clues4clueless

Do your homework!

Seriously, if you want to get good grades, do your homework, as it is assigned so that you can practice what you're learning and know it backwards and forwards.  Repetition is the key to learning. 

Only buy in bulk if you're sure you'll use all of it.

Buying in bulk is a great idea if it's something that won't expire for a while (or at all, like paper towels), but if it's at all perishable, don't buy it in bulk unless you're sure you'll use it or you'll only wind up wasting money.

If you're looking for something to read online, check out story finder/fic search communities. 

While it's not always the case, most of the time if someone likes a story enough to go looking for it, it's probably worth reading.  And a lot of times the plot points given in a fic search can give one a better idea of if it's something one really wants to read or not.  In addition, a lot of fic search communities have loads of genre tags one can go through for millions of words to read, :).  

 

Makeup removal.

I've tried many things over the years.  Cold cream.  Makeup removal wipes (three different brands).  Vaseline on my eyes and lips combined with makeup removal wipes and tissues.

You know what I've discovered works better than anything?

Cotton washcloth with warm water.  Mild soap on the cheeks, chin and forehead but for the eyes and mouth?  Cotton washcloth and warm water.

When I think of all the effort I've spent taking off makeup over the years, all the hours spent scrubbing and trying to get mascara and eyeliner off, all the pain of same and what works the best?

Cotton washcloth with warm water.  The makeup comes out in the wash and it saves trees as well. 

Because of eye irritations, I recommend a new washcloth every time and washing them in hot water and bleach, but it's still far cheaper and easier than makeup removal wipes. 

Proof that sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

If you carry a purse, keep pens in a plastic bag.

If you like your purse, either don't carry a pen, or put all pens in a plastic sandwich bag to keep them from leaking all over the bag.  I would advise the same thing for anyone who keeps a pen in a pocket, though a male friend said that if he did so he'd be afraid it would be confused for something illegal.

Product endorsement: Smart Spin

Disclaimer: I do not own stock in Smart Spin, nor do I get anything for endorsing it.

Why I like it:  I've had about a billion different food storage systems over the years and this one is by far the best.  Having all of the containers have the same size lid is WONDERFUL and it's cheap enough that one doesn't mind if a container gets lost or broken.  

Drawbacks: Sometimes the lids don't fit, but one can just pick up another of the many, many lids they provide and use it instead.

Bottom line:  It may not be the nicest set of food storage containers out there, but for the money and convenience, there's no beating it, :).

Whenever possible, buy in bulk.

The larger the package is, the lower the 'per unit' price is (99 times out of 100, anyway).  So if you have the space and can afford to do so, when there are sales, stock up.  You'll save money in the long run, :).

There's more in there, I promise.  (Waste not, want not.)

Whether it's lotion or shaving cream, foot spray or window cleaner, the bottle is designed to keep you from getting all of the product out of it.  I can't count the number of times that I've found three or four more uses (or in the cases of lotion bottles, sometimes a lot more than that) of a product simply by being willing to turn the bottle over or angle it a different way or hold down the pump longer to get the rest out.  

Every serving of a product that's wasted is more money in the pockets of those who make the products and less money in your pockets.  

So empty the lotion and hand soap bottles completely, make sure that the shaving cream and foot spray are really empty before you throw them out and use those slivers of soap until they disappear.  You may think that you're saving money by saving time when you waste, but I tend to use the time I spend being patient with a lotion bottle to relax a bit and think, something that we could all stand to do more of, :). 

Long hair tips, part 2.

To keep hair from breaking, avoid heat styling wherever possible.  Use a diffuser on your hair dryer and hot rollers instead of a curling iron, too.   Better still, roll your hair in curlers while it's wet and wait for it to air dry (this last one is a pain - only do it if you have lots of free time, :)).

Unless there is an excellent reason not to do so, use unsalted cow's milk butter for baking.

My cookies are gastronomic heaven and really all that I do is mix well and never use margarine or salted butter.