7/27/09

Here's one simple way to keep your fruits and vegetables fresher, longer: Keep 'em apart. Different fruits let off a gas called ethylene as they ripen, which can make vegetables go bad much faster. By keeping them totally separate from each other, you'll help prolong the shelf life of the foods.

It's something you probably don't often think about, but this morning may be the time to clean your coffeemaker. Fill the carafe with four parts water and two parts white vinegar and run the mixture through the coffeemaker (minus a filter). When it's finished, let the machine cool. Then run a full pot of cold water through the coffeemaker. A thorough cleaning will remove trace minerals left behind and give you a fresher, tastier cup of java.

7/26/09

Here's a fun and easy arrangement you can make for any room of the house: Grab a tall vase and fill it with branches clipped from your backyard. Attach personal photos, notes or cards with paperclips to the branches. Evolve the collection and take your mementos on and off the branches. When you want to take down the arrangement, just unclip everything and throw the branches back into the yard.

7/25/09