Here's A Novel Way To Re-Use Wine Corks AND Candle Wax

Having grown up poor, I try not to waste stuff.  We didn't have much money, so if I wanted something, I'd either have to go without or make it in some way.  My mantra has always been:

There's GOT to be another use for everything!!

Wine corks used to tick me off. I mean, I KNEW they were good for more than just corking wine.   I'd looked at dozens of ideas on Pinterest and even made a less-than-attractive trivet using my corks. 

But recently, when I saw all the melted wax in a candle I'd been burning, I had an EUREKA moment!

Wine corks + discarded candle wax =

I grabbed a few corks and dipped them in the melted wax. After they'd dried, I tried using them in the fireplace to start a fire.

They were easy to make, worked perfectly and helped me re-purpose two materials: melted candle wax and wine corks.

FIRESTARTERS!

I found this nifty tutorial on how to make firestarters using dryer lint, an empty cardboard egg carton, old candle stubs, dental floss, and scissors.  While I like it and they like like cute little packages, I'm too lazy to make them.  

So I modified thes “recipe” by instead, cutting a cardboard egg carton apart, filling each compartment with dryer lint, and then pouring melted candle wax into the cups. They're not as pretty as the ones in the tutorial, but work well. 

Guess I've GOT to go drink more wine!  

THANKS FOR READING!!!

Which Tips & Life Hacks Worked For Me Last Year

Since I've just joined The Ultimate Blog Challenge which asks that you write every day for, I think, at least the next month, there will be a lot more material on this blog. That means I'd better get my tushy in gear finding life hacks, recipes, tips, etc. that I can actually recommend. 

I am always on the lookout for tips & life hacks that make things easier.  Life is too short to spend it reinventing the wheel!

Not to toot my own horn, but in looking over my posts last year,

I think these proved most valuable to the majority of readers.

10 Indoor Activities To Do With Kids – I'd forgotten how much snow we'd already had by the time I wrote this one. It's also nice to see the snow sculptures my daughter made last year.

A Lazy Mom's Guide To Winter Decorating – Next week I'll be ripping the Christmas stuff down and taking out some of my Winter stuff. This post offers a link to a great tutorial on making paper snowflakes.

How To Find Family-Friendly Trips InYour Area  – Based on the blast we recently had at The Turkey Hill Experience in which we learned how to make ice cream (review coming up), I'll be looking for more companies that offer tours. And now that money is especially tight, the tips offered in this post are even more appealing.

5 Ways To Prepare For Spring  – Assuming we survive what's being predicted as an upcoming Snowmageddon, these serve as good reminders on what needs to be done before Spring.

Mom's 'Must Dos' Before The Kids Get Out Of School – Again, a nice checklist of what needs to be done before the troops are out for Summer.

Posting information means I have to research that data and really think about what might be useful to other parents. This is stuff I talk about with the moms I meet as we try to figure out this parenting-gig. I hope some of these posts help you. And stay tuned – there's a lot more coming up this year!

A Lazy Mom's Guide To Winter Decorating

 
My daughter and I put the Christmas decorations away this weekend. Funny how it takes three hours to put all that stuff up and about 20 minutes to rip it down! Anyway, the house looks much cleaner without all that cutesie-Christmas stuff cluttering up the place, but Diva and I are feeling a little sad. The tree was just so darned bright and pretty! We've, therefore, decided to put up some very minimalistic Winter decorations befitting this lazy mom.  There are only a few of them because 1) I don't need extra stuff to dust 2) my daughter and her friends like to touch everything 3) if I put up more than a few decorations, I'll forget to put them away and I detest finding Winter stuff out during the summer 4) I don't need reminders that there's 2 feet of snow outside with a wind chill of -23 degrees.

These decorations have a relatively long duration since they'll stay out until just before Easter.  I don't adorn the house for Valentine's Day (am I the only one who equates red Valentine's lights in the window with the Police song “Roxanne” and, thus, prostitution?) or St. Paddy's Day. In addition, my Winter things will look nice with the few Chinese New Year pieces Diva and I will be making to display in a few weeks.  (Stay tuned to this blog for instructions and/or links on making Chinese New Year decorations.)

Igor, The Clearance Snowman

The first item we dug out of the attic was Igor, a stuffed snowman I purchased on clearance from Michael's a few years ago. As much as Diva wanted this guy out during Christmas, I felt that that would lessen this guy's novelty value as a Winter decoration. Tip: this week and the next few will yield mega discounts on what retailers deem as “Christmas” decor. Think outside the box. Snow people and snowflakes are more Winter than Christmas.

