Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Magnetic personality!


Looking for a cute way to post messages and your kids' masterpieces on your fridge? Collect unbent metal bottle caps (off soda or beer bottles). Using patterned scrapbook paper and a one inch round craft punch, make paper circles. Coat both sides of paper with sealant (i.e. "Mod Podge") and put in the caps to dry. Superglue small flat magnets to the backs of the caps and allow to dry...These make cute gifts too!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Recycle and make your organizing simple


"Good Housekeeping" (6/10) suggests some great ideas for recycling readily available items in your home while organizing your life! Here are a few:

* Use paper-towel cardboard rolls to keep extension cords, holiday lights and garlands from getting tangled...just wrap around them and voila...!

* Old belts can manage rolls of duct tape, masking tape, etc...slip the rolls on the belt, buckle it and hang it near other fix-it items!

* Use cardboard wine caddies from grocery stores to hold utensils, napkins and/or condiments for dining on the patio or on a picnic...you can use contact paper to give them a nicer look too!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Traveling with Sole Mates!


No doubt my readers are vacationing this summer...Here is an interesting packing tip...
Use the "freebie" shower caps you find in your hotel rooms to cover your shoes (or possibly swimsuits?) before packing them in your suitcases for the trip home...They will help keep things from getting even dirtier! (is that really a word?!) If those are not large enough, try the freebie drycleaning service bags from your hotel closet!
Happy trails!!!!!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Ants Begone!


Short and sweet! Have you ever struggled with anthills in your yard? Good Housekeeping (6/90) advises putting cucumber peels on an anthill to ensure that the ants will go away! Let me know if this really works, ok?

Saturday, July 24, 2010

This will bowl you over!


I recently read a magazine article about making paper bowls...very artsy looking so think about this for gift-giving occasions! Steps as follows:

* Wrap a bowl with cling wrap and place it upside down
* Place shredded cardstock (check at Michael's, JoAnn's or similar craft shops!) into a 2nd bowl and sprinkle it with water
* Brush bottom of the cling-wrapped bowl with a solution of 2 parts glue and 1 part water
* Add small clump of paper shreds to the bowl randomly and brush with more glue solution until all of them lie flat and stick to the bowl
* Repeat at least 3 times until you are about 2 inches from top of bowl
* Let bowl dry and remove it from the cling wrap
(For all details check out womansday.com/bowl

This is very artsy, art-deco and gift-worthy...enjoy and let your friends think you thought it up all on your own! :)

Friday, July 23, 2010

"How To" info for the older email bunch


My mom is forever having email issues...and yes, I am convinced it's due to user error, but that's an argument for another time! For those of you with similar issues (or relatives who are technophobic...is that a real term?), have them check out the Floh Club at flohclub.com (created by Florence Henderson). There non-geeks of a certain age can join for a mere $25/month fee and have on-call support and remote help for all problems from loading software to opening attachments...slow and easy is the format! I am considering a 3-month membership as a Christmas gift for a certain someone (shout-out to Mom!) to save my sanity and get her e-mail ready!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

I keep hearing this echo...


Hello...? Hello...? I keep hollering but no one replies (not even the darned echo! Give or take a few lapses (hey, this isn't my day job, ok?) I've been pretty devoted about posting deals and ideas for you...any you'd like to send in for posting? Please do...either post a response to one of the recent posts or e-mail me at HBEdm@aol.com and I will answer your questions or post your suggestion in an upcoming post! Thanks!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Will you deal or are you chicken???


So this particular post is specific to my Phoenix friends, but I wonder if this might not catch on in your area as well?

We have a site called dealchicken.com that "hatches" a new Phoenix area local deal and if you are signed up with them, you receive a chance to commit to the deal...if enough people sign-up for the deal you get it at the price offered! Sounds simple though I can say I have yet to try it...will do so this weekend and let you know how it turns out...(oh, and the ad suggests you "tell all your peeps"!)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

What are the odds?


So just for fun check out www.Bookofodds.com !

This "odd" (yep, that was a pun...just checking to see if you are paying attention!)
site calculates the odds for various events. How likely are you to win the Powerball jackpot...uhh...I think I will keep my job and continue clipping coupons! What about you?

Monday, July 19, 2010

Gift card philanthropy?


Here's a thought that helps you and others too...don't you just love a "win/win" situation?

If you have gift cards that you've received but can't use (or refuse to!), visit:

www.plasticjungle.com to donate the cards and donate the monetary value of the cards toward your choice of charities on the site. Really, a Lane Bryant gift card? Even if the clothes do fit, it's a touchy kind of gift! And how about that card for Macaroni Grill...? Hmmm...come to think about it that's probably how I earned the Lane Bryant card...Donations are sounding like a good option!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The New Age Buddy System


I often bemoan the fact that today's kids (yes, mine are at the top of the list), have "electronic" friends rather than deep, lasting friendships. Texting has become their primary means of communication and if that fails, FaceBook is soooooo much more personal! OK, so I do use FaceBook, but at my age it's more to reconnect with friends I met along the way before texting and e-mail were even a glint in some engineer's eye!

Along these lines I present what may be the cheesiest idea yet! There is a site that matches women up with "gal pals" to "expand their social circle"...

www.girlfriendcircles.com matches you up with women with similar interests (only $30 for a 6-month membership)...I stand corrected, I guess money and technology can buy friendships! Yikes! Your thoughts on this?