You already think coffee is a lifesaver, but what if we told you that it has other uses aside from your morning mug? There are a variety of different ways to use coffee beans, grounds, and coffee itself, and many of them have nothing to do with that morning jolt of caffeine. Here are some helpful ways to use coffee around the house.

1. Exfoliate your skin. If you usually use a cream-based face wash, turn it into an exfoliant by adding coarse coffee grounds. Wash your face as you normally would, and the grainy texture will slough away dry, dead skin cells.
2. Freshen the air. In rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, use coffee as a unique air freshener. Place a small bowl of coffee grounds somewhere out of the way to mask and absorb odors.
3. Scrub pots and pans. If your pots and pans are covered in grease but you don’t want to take steel wool to the non-stick surface, try coffee instead. Smear some grounds all over the surface of the pan, and then use a sponge or thick rag to apply pressure in small, circular motions.
4. Create a natural insect repellant. Sprinkle some coffee grounds in closets, on an outdoor patio, or anywhere that bugs frequently visit.

16 Genius Uses for Coffee [All You]
13 Surprising Uses for Coffee [Reader's Digest]
20 Unusual Uses for Coffee [Yahoo!]
Top 10 Uses for Coffee Grounds [Curbly]

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Flickr/stirling noyes

When Bryan Caswell was voted out of the running for the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, it was far from the end of his career. The Southern native went on to open his own restaurant, REEF, in Houston and join Continental Airlines' team of chefs, who devise in-flight menus. But most importantly for Houston Astros fans, he also took on two new projects at their home field that greatly elevated its culinary scene. These concessions stands have left their mark on Minute Maid Park:

• Little Bigs. Tucked amid the other concessions outside of Section 109, this new spot may look modest, but it serves Caswell's take on ballpark classics. The menu includes handcrafted burgers, pork sliders, and potato chips.
• El Real. Another concession stand, El Real sits outside of Section 132 but offers more classically Texan cuisine—Tex-Mex, to be exact. Here, you can order fajitas stuffed with chicken or steak and a side of nachos.

Find out more about the cuisine surrounding the Astros' home field at the Minute Maid Park's website.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/dinnercraft

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday as we remember all those heroes who have served our nation.