Friday, February 13
Government law banning pre-1985 children's books from stores and libraries has gone into effect. http://ping.fm/gHCh2
Tuesday, April 25
This week's thrifty tips!
By ThriftyFun.com
Marking Seed Rows
Use paper seed packages as markers for rows of seeds. Just cover the seed package with clear contact paper to prevent it from the elements and slip over a small stake.
Herbs to Prevent Insects
Some herbs can help prevent insects from damaging other plants. For example, anise and coriander discourage aphids. Contact your local nursery or agricultural college extension to find out which herbs will work best in your area.
Do Your Weeding After Watering
Pull weeds after you have watered your lawn or garden. That will loosen up the earth and you will get more of the weed's roots.
Wire Hanger Trellis
You can make a small trellis out of a wire hanger. Straighten the hanger's hook and then bend the remaining hanger into whatever shape you want your trellis to be. Then stick the straighten hook into the dirt and you have a wire trellis for potted plants.
Better Drainage in Your Plant Pots
There are lot of items you can put in the bottom of your plant pot to help improve drainage. If you have a broken coffee cup, just break it into smaller pieces and put those at the bottom of the planter. Other items that will are: walnut shells, broken clay pot shards, marbles or stones. To make your planter lighter, use foam packing peanuts.
Borax and Cornmeal for Drying Flowers
You can dry flowers in about 10 days using Borax and Cornmeal. This requires 2 parts borax to 1 part white cornmeal. First, cover the bottom a tub with a thin layer of this powder. Then place your flowers on top of this layer. Slow add more of the powder until the flowers are covered. It's best to not pour the mixture directly on the flowers (it may squish them), but off to the side, letting it cover the flowers as the tub fills up. Once the flowers are covered, let them sit for 10 days. Sand can be substituted for the borax but it takes 16 days for the flowers to dry if you use sand.
Keep Thin Vases From Tipping Over
Fill the bottom of bud vases with sand or gravel to keep them from tipping over easily.
About the author:
Tips provided by http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Marking Seed Rows
Use paper seed packages as markers for rows of seeds. Just cover the seed package with clear contact paper to prevent it from the elements and slip over a small stake.
Herbs to Prevent Insects
Some herbs can help prevent insects from damaging other plants. For example, anise and coriander discourage aphids. Contact your local nursery or agricultural college extension to find out which herbs will work best in your area.
Do Your Weeding After Watering
Pull weeds after you have watered your lawn or garden. That will loosen up the earth and you will get more of the weed's roots.
Wire Hanger Trellis
You can make a small trellis out of a wire hanger. Straighten the hanger's hook and then bend the remaining hanger into whatever shape you want your trellis to be. Then stick the straighten hook into the dirt and you have a wire trellis for potted plants.
Better Drainage in Your Plant Pots
There are lot of items you can put in the bottom of your plant pot to help improve drainage. If you have a broken coffee cup, just break it into smaller pieces and put those at the bottom of the planter. Other items that will are: walnut shells, broken clay pot shards, marbles or stones. To make your planter lighter, use foam packing peanuts.
Borax and Cornmeal for Drying Flowers
You can dry flowers in about 10 days using Borax and Cornmeal. This requires 2 parts borax to 1 part white cornmeal. First, cover the bottom a tub with a thin layer of this powder. Then place your flowers on top of this layer. Slow add more of the powder until the flowers are covered. It's best to not pour the mixture directly on the flowers (it may squish them), but off to the side, letting it cover the flowers as the tub fills up. Once the flowers are covered, let them sit for 10 days. Sand can be substituted for the borax but it takes 16 days for the flowers to dry if you use sand.
Keep Thin Vases From Tipping Over
Fill the bottom of bud vases with sand or gravel to keep them from tipping over easily.
About the author:
Tips provided by http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Sunday, April 23
9 Traits of Organized Kitchens
by Barbara Myers
1. The number one rule of an organized kitchen is to store items where
you use them. Put your plates near the table, glasses near the fridge
and cutting knives and board near island or counter where you cut up
produce.
2. If you do any baking, set up a baking section. Store together all
items you use when baking.
3. Clean and organize your fridge and freezer. Do a quick upkeep once
a week on trash day. If you don't use it, get rid of it.
4. Move the excess clutter. For example, seasonally used items such
as platters and holiday dishes are better stored in a basement or attic.
Unless you have a very large kitchen, it is best to remove items that
are not used on a regular basis.
5. How many glasses do you really use between dish washing? Store
only as many as you regularly use (glasses, dishes, wine glasses), and
place the extras in storage.
6. Go through your cookbooks and keep in the kitchen only the ones you
use regularly. Seasonal cookbooks can be stored with your holiday
dinnerware. Others can be kept elsewhere or given away.
7. Here's a tough one. If you don't use it every day, remove it from
your counters. So many of us complain about not having enough counter
space, yet we crowd the counters with things we don't use.