My pride and joy, Helga

The next decoration we take out is Helga, a snow lady I made a few years ago when I was snowed in with the kids during one of the Northeast's many blizzards or “Nor'Easters” as the media now call them. I had had NO alone time and needed a craft that would keep them both busy, so I went to the recycling bin and grabbed a dishwasher detergent bottle, some newspaper, and a bunch of gauze leftover from a Halloween costume that never was (the concept of Mommy as a mummy was great, but scared Diva when I started to wrap myself). We made a gooey, oooey, delightful paste out of flour and as we wrapped the bottle, with the head made out of a ball of paper, realized that this creation could only be a snow person. Diva's desire to make a snow lady won out over Junior's desire for a traditional, male snowman. A few days later, when the model was dry, I grabbed a few buttons, skewers from the kitchen, and voila! Helga was born! She summers in the hot attic and because of that, the glue holding her arms on tends to melt, so every year or two I wind up re-gluing her arms on, otherwise, she's proven quite sturdy. Sometimes we'll even hang a decoration or two from her arm.  For more paper mache crafts, visit dltk-kids.com (http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/papermache.htm).  

Paper snowflakes are a staple in my house, especially since Diva learned how to make them. Her preschool teacher meticulously cut lovely, intricate ones but since I am spastic, I could never figure out how to do it until we watched this YouTube video a few times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTnxZSL5IJw. We've now made snowflakes out of basic computer paper as well as paper towels, coffee filters, and rice paper, which works the best. The lacy creations adorn our window and are so low-budget that if the cat decimates them, as she's methodically doing, I don't care.

Filling a vase with greenery from outside is also nice. Sometimes Diva and I will gather a few sprigs of pine and place them in a vase. If the vase is clear and we can find pine cones, we'll add those to the arrangement as well,  Spraying the branches with a little diluted lemon juice compromises the pine smell, but keeps the cat away. Another tip: greenery or even bare sticks from outside add a “natural” touch to the house, plus they're cheap and easy to use. If you can't find pine cones outside, head over to your local craft store where you should be able to find them.

Leaving up Winter-themed Christmas cards is the ultimate in low-budget decorating.  I purged our Christmas cards, throwing away pictures of Santa and the Nativity,  and we now have a line of doves and snow scenes running along a doorway.  You could even slip a few in some cheap frames for easy-peasy wall or table art.

Another clearance find

Lastly, since we were missing the light of the Christmas tree, I made this sweet little snowman out of a candy container I bought on sale a few years ago. I simply cut holes in the back for the plug of the, again, clearance lights I bought.


Okay, so I'm no Martha Stewart; still, I do want my house to look nice in the Winter. Just a few, simple pieces achieves that without any great expenditure of cash.  For more great, frugal, seasonal decorating ideas, visit:

• ProFlowers.com (http://www.proflowers.com/guide/cheap-decoration-ideas-for-christmas-winter-wonderland) – Who knew you could find cheap decorating ideas here, but they've got some good ones!
• BuzzFeed.com (http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/40-diy-home-decor-ideas-that-arent-just-for-chris) – Some of these look to be a bit more time-consuming than I'd like, but some of the Winter ornaments look intriguing.
  
• MyWeddingFavors (http://myweddingfavors.hubpages.com/hub/The-Slow-Faster-and-Fastest-Ways-To-Make-Scented-Pine-Cones) – This site lists easy and slightly harder ways to make scented pine cones that will make you feel as if you're in a pine forest. Alternatively, you could just dab some pine cones with pine-scented oil, but the ones from this website might last longer.

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Please check back in with me in a day or two for a a few recipes for do-it-yourself ice melt and some tips on how to make surviving the Winter easier.


Out into the -25 temps I go to pick up Diva! Ta-ta!

2-Ingredient Drinks For The Lazy Hostess

Years before we had kids, my husband and I toured several wineries in Napa Valley.  We swished vividly-colored Merlots in large goblets, sniffed headily fragrant burgundies, and tasted a full array of California wines. And I learned something that has saved us hundreds of dollars over the years: I have absolutely no pallet for wine. I like it, but am unable to appreciate the difference between a pricey Chateau Belair Monange St. Emillion Bordeaux and and an economical Trader Joe's Bordeaux. I also have no pallet for fine liquors and am far too lazy and frugal to make complex mixed drinks containing multiple ingredients, even for my dearest friends. Still, this Holiday Season I do want to offer my adult guests something special in terms of alcohol, so I found some simple 2-ingredient drinks that even I, the Lazy Hostess, can make:

1. The Classics – Rum and coke, screwdrivers (orange juice and vodka), gin and tonic, vodka and tonic, scotch and soda, and white wine spritzers (white wine and Sprite) never go out of style. Depending on the brand of liquor you use, these drinks can be made cheaply plus they're classy and comfortably predictable.
   
2. Pink Bikini – Raspberry lemonade and rum. Pretty, but potent.
   
3. Bourbon Peach Tea – I always think of elderly men when I think of bourbon but becomes a more youthful drink when you add some Snapple or other peach iced tea to it.
   
4. Greyhound – One to two shots of citrus vodka and grapefruit juice. Vary it by using tequila instead of vodka and it's called a Paloma. Tasty and nutritious...sort of.
   
