Placeholder Content Image

“It’s really dangerous”: Former MAFS star's jarring claims about show

<p>A former participant of Nine’s <em>Married At First Sight</em> has appeared on a rival network to drop some jarring claims about the reality TV show.</p> <p>Tayla Winter, who was paired up with Hugo Armstrong on the series left <em>Sunrise</em> hosts David Kochie and Natalie Barr in disbelief with her chilling warning about how “dangerous” and “scary” the format is for the participants.</p> <p>Winter 27, explained how she had expected “a really fun experience” going into it.</p> <p>“I thought I’d meet a lot of people, we could party in Sydney – I was on a bit of a break from work – and potentially meet someone that was really nice,” she said.</p> <p>“For me, the worst case scenario in my head was, I still come out with a lot of friends. I could never have imagined what it was actually like.”</p> <p>Barr then asked her whether she’d “warn people not to go on MAFS” in the future.</p> <p>“I think it’s really dangerous,” Winter responded.</p> <p>“I know that some of my castmates are really struggling.</p> <p>“I’ve been struggling … I hope that people just understand what it’s really like and that’s why I’m trying to spread a bit of awareness about it because … I truly believe someone will end their life over this show one day.”</p> <p>Her response clearly stunned Barr, who then told her, “Oh, wow, that’s a serious claim. We’re sorry that happened to you.”</p> <p>Winter’s relationship with Armstrong saw some of the most dramatic scenes on the 2023 season of <em>MAFS</em>, with the bride storming out of a commitment ceremony and declaring she was going back to (Tasmania) after a heated conversation with her TV partner.</p> <p>The abrupt exit came after Armstrong allegedly called Winter the “C-word” during a vulgar spat which was overheard in an accidental “butt dial”.</p> <p>Winter eventually returned to the experiment to give him “a second chance,” but was rejected by Armstrong and the couple announced their split to their castmates that night.</p> <p>Winter told <em>Sunrise</em> that she was given “a bad edit” which had left her vulnerable to constant online trolling and abuse.</p> <p>“The way the (editing) is done is unethical,” she told the hosts.</p> <p>“Going into the show, I had no idea how controlled it would be. There is a lot of manipulation and coercive control and it’s pretty scary once you’re over there (on set).</p> <p>“You’re not in your home state, you’re surrounded by all of these camera crews, all these people you don’t know.</p> <p>“It’s quite intimidating and you say and do things under a really high-pressure environment.</p> <p>“You quickly regret those things that you do and that you said.”</p> <p>When Barr highlighted that reality shows are renowned for being heavily edited, Winter hit back with bold claims about producers.</p> <p>“You build trust and what you think is a really strong relationship with (producers) and it’s all fake,” she said.</p> <p>“There’s a lot of pressure to say things and do things that you don’t feel comfortable with.</p> <p>“I slept on the couch the entire time throughout the experiment and it wasn’t seen that Hugo had the bed.</p> <p>“But they needed that narrative to suit what character they wanted from me and what character they wanted from Hugo.”</p> <p>A spokesperson from Nine informed news.com.au that the network takes its duties concerning the “health and wellbeing” of the show’s participants “extremely seriously”.</p> <p>“All participants have access to the show psychologist during filming, during broadcast and once the program has ended,” they said.</p> <p>“Nine also have an additional service for participants should they like or need further individual and confidential psychological support.</p> <p>“This service gives participants access to clinicians who have been specifically engaged to support those involved in the program in relation to their experiences. This service is available to all participants for as long as they need it, it does not end.</p> <p>“Nine provides all participants with ongoing support for the duration of the show and we monitor all participant’s social media accounts so that we are aware of and manage any negative commentary. We are very proactive in this space, and care for the health and wellbeing of the participants.</p> <p>“As a result of the level of interest in the participant’s personal lives and volume of commentary on every post, Nine manages all individual MAFS social accounts with their permission, as an extra measure of protecting them from negativity.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

