2/3/10

Instead of sipping artificially flavored coffees, make custom, naturally flavored coffees yourself. Grind whole-bean, organic coffee right at home and add cinnamon sticks, chili peppers and cocoa nibs for added flavor. A little goes a long way, so be conservative when adding flavor.

2/2/10

Transform a little-used wall into a functional message center. For your home office, paint the inside of a closet door or a small wall using chalkboard paint; it's a nontoxic latex paint mixed with carbon (which allows you to write on it with chalk), and it is sold in most home improvement stores. Slather two coats of paint on whatever you want to make into a chalkboard. Then jot down your ideas, reminders and messages on the board.

2/1/10

While it would be great if you could just touch dusty surfaces in your home and they'd be sparkling clean, here's the next best thing: Stick your hand in a clean cotton sock and dust away. For better results, use an all-purpose, non-toxic spray cleaner and wipe up the dust particles with the sock. The best part? Throw the sock in the washing machine and use it over and over again.