An article on MSN money stresses that tipping “isn’t about going into debt.” Then again, the holidays as a whole shouldn’t be about going into debt either, and sometimes that’s just what we all do.

If you want to tip, here are some guidelines and suggestions for what to give.

Garbage Men
My family tips our garbage men because we feel it’s one of those jobs we appreciate so much but seems to get overlooked. An article on MSN says 14% of people tip their sanitation worker, and that the average gift is $20. This means the gift itself was worth that much money, or that they actually gave that person cash.

Of course, this figure will vary greatly from state to state. We have three garbage men and give each of them a $15 gift card.

Mailmen
Our mailmen is always crabby, and I always feel bad for him, especially in the winter. We tip him between $15-20 in gift cards, and for a few days afterward I see him smile at me when he gives me the mail. Maybe it makes him happier for a few days? I hope so. He doesn’t seem to enjoy his job much but we sure do appreciate him.

Here’s some guidelines from MSN money on who to tip and the average gift people gave.

*Cash tip or value of noncash gift
Source: Consumer Reports

Image: sxc.hu.

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Tipping People at the Holidays

Image: BHG.com

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-3/4 cups slivered almonds, toasted and ground (about 7 oz.)
• 3 oz. white chocolate, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. shortening
• 1/3 cup red cinnamon candies, crushed
• 1/3 cup coarse decorating sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In mixing bowl beat butter on high 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until combined. Beat in baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

3. In medium bowl combine flour and almonds. Beat as much flour mixture as you can into butter mixture. Stir in remaining flour mixture.

4. On lightly floured surface roll or pat dough to 14×7-inch rectangle, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut in half, making two, 14×3 1/2-inch rectangles. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch wide sticks. Use a metal spatula to transfer to baking sheets, placing 1 inch apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until firm and edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Transfer cookies to rack to cool completely.

5. In small heavy saucepan melt chocolate and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. In wide shallow bowl combine crushed candies and sugar. Dip sticks in chocolate then in candy mixture. Place on waxed paper to set. Makes 56 sticks.

6. To store: Place cookies, separated between waxed paper, in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 83, Total Fat (g) 4, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Monounsaturated Fat (g), Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 11, Sodium (mg) 37, Carbohydrate (g) 11, Total Sugar (g) 5, Fiber (g) 1, Protein (g) 2, Vitamin C (DV%) 0, Calcium (DV%) 1, Iron (DV%) 2, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Post from: Blisstree

Cinnamon Sugar Sticks

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• A 4 ½ inch ivy bowl
• A 3 inch pillar candle
• Acrylic paint for glass, red
• Gold glitter paint
• A sea sponge
• Toothpicks
• Rubbing alcohol or an ammonia glass cleaner

Start off by cleaning the ivy bowl with the alcohol or ammonia glass cleaner. Paint will adhere and look better when the glass is clean. Using the sea sponge, paint the entire bowl with the red acrylic paint and let it dry thoroughly.

When the bowl is dry, apply the gold glitter paint using a regular toothpick. You can trace a design with the gold paint using a template or just use your imagination. I basically traced a branch with the paint and it came out looking great.

You can use these lights as a set (make two or three) or use them alone as a centerpiece. You don’t have to use a sea sponge, you can paint the bowl red or use a regular sponge, but when you use a sea sponge the effect is beautiful when lit.

I decided to make a few sets to give to friends as gifts. To package them  use a small festive holiday bag. You can also paint them green and use a silver glitter paint, or paint the white and use a green or red glitter paint. Whichever way you paint them, they are dazzling when lit.

I usually make of a couple and keep them on hand to give as a gift to unexpected company.  They are very easy and inexpensive to make.

Post from: Blisstree

Ivy Bowl Votive Light

One of the simplest ways to cut down on accidents is to make sure that cable, phone and extension cords are all neatly tucked out of the way. Most companies require technicians to run cords around the edges of a room or under a rug. If you decide to add another tv set to your home, make sure you do the same thing. If you don’t have a rug and want to run a cable straight across a room, make sure you tape it securely down so it isn’t so easy for people to catch a foot in.

Another way to stay safe at home is to add slip proof decals to your tub or shower bottom. Outside the shower or tub, make sure you have a rug with a slip proof backing. (I know. You’ve heard that piece of advice a thousand times before. But do you have slip proof decals in the bottom of your tub?)

Get a claw tool and use it to reach things that are too high for you to get to easily. Standing on your toes on a swivel stool to try to reach something? Not safe. Standing on the ground and using a claw to firmly grasp and move the item? A lot safer.

Use step stools or step ladders properly. Make sure they are fully opened and level. Don’t stand on top of a step ladder to reach another inch or so. Have someone nearby to steady your ladder.

Use tape or treads on stairs to lessen the chance that someone will slip on the stairs. Make sure that all toys and other belongings are kept off the stairs.

Do you have any tips for minimizing slip and fall problems?

Photo: SXC

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Home Safety – Minimizing Slip and Fall Problems

Now as for the loofah. You can grow loofah from seeds, but you need to start soon after the last frost. Loofah can take a long time to germinate and needs around 180 warm climate days to thrive. Starting them in pots far ahead of the final frost to get a nice jump start on the season can be the best plan. You can sow loofah seeds directly into the ground if you live in a warmer climate.

An entire tutorial (including images) on growing your own loofah can be found at Luffa.info.

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

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Homemade Gardener’s Loofah Soap

Even the most innocent-looking decor can be dangerous.

Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that an angel tree topper, Precious Moments no less, is being recalled due to overheating? I guess it’s really not a very angelic topper after all.

The topper is being recalled due to undersized wiring that could cause the switch assembly to overheat, posing a fire hazard. Get more details about this recall at CPSC.