8 nifty uses for leftover glass jars

<p>If your recycling bin is building up with leftover jars, scoop them out and salvage them. There are so many uses for leftover jars that you never need crowd out the rubbish again.</p> <p>Here are our eight favourites:</p> <p><strong>Vase</strong> – Leftover glass jars, especially long narrow ones (like the ones tomato passata come in) are ideal for small flower arrangements. Wild flowers or natives look especially good in these vintage inspired vessels.</p> <p><strong>Candle-holder</strong> – Forget expensive candle holders. Small glass jars are excellent for holding your tea-lights. Try different shapes and sizes grouped together for an eye-catching effect.</p> <p><strong>Hold-all</strong> – Need somewhere to store your pens/pencils or even the bits and bobs that make up your sewing kit? Try using a large glass jar. Added bonus? You can see everything you’ve stashed.</p> <p><strong>Drinking glass</strong> – If you’ve been to a trendy café recently, you may have had your drink served in a glass jar. It’s the new ‘in thing’ to do. Why not create the same vibe at home and serve your drinks in your leftover jars? Smoothies especially are great in jars. You can even cap them with the lid for drinks on the go.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/diy/2014/12/diy-polka-dot-drinking-glasses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Related link: Make your own polka-dot drinking glasses</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><strong>Planter</strong> – If you’re a keen gardener, especially one with a small space to green up, you’re no doubt always on the lookout for planters. Larger sized glass jars can make a beautifully eye-catching display for small plants with succulents.</p> <p><strong>Storage container</strong> – If your jar still has a tightly fitted lid, why not use it to store other foods? Homemade foods like pesto and nut butters are especially good stored in air-tight glass containers while large jars make the perfect biscuit tin.</p> <p><strong>Gift</strong> – Bear with us! While handing over an empty glass jar probably isn’t the best idea, filling a pretty jar with some homemade goodies makes for an excellent gift. The dry ingredients for biscuits, a favourite slice or even something like homemade tea or dried herbs and spices can all be placed in a jar festooned with some ribbon and a card.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/at-home/2014/08/a-guide-to-homemade-candles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A guide to homemade candles</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/diy/2014/12/diy-3-fab-ways-to-upcycle-mason-jars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great uses for Mason jars</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/at-home/2014/06/how-to-create-your-own-flower-arrangements/%20%20%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to create your own flower arrangements</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Image credit: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

The genius coffee jar hack that will blow your mind

<p>Before you next go to toss your empty coffee jar in the recycling bin, there is one clever hack that might stop you in your tracks.</p> <p>The hack, shared on parenting website <a href="https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/home/home-solutions/the-genius-coffee-jar-hack-that-will-blow-your-mind/news-story/4b5281476c84d111cf4d1760b7e84461" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kidspot.com.au</span></strong></a>, reveals how one person found the perfect use for their growing pile of empty coffee jars.</p> <p>Just as Leah Goulis was about to throw her empty coffee jar in the recycling bin, her husband Jerry urged her to stop.</p> <p>“Wait … we can use that!” he said.</p> <p>Jerry then discovered that the plastic part of the coffee jar lid comes off, allowing it to be used as an individual container. The separate small container is the perfect size for sugar or tea bags.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="289" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818265/1_499x289.jpg" alt="1 (135)"/></p> <p>Excited with her new life hack, Leah announced the tip on the New Mums Australia Facebook group – and her joy was shared by other mums across the country.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="294" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818266/2_499x294.jpg" alt="2 (77)"/></p> <p>“I vote that this is a HACK! You could also put hummus in the lid and cut up carrots for a picnic in the main bit. Hipster picnic hack!” one mum wrote.</p> <p>“Hack. Now I have to buy Moccona …” wrote another.</p> <p>An impressed mum asked, “I didn’t even know they did that. I wonder if it would still seal effectively or possibly spill out everywhere when you take the lid back off?”</p> <p>Leah confirmed that the lid does seal perfectly again once it is taken off, so there is no spillage.</p> <p>One person suggested that the clever coffee jar hack was perfect to put chopped fruit in the main jar compartment and then put yoghurt in the smaller section to mix later. The coffee jar is also a great size for a salad and the small lid can store the salad dressing.</p> <p>The lid can also be used on its own for sultanas or other small snacks.</p> <p>What are some ways you could use this hack? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Leah Goulis </em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Exploring the ancient Plain of Jars in Laos

