Has your tea totaled your teacups? Remove stains by dusting a lemon peel with table salt, and rubbing the cup with it. 

COUNTER intuitive! Counters are prime real estate – use under-cabinet space and exposed shelving to maximize space!

Tidy elves save WATER – always remember to turn off the faucet when brushing teeth and take short showers! Saves thousands of gallons per year!

Hard to believe, but not everyone loves to tidy. Choose one night a week to get it over with then relax for the rest of the week.

Special  thanks to Jaclin Madarang for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip - that a common appliance is the Swiss Army Knife of tidiness! Jac’s tip: “Hair dryers are can dewrinkle (on hot), dust out-of-the-way spots (cold), detach photos from sticky photo albums, and melt wax spills and crayon marks (on hot, then wipe away).   Also, they dry hair.  Thanks, Jac!

Special  thanks to Jaclin Madarang for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip - that a common appliance is the Swiss Army Knife of tidiness! Jac’s tip: “Hair dryers are can dewrinkle (on hot), dust out-of-the-way spots (cold), detach photos from sticky photo albums, and melt wax spills and crayon marks (on hot, then wipe away).   Also, they dry hair.  Thanks, Jac!

Sluggish in the afternoon? This might be a sign of dehydration. Before guzzling that cup of coffee, try 8 ounces of water and boost your energy!

Santa Spotlight: RUBBING ALCOHOL! Make permanent marker stains on hardwood floors and countertops temporary. Daub a cotton ball and go!

Jeepers peepers! Always losing your glasses? Designate a “home” for them (i.e. nightstand ) and never put them down anywhere else.

The time has come…for TIMERS! Install on front door and security lights, and exhaust fans and see your energy costs drop in no time!

Shine up buried treasure with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid in warm water. Soak gold for 15 minutes for a shine like new.

Elves don’t like LABELS...we LOVE them! But who needs a fancy labelmaker? Use a marker and blue painter’s tape & label yourself a genius!

Very special thanks to the Big Elf himself for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip, my inspiration, Bill Schweigart.  Swag’s tip: Healthy elves take TIME. Take sick days when healthy. Reevaluate priorities. Smell roses. Indulge your life – it’s too short not to live it. We miss you.

Elves use magic, you use electricity. But you can eliminate cord clutter with flexible or multiple-outlet adapters and a cable zipper.  (And very special thanks to ROB BURROUGH for being the 100th member of the Elf Army on Facebook! A $10 donation has been made to the Nature Conservancy's "Plant a Billion Trees" program in Rob's name.  Tell your friends and let's hit 200!)

Nailed it! My green thumb, that is - OUCH! Avoid hammering YOUR thumb when hanging a picture by using a clothespin as a nail holder.

Santa Spotlight: Energy Star! When buying appliances, get an Energy Star rated model. (Even us North Polers appreciate this U.S. program!)

Have a nook for books? Not the device, but a spot by your bed for mail, mags, or books? Unwind by reading and catch ZZZ’s with ease.

Tidy your fridge. Easy-to-spot items don’t get forgotten (and rotten), and less time searching = less cold air (and money) wasted!

Make recycling convenient. Have an everyday disposal bin or bag (near the kitchen) that you can take easily to your weekly storage bin.

Special thanks to Kelly Scanlon for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip.  Kelly spies…a great way to donate old eyeglasses.  Check out your local Lions Club – they donate to people, and peepers, in need.

Don’t hamper yourself - toss dirty clothes that need washing straight into the washer. Your back will thank you on laundry day.

Leaving the fridge door open for a long time let’s out cold air & uses more energy. Grab what you need all at once - now you’re cooking!

Garbage disposal have bad breath? Run hot water and feed it orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit rinds.

Tidy elves love board games! PEG BOARDS, that is. Mount 'em inside closet doors, over desks, in laundry rooms…great space savers!

Locally grown produce is fresher, saves fuel, and cuts pollution. (I only eat 100% North Pole-produced gingerbread cookies.)

Ironic? After hectic holidays, this elf says BRING the SPRING! IronICK? 1 tbsp of water + 2 tbsps of baking soda = a paste that cleans your iron's ICK!

Special thanks to Allison Burbage Duston for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip! She’s a brand new bride as of New Years Eve AND she’s this week’s HHF tipper? Now that’s a big week.  And now for her “RING in the New Year tip”: To remove a stuck ring before exercising or an activity that could scuff it, just rub a little olive oil on your finger first and it slides right off!  Thanks, Allison – and congratulations!

BORAX to grind? Just use this miracle mineral – it’s a stubborn stain remover, rust remover, deodorizer, detergent, and more!

Two of my favorite words: FREE SHIPPING. Do as much of your errands and shopping online to reduce gas, driving time, and money!

Time to store decorations! To keep safe, try to keep ornaments in their original packaging, or use partitioned boxes with lots of padding.

Drink tea? Don't dump excess kettle water - use it to water your plants!  (After it cools, of course.)

Wanna "clean up your act" in 2012? Make it a goal to do a l'il something nice for your planet everyday. (Might I suggest recommending Heidi The Tidy Elf to a friend?)