banish under-eye circles with a potato

According to NYC dermatologist Frederic Brandt in Elle magazine, you can wrap slivers of raw potato in a wet paper towel and use as a compress for 15 minutes to lighten the under-eye area. Potatoes contain a natural lightening enzyme; at $0.80 per pound, sure beats the $50 under-eye cream!

Marc Jacobs look-alikes -- from Payless

I thought my eyes were fooling me, but it's true. These ankle-strap wedge shoes from Payless (on SALE for $19.99) look almost exactly like the Marc by Marc Jacobs Platform Wedge at Bloomies, originally $310.00 on sale for $184.99. Either way you go, these'll look really cute with spring's short but full babydoll dresses...

never count your change again

Just visit any Commerce Bank location and look for the Penny Arcade, their nifty coin-counting machine. Just dump all your coins in, and in a few seconds it will spit out a receipt that you can take to the teller to receive your cash. It's as easy as that! And best yet, anyone can use it, account holders or not.

sport those high heels, blister-free

New-Skin, a first aid antiseptic liquid bandage, can do more than just replace a band-aid for small cuts and bruises, according to Alexandra Marshall in Glamour magazine. Paint it on your heels or toes before donning your favourite high heels, and you'll be dancing about town, blister-free. Best yet, the bottle is small enough to stash in your purse for quick touch-ups.

detox with watercress

This tasty plant is best eaten fresh, mixed in with your salad. It's known to strengthen the digestive system and clean the blood. Also, it can reduce mucous in the respiratory system - helpful if you have a cold. But this is strong stuff, so don't eat it every day and only in small quantities; avoid it if you're pregnant. A nice mixed salad with some garlic dressing could be a good hangover helper too...

shiny hair, with help from a boar

Apparently, boar's bristles are similar in structure to our own hair shafts and are able to hold moisture, remove dirt and dust and distribute the scalp's natural oils. Seems like a high calling for a fiber found on a grubby creature! Anyway, Mason Pearson seems to be the market leader for these boar's bristle hairbrushes and you can drop anywhere from $20 to $80... don't mind me, I'm busy brushing!

ballet flats to fit every budget

As a longtime fan of low-heeled and flat shoes, I'm psyched to hear that the ballet flats trend will live through the spring! That said, here are some that I'm coveting right now: on the haute end, by Prada from the website Tess and Carlos for $325, the semi-haute by French Sole for $163.95, the low end by Gap for $39.50, and finally, the steal, by Payless for just $12.99. So there you have it!

vinegar, the natural fabric softener

Who would've thought? According to Sarah Aguirre of Your Guide to Housekeeping, adding 1/2 cup of plain white vinegar to the rinse cycle will soften your clothes and help break down the laundry detergent more effectively. Great for people with allergies to detergent!

Welcome to swaptip!

I'm hoping this blog can become a nifty grab-bag of solutions to life's pesky problems; or better yet, a nice two-minute distraction while you grab a sandwich at your desk. These lifetips will run the gamut, but with a soft spot for fashion and two small kids running around, my posts will likely dominate the "fashion" and "kids" categories.

Live smart!