<p><em><strong>Justine Tyerman learns about ‘bombies’ and sticks to the path as she explores the ancient Plain of Jars in Laos…</strong></em></p> <p>We stood in Tham Thonghai Neung cave in the Xieng Khuang province of Laos, once home to many families. They sheltered there during the Vietnam war from 1964-1973, and 20 of them died there when US bombs struck their hiding place. </p> <p>A shaft of light shining through an opening in the roof of the cave illuminated a Buddhist shrine erected in memory of those whose lives were lost in the attack. The Kiwis in our small tour party stood in stunned silence as our Innovative Travel guide Fhan explained that Laos had the unenviable distinction of being the most heavily-bombed country in the world, per capita. Our knowledge of Lao history was sketchy at best and most were shocked and moved at what he told us.</p> <p>For nearly a decade, Laos was subjected to intensive bombing by the United States as part of the wider war in Indochina. Xieng Khuang province, being close to the Vietnam border and the headquarters of the Pathet Lao (the Lao communist movement), was one of the prime targets. Bombs fell every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, “like rain from the sky,” said Fhan.</p> <p align="center"><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45059/image-5_500x375.jpg" alt="Image 5"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><em>Justine at the Plain of Jars, a vast archaeological site in Xieng Khuang province, Laos, dotted with mysterious 2000-year-old stone urns.</em></p> <p>In another cave, Tham Piew, about 50km away, 374 people died in a US rocket attack.</p> <p>Based on US bombing records, at least two million metric tonnes of ordnance was dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973. Included in this figure were 270 million submunitions — the bomblets dispersed by cluster munitions — known in Laos as “bombies”.</p> <p>An estimated 80 million, 30 percent, failed to detonate and remained potentially dangerous after the end of the war. Some were dropped at so low an altitude, the fuse didn’t have time to arm, and some simply malfunctioned. These are called UXO (unexploded ordnance.)</p> <p>As a result of extensive ground fighting during the war, some parts of Laos are also littered with other types of UXO such as artillery shells, anti-tank rockets, mortar rounds and grenades.</p> <p>More than 40 years after the bombing ended, UXO continue to kill and maim people as they go about their everyday work. There have been more than 20,000 casualties since 1974.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45060/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (14)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The green countryside is littered with bomb craters, a reminder of the pounding the area suffered from 1964-1973.</em></p> <p><strong>UXO incidents</strong></p> <p>Most UXO incidents in Laos are caused by impact — farmers who hit an UXO beneath the soil’s surface while digging, ploughing or planting. Other causes of accidents include lighting fires over hidden UXO, building houses, collecting food from the forest or breaking open bombies in order to sell the scrap metal or explosives inside. Bombies are sometimes trapped in bamboo plants as they grow and explode if disturbed.</p> <p>Children are highly at risk. In recent years, more than 40 percent of casualties have been children. Bombies are the same size and shape as tennis balls, and sometimes bright yellow in colour so they are tempting to play with.</p> <p>Tragically, in this impoverished country where 44 percent of the population live on less than $1.25 a day, many children are involved in the scrap metal trade, most of which is war-related scrap.</p> <p>It’s like playing Russian roulette but they take the risk to help generate an income to buy food in times of shortage.</p> <p align="center"> <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45061/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (15)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><em>Working in paddy fields can be a dangerous occupation in heavily-bombed areas of Laos like Xieng Khuang province.</em></p> <p>There is a strong link between UXO contamination and poverty — 41 out of the 45 poorest districts in Laos are those most affected by UXOs. Many rural communities cannot grow sufficient food for their needs because the land area they farm is too small — but they are frightened to expand it. Experience has told them that ploughing new fields can be lethal. The land best suited to agriculture is often the most heavily contaminated.</p> <p>Communities would often benefit economically from basic infrastructure such as irrigation systems that would help them grow more crops, and roads and bridges that would make it easier to transport and sell any surplus — but the risk from UXO prevents them from building such things.</p> <p>We also visited the MAG (Mines Advisory Group) Centre in Xieng Khuang where our guide Vieng described the work of the bomb disposal teams.</p> <p>MAG, an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1989 with headquarters in the UK, has been operating in Laos since 1994. Working alongside community liaison teams, MAG chooses project areas based on a comprehensive assessment of what difference UXO clearance will make to communities in that area.