Jai Ho

(loose translation "hallelujah")

I kid you not when I say that in 5 years we have been in our house, that we have never changed a single one of our recessed light bulbs. There are 8 recessed light fixtures on the main floor and they are almost always on in the evening. How can that be you say? DIMMERS I say. Ask anyone who knows me, I love dimmer switches. When you get to be a certain age, they are a necessity but they are also kinda green, who knew? Forget those bad fluorescent light bulbs (truly, they cast a bad light and they are ugly to look at) and invest in dimmer switches, you won't be sorry. Jai Ho!

BRIGHT IDEA FROM JUDY
Use empty egg cartons to store jewelry-perfect for pendants and rings!

FIND A FRIEND
Do you sew or know someone who does? My 5 year old still fits into pants that are too short for her--what to do? I extend the legs on her pants with fun fabric or grosgrain ribbon. My 8 year old son blows through the knees in most of his pants, time to sew on some patches! If you can't sew, swap with a friend for another chore/errand.

Swap babysitting with friends. You each get one Saturday night out a month for free and the kids get to hang with friends.