Now that it’s getting cold you really need to have a fire safety plan. The first thing you should do is have smoke detectors and make sure your batteries are fresh. If you smell or see smoke immediately leave the building and call 911. Don’t try to save things from your home or apartment. Things are replaceable people aren’t.

If you are at work when a fire breaks out follow the evacuation plan posted at your workplace. Every workplace should have it posted. Look for the exit sign to get to safety. Stay low on the ground and cover your mouth and nose with a cloth to minimize the smoke from getting into your lungs.

I hope this never happens to anyone but it’s always best to have some kind of plan in place just in case.

Candles are pretty and can make your home smell good but sometimes cleaning out the Votive candle holders can be a real pain in the neck. There are a couple different ways to clean the wax residue of them.

One way is to put the holder in the freezer for a little bit then you should be able to pop that bit of candle right out of the holder. Some say to put about an eighth inch of water into the holder before inserting the candle and that will make removal easier. (I haven’t tried this one, so I don’t know if it really works or not). Another way is to put the holder into a pan of very hot water, if it’s a washable holder, and wait a little bit and you should be able to scrape the wax out with a spoon or butter knife.

My preferred method is the freezer method. It takes about an hour and the leftover wax pops right out with a spoon or butter knife.

There are ways to decorate your home without destroying your savings account. For example it’s a lot cheaper to paint your walls yourself instead of hiring a painter to come in and do it for you. It’s not all that hard to do.. I’ve done it many times.

You can also find some nice things to decorate with in a dollar store. Yes, I said in a dollar store. You can find some pretty glass vases that you can use to decorate with. Fill them with some decorative stone, that you can sometimes find in the dollar store too, and some nice fake floral pieces. You can change them out with the change of seasons then all you are paying for is some fake floral pieces.

You can also use some throw blankets to decorate the back of a sofa. If you have more than one on hand you can change it out from time to time.

Get your packing supplies such as crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts, plain paper, packing tape, masking tape, cardboard egg cartons, foam, sharpie and shipping boxes together first. This will save you time once you get started.

If you are sending a jar or vase, fill it with peanuts, foam or tightly wadded paper.

Wrap it in plain paper first. Never use newspaper as ink could leave stains.

Wrap the lid and base separately in bubble wrap and use masking tape to secure bubble wrap.

Use pieces of cardboard to create a box-like enclosure for each piece of the item or use a separate box.

Fill the spaces around each piece with tightly crumpled paper or peanuts and seal with masking tape.

Put both small boxes into larger box, fill empty space around boxes with more packing, such as crumpled paper, cardboard egg cartons, Styrofoam pieces, peanuts, etc.

Other items that can be used for cushioning include 2 liter plastic bottles (make sure they’re clean) for stability and Styrofoam egg cartons cushioning the top or bottom of box. Rigid Styrofoam can also be wedged in for protection.

Put a card with recipient’s address inside box in case the address on the outside is destroyed.

Seal the box with heavy duty packing tape.

Use black marker to put address on box. You might also want to mark fragile and this way up if applicable.

How to clean wind chimes.

To clean the metal, use WD-40 and a soft rag. Spray the WD-40 on, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then wipe with a soft rag. It will clean off pollution, salt sea air and spray, sap from trees, bird droppings and acid rain chemicals and make the metal shine.

To care for the wooden parts, moisturize the wood with a periodic coating of exterior wood oil.

To clean glass wind chimes, clean with your normal glass cleaner. I usually spray on the glass cleaner then rinse it off with hot, hot water and let the chimes air dry.

It’s always tough to get stains out your little one’s clothes. You know, those stains from formula and whatnot that seem to always get trapped in your little one’s best baby clothes?

Here is one way, that I came across, to help remove those stains. Sprinkle a little baking soda on the stain and then pour on a little club soda. It will foam up and you have to let it sit and work for a little bit. Then take an old toothbrush and gently scrub the stain. The stain should loosen up and dissolve then all you have to do is wash it as usual.

It’s been yard sale season and I’ve gone to a couple and found some good deals. People are cleaning out their homes and garages and selling stuff like crazy. One yard sale that I passed even had a bus for sale! How crazy is that? Well, I really can’t say it’s crazy because I had a yard sale once and sold my car. I got a good price for it too.

If you shop around at yard sales you can find some good stuff at cheap prices.

I don’t have an acne problem but I know people who do. the most common acne treatments is to do a twice-daily application of an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide in combination with gentle skin cleansing and use a moisturizer. Wash your hair daily, especially if it’s oily, and tie it back so it’s out of your face. Avoid touching your face. Your cosmetics and creams should be water-based or “”non-comedogenic”" formulas. Be sure to take off all make-up at night.

Eat a healthy diet. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat foods that contain healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseed, salmon, and sardines. Drink six to eight large glasses of water a day. Vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as chromium and zinc, play a role in reducing and preventing acne. Avoid refined sugar, fried foods, and trans fat (such as milk, milk products, margarine, and any hydrogenated vegetable oils). Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.

Take care of your skin and it will take care of you.