MAKE A NOTE!! -- November 5th, 2003
CIRCULATION - 37,431 (From Around the World! :-)
WEB SITE VISITORS - 77,534
A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT JANUARY 7TH, 2004
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NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
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Discount Home Improvement/Repair Supplies
Our heart and prayers go out to all those in California who lost their homes.
We hope that this article may help in some small way to save money on repairs
and rebuilding. "The Dollar Stretcher" print magazine had an article by Patrice
Blackburn, in their November 2003 issue on Habitat for Humanity's ReStores. Some
materials sold are left over from Habitat's projects, some are donated, and some
are outdated materials that stores will donate rather than throw away. Proceeds
from the sale of these items are used to support Habitat's work of building
homes for those who may not be able to afford to buy one. Some examples of the
deals you can find at ReStores are a front door with frame for $15, $20 for a
toilet or dishwasher, living room carpet for $15, or a $149 chandelier for
$12.50. Of course, prices and stock will depend on recent donations, and vary
from store to store. To find the ReStore closest to you (and there are quite a
few in California), call 1-800-422-4828 x2552 or go to
http://www.habitat.org/env/restore.html
Remember, even if you aren't in financial need, you can still purchase items at
the store to help support Habitat's good work. If you would like to read more
from "The Dollar Stretcher" or subscribe to their ezine (or print magazine),
head over to
http://www.stretcher.com
POST IT...in your tool box, and email info to friends.
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Aromas to Help You Relax or Lose Weight?
Recent studies in how aromas, or smells, can affect not only our moods, but
also our physiology have turned up some interesting data. Lavender has been
found to help people relax, but prolonged use seems to lead to weight gain or
difficulty losing weight. On the other hand, people who were exposed to the
aroma of grapefruit several times a day, seemed to be more likely to lose
weight. Researchers aren't sure if it is the smell alone, its affect on
appetite, or its affect on metabolism. So if you're having problems sleeping,
you might consider spraying a little lavender on your pillow, but maybe not wear
it all day long (unless stress is more of a problem than weight). If you're
trying to lose weight, you might want to try a grapefruit scent. Wal-Mart has
inexpensive lavender body mist scents. If you'd like to try the grapefruit
theory, we found one scent that is predominantly grapefruit. It is Gap Scents
"So Pink", available at Gap Outlet, Gap Body, or Gap Online stores. To find the
one nearest you, or to order online, go to...
http://www.gap.com. And I would definitely take
the study with a grain of salt, since it is a preliminary report and they aren't
quite sure why the aromas work this way. As in all things to do with your
health, be sure to check with your physician in medical matters.
POST IT...on your shopping list, and where you might keep sleep aids.
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"Cake Mix Magic"
In the past I had been asked to review a very popular cookbook that used cake mixes as a recipe base. I wasn't that impressed by the recipes, and declined to recommend it to my readers. However, I recently came across a similar set of cookbooks that I DO feel are worth telling you about. "Cake Mix Magic" and "Cake Mix Magic 2" by Jill Snider are full of good recipes that do use cake mixes as bases, but create beautiful desserts and cakes that look like they were made from scratch. But the good thing is that the recipes aren't so complicated that you FEEL like you did it from scratch. She also recommends using Duncan Hines in all of her recipes, with which I wholeheartedly concur. In past articles, I have discussed how much better a result I believe you get with that brand. Another thing I like about her books are all the wonderful tips to get a better result, and the way she divides the types of cakes into categories like Single-Layer, Multi-Layer, Coffee Cakes, Special Occasion, Cookies, and more. This is so much nicer than hunting through the cookbooks that just lump them all together. For our international readers, the recipes also include metric measurements. So if you are looking for recipes to help dress up a basic cake mix, or make it LOOK like you've been in the kitchen all day, be sure to check out the "Cake Mix Magic" cookbooks. If you'd like to try one of her recipes, check out our recipe below. The author has graciously agreed to allow us to give you a sample.
POST IT...on your shopping list, and possibly your Christmas list for the cooks in your family.
