photo by drewzak
DEAR SARA: My sister drew my name for the family Secret Santa and asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I was thinking about working on our stockpile and asking for some of the more expensive stock items, and providing a bunch of ideas. We cook mostly from scratch, and I don’t want to ask for anything (like meat) that would need to be refrigerated. What other suggestions …

photo by wheany
DEAR SARA: I am about to give up the paper route I have (will probably regret it later, but the 3 a.m. wake up is killing me). And I have a box full of the plastic bags the papers go in. Not the smaller, skinnier daily bags, but the 9-inch-wide Sunday bags, and I am trying to find a use for them so they don’t go to waste. …

photo by foldsomething
DEAR SARA: Is there an online fund-type account for a baby shower? I am a single woman who is adopting, and I’ve been using Freecycle like crazy, so I have a lot of stuff such as a crib, changing table, bouncer, diaper genie, swing, highchair, tub, etc. I do plan to register for some stuff I need, but I’d like to create an account to help pay for …

photo by House of sims
DEAR SARA: I have found several homemade mixes on your forums that I would like to make. If the mixes were stored in a glass jar and exposed to light, would it affect the mix? I am unsure with some of the spices. The reason I ask is because I would like to use glass jars, such as mason jars, and adhere a label. I think …