and ketchup.

- Stephen Corwin

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Speaking of recycling Christmas cards, I have found that you can white-out what's written on the cards that you receive, and then write over the white-out and send them as your own the following year. Eat your heart out, Martha.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

that sounds tacky.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Barefoot, sometimes I've been known to josh and spoof.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

me too, but that sounds tacky.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Barefoot, my damn post was a spoof.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Hell, I think it's a great idea. Even better--neatly cut out the personal greeting and paste a nice photo to show through the hole. It would make a mess of the envelopes, though. But then, I'm a cheap bugger.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

I'm even cheaper: I sent e-cards.

May I brag? Please? Please?

Christmas costs were around $65 this year, down from $100 - something last year. The bulk of the money went into ingredients for stollens and secondarily for fudge and cookies. The several non-food gifts I gave I picked up on my last trip to Amish country.

I didn't put anything on my credit card, so I'm entering January with zero debt and only a two-three pound weight gain.

Next year, I'll see if I can cut down further on gift-giving. A slowing ecomony helps me wiggle out of a lot of things.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Peter, sometimes I've been known to josh and spoof.

[chuckle]

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Another tip, is to use the comics from the Sunday paper....to wrap childrens gifts.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Meemur, that's GREAT! Feels good all the way around not to have the debt, nor a bunch of pounds dragging you down when the New Year rolls around, doesn't it?

GOOD FOR YOU!!! :-)

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

I hate her! LOLOLOLOLOL!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

(Meems is beginning to sound like Martha. You watch, she'll be gathering flax and weaving it for those damn drapes next. Omigod! What if she IS Martha???)

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

OG: If Meemur turns out to be Martha, I'm afraid we are both going to be pilloried as Bad Examples.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

BTW, I have photos from the Christmas Party. Soon as Sweetie scans them for me, I'll prevail upon Carl to put them on his site and post them here! (There are only two I'm going to let you see, Carl!)

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Me, MARTHA? LOL! (:

One of these days I'll get around to posting some pictures of my house. A techno-geek/dumpster diver would be comfortable here, not Martha.

Can't wait to see the pix of your Christmas costume, OG.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Then again, the way things are going, perhaps I should go gather flax for the drapes. (:

I haven't found what I want in the way of drapes, yet. Both Sears and Wal-Mart have affordable thermo drapes, but I haven't liked any of the colors -- oddly colored paisley and aqua-green/blue faux woven ones seem to be the in thing right now. I'm looking for a solid deep blue or brown or white. Saw a maroon pair that wasn't bad, but they were $110.00/pr. Ouch.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

so where's the pic??? I want to see it...waaaaa waaaa!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Sweetie has control of the scanner (actually, I don't want to know how to work another piece of computer equipment), and hasn't got a round tuit. Another night or two of gentle nagging should do it. Trust me, it's worth it.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002