Simmer Scents: Kitchen Potpourri is easy to make and a delight to have filtering throughout the house.
Place a pot on the simmer burner of your range.
Add oranges studded with cloves and cinnamon sticks to some water.
Let the pot simmer on a cold winter day to infuse your house with spicy aromas and a little extra humidity.
Last minute Basket: Create a last-minute gift basket to keep under the tree.
Stock it with gift cards, candles, bottles of wine, chocolates, and gender-neutral gifts.
If you need a last minute gift for a hostess or a forgotten purchase, pull from the basket.
Holiday Greeting E-Style: Join the many who are avoiding the last-minute postage deadlines by sending interactive e-cards.
Quick, simple, and cost-effective, the following free e-card sites offer wonderful options.
For all the kids on your list, visit: http://www.
animatedcards.
org Instead of an advent calendar, send an e-mail card each morning.
Children love these interactive games.
For the adults on your list, try these sites: http://www.
123christmasgreetings.
com/ http://www.
123greetings.
com/ http://www.
bluemountain.
com Quick Cookie-Cooking: For a creative and timesaving cooking solution, host a Cookie Exchange with your girlfriends.
Everyone goes home with as many different varieties as people you have invited.
If you invite six people, have them bake eight-dozen of their favorite cookies.
Each guest receives six traded dozens to take home; you keep a dozen; and there is a dozen for sampling at the party.
Donate the Gift of Warmth: With cold weather at hand, make sure you send everyone off in the morning with proper cold-weather clothing: jackets, warm socks and well-fitting shoes, boots, scarves, etc.
Check to see who has outgrown what, what you can pass down or give away, and what you need to replace for this winter season.
Clean out the mud-room closet and take a load of warm, no longer usable (for you) clothing to your nearest shelter or Salvation Army.
You'll be surprised at how warm you will feel!