A Great Use for Old Teapots and China

I found this article in the April, 2009 issue of Country Living after the link was sent to me by one of my friends. I think it's a great idea for using old unique items and making something new with them rather than throwing or giving them away.





You start out with a box of old bowls, china and teapots and end up with this adorable teapot lamp.



Click here to get to the original article with the instructions.

Tip Tuesday - Keep Your Books in Tip-Top Shape

Frequent dusting and handling of your books will keep them in better shape than just leaving them untouched on the bookshelf. Keeping them clean will keep them from deteriorating as will opening the books and turning the pages occasionally.

Real Simple Quote for Today

Here's a new quote from Real Simple Magazine's Quote for the Day which I wanted to share with you:

Work hard to improve your mind and body. Nourish your spirit. Do the things you fear.

―Robin S. Sharma

Small Living Journal

I came across this blog through my daily Google alerts. It's called the Small Living Journal and the April 4, 2009 entry titled "The First Step to Downsizing Your Life", written by Christina Nellemann, really spoke to me. I wanted to share it with you.

Click here to read this wonderful blog post.

Tip Tuesday - A Useful Tip for Ginger Root

About two years ago I burned my finger badly on a hot pot on the stove. I was soaking it in ice water and every time I took it out of the water, I was in terrible pain.

My sister called while I was soaking my finger and she recommended that I send my husband down to the market and buy a piece of ginger root. "Take the ginger root and cut a fresh piece from it", she said. "Take the piece and place it on the burn and wrap a piece of first-aid tape around it".

I tell you, the pain from the burn went away immediately when I put the ginger root on the burn. I kept it on there for about an hour, replaced it with a fresh piece, and went to bed. In the morning, I had no pain at all when I removed the ginger root from the burn.

So, your tip for the day is to keep some ginger root in your refrigerator. Not only is it a great spice to cook with, you never know when it might come in handy for some first-aid.

Spring Cleaning - Organizing Your Linen Closet

Here's a Spring Cleaning project that can be tackled in a few hours that will make a big difference each time you open the doors of your linen closet.

Start by taking everything out of the linen closet and placing on a nearby table or bed.

Sort the linens by type – towels, tablecloths, sheet sets, etc.

Once you’ve sorted by type, it’s easy to see what’s still worth keeping and what’s ready to be cut into rags or donated to charity (if still in good shape). Donate old towels to your local animal shelter or grooming facility.

The rule of thumb is to keep two sets of sheets per bed. Store the unused set folded inside the pillowcase so all parts of the set are kept together.

A similar rule applies for towels – three good sets (bath towel, hand towel and washcloth) per person. Keep older towels on hand if you have pets or wash your car at home.

Fold all items neatly by type and size. Don’t over crowd shelves. Keep your linens fresh smelling by allowing air to circulate. Keep piles small and make sure that your linens are completely dry before storing away to prevent musty odors.

When placing items back on the shelves, place the items you use most frequently at eye level. Place the freshly laundered items on the bottom of the appropriate pile to ensure that everything wears evenly. Store seasonal and infrequently used items on upper or lower shelves.

Store out of season quilts, blankets and comforters inside space bags (large plastic bags which can be vacuumed sealed to half their original size). Make sure all items are clean before storing.

Label each shelf with its contents (e.g. master bedroom sheets, guest towels, winter blankets, etc.) to keep the linen closet neat and organized.

Here's What I'm Doing Tonight

Two words - THE BOSS!