Add fun to your party with Clinqs!

We've all been there; at some swell soiree we put down our drink and lo and behold, it gets lost among all the other half-finished glasses! Never again with these cheeky reuseable drink stickers, Clinqs! Grab a bunch for your next party and your guests will be tickled pink. They're around $7.00 per sheet; see clinqs.com for purchase details.

use peppermint to curb the munchies

Are you the type to nibble as you cook, and by the time the meal is done you're not even hungry? According to Martha White in Real Simple magazine, some peppermint fragrance in the kitchen will help you curb the habit. Time to run out and get a peppermint candle or peppermint essential oil home fragrance kit...

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freshen up your clothes with -- vodka!

Have you ever felt that your clothes were picking up all the scents in the air -- the smoky bar, the stuffy closet, the garlic-laden restaurant? Real Simple magazine offers a neat solution; spritz them with straight vodka in a spray bottle. It kills bacteria and is odor free. Who thought vodka was just for cocktails?

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untangle necklaces with Baby Oil

If you're like me, many of your necklaces go unworn because they're sitting in tangles at the bottom of your jewelry box. According to Real Simple magazine, Baby Oil can provide a quick fix. Place a drop of oil on some wax paper, sit the knot in it, and work at loosening it with two pins. Afterwards, wash the necklace in warm, sudsy water. Now, get those necklaces out of the closet!

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get organized with the MeBox

Plain old file boxes are never an attractive storage solution. These MeBoxes from Design Within Reach, however, add some graphic fun to your storage dilemma. Snap together the double-thick cardboard box, then punch out the perforated discs to create a number, letter or symbol to identify the box's contents. Stow away toys, clothes, crafts -- you'll have a sight for sore eyes!
(p.s. You'll save 10% until March 12!)

jot your ideas in a Moleskine journal

Ever had a good idea that just dissipated because you couldn't write it down? Keep one of these handy, and it'll never happen again. Moleskine journals are pocket-sized, acid-free, and just plain cool-looking. Hey, even if you don't become the next Hemingway, at least you can have fun writing down your grocery list.

p.s. If you buy one of these, and end up loving it, you must check out this blog

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it's OK to write on the walls

Entertaining kids on cold winter days can be quite a challenge, but this home decorating tip could banish the boredom. Amanda Armstrong and Sarah Newell in Real Simple magazine suggest creating a wall mural with chalkboard paint. Paint simple shapes on the wall, let it dry, and then the kids can go crazy with chalk filling in the details. No more winter blues!

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at-home "washing machine" for delicates

Araks Yeramyan, lingerie designer, reveals a good lingerie-washing tip in Lucky magazine. Fill a jar (similar to the one pictured) three-quarters full of warm water, add a half capful of gentle detergent. Throw in about 5 pieces of undergarments, and shake, shake, shake! Rinse until water runs clear, and hang to dry. Try it for hosiery, sweaters and blouses, too.

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rev up your party with lollipop cocktail stirs

Need to inject some zing into your next cocktail party? Real Simple magazine suggests using these retro-flavoured lollipops from Candy Creek as drink stirs. Now that's a new way to enjoy a vodka tonic!

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clear the air with a spider plant

Every time I sit warming my toes by a fireplace, I a.) enjoy the toasty feeling b.) wonder what noxious gases I'm inhaling. It might be the pessimist in me. Nonetheless, in a study done by NASA it was found that the common Spider plant removed 96% of carbon monoxide from the air. Hooray for houseplants!

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Brad's thoughts on the perfect mattress

Brad Pitt offered a great tip in Esquire magazine. In his words, "Don't spend a lot of money on a big, giant mattress with double padding on both sides and all that. Just go out and buy a normal firm mattress. Then go buy the three-inch Tempur-Pedic pad, the memory foam, and put it on top. I'm telling you, take my tip. It's the perfect pressure. I take full credit for the discovery. You will sleep in bliss forever more . . . unless you've got a six-week-old." I wonder if Angelina concurs...

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diet with your dishes

Looking for a painless way to cut a few calories? Just replace your dinner plates with salad plates and you'll cut 1/3 of your calories, according to Milton Stokes, RD, in More magazine. Your portion sizes will be reduced, and hopefully too your waistline.

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don't ditch that hairdryer just yet

Before you give up on your hairdryer, try a quick fix that might give it a second wind, so to speak! Grab a pair of tweezers and clean that mesh-like screen at the back, just as you clean the lint screen on your clothes dryer. The hot air should be flowing in no time.

Tip submitted by Rachel C-S, thanks!

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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!