Want a natural way to keep pesky flies out of the kitchen? Common sense first: Cover all food and keep whatever you can in airtight containers or in the refrigerator. Second: Keep a small pine-tree plant in the kitchen. Of all the natural oils and scents that deter flies, pine oil is the most effective and the strongest. By keeping a living tree in the kitchen, you'll keep flies away and have something beautiful, too. You can find easy-to-care-for varieties at any home improvement store.
Have some generic white coffee mugs you want to customize? Grab a permanent marker and embellish the front with whatever design you want, then bake the mug at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes in the oven. Turn off the oven and allow the mug to cool completely. The ink will set and make a permanent design on your mug. Now you'll never lose track of your mug again.