8. Check out all the racks and drawer units on the market to more
efficiently store all your kitchen items. You will find a large selection
at home stores around the country.
9. Set up a small pantry somewhere in your home for extra cans of
soup, coffee and other essentials. You'll save money by buying in bulk or
during sales and you'll save space in the kitchen. A small closet can
easily be converted to a pantry. Once you have one, you'll never want
to be "pantry-less" again.
Free "50 Ways to Manage Your Time" tips booklet. Visit
www.ineedmoretime.com.
1. The number one rule of an organized kitchen is to store items where
you use them. Put your plates near the table, glasses near the fridge
and cutting knives and board near island or counter where you cut up
produce.
2. If you do any baking, set up a baking section. Store together all
items you use when baking.
3. Clean and organize your fridge and freezer. Do a quick upkeep once
a week on trash day. If you don't use it, get rid of it.
4. Move the excess clutter. For example, seasonally used items such
as platters and holiday dishes are better stored in a basement or attic.
Unless you have a very large kitchen, it is best to remove items that
are not used on a regular basis.
5. How many glasses do you really use between dish washing? Store
only as many as you regularly use (glasses, dishes, wine glasses), and
place the extras in storage.
6. Go through your cookbooks and keep in the kitchen only the ones you
use regularly. Seasonal cookbooks can be stored with your holiday
dinnerware. Others can be kept elsewhere or given away.
7. Here's a tough one. If you don't use it every day, remove it from
your counters. So many of us complain about not having enough counter
space, yet we crowd the counters with things we don't use.
8. Check out all the racks and drawer units on the market to more
efficiently store all your kitchen items. You will find a large selection
at home stores around the country.
9. Set up a small pantry somewhere in your home for extra cans of
soup, coffee and other essentials. You'll save money by buying in bulk or
during sales and you'll save space in the kitchen. A small closet can
easily be converted to a pantry. Once you have one, you'll never want
to be "pantry-less" again.
Free "50 Ways to Manage Your Time" tips booklet. Visit
www.ineedmoretime.com.
Saturday, April 8
Dress Well With A Tight Budget
Do you want to dress well like a celebrity but don't have deep
pockets? Great, then here are some tips for you to take a quick
look at:
- First of all, know your own figure and your own style. Don't
follow trends that don't suit you. Most clothes look great on
models like Kate Moss, but don't look as good on us normal
women! Remember how many items you bought on impulse last
season? And you did not even wear them!
- Look at your closet and make a list of things you already
have and you really want to keep. Then make a list of the
things that you really want and do you have. Buying from a list
will keep you focused and minimise costly impulse buying.
- Buy the best quality of clothes and accessories that you can
afford. They'll simply look better, last longer, wear less,
wash better and as a result, you will save more money than
buying lots of inferior-quality pieces that will only last a
few wears.
- For big items like suits, dresses, coats: buy classic styles.
These will stand the test of time and not date as much as
clothes bought from the latest trends. Whereas for small items
like bags and accessories, buy the most trendy, fashionable
ones so you look up to date and go for the brightest colours
(they will not make you look fat!).
- Buy on sale whenever possible. You can grab the same piece
for half or even less money just a few months after the celebs.
Nobody will tell you that ‘it’s out of fashion’, just for a few
months. You can grab yourself some really good bargains on the
last few days’ of the sales in famous shops like Harrods and
Harvey Nichols. And buy online, on Ebay if you are Internet
Savvy.
- Swap small items like hats and bags with your best friends
(of course, those with good taste only). There is no point in
spending a lot of money on something you are only going to use
once (Well, it will be embarrassing if you wear the same
clothes to your important parties). So share them with your
friends.
Ladies, dressing well doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you
take a little time and a bit of thought to plan for your need,
and treat buying your clothes like an investment.
About The Author: Amie Porter shows women how to update their
closets, without abusing their credit cards, Closet Clear Out,
Spring Cleaning. www.londonrate.com for London Cleaning
Services, London Cleaner, London Builder
http://www.londonrate.com
pockets? Great, then here are some tips for you to take a quick
look at:
- First of all, know your own figure and your own style. Don't
follow trends that don't suit you. Most clothes look great on
models like Kate Moss, but don't look as good on us normal
women! Remember how many items you bought on impulse last
season? And you did not even wear them!
- Look at your closet and make a list of things you already
have and you really want to keep. Then make a list of the
things that you really want and do you have. Buying from a list
will keep you focused and minimise costly impulse buying.
- Buy the best quality of clothes and accessories that you can
afford. They'll simply look better, last longer, wear less,
wash better and as a result, you will save more money than
buying lots of inferior-quality pieces that will only last a
few wears.
- For big items like suits, dresses, coats: buy classic styles.
These will stand the test of time and not date as much as
clothes bought from the latest trends. Whereas for small items
like bags and accessories, buy the most trendy, fashionable
ones so you look up to date and go for the brightest colours
(they will not make you look fat!).
