If you've got a garlic press gathering dust in your kitchen, bring it out and use it for more than just garlic. You can use it to crush dried herbs to make your own custom blends. Add whole seeds like black pepper, cumin, coriander -- whatever you want! -- and place them in the device. When the herbs go through the press, you'll have a coarse blend that's fresh and ready to go. When you find a spice blend you love, save money and buy the ingredients in bulk and press away. The blends make great gifts and can be stored in airtight jars to use whenever you're ready to grill, bake, sautee ...

With the cold winter months upon us, many of us prepare by packing up our bicycles until it's warm enough to use them again. One misconception about winter bike storage is that you should deflate the tires before putting your bike away. This is damaging to the bike since the weight adds pressure to one spot on the rubber and rims all winter long. Over time, this deteriorates and distorts the bicycle. Come spring, when you reinflate the tires, the whole bike can be totally off. Instead, before storing your bicycle, fully inflate the tires so it rests on air, not the rubber and metal.

Thinking about giving the outside of your house a fresh paint job? The color of paint you choose can have a big impact on how energy-efficient your home can be. Lighter-colored homes in warmer climates have a higher light reflective value (LRV). Pure black measures zero percent LRV, and pure white measures 100 percent LRV. By choosing a lighter tint, you reflect light away, and your home uses less energy to stay cool. For homes that are in more predominantly colder climates, a darker color can help absorb heat and reduce heating costs.