6/22/11

Warmer months mean picnics at the park. Even if the venue has trash cans for food packaging, consider bringing as few food items as possible because overflowing receptacles can be a buffet for wildlife; a gust of wind can redistribute your trash all over the park. Wrap sandwiches in aluminum foil and opt for a beverage in a reusable thermos that has a built-in cup. Pack fruit that wraps itself -- like bananas or apples -- and bring the peels and skins home. Bring everything and take everything home with you.

6/21/11

If you use lemons in your salad dressing or lemonade, they can be reused to whiten napkins and linens. Fill a large stockpot with the squeezed lemons and water; bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and soak your whites in the hot water for an hour or so, allowing the citric acid to naturally brighten the whites and remove stains. Drain, wash and dry in the sunlight for an extra whitening boost.

6/20/11

Now that casual Fridays have become, well, casual workweeks for many of us, the necktie is quickly becoming fashionably obsolete. One way to upcycle a necktie is to use it to wrap a bottle of wine for a gift. Start at the bottom of the wine bottle with the narrowest part of the tie and wrap your way up the bottle. When you reach the end, use a safety pin to keep it all in place.