Earlier this month, I decided to clean out my kitchen cabinets and shelves -- and I was thoroughly amazed at the amount of kitchen gadgets I turned up. The funniest part? I seem to be using and re-using the same five kitchen tools over and over again. So, in the spirit of awards season, I've assembled a winners' list of my five favorite go-to kitchen tools. The envelope, please...

Halogen bulbs seemed great at first, didn't they? In addition to being affordable, they also lasted forever -- a big plus in the days before compact fluorescents (CFLs). There's just one (big) problem: halogen bulbs give off lots of heat. So much heat, in fact, they can present a very serious fire hazard.

If you have halogen light fixtures or lamps in your home, be aware of their fire-starting potential -- and keep your home and family safe with the following tips.

1. Opt for CFLs. Consider replacing all your halogen light sources with compact fluorescent versions. CFLs – which are simply mini versions of the larger fluorescent bulbs we grew up with – use a whopping 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.

Tight on space? If your home has a staircase, you might be overlooking some square footage that's right under your nose -- or more accurately, right under your steps! The area beneath your stairs is a common household dead zone, but it's actually the perfect place to stash your stuff. Here are three brilliant DIY building projects that let you convert this neglected nook into a smart storage solution.

Project 1: Under-Stairs Shelving Unit.
Who knew that in one day, I could have a full set of strategically placed shelves for storing everything from books to bedding? Check out these printable plans and easy-to-follow tutorial from DIY Advice. They're particularly helpful if you're a visual learner like me. The printable shopping list -- plus the tons of awesome photos -- make this project totally doable. It's also a budget-friendly: affordable particleboard will be your only major investment, provided you already own -- or can borrow -- the required tools (listed below).

When I first married my husband, I was amazed at how much crap many tools he owned. Seriously -- four sets of pliers? Does one really need four different pliers, each of which (I assumed) served the same function?

I came to discover that each of those pliers does indeed serve a different function, and they're all useful. I started to understand my husband's fondness for tools when I needed a level to hang a painting. My husband came to my rescue that day with his endless box of so-called useless tools. Next, I needed a tape measure for a shelving project. Then a hammer for a countertop. And then pliers for a loose wire. Turns out I'd underestimated the value of my husband's tool collection. Now that I'm one of the converted, I've come up with a list of what I consider the eight most essential tools for homeowners -- especially those of you looking to assemble a starter kit.

Even with drain traps, sink and tub drains will get clogged over time; the soap residue and grease will just build up. I use green cleaners in my home, and you really don't need to use super toxic DranO to maintain drains. Here's the magic recipe for clear drains: boiling water, baking soda, and white vinegar.

Book publisher Oxmoor House recently recalled nearly one million do-it-yourself books due to bad advice regarding electrical wiring in the home. Fortunately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), no incidents have been reported in relation to the recalled books. Regardless, the following nine titles have been removed from shelves:

Looking for a great way to donate to the Haiti earthquake relief effort? The Red Cross and Unicef are accepting donations to help earthquake victims who are in need of basic supplies and medical care. Or you can visit Craft Hope for Haiti, a brand new Etsy store that's donating all of its proceeds to Haiti relief. In fact, it's the perfect store to kick off our new column, Etsy Star.

Crafter Jade Sims founded the organization Craft Hope as a way to share handmade goods with the less fortunate. So it's no surprise that as soon as they got wind of the Haiti earthquake, Sims and her team sprung to action, collecting donated wares from crafters in the Etsy community. The new Craft Hope for Haiti store opened today with a collection of unique items. The inventory seems to be changing hourly, but as I write this, my favorites are the Modern Stacked baby quilt, pictured, and the sweet semi-custom dolls.

All proceeds from the sales of Craft Hope for Haiti items will be donated to Doctors Without Borders -- an international humanitarian organization that's currently stationed in Haiti to provide medical care to earthquake victims.

... humanely, of course. Mice love to take refuge in a warm abode during the winter months (wouldn't you?). If you've got a case of the critters in your home this season -- and it's time to bid farewell -- take a cue from Chris Glass and craft a creative mouse trap out of a very common household item: an empty toilet paper roll. Here's how to do it: