Mary Contrary’s Hints, Tips, and Smart Advice

As you are preparing your house and yourself for the holidays there are a few simple things you can do to make things simpler and safer! As I am a “Let’s do it the easy way!” sort of person I have quite a few ideas to share!

First off get some fragrance free baby wipes in a plastic container and keep them in the fridge. They come in very handy for quick refreshing cleanups after messy meals or if the kitchen gets too hot you can use them to cool down. They are also a lifesaver in the summer to wipe your face, the back of your neck, and your arms if you get overheated!

Next when preparing your tables for the big family meals and you are using table clothes with some overhang, consider if you are going to have toddlers or older people that might accidently get it caught in their laps! To avoid this happening and to keep all the food & dishes “On” the table, I duck tape the edges & corners of the tablecloth so that little ones can’t grab & drag or the older folks can’t tuck & run with your cloth, food and dishes!

Another must is “Hand Sanitizer”. I keep bottles strategically placed all over the house. Think about it. This time of year you are handling food constantly, shaking hands with numerous delivery people, friends, family, etc. You need to have the added assurance you are doing all you can do to stay healthy! Encourage them to use it as well!

It’s not a bad idea to have a bottle of baby aspirin handy either. This is the time of year when more heart attacks are reported. During the holidays people tend to partake more than they should of the bountiful meal that lies before them. There are certain chemicals in the Turkey and other foods that can trigger a heart attack if that person has certain conditions in play that they may or may not be aware of. If given an aspirin you can possibly help minimize the severity of the attack. In any situation of this sort don’t hesitate to call 911 if the person exhibits any signs of an attack: Pain in neck, back, left arm, nausea, Pain in chest etc. Also note that sometimes the signs are minimal so if you suspect anything at all go to your nearest emergency facility!

Now back to the good stuff! If you are expecting a large crowd and have a water cooler use that machine to dispense your tea or beverage of choice. I personally use it for tea. You simply make your tea, fill the jug, and tip it over into the machine just as you would a bottle of water and viola’! Now your guests can have hot or cold tea! (Providing your machine offers both)

And last but certainly not least, have you always wondered how to keep the pots & utensils you use the most, handy? You look up and don’t have room for the neat little thing that hangs down with your pots so here is what I suggest. Decide what pans you want handy. Figure out about how much space you would need. Take a piece of plywood, paint it or cover it with your cloth of choice, hang it on the wall. Decide on your pot placement and mark where you would put the nail to hold it. Put your nails in, Hang your pots. Ta Da! Handy and no digging for the right pot at dinner time! Then for a little more added thrill add nails to some of the spaces in between the pans and hang things like your measuring spoons, whisks, measuring cups, utility scissors, etc.

Well, these are just a few ideas from my kitchen to yours!

Happy Holidays from Mary Contrary