Timing and wining tips for holiday hosting

• After Christmas sales are a great time to buy not only gift wrap (look for solid colors that you can use all year long), and holiday cards and decorations, but also next season's winter wear. Things like scarves and gloves can be great bargains. And even coats can go on sale. Take advantage — especially if you have kids — and buy up. – A.K. in Tennessee

• For every side dish that requires extra preparation time, plan for one or two that don't. For instance, if you are preparing a casserole with many ingredients and complicated instructions, serve a package of vegetables that require nothing more than steaming.

• How to peel potatoes: Boil whole potatoes with skin on for 20-30 minutes (depending on the size of your potatoes). You should be able to stick a knife all the way through without resistance. Then remove them to an ice bath for 10 seconds each. The skin will slip right off.

• Researchers tell us that the best time to interview is late morning on a Tuesday. You will avoid the interviewer's likely Monday/Friday crunch, and have his or her full attention. Do your homework on the company, and get ready to shine!

• "Have kids make their own whipped cream with a jam jar! Fill a screw-top jar (glass, chilled, works really well) halfway with heavy cream, a little sugar and any flavoring extracts you like, then seal and shake. Kids also can make butter with cream in a jar. You may add a pinch of salt instead of sugar, and shake longer." – A.A. in Florida

• Wine buyers tip: Experts say to multiply the number of adult guests by a half bottle to determine how many bottles of wine to buy for your holiday gathering. Add an additional glass of wine per guest for every hour after dinner you expect guests to linger.

• Candles will burn more evenly if you refrigerate them for a few hours before lighting.

• "To make your drains fresh-smelling, shake a half-cup of baking soda into the drain. Then pour 2 cups of vinegar that you have warmed on the stove. It will froth and bubble. When it's done, run the hot water and give it a little scrub." – R.C. in Idaho

• Visit the dollar store for low-cost toys to use on car or airplane trips. You can get several busy toys and dole them out one at a time. Most parents will attest to what a lifesaver this can be.

• "When planning to visit my hometown for the holidays, I set aside a few hours to take the kids to the park or a nice playground. Then I message all my old friends and classmates with kids (Facebook is great for this) a few weeks ahead of time and let them know when I will be there. It's great to catch up while the kids play, and even if no one shows up, we still have a fun break." – F.L. in California

• Cookie sheets make great temporary mud and moisture trays for dirty shoes. Stash one at the entry to your home, and you will have less dirt tracked across your floors.

• "Keep knitting yarn in check with empty tissue boxes. Set your yarn ball inside the box, and let the string lead out of the top. When not in use, tape the string to the side of the box. Boxes can be stacked and stored for future projects." – C.W. in Indiana

• When the holidays come around, we use fresh herbs to make several family recipes, but end up with lots left over. Here is a great tip I found online to stretch the usefulness of fresh herbs: "Store fresh herbs as you would fresh flowers: in a jar of water on your countertop. Pluck off what you need, change the water daily, and they'll last two to three times longer than they would in the fridge (from nourishedkitchen.com)."
• Empty spice containers can be used to hold different hardware in the shop or in your toolbox.
• "My great-nephew and his family came to visit, and his toddler son is quite into opening doors. I had baby-proofed my breakables and such, but I did not think about his being able to turn a doorknob. His very smart mother pulled out a sock and slipped it over the doorknob, then secured it with a wide rubber band. Even I was unable to get a good grip on the doorknob after that!" – V.R. in North Carolina
• Surprise guests? Here's how to quick clean your living areas: First, clean the toilet, mirror and vanity in the guest bathroom and leave a fresh towel; grab a laundry basket and remove any clutter from the living room and kitchen; put away or clean dirty dishes and wipe down counters in the kitchen; finally, give carpets a quick vacuum. Then maybe light a great-smelling candle and greet your guests!
• "Fireplaces are wonderful for heat and ambience, but the ashes! When cleaning up, I spritz the ashes with a rosemary water solution. This keeps them from dusting up and flying all over, and it smells great. My neighbor puts her damp loose-leaf tea in the fireplace for scent as well." – C.W. in Iowa

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