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45062/in-text-two_499x665.jpg" alt="In Text Two (1)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Inside Tham Thonghai Neung cave in the Xieng Khuang province of Laos, Innovative Travel guide Fhan explains that the area was one the prime US bombing targets.</em></p> <p><strong>Land to benefit community</strong></p> <p>This ensures that priority is given to clearing the land most likely to directly benefit the community, and therefore most likely to alleviate poverty. MAG hires and trains members of rural communities and actively recruits women because of their dexterity in handling delicate and unstable UXO.</p> <p>According to the most recent figures, MAG has destroyed 212,455 explosive items; cleared 58,526,823 square metres of land and surveyed 58,482,966 metres of land thereby helping 954,978 people.</p> <p>Needless to say, when Fhan and Vieng told us to stick strictly to the pathways as we explored the nearby 2000 year-old Plain of Jars, we did precisely that.</p> <p>Working in conjunction with UNESCO, MAG has cleared seven of the most important archaeological sites to ensure the safety of both local people and tourists. However, I was not prepared to take the risk. I followed exactly in their footsteps, passing many huge bomb craters that still scar the peaceful, green landscape.</p> <p>The clearance of such a significant site is an important achievement as it will enable the Lao government to apply for World Heritage status. This will boost tourism and reduce poverty by providing more employment for local people.</p> <p>The clearance work has also increased the amount of land safe to use for agriculture, enabling farmers to grow sufficient food to meet their needs and even generate a surplus to sell.</p> <p>At one of the three most important archaeological sites, we Kiwis were immensely proud to see a NZAID sign alongside the UNESCO one.</p> <p>It read “MAG cleared UXO from site 3 in 2005 with funding from NZAID.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45063/in-text-three_500x333.jpg" alt="In Text Three (1)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>I was immensely proud to see this NZAID sign alongside a UNESCO one saying MAG cleared UXO from the Plain of Jars site 3 in 2005 with funding from NZAID.</em></p> <p><strong>Emotional and sobering</strong></p> <p>While the experience was emotional and sobering, it was also uplifting to see the international community getting behind such organisations as MAG and COPE (Co-operative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise), a rehabilitation service offering orthotic devices, prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs to those disabled and injured by UXO.</p> <p>COPE assists 1000 people a year but there are many who are not even aware that help is available. They struggle by using homemade wooden or bamboo stumps to replace limbs lost in explosions. Our Innovative Travel-Singapore Airlines tour group combined to donate a lump sum to help fund COPE’s work.</p> <p>During our 12 days in Laos, the information enabled me to reflect on, admire and respect the indomitable spirit of the Lao people, who — despite having to live with the ongoing lethal legacy of a war that ended four decades ago — are joyful, positive and incredibly hospitable.</p> <p align="center"><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45065/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (17)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><em>A bomb casing has been recycled as a foundation on this house.</em></p> <p>I loved the irony of their recycling efforts, using war scrap as building materials — turning deadly into useful. We saw many houses propped up on bomb-casing foundations with tank tracks for fences. And outside Meaung Khoun Restaurant and Guesthouse in Phonsavan, Xieng Khuang, where we lunched one day on delicious local dishes, there was a display of bomb art.</p> <p>I’ve never encountered such universal good humour, warmth and cheerfulness. Without exception, we were greeted everywhere with smiles and genuine affection. In response, I found myself beaming all day long. Very therapeutic… and sorely missed when we left Laos and returned home to the somewhat sombre faces of our fellow Kiwis.</p> <p>Have you ever been to Laos?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Justine Tyerman</em></p> <p><em>*Justine Tyerman travelled with <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.innovativetravel.co.nz/" target="_blank">Innovative Travel</a></strong></span>, a Christchurch-based boutique tour operator with 27 years’ experience offering travellers the opportunity to explore historically and culturally unique destinations worldwide that provide a challenge but with the security of a peace-of-mind 24/7 wrap-around service. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.innovativetravel.co.nz/travel_companions.club" target="_blank">Travel Companions’ Club</a></strong></span> creating new horizons for social travellers.</em></p> <p><strong>Getting there:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.singaporeair.com/" target="_blank">Singapore Airlines</a></strong></span> flies from Auckland to Singapore daily, from Wellington four times weekly, and from Christchurch daily. Singapore Airlines and its regional wing SilkAir operate 139 weekly flights from eight Australian cities to Singapore Changi Airport with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir.</em></p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

