Household Hints by Rosemary ~ Light Up the Season

My latest hint comes from all places, my husband. He sent me a note from a friend, that had been circulating on the internet so I can't give credit to the originator, I believe they have been lost on the way. It really is a great idea. During a power outage, while scrambling around in the dark, they realized the solar garden lights were brightly lit. They brought several inside and anchored them in plastic drink bottles with some marbles, or aquarium stones. If you don't have stones or marbles, you could use kitty litter, or all those pennies in a jar that you have been saving for so long. Even prettier if you gift wrap the bottles and tie a bow around the top. Or, place them in your inside potted plant pots, safe, bright and attractive. There are seasonal decorated solar lights being sold now and I am going to set some outside to charge, then bring them in and set them in the poinsettia pots just for the sake of some whimsy. Smart idea even after Christmas when “the lights” go out.
Another idea sent to me was from a woman who has a very small kitchen table and when entertaining guests didn't have enough room on the table for all the food she wanted to serve. The solution was to go up. She crafted her own multilayer servers. Using a couple of plastic plates she filled some clear drinking glasses with different wrapped candy (you could use your filler of choice) and glued the glasses to the center of the plates with non-toxic children's craft glue. The glue will dissolve in water and the glasses reused, as well as the candy. If you don't have craft glue handy, candle wax will also do the trick to hold the glasses in place. I'm going to use plastic Christmas trays and old wine glasses, but will have to put one at each corner; I'll fill the wine glasses with mini Christmas balls, tie a tartan ribbon around the stem and set the tray on top as I want the glasses upside down. Cakes on the bottom and cupcakes on the top, or crackers and cheese. The possibilities are endless as this idea can be adapted to many different styles, and occasions.
Need place markers for your sit down supper? A cute Christmas or New Year craft: cover a three by five piece of cardboard with wrapping paper, glue a small glass or plastic Christmas ball to it, then glue the multi-circle ring from a key ring to the top, cut a piece of cardboard with pinking shears and insert it between the circles. Or, if you're using Christmas crackers glue a gift tag with the guests name on it to the cracker and place it on the plate.
Whatever your decorations are, whatever or wherever your celebrations will be I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful winter season.