Tips, Hints and Smart Ideas that Make Life Easier: How-to Advice on Kids, Pets, Life in General

Tips, hints, ideas, and advice are what make life a little easier for all of us, but sometimes we just can't come up with the ideas on our own. We stumble along in life, feeling the same way we felt as little kids when we had a small pebble in our shoe all day long-cranky and out of sorts, but not sure why.

Below is a list of eight hints and ideas-including stopping kids' arguments, training pets, and creative household tricks-that make life just a little more comfortable.

Kiddie Complaints: Do the kids complain during a car trip? Do you hear, "Mommy, Susie's touching me!" Or "Dad, Jeff just burped in my face again!" If so, try this tip from a friend of mine. Give each child a roll of coins at the beginning of the journey. Anytime someone argues or complains, he/she forfeits a coin and gives it to Mom. Harmony is sure to reign because when the trip is over, each child is allowed to keep any coins that he/she still has in hand. This concept can be adapted to any time kids are arguing at home, as well.

Fido Faux Paw: Don't yell at Fido when you catch him chewing your shoes or socks. Instead, praise him and tell him, "Bring it." When he obeys, give him a treat. Pretty soon he'll be rounding up every stray piece of footwear in the house and delivering it to you.

Cat Call: Cats don't always come when called, but here's a slick trick. Whenever it's feeding time, give a whistle just before putting down the food. It won't take long and pretty soon they'll respond, even when outdoors. The"cat call" can also be a life saver to keep a cat from danger, or to save the life of a bird that's being stalked by a cat.

I Can See Clearly Now: Most people notice smudges on their glasses while peering through them and using the computer, but it's a pain to get up and clean those specs. Keep a pocket-sized bottle of lens cleaner and a soft cloth at your desk for a quick de-smudging.

Nuts About Nuts: Many of us are crazy about nuts but because of the salt and "crumblies," no one wants the last handful in the jar. Rather than throw out those last tidbits, put them into a colander, shake off the crumblies and pour the nuts back into their container. They'll be eaten in a flash.

Oil Me: When you're in the the garage and need a spray lubricant (such as WD-40), you can bet it'll be in the house. And vice versa if you're in the house. Place multiple cans in both places, and that way it'll always be on hand whether needed for squeaky hinges or rusty bike chains.

Terrific Tags: If you feel bad about discarding greeting cards after the occasion, renovate them instead. Cut the card on the fold, discard the back half, glue a matching accent ribbon on the front half, and punch a hole in the corner. Voilà-a cute gift tag!

Photo Tag: Have you ever been caught at the last minute without a wedding card to go with that special gift? When a wedding invitation includes a separate photo, trim the picture with scalloped scissors, print out a congratulatory greeting and glue it on the back. Punch a heart-shaped hole in the corner and tie the photo to the gift as the tag. It's a nice surprise for the happy couple.

Sources:
Personal experience