DIY blackboard label jars

<p>When we renovated our kitchen, I pored over lifestyle magazines and blogs, coveting their glistening kitchens with their beautiful exposed shelves. Nothing exposes your blocked digestive tract more than your entire kitchen pantry’s contents displayed for everyone to see. So, I recommend a closed cabinet to store (hide) your instant noodles and beautiful, delicious, soft, sugary, white processed bread. But your artisanal legumes? Put those out on display!</p> <p><strong>You will need:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Many clean assorted jars in various sizes</li> <li>Wide paintbrush</li> <li>Blackboard paint</li> <li>Chalk or chalk pen</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to:</strong></p> <p>1. Ensure your jars are clean and free from oil and dirt, both inside and out.</p> <p>2. Take the wide paintbrush and dip it into the blackboard paint. Using smooth strokes, paint a small rectangle on the front of each jar – approximately 7 cm (2¾ in) by 3 cm (1¼ in), depending on the jar size. Allow each to dry.</p> <p>3. Fill your jars and use chalk or a chalk pen to add labels. Display with pride and know that you will never, ever get close to finishing that enormous jar of dried barley pearls. But your friends don’t need to know that.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Not feeling up to getting out the paint and brushes? Did you know that blackboard contact paper is a thing? Simply cut out labels from the paper and apply them to your jars.</p> <p><img width="173" height="173" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/38298/roped-in-cover_173x173.jpg" alt="Roped In Cover (1)" style="float: right;"/></p> <p><em>This is an edited extract from </em>Roped In<em> by Gemma Patford published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $29.99 and is available in stores nationally.</em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

British man sells bottles air for over $160 a jar

<p>It seems increased pollution is giving steam to a bizarre ‘luxury’ product. British entrepreneur Leo De Watts, 27, has introduced bottled air to the international market and cities in China can’t get enough of it.</p> <p>In heavily polluted cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, fresh, unadulterated air is hard to come by. De watt’s new business venture, Aethaer, is capitalising on the demand at ridiculous margins by selling natural, fresh air at $160 a bottle.</p> <p>No, it’s not a joke. In fact, since launching a few weeks ago, Aethaer has reportedly sold around 180 catchments of west Britain's country air in 580ml jars.</p> <p>“Aethaer is collected from fresh natural air flowing over a range of prime locations, from fertile lush pastures and wild untouched meadows, to wind-kissed hilltops and heavenly snow-capped mountains,” <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.aethaer.com/" target="_blank">the website reads.</a></strong></span></em></p> <p>Before you write this guy down as a con artist, don’t worry, he says he’s started this project with good intentions. The company’s ethos states that it is aimed at highlighting environmental issues, and is using original thought to inspire change.</p> <p>“Whether our products are purchased for personal use, as gifts, for decoration, or are utilised as advertised, we hope to be a starting point for conversation that leads to change.”</p> <p>De watts said they would use a portion of the profits to influence policies for environmental change. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/wellbeing/2015/08/cures-from-the-kitchen-cupboard/">8 kitchen cupboard cures for common ailments</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/wellbeing/2015/09/old-wives-tale-medical-advice/">Odd medical advice your mother probably told you</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/wellbeing/2015/09/monday-music-playlist/">Catchy songs to beat the Monday blues</a></strong></span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

