Got small children stuck indoors on a bad weather day? Then make them some modeling clay that you can clean up in a snap if it winds up on your furniture. Here’s the easy recipe: In a saucepan, mix 2 cups of flour, 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 cup of salt, a few drops of food coloring, and 2 cups of water. Stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until the mixture forms a ball. When it cools, mix it with your hands, and hand it over to your young sculptors. Better yet, make a supply in advance and store it in an airtight container, so that you can produce it pronto whenever the need arises.

Blog for 1/23/09

Are your feet extra-sensitive to the cold? Then do what I do: Before you head outdoors this winter, put on a pair of thin socks. Then grab a thicker, warmer pair, and shake about ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper into each sock. Slip these over the thinner ones, and you’re good to go. Your feet will stay toasty warm, even when everyone else has footsicles!

In the winter, before you take your dog for a walk on de-iced sidewalks, rub his paws with hair conditioner. It will help keep salt and other chemicals from irritating his footpads. When you get back inside, wash Fido’s feet (including the hair between his toes) with dog shampoo and rinse thoroughly—before he has a chance to lick off any of the toxic chemicals.

Here’s a painless way to battle clutter: Tie the handles of drawstring trash bags to coat hangers, and hang one in each closet in your house. Then, every time you come across a garment that you no longer wear, a toy that the kids no longer play with, or a gadget that you haven’t used in ages, toss it in the bag. When you’ve got a bunch of filled bags, you’re all set for your blockbuster garage sale—or a trip to the local thrift store. (Don’t forget to ask for a receipt, so you can claim your tax deduction!)

How can a simple brown paper bag make your automotive life easier this winter? Just look how easy it is to keep your windshield ice-free!

If you have to leave your car outdoors overnight in the winter when snow or sleet is forecast, cut brown paper bags down the sides to open them up, spread them across the windshield, and secure them in place with the wiper blades. Come morning, strip off the bags, and toss them on the compost pile or into the recycling bin.