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Smoke Detector Noise
Hopefully, all of our readers are aware of how important smoke detectors are, and the campaign to replace their batteries during the daylight savings time changes. But we also know how annoying they can be when they go off due to cooking or other non-fire "smokes." Many new homes these days have stove vents that do not "vent" to the outside at all, but merely pass the smoke through a filter, which may or may not do any good. So we put together some tips for our readers with "excitable" smoke detectors to help cut down on those false alarms. First, prevention...if you will be cooking something in the oven make sure the pan is large enough to avoid boil-overs. If there is ANY chance that a dish may boil over, place a piece of foil or cookie sheet under the dish. Usually spills won't smoke unless they land on the oven bottom itself. If you are going to be cooking on the stove, then cover the pan if possible, this helps keep the food from drying out & makes it less likely to burn & smoke. Also keep the burner turned down as low as you can & still cook the food. For toasters/toaster oven (even regular ovens as well), be sure to empty the crumbs out and wipe down spills as soon as possible. This is especially important before using the self-cleaning features. When using barbecue grills, place them as far away from the house as possible and consider keeping the windows to the home closed & use the air conditioning. When blowing out candles, try to do so one at a time, and touch a very wet sponge or cloth to the wick after you blow them out to stop the smoke faster. Be sure your flue is clear in fireplaces and wide open when being used. If it is time to use the self-cleaning feature on your oven, or do that smoky craft work, try to pick a nice day when you can open all the windows and use a fan pointed out a window near where the smoke is being generated. It is also a good idea to light your fireplace for the first time on a nice day before winter sets in to get rid of musty fumes or problems before it is truly needed for warmth. If all these prevention methods fail and the smoke detector does go off (you might want to highlight this portion of the article) here are some possible solutions: turn on the stove vent fan, turn on the air conditioning fan of the home, open as many windows as possible starting with those closest to the smoke source, and also on the opposite side of the house to get a cross breeze, try to eliminate source of smoke instituting prevention methods above (it's never too late on some of the ideas), if dish IS burnt/ruined then place it under running water, if it is just smoking a bit then try to take dish outside until it stops smoking, light a candle or burner near the source of the smoke (the flames actually help to burn out the residue that makes up the smoke), turn on a gas fireplace if it is near the source for the same reason. DO NOT remove the battery of the detector, this could be a life or death decision. But I do know that some people, no matter what the fire dept. or I say, will still remove the batteries anyway. If you are one of these people, at least leave the stool or chair you use to reach the detector UNDER the detector until you replace the batteries. That way, it will be a constant reminder until you put them back in. If you have on-going problems with your detectors, consider replacing them with the newer detectors that do have a silence button feature. And remember that smoke detectors should be replaced every 5 years.
POST IT...inside the cupboard door nearest to your stove top.
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Recipe: Crunchy Chocolate Dream Cookies (from "Cake Mix Magic II")
Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and grease baking sheets. In a large mixer bowl, combine 1 pkg (18.25 oz/515 g) devil's food cake mix (Duncan Hines), 2 eggs and 1/2C (125mL) vegetable oil. With a wooden spoon or on low speed of mixer, mix for 1 minute or until well blended. Dough will be stiff. Stir in 1C (250mL) semi-sweet chocolate chips, 3/4C (175mL) chopped nuts and 3/4C (175mL) toffee bits. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls (15mL) onto prepared baking sheets 2" (5cm) apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 8-12 minutes or until firm around the edges. Cool 1 min. on baking sheets, then transfer cookies to wire rack and cool completely. Makes about 4 doz.
POST IT...on your shopping list.
POST IT...near your computer.
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Back Issue Treasure:
October 18th, 2000 Issue
This back issue has a great web site recommendation to help make elections easier for kids to understand. Getting ready for a vacation, then check out the article on tourist info for just about anywhere in America. Christmas is coming & you might be interested in the article on creative learning products for kids sold by MindWare. Do you understand your hospital bills? There might be a reason to investigate further; make sure everything billed is a fair charge. All these articles and more in this back issue.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
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Missing Child Info: Jessica Shores
Jessica Shores (15-yr-old, white female, brown hair/eyes, 5'9", 120 lbs)was
last seen leaving her Republic, WA home, in the company of Stephen Recker
(31-yr-old white male, black hair, brown eyes, 6', 130 lbs), on October 17,
2003. An FBI Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant was issued for Stephen
on October 20, 2003. They may be traveling in a 1991 maroon Oldsmobile Bravado
with Washington license plates 767 MHO. Jessica and Stephen are believed to have
traveled through Arizona and may be en route to Texas. CAUTION ADVISED: Stephen
may be armed and dangerous. For photos go to...
http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=974845&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
http://www.ncmec.org
click on "More Search Options" in the middle of the page, then enter in "Jessica
Shores" at the bottom, then click on either the child's name or "View Poster"
under their name.
POST IT...in your car and keep an eye out, esp. if you are in the Southwest.
Final Words (Joke, Quote, Contact Info)
JOKE
Real life doctors' names...Dr. Butcher (a surgeon), Dr. Haight (pronounced "Hate"), Dr. Costley, and Dr. Fang. I'm sure they have to keep their sense of humor about it. With Dr. Butcher & Dr. Fang, I've only encountered their names, although Dr. Butcher had a good reputation. But I can tell you that Dr. Haight did an outstanding job in the ER when my child took a header off a bike, and Dr. Costley was one of the best doctors our family ever had (and he wasn't...costly:-). So don't judge a book by its cover. :-)
QUOTE
In light of recent sports news...
"One man PRACTICING good sportsmanship is far better than 50 others PREACHING
it."
--Knute Rockne (1888-1931), Record Breaking Notre Dame Football Coach
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Sponsorship Information
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It may be more reasonable than you realize. And check out the other free helpful ezines offered at
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AT&T's Community Port
AT&T has a site about WorldNet members, like us, who have created their own personal web pages. If you think our site deserves to be featured on AT&T's Community Port , send them an e-mail about it, at communities@att.net. Be sure to include the page's URL http://home.att.net/~make-a-note/index.htm and why you think our site is special.
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