Original Uses for Old Panyhose

I always hate it when a good pair of panthyhose or knee high stockings get a run. They are so expensive, I hate to throw them out!

Luckily, there are many fantastic frugal uses for stockings that have seen better days.

Here are just a few:

Use the feet as car and closet fresheners. Simply stuff them with small, broken pieces of bar soap, a handful of herbs or potpourri. Tie off or sew the stuffing end shut to prevent the contents from spilling out.

You can also stuff the feet with bulbs of garlic or small onions and hang them in the kitchen. The porous fabric allows for good airflow, making them last longer. Just be sure you use clean ones to store your food! :-)

Use the tummy part of pantyhose as a natural filter for shop vacuums and swimming pool skimmer baskets. The mesh-like fabric traps debris that can clog things up!

The waistband of an old pair of pantyhose makes a great giant rubber band. Use it for bundling old magazines and newspapers, or to keep trash liners from slipping in to the garbage can. Simply stretch the waistband around the top of the liner.

I have personally used old knee-highs and pantyhose feet in craft projects. I fill them with dryer lint I collected over time from my laundry room, and used them to stuff small cloth ornaments I was sewing for the Christmas tree.

What creative uses can you come up with on you own?


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

The cure for a gassy gut is...

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pineapple! Drinking one cup of juice after a meal calms those rumbling intestines. Pineapple contains bromelaine, a digestive enzyme that breaks down food quickly, reducing gas build up. It also is soothing to the tummy.

Another great food that aids digestion is papaya, which also contains bromelaine. Having a cup of this yummy tropical fruit will have the same effect as pineapple.

Why not try them both?


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

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Clobber Cellulite with Coffee Grounds

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Women hate cellulite and go to great lengths to get rid of it. Skin creams work, but boy are they expensive! If you don't have the beauty budget of Paris Hilton or a runway model, try this frugal fix instead.

Warm about ½ cup of coffee grounds and 2 tsp. of water in the microwave for 30 seconds, and massage the warm coffee grounds onto thighs, buttocks or other problem places. Cover the area with plastic wrap. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the wrap and rinse off the grounds.

Caffeine dehydrates cells and tightens skin, making those unsigthly bumps smooth out.


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

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Delicious Ways to Use Day-Old Bread

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Make seasoned bread crumbs: Lightly toast the bread, tear it into small pieces and dump it into a blender or food processor. Add a handful of your favorite seasonings, then pulverize the bread into small crumbs.

Make croutons: Cut the bread into cubes and sprinkle it with salt, pepper and your choice of spice, such as paprika or chili powder. Cook them lightly in a frying pan with olive oil. Use them to top your salads.

Make a yummy bruschetta: Brush slices of French bread with oil and bake them in a 325 degree oven for about 5 minutes per side. Then rub the bread with the cut side of a fresh garlic clove,and top it with your favorite pesto, soft cheese, or a topping of diced tomatoes/sweet red onion/cilantro.

You can also tear pieces of bread and put it on top of a nice big salad with Italian dressing. The vinegar and oil softens the bread and adds a delightful flavor to an otherwise ordinary salad.


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

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Soak Away PMS Symptoms in the Bathtub!

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Are you feeling anxious? Toss 5 chamomile tea bags in the water. Chamomile tea contains ingredients that lower levels of stress hormones in the bloodstream and increase serotonin, the body's "feel good" chemical.

Do you have cramps? Add 2 drops of rose oil and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to hot running water. The pleasant aroma of the oil combats depression and eases pain.

Do you feel tense and sore? Add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water. Inhaling the scent of lavender has a numbing effect on pain receptors in the brain, bringing instant relief!

To keep the good feeling, sip on lavender, rose hip and chamomile teas during the day. You can find them in any grocery store.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

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