Entertaining in hot weather can sometimes be tricky. Case in point: you're serving a punch or pitcher drink like sangria and it will be sitting outside for a couple of hours. How do you keep it cold without diluting the drink? If you use regular ice cubes, the beverage will definitely be watered down. That's why it's important to take the time to make special ice cubes! Instead of filling ice Read more

If you happen to be house-ridden by a blizzard this Winter, you'll probably pounce at the first chance you get to drive into town. While you may have rock salt at the ready, you should pause before scattering those granules: rock salt can actually be quite harmful to the environment. Excess salt can make the soil more acidic, disrupting the growth of your plants. Traditional rock salt is Sodium Read more

After talking to other exercise fanatics, I have found that many of us keep our mobile phones with us during workouts. Why wouldn't you if your iPhone doubles as an iPod and has all those great fitness apps on it. And let's face it, a phone is great if something unexpected arises, as in "Honey. I just got a flat tire and learned that my spare tube is punctured too. Can you come pick me up?" In Read more

I love the look of a newly rearranged room, but I hate the dents left behind in the carpeting from the previous configuration. The smashed down bits of carpet can take a few days (even weeks) to return to the original state, so luckily I've got a handy tip for making carpets and rugs stand up straight again. Simply take an ice cube or two, place them on the spot that needs a little help, and Read more

The next time you need a bottle of bubbly to be cold quickly do what I do: add salt and water to the ice bucket. Simply layer ice with a couple tablespoons of salt and pour in water. The wine will chill in about 15 minutes — more rapidly than it would in the freezer. The addition of water creates a more chilly surface area and the salt speeds the drop in the water's temperature. The result? One Read more

If you've ever suffered from pain in your arches, here's a little treat for your feet. It's simple to do, but feels so good, and is sure to bring some relief whether you're in high heels all day or just went on a long run. Just fill a reusable water bottle halfway with ice cubes. Then fill the bottle with cold water. Place the bottle on a towel to collect condensation, and place the arch of your Read more

Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor — yet impactful — things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left. Add a note to your Thanksgiving Read more

When I pulled out the ice tray to make a whiskey lemonade over the weekend, I couldn't help but notice that the ice had a cloudy white spot in the middle of it. This prompted me to ask: why is it that some ice I buy at the store is crystal-clear, but the frozen cubes at home in my freezer appear murky and white in the center? Ice cubes develop cloudiness when water is frozen quickly. As ice Read more