2012 is a Clean Slate

Careful how you write it! 🙂

I ran across a bunch of these handy tips and thought, what better way than to start the New Year off with some helpful hints, right?

Not sure if they all work or not, I haven’t had a chance to try them, but hey, we’re well on our way to a new year so why not make a new start and try something new.

Sorry I haven’t hit my quota of the word “New” yet today… New New New New New New New.

Ok so that reminded me of the, “I’m not touching you,” bit that kids say to each other while antagonizing each other.  Anyway, moving on 🙂

 1.  Hull strawberries easily using a straw

Mmmm Strawberries, would someone do this for me stat please!?!?

 2. Rubbing a Walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

So need to try this….

 3. Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40.

So hope I never have to try this, although Mr Clean Magic Eraser helps get crayon out of a car dash…

 4.  Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Could be interesting!

 5. Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Or you could try our way… just sleep with mismatched pillow cases.  Wait… I mean… we don’t do that!

 6. Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone or iPod in a bowl.  The concave shape amplifies the music.

Pump up the jam!

 7.  Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

hmmm…

 8. Add this item to your beach bag.  Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?

Not me….

 9. Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Hmm… what can you do with little plastic Polly Pocket pieces?

 10. Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

If it isn’t on the floor, what will I step on now?  Oh wait, the Polly Pocket pieces that won’t stick to the velcro, OK proceed 🙂

 11. Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a hose over the vacuum end.

Don’t use fishnet stockings, I doubt they’d work 🙂

 12.  Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

Do you expect me to share?

 13. For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: How to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Can someone come do this for me please!  And while you’re at it, locate my matching pillow cases please.  Thankyouverymuch.

 14. Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers, clippers, behind a vanity door.

Now, that’s a lot of bobby pins!

 15. Store shoes inside showercaps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.  You can find them in just about every hotel.

I’m not sure my 2 shoes would fit in one cap that nicely.

 16. A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets hold the plastic cups to make them tip-resistant.

Um… then what are we to bake our cupcakes in?

 17. Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

They do but my bread usually comes with a twist tie.  Anyone have extras they’d share?

 18. Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Oh good, cupcake baking crisis solved!  Whew!

 19. Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

You don’t have to have oil?  Really?  When you do it on the stove you do… I may have to look into this!

 20. Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Think it’ll work?

 21. Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice cream.

Oh good, now we know how to eat the ice-cream since we used our cones for cupcakes.

 22. Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

boy, wouldn’t that be cold on your burn?

 23.  Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

handy but my house roof only sits a couple feet off the ground, mine would be covered by eave overhang and would never get sunlight.  Ok back to the drawing board for me!

 24. Use egg cartons to separate & store Christmas Decorations.

Well I obviously won’t use them for my homegrown eggs!

And there you have it… 24 helpful and handy tips to start out the new year right :).  Hope you all had a safe and happy New Year!