- Buy on sale whenever possible. You can grab the same piece
for half or even less money just a few months after the celebs.
Nobody will tell you that ‘it’s out of fashion’, just for a few
months. You can grab yourself some really good bargains on the
last few days’ of the sales in famous shops like Harrods and
Harvey Nichols. And buy online, on Ebay if you are Internet
Savvy.
- Swap small items like hats and bags with your best friends
(of course, those with good taste only). There is no point in
spending a lot of money on something you are only going to use
once (Well, it will be embarrassing if you wear the same
clothes to your important parties). So share them with your
friends.
Ladies, dressing well doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you
take a little time and a bit of thought to plan for your need,
and treat buying your clothes like an investment.
About The Author: Amie Porter shows women how to update their
closets, without abusing their credit cards, Closet Clear Out,
Spring Cleaning. www.londonrate.com for London Cleaning
Services, London Cleaner, London Builder
http://www.londonrate.com
Sunday, April 2
How To Use Color And Creativity To Store Kid Stuff
by Sherrie Le Masurier
Are you overwhelmed by clothes, books and toys everywhere? If
you answered yes, just imagine how your child feels. With so
much kid stuff everywhere room cleaning is anything but fun.
That's where a little color and creativity comes in. Conquering
clutter doesn't have to be a chore. With a solid plan and a
little patience you can turn a messy child's room into an
organized environment in a matter of hours.
By using color as an essential part of your child's organizing
system you make the clean up process fun. And by knowing that
each toy has a home your child can then learn how to return
items after play. Even very young children can benefit from
color coordination.
Preschoolers in particular learn their colors faster when they
routinely put colored items in matching bins.
A colored storage system starts by purchasing large cubes, bins
or baskets. You don't have to stick with primary colors either.
The toys and storage containers of today come in all colors and
shapes.
And if you're having trouble coming up with enough containers in
the color(s) of your choice consider spray painting baskets or
covering boxes with matching wallpaper.
For more creative storage tips for children's room visit
http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/kid-room-storage.html
Unfinished wood furniture is ideal for rooms you'll be
implementing a colorful organizing system in. This kind of
furniture is the ideal canvas for all kinds of decorative
touches. You may even wish to give each drawer a different color.
Even when space is tight you can incorporate a little extra
color and storage space by fitting the insides of wardrobe
drawers with either hooks or plastic coated grids with shelves.
Organizing kid stuff by size is also a good idea. Storing small
and large things together can result in lost or broken items.
Where possible small items should be contained in smaller bins.
That said, there is wisdom in storing items together that will
be used together. In that case it's a matter of packaging small
items up separately within a bigger bin or container.
Colorful storage doesn't end with visual storage around the
room. Consider adding a little color to your child's closet by
using colorful hangers and hooks. More closet design and closet
organization tips can be found by visiting
http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/closet-design.html
There is no end to how you can use color and creativity to store
kid stuff. As long as you can imagine it, you can make it
happen.
Are you overwhelmed by clothes, books and toys everywhere? If
you answered yes, just imagine how your child feels. With so
much kid stuff everywhere room cleaning is anything but fun.
That's where a little color and creativity comes in. Conquering
clutter doesn't have to be a chore. With a solid plan and a
little patience you can turn a messy child's room into an
organized environment in a matter of hours.
By using color as an essential part of your child's organizing
system you make the clean up process fun. And by knowing that
each toy has a home your child can then learn how to return
items after play. Even very young children can benefit from
color coordination.
Preschoolers in particular learn their colors faster when they
routinely put colored items in matching bins.
A colored storage system starts by purchasing large cubes, bins
or baskets. You don't have to stick with primary colors either.
The toys and storage containers of today come in all colors and
shapes.
And if you're having trouble coming up with enough containers in
the color(s) of your choice consider spray painting baskets or
covering boxes with matching wallpaper.
For more creative storage tips for children's room visit
http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/kid-room-storage.html
Unfinished wood furniture is ideal for rooms you'll be
implementing a colorful organizing system in. This kind of
furniture is the ideal canvas for all kinds of decorative
touches. You may even wish to give each drawer a different color.
Even when space is tight you can incorporate a little extra
color and storage space by fitting the insides of wardrobe
drawers with either hooks or plastic coated grids with shelves.
Organizing kid stuff by size is also a good idea. Storing small
and large things together can result in lost or broken items.
Where possible small items should be contained in smaller bins.
That said, there is wisdom in storing items together that will
be used together. In that case it's a matter of packaging small
items up separately within a bigger bin or container.
Colorful storage doesn't end with visual storage around the
room. Consider adding a little color to your child's closet by
using colorful hangers and hooks. More closet design and closet
organization tips can be found by visiting
http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/closet-design.html
There is no end to how you can use color and creativity to store
kid stuff. As long as you can imagine it, you can make it
happen.
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