Childress Women's Council

We want to know if you have ideas, suggestions, tips, techniques, etc. that make life easier.   Your responses will be posted here.  Let us know if you do not wish to have your name printed with your submission.

"I carry Expo dry erase markers in my vehicle.  If there is something I need to remember to do, I write it on my windshield.  The dry erase marker will wipe right off once I have completed my tasks.  It's better than using post-it notes.  I can never get a post-it note to stick anywhere in my vehicle.  Plus, there is no trash to dispose of."  Submitted by Lisa Braddock 

Vinegar has many great household uses but use some in your washing machine to help keep whites white and to get the sour smell out of towels and washcloths.

"I keep the addresses for my Christmas cards saved on my computer.  I make changes as needed each year but when I'm ready to mail Christmas cards all I have to do is print the labels.  I update addresses throughout the year if people move.  It allows more time for writing a personal note inside the card.  It also lets me know how many cards I need to order so I don't ever order too few or too many."  Submitted by Phoebe Pleming

Talking First-Aid Kit:  Be prepared with the Intelligent Talking First Aid Kit.  The eight packs deal with everything from burns to bites.  Flip a switch on the instruction card and a calm voice guides you through the treatment.  To buy - www.intelligentfirstaid.com  (Seen in the February 2008 edition of "Real Simple" magazine page 56 or online at www.realsimple.com.

The following tips are paraphrased and can be found in their entirety in the February 2008 edition of "Real Simple" magazine or online at www.realsimple.com.  

Wrapping food: foil vs. plastic

Choose foil if you're refrigerating something smelly, since its strong barrier will keep odors in.  Foil is also ideal for reheating food in a conventional oven.  And it's a good idea to wrap a snug layer of foil around plastic-wrapped foods you plan to freeze because it keeps out oxygen, which causes freezer burn.  One big don't (apart from using it in the microwave): Never wrap acidic foods, like tomatoes and berries, in foil.  The acids react with the aluminum, leaving a harmless but unsightly blue residue.

Choose plastic for acidic foods and other fresh foods, like sandwiches and cut produce.  To keep foods such as apples and avocados from turning brown, press the plastic against any exposed surfaces.  And when you're using a dry mariade or spice rub, you can speed up the rate of absorption by snugly wrappig the meat between two sheets of plastic wrap.