Holiday trees are involved in hundreds of fires and an average of 15 deaths annually, as well as $13 million dollars in property damage each year. According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, most holiday-decor fires and injuries involve defective holiday lights, dried-out Christmas trees and unattended candles.

For artificial trees, CPSC recommends looking for the label “Fire Resistant.” If you’re going for a live tree, chose a fresh, green tree with needles that can’t be pulled off or broken easily.

For both indoor and outdoor holiday lights, CPSC advises using only lights that have been tested for safety by a known national testing laboratory like UL or ETL/ITSNA. Also, avoid using electric lights on a metallic Christmas tree. Any damaged lights with loose connections, frayed wires or broken sockets should be discarded.

Candles are even bigger holiday offenders than trees. They cause 12,000 fires each year in the US. Never place a candle near items that could catch fire easily, such as curtains or evergreens, and always keep burning candles in sight. If you’re decorating with candles, avoid wearing loose, flowing clothing around them.

For more safe holiday decorating tips, download the holiday decorating brochure from CPSC.

(Image via CPSC)

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Overheated Angel and Other Holiday Hazards

• Check for drafts. A blustery snow day is the perfect time to find out whether windows are well caulked and to discover if the doors need weatherstripping.
• Test how much energy different appliances are guzzling with a watt checker.
• Change out your old light bulbs for energy efficient bulbs.
• Organize your pantry and box up any items that you aren’t going to use that are getting near their expiration date to give to someone else.
• Fix every squeaky door in the house.
• Wax the edges of old fashioned drawers that don’t slide well. Tighten screws on drawers that use drawer slides.
• Mend that pile of broken things you’ve been meaning to super glue together.
• Repair chips in wooden furniture with wood putty or stain crayons.
• Install that  safety bolt and a sensor on the door leading to your pool that didn’t get put up last summer. Then, hop online and buy a surface sensor to put in your pool when spring rolls around.
• Sort out your linen closet and give old linens you don’t want anymore but are in good shape to a local charity. Put the ones that are in bad shape in your rag bin.

Still need something to do? Pull out your bread machine if you’re running low on bread and make your own. We made some chocolate bread and are waiting for it to finish up so we can taste it. Hopefully, it tastes as good as it smells.

Photo: K. Thomas

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Ten Household Chores for Snow Days

When I go to look at homes, especially foreclosed properties, I bring along a house hunting tool kit. The items in my kit include:

• Good, sturdy flashlights.
• Rubber boots in case I want to head into a dark, iffy basement.
• Gloves.
• First aid kit.
• Screwdriver and wrench just because you never know when you’ll wish you had them.
• Hand sanitizer and hand wipes.
• Face mask in case I suspect there might be some mold.
• Camera.
• Notebook and pen.
• Walking stick to test floors and stairs before I step on them.
• Rags.

Now, if I am looking by myself, I don’t need stuff like the rubber boots or walking stick. I say it looks like too much for me to handle and move on. But if I’m looking with someone who wants to take on a big rehab, I do sometimes need the extra gear.

Do you have a house hunting kit you use?

Photo: SXC

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House Hunter Tool Kit

Ornament Display
This gem was created by Julie and Ken Giarardini, and has a steel stand signed on the bottom by the artists. The stand goes for $150. Pair it with an art glass ornament, like this one called the Murrini Sphere created by Mary Mullaney and Ralph Mossman. It has little murrini patterns in crystal and also a small “2009″ in some of the designs. Very sharp. Retails for $95 from Artful Home.

Photo Coasters
Normally when I see photo coasters, they are kind of cheesy. This set by Red Envelope, however, is the furthest thing from. It’s sharp. The coasters themselves have spots for pictures, but then the holder is a beautiful wood with an engraved plate. So you could put a message on it to personalize it even more. The coasters have foam backs so they won’t slide around, either. Retails from $34.95.

Personalized Latitude & Longitude Doormat
I liked this idea by Signals for a personalized doormat that listed the latitude and longitude. You just give them the zip of the person you’d like the mat made for, and they will indicate their unique latitude and longitude. Kind of cool, right? It’s made of Olefin on the front, “synthetic jute backing” on the back. Size is 27″ x 18″ and retails for $32.95.

Image: Artful Home

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Artsy Housewarming Gift Ideas

Winter Wonderland from Organic Bouquet

• Flower food from an actual flower shop works the best for keeping blooms fresh for longer amounts of time. Tricks like a penny, changing the water, sugar, bleach, and so on are tricks many talk about and when I worked at a nursery we tried all of them but actual flower food works the best.
• Start clean – dirty or moldy containers or vases will kill flowers off quickly. Wash containers well, and if you add any extras, like holiday decor on a stick, wash those too. Make sure to rinse the soap off well because the pH of soap will also change the water quality.
• Cut off any leaves that may fall below the water line in the vase. Leaves sitting in water get icky, smell funky, look bad, and promotes bacteria growth.
• If you’re making bouquets with holiday bulbs use cold water not room temp because they’ll hold up longer.
• When I worked at the rose nursery we’d submerge wilting roses in cool water for a few hours.
• If giving flowers as a gift, keep them cool until you give them. I.e. place them in the garage or another cool spot. If you want open, fresh smelling blooms bring them inside for a few hours before giving them out. If you’ve got no time to spare, unopened flowers can be forced open if you place them in very warm (not hot) tap water. BUT make sure that after the blooms open you place the flowers into normal room temp water.
• And it goes without saying that if you’re using flowers for decor, say on the table for your holiday party or dinner, you need to wait until as late as possible to get the flowers.

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Keep Christmas Bouquets Fresh