5. Horse's Neck – One or two shots of whiskey and ginger ale.
   
6. Dark & Stormy – Rum plus ginger beer. The ginger beer (a soda) adds a nice, spicy kick.
   
7. Shandy – I was introduced to this drink from a former Jamaican colleague. The basic version consists of one part beer with another beverage such as lemonade, limeade, ginger ale, or Sprite. Use a light beer with a diet drink for those who are weight-conscious or make it with ginger beer for a bit of heat. One of my all-time favorites!
   
8. Irish Cream and Chocolate Milk – Don't wrinkle your nose at this!  The chocolate milk makes this a little less thick and far much more delicious. Use skim milk to pretend you're on a diet and heat it up for extra warmth (read on for more warm drinks). 
   
9. Rum and Root Beer – Use a dark or spiced rum and grab a can of A&W Root Beer. It makes a surprisingly nice combination.
   
10. Bellini – This drink is made with peach puree and prosecco. If you don't have time to puree peaches, try a jar of pureed peaches baby food.

Warm drinks are par for this time of year and there's nothing like sitting in front of a fire sipping one after the kids have gone to bed. My first intro to a heated alcoholic drink was when I toured the Brotherhood Winery and sampled their amazing Holiday Wine (learn more at http://www.brotherhood-winery.com/winesSpecialty.html). At first, guests balked at a hot wine, but after trying this sweet, spicy drink, they were hooked. According to the website About.com (http://cocktails.about.com/od/cocktailrecipes/a/warm_drinks.htm), the trick to keeping the drinks warm is to preheat the glass by pouring hot water in it before making the drink. So here are a few warm concoctions, perfect for Christmas Eve:

1. Irish Coffee – You've gotta give the Irish credit for mixing black coffee and Irish whiskey. Add whipped cream for extra flavor and color. Using a flavored coffee or a coffee syrup, obviously, gives it added dimension.
   
2. Adult Hot Cocoa – Grab your Swiss Miss hot chocolate and ad a little peppermint schnapps. Use a candy cane as a swizzle stick. A variation on this is hot cocoa with whiskey which is called a Hershey Squirt.
   
3. Hot Buttered Rum – This is not a 2-ingredient drink, but the extra effort is worth it. Place 1 small slice of butter, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar,a little vanilla extract and any spices you might like (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) at the bottom of a mug and stir. Pour in 2 ounces of dark rum and hot water. Stir again.
   
4. Butter Baby – Mix 1 ounce of butterscotch schnapps and hot chocolate. Garnish with whipped cream. Smooth, sweet, and delicious!
   
5. Mulled Wine – Again, not a 2-ingredient drink, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this classic at this time of year. Click here for an easy recipe from Food.com: http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-mulled-wine-79958.

Don't forget to give your guests some choices of non-alcoholic beverages as well! Designated drivers and those who just don't want to drink deserve something special. When I was on a diet a few years ago, I abstained from alcohol to forego the calories. How I wished someone had offered me something better than diet soda! So here are a few easy non-fermented drinks:

1. Coke and Drops – This is basically Coke With Lemon. Take a glass of cola and add a few drops of lemon juice. Serve with a lemon wedge. You can also mix ¾ cola with ¼ lemonade. The lemonade adds a nice tartness.
   
2. Mountain Dang – Mix three parts of Mountain Dew with 1 part of Tang powdered soft drink. Source: www.drinksmixer.com
   
3. Shot In The Pot – Ginger ale and Tabasco sauce. Watch the Tabasco.
   
4. Banana and Cocoa – Not a 2-ingredient drink, but versatile because it can be served hot or cold. Blend one banana (or use banana baby food) with either hot cocoa or chocolate milk and half and half. Depending on how you make it, you could be getting potassium and calcium in this drink, folks.
   
5. Breeze – Mix cranberry juice with pineapple juice. Yum!

Of course when discussing alcohol it bears emphasizing that you should drink responsibly and never walk home or drive if you're under the influence!  In fact, be careful even if you're just decorating and drinking! This article on the website Emergency Care For You (http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/YourHealth/HolidayAndSeasonal/Default.aspx?id=1832), mentions that emergency room doctors have seen injuries as a result of people who drink while decorating their homes for the holidays. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 79,000 deaths occur every year as a direct result of excessive alcohol. Don't be one of them!  

If children are present, keep an eye on cocktails and make sure bottles are far away from small, curious hands. Keep the number for Poison Control (1/800-222-1222) on speed dial at home and on your cellphone.  Remember, too, that teens and tweens are curious creatures. Make sure they don't have access to anything that could be fodder for experimentation.  In fact, if you've got kids in the house, it's a good idea for at least one adult to remain completely sober in case of emergency. 

Never pressure anyone to drink and respect their wishes if they choose to abstain. Designated drivers should be appointed, thanked, and praised.  PLEASE: be smart and watch yourself and your guests!


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Thank you for reading! Come back again!