THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190044
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
I NEED HELP getting through the holidays. I need tips for saving time and money. I need hints for better living.
I need Martha Stewart. She could teach me how to decorate an entire tree with one roll of aluminum foil. She does remarkable things with kumquats.
But I can't get Martha Stewart on the phone.
So I called on the Martha Stewart of Hampton Roads, our very own TV tipster, Sherri Brennen of WVEC, Ms. Better Living herself.
I've been impressed with Brennen ever since I heard her idea for reusing the waterproof plastic sleeve that this newspaper came wrapped in this morning.
Use two of them as gloves when you're messing with soil in the garden or applying varnish. I slip my hands into them when I'm cleaning out the cat's litter box.
But let's talk Christmas.
What do I give somebody who has everything, Sherri?
``A gift certificate for a car wash.''
Cool.
How do I make my Christmas cards special?
``Mail them with a lottery ticket inside.''
I sometimes break the Christmas tree ornaments when I take them out of storage. The angel I put on top of the tree lost its wings somewhere in the attic.
Wrap the ornaments in old socks before you put them away, says Brennen.
She is so good.
Brennen, who recently published a 311-page book called ``Better Living: Tips for Saving Time and Money,'' has been with WVEC for 15 years. She is Channel 13's community marketing director and a regional Emmy winner for helping produce the ``Family Health Project'' specials.
Brennen shows up on WVEC as Ms. Helpful Hint Thursdays at 5 p.m., Fridays at noon and Wednesdays at around 6 a.m. Her No. 1 hint for saving money around the holidays is to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales.
Be there at dawn's early light on Dec. 26.
Other suggestions from Bren-nen:
Give the older kids movie passes for Christmas. Put them under the tree in a popcorn box.
To prevent melting candles from getting stuck in candle holders, spray inside the holders with vegetable oil.
Hang bells on the tree at a low level. When they ring, you'll know the baby, cat or dog is too close to the lights and ornaments.
If you buy wrapping paper that comes on a tube, save the tubes to use when storing tree lights. Wrap the lights around the tubes. Prevents tangling.
To save space in the kitchen, thaw your frozen turkey in a picnic cooler placed in the bathtub.
Use last year's Christmas cards for tags on presents. Cut off the side with the message, put a hole in the corner of the card, attach with a ribbon and write your message on the back.
If the high prices at malls scare you, shop in drug and grocery stores. Their shelves are loaded with toys, cosmetics, jewelry. And doesn't frozen pizza make the perfect stocking stuffer?
Start a holiday fund for next year just as soon as Christmas ends. Drop your loose change into a jar or bowl. It'll add up by next December.
When you're buying batteries for the kids' toys, pick up some extra batteries for the smoke detectors.
If you want your friends and relatives thinking of you all year long, give them gift subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. The gift that keeps on giving.
What about fruitcakes, I asked Brennen? Is it a proper gift?
``A fruitcake isn't a gift. It's revenge,'' she said.
Fruitcake makes a great doorstop. That's my holiday hint.
A question that Brennen didn't answer is this one: What's the best place for hiding gifts? I'll take your suggestions on Infoline (640-5555, press 2486). by CNB