Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by danperry.com Many of you are working hard at frugality because you have to. I’m no exception. I’m tightening the belt more than ever. My readers talk about how they sometimes wish there were a “frugal fairy” who granted wishes. She could wave her magic [...]
Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by ecram1 It’s been said that everything old is new again. So if you have vintage accessories packed away or collecting dust, take a fresh look at them to spark creative new uses. If you don’t have anything boxed up or hanging around, a brief [...]
Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by Guillermo Esteves Young kids can be stubborn, refusing to eat anything but favorites such as hot dogs, pizza, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches or chicken nuggets. So it’s always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Instead of getting frustrated and having food battles, try [...]
photo by Gaetan Lee DEAR SARA: I heard that a plastic laundry basket could be used as a cheap bassinet/crib for a baby. What are your thoughts on this? — Lori, e-mail DEAR LORI: I’m not a medical expert, but I wouldn’t use it. I realize many people used to let their babies sleep in [...]
photo by cardamom I love receiving tips from readers, so keep ‘em coming. I’m especially thrilled when they’re improvements on tips I’ve mentioned before. It keeps me on my toes. I love the first tip. It’s better than making potpourri or apple-peel jelly.
photo by multitrack There aren’t enough hours in the day. I can always find one more thing to do before going to bed, and I try to squeeze in extra tasks each day to make the following day more manageable. I’m not alone. Many people have mile-long to-do lists that don’t include making time for [...]
Life is filled with pet peeves and small annoyances, like the toothpaste cap left off or socks that miss the hamper by an inch. It’s easy to forget that there’s no magic fairy that takes care of it all. In my house, I’m the finder of lost things and chief organizer and bottle washer. I’m [...]
photo by madaise Every home cook should have a few recipes that call for secret ingredients. Not like Aunt Gertie’s mystery meat or your sister-in-law’s clean-out-the-fridge casseroles. You want recipes that family and friends hound you for. Some of the best meals have flavors that are strangely familiar, but no one can quite put their [...]
photo by Strata Chalup Our yard gets a lot of mosquitoes. The city sprays to control them, but it’s a losing battle when we get heavy rain. I burn citronella candles to combat them so family and friends can enjoy our backyard without being attacked by bugs. I’m going to give the first tip a [...]
photo by swanksalot Pineapple offers a sweet, tropical flair for summer dishes. It’s a good source of vitamin C, and when using canned pineapple, the juice can be reserved for drinking, cooking or baking. To cut fresh pineapple, place the fruit on its side. Use an electric knife, and cut a 1/2 inch to 1 [...]
photo by wordridden Every little thing, everywhere you look, is going up in price. Have you prepared your family for the fact that this year could be different from last year? Maybe you’ve broken the bad news that your annual trip to the amusement park will be a “staycation” instead. While you’re explaining the many [...]
D EAR SARA: What can I add to boxed cake to make it taste better? It’s not bad, but I’d like it to taste more homemade and not be so dry. — Penny, e-mail DEAR PENNY: You can add coffee in place of the water for chocolate cakes. Try carbonated soda pop, orange or pineapple [...]
Freezer organization can be a challenge. It can be more difficult with a chest freezer. Ideally, you want the older food toward the top so it gets used sooner. You can remove food from bulky packaging and repackage into labeled freezer storage bags to save space or organize into plastic bins. The first reader offers [...]
