Quick Tip: Prepare your pets for a roadtrip from Real Simple
“Take the pet for a few short rides before your trip so it gets accustomed…”
So, as you are preparing for your summer vacation, be sure to add taking your pet on a few short rides to your task list.
Image Source: Real Simple

Quick Idea: Save Money and Reduce Chemicals with Alcohol from The Daily Green.
“Vodka has a wide range of potential uses beyond serving as a relaxer and social lubricant… It is widely available, effective and less toxic than many of the chemical alternatives you might use for these tasks.”
Some of my favorite alternative uses of vodka:
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Quick Tip: organize your sink supplies from Martha Stewart
“Don’t let kitchen rags and dishwashing gloves clutter the sink area. Instead, hang them from hooks screwed to the inside of a cabinet door.”
While I do have some concerns about the moisture build-up under the sink, it sure seems worth a try…
Just collect your supplies & get [...]

Quick Idea: Shop your closet from Shoestring
“…now is the perfect time to get creative, get organized, and look fabulous while embracing the Three R’s (reducing, reusing, and recycling) by shopping your own closet.”
Whether you’re taking inventory of what you have, making new outfit combinations or donating the things you don’t want to charity, shopping your [...]

Image Source: Martha Stewart

Quick Idea: Non-toxic tub scrub from Martha Stewart
“Add one teaspoon of liquid soap and several drops of an antibacterial essential oil … to one cup of baking soda. Add just enough water to form a paste, and use it with a sponge or brush to scour bathtub surfaces.”
I love, love, love this [...]

The recipes from today’s Presidential Inauguration Luncheon are available for download from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.  Sounds yummy!
First Course
Seafood Stew Spring the recipe!
Second Course
Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney Spring the recipe!
Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing Spring the recipe!
Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes Spring the recipe!
Winter Vegetables [...]

Image Source: Martha Stewart

Quick Idea: DIY compact firewood tote from Martha Stewart
“Fashion a compact firewood tote from a 22-by-42-inch piece of canvas, 1/2-inch grommets, and two 30-inch lengths of rope.”
Consider modifying the instructions to make it your own custom size. Now if  could only get back all of the time I’ve wasted looking for the [...]

Quick Idea: Consider Duraflame logs for your fireplace from EnviroMom
“I paid a quick visit to the Duraflame Web site, and right there on the landing page they proudly announce that After 30 years, we’ve gone all-renewable by making the switch to non-petroleum waxes. In other words, Duraflame is the most eco-friendly way to enjoy a [...]

Image Source: Martha Stewart

Quick Idea: Save your excess egg yolks or whites from Martha Stewart
“Save the egg yolks when a recipe calls for using only whites, or vice versa. If you don’t plan to use the eggs immediately, pour them into an airtight container and freeze.”
When it comes to making our grocery dollar go further, [...]

This post can be found on Springpad’s new blog.
Quick Idea: Make smaller mortgage payments every other week, shortening a 30-year mortgage to only 24 years.
How it works: If your mortgage payment is $1500/mo, instead pay $750 every other week.  At the end of the year, you will have paid 1 full extra mortgage payment.  [...]