Dear 2010,

It's the beginning of a new year – and a new decade! But lest we think too far into the future, let's return to today, which falls somewhere near the front end of January. The Other One was sick with a head cold after Christmas and over New Year's, and I made him some pots of spicy tomato tea to help him get better. All that tomato, garlic, and lemony hot sauce gave the house a funky smell that wasn't even close to Italian food. So when I spotted a make-your-house-smell-pretty tip from This Old House, I thought I'd give it a try. In short, if you have forced-air heating, put a couple of drops of pure vanilla extract on your furnace filter. The scent will waft through your house the next time the furnace is on. (Stay tuned for the results.) An added bonus: according to a German study, vanilla has calming effects. So if you feel peaceful next time you're over, you'll know why. (Photo: Keller + Keller, This Old House)

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