Mrs. FIXIT's 25 Days of Christmas

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Holiday Decor on a Dime

Christmas decorations are part of the festivities for the holidays. But those baubles can add up to a big price tag. Well I have some ideas for decorating on a budget on a budget.

1. Get some holiday ribbon and use it to tie some bows around throw pillows. It adds a quick festive touch and the ribbon and can be used year after year.

2. Take last years Christmas cards or copy pages from a holiday book and cut it up, frame it up and hang it up for holiday artwork with a big impact. Use frames you already have and just layer your holiday art over the existing art and the cost is next to nothing.

3. Sugared fruit is really expensive, but you can make your own, just lay out some newspaper, place the inexpensive faux fruit on the paper, spray it evenly with adhesive and then dust it with glitter.

4. Drape a winter scarf over a side table as a festive table runner.

5. No centerpiece? No problem. Lay a wreath or fresh greens flat on the table. Add some ribbons and ornaments and put a candle in the center. Boom you have an instant eye catcher for the table.

6. You can also add Christmas balls or fruit in a large jar or vase for some added sparkle. Hang small wreaths fashioned from backyard greens in windows and on mirrors for a bit of the unexpected so you don't have to spend a lot to make a big impact this holiday season.

Nail Pops

If your lumber wasn't properly dried when your house was built, it may cause the heads of nails to "pop". If this is a problem in your house there is an easy solution!

1. Make sure you use wallboard screws to repair your nail pops. These screws have a threaded shank that not only holds the wallboard securely, but also will resist popping in the future. The best thing to do at this point is to remove the popped nail, but this may cause damage to your wall. If you don't want to risk the damage, just drive it back into the wall leaving a slight indentation.

2. Secure wallboard in place by pressing up against it so you're sure it is snug to the studs and drive a wallboard screw into the wall about two inches above the existing nail just deep enough to leave an indentation.

3. Repeat the process with a fastener two inches below the pop.

4. When the repair is finished, use a putty knife to fill the dents with spackling. Let it dry thoroughly. Then sand it down and touch up with some paint.

Kitchen Catchall

Have you ever found a solution to a problem that you thought, why didn't I think of that sooner? Well, I have some kitchen tips that will fit that bill.

1. You love those fancy pressed sandwiches from your favorite restaurant, but you don't want to spend a fortune on a press, no problem! Grab a heavy cast iron pan, set it on top of your sandwich and it will press it into the grilling surface just like those expensive presses. (You could also use a plain old brick wrapped with a couple of layers of aluminum foil).

2. If you heat a brick in the oven it can also be used in the bottom of a breadbasket to keep your rolls toasty warm, just make sure you use an oven mitt.

3. If you're sick of your green food turning brown, a little vitamin C powder will keep basil, spinach and avocados a beautiful green. Just sprinkle it over the freshly chopped veggies.

4. Have you ever gone to empty your food processor only to have the blade crash into the bowl? If you put your middle finger in the hole in the bottom you'll hold the blade in place!

5. That does it, some easy solutions to some kitchen frustrations!

Shampoo & Shower Caps

Both shampoo and shower caps can be used all over the house, not just in the bathroom.

1. Use shampoo to clean your hairbrush. Fill your sink with hot water, add two tablespoons of shampoo and let your brushes and combs soak for an hour or so. Then just rinse them clean.

2. If you have greasy looking spots on your clothes left behind by liquid fabric softener, dab the spots with a little shampoo and then wash in cold water.

3. If you run out of dish soap, squirt a little shampoo in the sink.

4. If you're going to be away for a few days, water your plants and cover them with a shower cap. This will create a mini green house and keep the plants moist.

5. Attach them to the bottom of hanging plants when you water them to catch drips.

6. If you run out of plastic wrap, pull a shower cap on the dish, and seal the freshness in.

7. You can also use them to cover food in the microwave; no more splatters.

Green Cleaning

Green cleaning is all the rage, and for good reason who wants to breathe in those nasty chemicals. Believe it or not it's the cleaners I've been telling you about for years that are your greenest bet! What's in your green cleaning kit? White vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will take care of most household cleaning jobs.

1. For all kinds of floors from tile to wood, grab the white vinegar. A quarter cup of vinegar mixed into a gallon of hot water will break through dirt and grime and it won't leave behind any residue like some other cleaners!

2. Need something with a little abrasive action? Grab your baking soda. Spray water on the surface and then sprinkle with baking soda. Then use a plain old terry washcloth to scour away stains and soap scum!

3. Toilets? Flush the toilet to wet the sides, and then sprinkle with baking soda. After that, spray with soda with white vinegar, let it fizz up and then scrub with a brush. Sparkly clean every time!

4. Hydrogen peroxide is a perfect cleaner for kitchen surfaces like counters, sinks and faucets. It cleans, deodorizes and sanitizes and then evaporates into water and oxygen.

Smart Solutions for Thanksgiving

With cooking and cleaning and getting ready, are we really thankful this holiday? With these simple tips you will be!

1. How many times have you been working on so many things at once your double boiler ran dry? Put a few marbles in the bottom of the pan and then fill it with water. When the water level gets too low, you'll hear the marbles banging around and know it's time to add more water.

2. Running out of something while you're baking is frustrating. Here are easy substitutions. Mix together one and a half teaspoons of both ground cloves and ground cinnamon, and you'll have a tablespoon of allspice. You can get two tablespoons of baking powder by combining a teaspoon of cream of tartar with a half a teaspoon of baking soda. Three tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa and a tablespoon of shortening is equal to a square of chocolate.

3. Keep a few ceramic tiles in the kitchen. When you're getting ready to serve dinner, heat them in the oven for a few minutes. They make great warmers in the bottom of bread and roll baskets.

Have a great day!!!