Handy Cheese Garnisher

Want a quick way to slice hard cheese for a salad or pasta? Get out that trusty potato peeler. You will have uniform strips and control the amount of cheese.

Rotate Bed Linens

Make your bedding last longer. After you wash a set, put it on the bottom of the stack in your linen closet and use another set. This rotating will lessen the wear-and-tear.

Keep Extra Tires In Your Garage?

They can serve double duty. For example, you can store a garden hose inside; it will be wound up and neatly put away. Retrieving it will be easy too.

Run Out Of Chocolate?

All of us have started making a recipe only to find out that we don't have enough of a required ingredient. If the recipe calls for unsweetened chocolate squares, and you need another one, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon of shortening for one square.

Preserving Nonstick Pans

Keeping these cooking pots and pans scratch-free is important. Never use sharp utensils on the surface and place a paper towel into the pan before stacking it inside another.

Don't run out of home office 'staples'

Whether or not your home has a designated home office, every home needs a basic inventory of office supplies. Keep these supplies together in a drawer or in a shoebox in a cabinet or pantry. Here's a list of staples to keep things running smoothly:

Tape

White glue

Staples, stapler

Paper clips

Post-its

Labels

File folders

Scissors

Stamps

Envelopes

Printer ink

Printer paper

To maintain your inventory, Maria Gracia of the GetOrganizedNow web site suggests you keep a list just as you do for groceries. As you notice you're running low on these items, note it on your office supply list, and then pick up all the supplies you need at once or order them online.

- Peggy Clements

Monthly meal planning made easy

Think of 15 meals your family enjoys and plan to make one of them every other day, and have leftovers on the days in between. On this schedule, 15 meals should take you through a month of dinners. Plan leftover dinners for evenings when you have meetings or the kids have sports practices. If you need help coming up with your menu of 15 meals, by all means ask your family at dinner tonight.

As Maria Gracia of the GetOrganizedNow web site suggests, once you've gone through this schedule of meals, simply start it over again. With menu planning done, you've got tremendous head start toward putting meals on the table every day. To save even more time, create grocery lists (weekly or bi-monthly) to accompany these meal plans and use them month after month.

- Peggy Clements

Storing Empty Cookie Tins When all the cookies have been eaten, wash the tins thoroughly and dry well. Then put several whole cloves into each tin. When you open them later, they will have a lovely aromatic smell.

Anchor pictures on your wall

If you're hanging a breakable picture or piece of artwork on your wall and want to be certain it doesn't get knocked off, try some good old Sticky Tack. Sticky Tack is that magical, putty-like compound that teachers use to hang posters on the wall.

Hang the picture, then place a small amount of Sticky Tack in each corner and press it to the wall. You can usually find Sticky Tack at teacher supply stores or at some discount stores. (Your kids may have some, but you'll have to make an attractive offer to get it from them. For some reason, Sticky Tack is a much-coveted item among elementary school students.)

Note that some knockoff brands don't work nearly as well, so you may want to "stick" with the real McCoy.

- Peggy Clements

When Your Child Leaves Home

If your children are going away to camp or to college or moving out of the house, be sure to give them a copy of vaccination records or any medical information relating to childhood illnesses or diseases. In case of any emergency, they will have the records that could be invaluable.

Foreign language Twister

If you child is learning a foreign language this year, play Twister with a twist. For instance, if your child is learning Spanish, use the Twister game mat, but call out Spanish words for the body parts and colors as you spin the spinner.

Source: FamilyFun magazine, September 2002

- Peggy Clements

Bill-paying time saver

Here's another great idea from organization expert, Maria Gracia, of the GetOrganizedNow web site. If you have recurring bills such as mortgage or rent, prepare a year's worth of envelopes at one time, including return address and stamp. Pencil the due date on the back of each envelope. When it's time to mail the bill, all you have to do is write the check.

- Peggy Clements

Party Planning Crisis Averted

How many times have you pulled out a tablecloth for a party or holiday only to discover a noticeable spot or stain? Never panic! Instead be creative. Put a candlestick, centerpiece or pretty doily over it. If the stain is large, place a small tablecloth over the large one.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2002