Sometimes, especially in these economic times, you just have to suck it up — and out.

Helping you to save time in the kitchen and money in the store, PackMate Vacu-Seal food storage system is a convenient, enviro-friendly and economical way to vacuum seal those precious goodies.

“We wanted to design a vacuum-sealing system that was so easy to use, beneficial and affordable that people would use it everyday,” said Stephen Armstrong, president.

The Vacu-Seal features a compact, handheld, cordless vacuum that extracts the air from the reclosable storage bags. The airtight zipper and valve seal out freezer burn and seal in freshness. They are reusable, dishwasher safe, and come in gallon and quart sizes.

The Vacu-Seal system also allows you to:

— Reduce waste: The Vacu-Seal keeps food fresh up to five times longer because it's not exposed to air, which causes it to go bad.

— Save space: The vacuum is small enough to fit inside your kitchen drawer right next to your bags.

— Buy in bulk: When you can freeze and seal, you can turn bulk into individual servings.

— Prepare ahead: We are all busy. When there is time to cook, make the most of it. Take those meals and store in controlled portions for families, singles or those with special diets.

— Savor seasonal: Many favorite fruits, veggies, even fish, are only available at certain times of the year. Take advantage! Prepare accordingly, Vacu-Seal and freeze. Then simply defrost in the fridge or microwave.

— Be enviro-friendly: The bags feature a reclosable, airtight zipper and are dishwasher safe. This enables you to use the entire bag multiple times; there is no need to cut off a portion of a sealed bag, throw out the top, and then reseal.

— Marinate in minutes: Meat and fish can be marinated in minutes as opposed to hours, still coming out tender and juicy.

— Protect your valuables: The Vacu-Seal keeps polished silver from tarnishing, photos and paper memorabilia from yellowing, and protects other valuables from corrosion and oxidation.

— Use other vacuums: If you already own another vacuum sealer, you can still use it with the Vacu-Seal bags.

And it’s fast and easy to use. Simply place contents in the bag, seal the zipper, insert the vacuum tip and press the power button. Air is removed and you are done. The starter kit retails for $30, including vacuum, bags and batteries.

For more information, call 800-267-2486 or visit www.vacu-seal.com.

A BETTER BED

When you have friends or family visiting, you go the extra mile to make sure they enjoy themselves. You plan trips, make special meals, create memories. But, what about the end of the day?

Many an overnight visitor has been “treated” to a hard floor, lumpy couch or futon. Much appreciated at times, but not necessary now. Serta has joined with leading airbed manufacturer insta-bed to offer a new line of airbed mattresses and coverings.

“Getting a good night sleep doesn't have to be like the search for the Holy Grail for your guests anymore,” said Brigitte Mailloux, product manager for Serta's line of air mattresses. “As a host, offering your guest a good night sleep is often overlooked, but it very well might be the most important aspect of their stay.”

Remember, guests will be spending about 25 percent of their visit where they lie down. The quality of that time can make all the difference in how the visit goes.

All Serta Airbeds — Elevated Pillow Top, Elevated Memory Foam and Elevated Poly Construction — come in queen size and retail for $120. They feature integrated electric pumps for automatic, simple inflating and deflating, stay in place with the Sure Grip bottom, and include a bag for easy transit and storage.

Another plus is the one-stop bedding. The all-in-one Serta Sleep System solution feature lets you go from cold to hot — use the “winter” side on top when it's cold and the “summer” side when things heat up. The unique bedding, which features suede jacquard fabric and removable liners, is easy to clean and includes a storage bag.

For more information visit www.serta.com or www.insta-bed.com.

Pictured here:

Vacu-Seal — Save time and money with the Vacu-Seal by PackMate. Photo courtesy of PackMate.

Good Night — Make your guests feel right at home when visiting with Serta's airbeds. Photo courtesy of Serta.

To find out more about Maggie Reed and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.