DIY decorative jar lights

<p>These DIY decorative jar lights will add a sophisticated glow to any home – and best of all, they’re so much easier to make than they look!</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You will need: </span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Clean jars</li> <li>String or yarn</li> <li>Spray paint (your colour of choice)</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to: </span></strong></p> <p>1. Wrap string tightly around jar and tie a knot. You can experiment with how to wrap the string around the jar to get the pattern you desire. An idea is to criss-cross and overlap the yarn to get an interesting look.</p> <p>2. Place jars on a covered surface upside down. Spray paint jars with at least two coats. Remember to let jars dry in between coats. Once the jars are completely dry, cut and unwrap string. Pop a tea light into the jar and voila, you’ve got a beautiful decorative lamp!</p> <p><em>Source: Pinterest</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/11/diy-silhouette-cushion-covers/">How to make silhouette cushion covers</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/10/recycle-furniture-in-garden/">Fun ways to recycle furniture for the garden</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/10/diy-cookie-cutter-candles/">DIY cookie cutter candles</a></strong></em></span></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Great ways to reuse mason jars

<p>Mason jars can be turned into just about anything, it seems. Here are seven clever ways to repurpose your old mason jars.</p> <p><strong>Salt holder –</strong> After your cylinder-shaped salt container is empty, use its lid to screw under a mason jar top to create a convenient spice dispenser.</p> <p><img width="499" height="645" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9606/salt-shaker_499x645.jpg" alt="Salt Shaker" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Photo source: <a href="/%20http:/sherisilver.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Sheri Silver</strong></span></a></p> <p><strong>Shaker –</strong> Apply the top of a parmesan cheese container to your jar to create a more aesthetically pleasing mason jar shaker. Fill with more parmesan, powdered sugar, and so on.</p> <p><strong>Cocktail shaker –</strong> Drill holes in the lid of one mason jar while keeping another intact. Use the jar as a cocktail shaker and switch to the one with holes to strain your drink.</p> <p><img width="498" height="680" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9607/cocktail-shaker_498x680.jpg" alt="Cocktail Shaker" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Photo source: <a href="/%20http:/frockfiles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Frock Files</strong></span></a></p> <p><strong>Candle –</strong> Melt your old candles and pour them into a mason jar (with a new wick installed) to create a brand new candle.</p> <p><strong>Terrarium –</strong> Fill your jar with pretty stones, dirt and moss to create a cute moss terrarium.</p> <p><img width="500" height="749" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9608/terrarium_500x749.jpg" alt="Terrarium" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/><br /> Photo source: <a href="http://parentpretty.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Parent Pretty </strong></span></a><a href="http://parentpretty.com/"><br /></a></p> <p><strong>Salad holder –</strong> Premake a salad (sans dressing) and toss it in a mason jar. Secure the lid and store in the fridge. They’ll stay longer this way than in a bowl.</p> <p><strong>Tiki torches –</strong> Drill a large hole in the top of a mason jar lid. Fit a torch wick through it, fill with oil, and light the night with your mason jar tiki torches.</p> <p><img width="500" height="699" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9609/tiki-torches_500x699.jpg" alt="Tiki Torches" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Photo source: <a href="/%20http:/thefrugalhomemaker.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Frugal Homemaker</strong></span></a></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/how-to-maximise-a-small-bathroom/">4 ways to maximise a small bathroom</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/home-cleaning-tricks/">12 cleaning tricks for hard-to-clean areas around the home</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/dinners-in-freezer/">Tips on stocking your freezer full of easy dinners</a></strong></em></span></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

How to make your own tinted jars

<p>Here’s a simple craft idea to make your own colourful vases or candle holders.</p><p>Using glass jars that you would normally throw away (think pasta sauce or jam jars), this is a fun activity that you could do to decorate a colour-themed party.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You will need:</span></strong></p><ul><li>Food colouring</li><li>Mod Podge (available from craft stores such as Lincraft or Spotlight)</li><li>Clean dry glass jars</li><li>Paintbrush</li><li>Paper plates</li><li>Water</li><li>Small bowls</li><li>Large bowl</li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to:</span></strong></p><p>1. Mix your chosen food colouring with one teaspoon of water in a small bowl. Use more food colouring if you want a more vibrant colour.</p><p>2. Pour a tablespoon of Mod Podge into your jar.</p><p>3. Add your coloured water to the jar and mix with the paintbrush to form a runny paste.</p><p>4. Working over a large bowl, swirl your coloured paste around the jar until the inside is coated. Tip out any excess.</p><p>5. Place the jar upside down on a paper plate and allow to dry for 30 minutes.</p><p>6. Then place your jar upside down on a tray lined with baking paper and put in a 60°C oven for 10 minutes. Turn the jar up the other way and bake for a further 20 minutes. This should remove any streaks of colour on the jar and ensure it is fully dry. If there are still streaks on the jar, leave it in the oven for a further 10 minutes.</p><p>Note: If you fill the jars with water the colour will eventually fade, so you may decide to display flowers in there without water. You can also use them as candleholders or as a caddy for items such as cutlery or straws at a BBQ.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Image credit: Momtastic</em></p><p><strong>Related links:</strong>&nbsp;</p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/02/make-scented-candles/" target="_blank">DIY scented candles</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2014/12/diy-polka-dot-drinking-glasses/" target="_blank">Make your own polka dot glasses</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2014/12/how-to-decorate-your-home-on-a-budget/" target="_blank">How to decorate your home on a budget</a></span></strong></em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Brownies in a jar

<p>There’s a new gifting trend that’s gaining popularity around the world and we know you’ll love it: Mason jar recipes. It’s always fun to present someone with some homemade treats as a gift, but what if you simply give him or her ready-to-bake ingredients and let them bake it themselves?</p><p>Here’s how it works: you give someone a jar filled with all of the dry ingredients for a simple cake, a batch of cookies, or a loaf of bread, then you attach a card with instructions on what wet ingredients need to be added. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt gift alternative that lets someone know you care. You can give them a recipe of yours that you know they like, or why not try our recipe for chocolate chip brownies?</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p><ul><li>1 ⅖ cup plain flour</li><li>¾ cup granulated sugar</li><li>¾ cup brown sugar</li><li>⅖ cup cocoa powder</li><li>½ teaspoon salt</li><li>½ teaspoon baking powder</li><li>100g chocolate chips</li><li>100g white chocolate chips</li><li>50g walnuts/pecans (optional)</li><li>1 litre jar</li></ul><p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients to be added by giftee</span></em></p><ul><li>150g melted butter</li><li>3 beaten eggs</li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p><ol><li>In the jar, layer your dry ingredients. We like to try and make this look as nice as possible, so we alternate light and dark ingredients to create a striped effect. This recipe should fit nicely into a 1-litre jar.</li><li>Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar, attaching the following instructions: C<em>ombine the contents with 150g melted butter and 3 beaten eggs. Mix well. Pour into a lined 23 x 23cm baking tin. Bake at 180 C (160 C fan-forced) for 25-35 minutes.</em></li><li>Optional: tie a colourful spatula or mixing spoon to the jar.</li></ol><p><em>Image credit: Pinterest&nbsp;</em></p>

Food & Wine

Our Partners