MAKE A NOTE!! -- December 15th, 2004
CIRCULATION - 44,253 (From Around the World! :-)
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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 5TH, 2005
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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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My Favorite: Books
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Refresh those Wreathes
If you purchased those beautiful pine wreathes, centerpieces, or garlands early in the season, they are probably starting to look a little weak & dried out. If you can easily remove decorative pieces, you can give them all a good soaking. First, remove everything from the pine, then take outside and give it a good shake to get rid of loose needles. Then take the pine wreath/centerpiece/garland and soak it overnight in cold water w/a little bit of lemon juice; use the bathtub if you need more room. After it has soaked overnight, or for several hours, let the water drain out and shake off the excess water before putting back up. I think you will notice that it helps perk the pine right up.
POST IT...in your bathtub, or with your Christmas decorations for next year.
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Our Favorite Potpourri
I have NEVER been a potpourri person. To me, so many potpourris seemed like a
bunch of dead leaves with stale perfume sprayed on them. But the other day I was
at the mall and smelled the most amazing orange fragrance. I saw the potpourri
stand and asked if they were burning a scented candle, but no, it was just the
beautiful smell of potpourri. These products are truly amazing, and have turned
me into a potpourri person. Shirley's Potpourri...
http://www.shirleyspotpourri.com/
Turned out to be a company that sells nationwide and online. They sell 4
fragrances...Orange Blossom (our personal favorite), Apple Jack, Mulberry, and
Santa Fe(pumpkin, vanilla, almond & spice). They pride themselves on using only
the freshest products that not only make the potpourri a holiday for your nose,
but also LOOK beautiful. They never use fillers like wood chips, grass, or bark,
that many companies use to bulk things up. You can go to their web site to find
locations, their mall stands are usually only seasonal. You can also call
800-539-5707 or email them
sales@shirleyspotpourri.com for the latest on locations, since many stands
aren't listed on their site. If you don't have any locations close to you, then
you can still order through their web site. If you order before the 20th, you
should get the items (bagged potpourri, garlands, oil refresher spray, and
candles) before Christmas. You can still get them before Christmas after the
20th, as long as you don't mind paying the rush shipping fees. They will deliver
to APO/FPO's, but I'm sorry international readers, not internationally at this
time. Some stands offer bulk discounts, and if you want to wait until after
Christmas, then there will be those sales. If you like it as much as I do, then
see if your local florist, gift, or craft store will carry it year round to save
you on shipping. You may also see it at craft fairs. Don't just put it out into
the rooms of your home (the more the merrier), but consider putting a cup of it
in your vehicle. Whenever people get into our car now, they say, "What smells so
good?" With the dry heat of winter quickly drying everything out, consider
getting a refresher bottle of fragrance oil. You just spray it on the potpourri
and toss it like a salad. They said the potpourri will last almost indefinitely
w/the refreshing. These would also make great gifts for friends, family, or even
hostess gifts.
POST IT...on your shopping list and with your air freshener supplies, you won't be sorry. Tell them the Make a Note sent you.
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Soldiers' Angels
One of the loneliest places at Christmas has got to be in the middle of a
war. If you've ever heard Christmas letters from soldiers, whether in this
century or past ones, you can hear the longing for family and home tugging at
your heart strings. So many soldiers out there are receiving zero mail or
support. But you can help change all that. The Soldiers' Angels program...
http://www.soldiersangels.org/ Is
sort of a clearing house for info on how to support the people in the field in
all branches of the US military. Whether it's just writing a letter, sending
goodies, or sending an email, you're sure to find at least one program that
strikes your fancy. No matter what your politics are, I hope we can agree that
we should still support the soldiers themselves. Let's not forget, at this time
of year or any other, the people who lay their lives on the line to keep others
free. If any of our international readers know of similar programs for other
countries' troops, please let me know. POST IT...on your to-do list, and on your
computer.
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"Get Organised!"
No, that isn't a typo, our Australian neighbor, Carol Posener, has written what I consider to be one of the best books on how to organize your life out there. This is a back to basics type of book that helps you with all the little things (and the big ones) that can slow your life down. The techniques in "Get Organised!: A Practical Guide to Organising your Home and Office" should be taught in every school out there. Being disorganized costs us all time and money. Carol not only takes you step by step on how to organize, but provides purchasing info for products that can help us with the process. The book can be purchased from Amazon...
If you'd rather not type that all in, you can enter the title (remember the
"s") at Amazon to find the page. For our Australian readers, I think you will
get a better deal by calling the publisher directly at 1300 135 113. So if your
New Year's Resolution involves organizing, or saving time/money, be sure to
check this book out! You can read more about the author at her web site...
http://getorganised.com.au/
POST IT...on your computer, shopping list, resolution helps list.
EDITOR'S NOTE: You might also want to check out more organization tips in our
back issue feature below.
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Recipe: Easy Reindeer Cookies
Okay, Christmas is closer, a zillion things left to do, a million events to attend, but time is running out for the fancy Christmas cookies. Here's an easy idea for Christmas cookies that still have the "WOW!" factor. Purchase the ready to bake chocolate chip cookies that just pull apart (not the slice & bake). Position them on a cookie sheet according to package directions. Take the mini traditionally shaped pretzels and break in half to make "antlers", stick them firmly into the top of the cookie, place a red M & M in the middle of the cookie for a nose, and use two chocolate chips for eyes, then bake as directed. After they have cooled, if you really want to get fancy, use the ready made tubes of frosting to make a red smile below the nose. Have fun!
POST IT...in your recipe box and shopping list.
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Back Issue Treasure: December 16th, 1997
Don't dismiss this back issue because it was originally written for Valentine's Day. It has a great article on how to get the perfect gifts for everyone. It also reminds us that at Valentine's Day, Christmas, and many other holidays throughout the year, we should be reaching out to the lonely all around us.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
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Missing Persons: Tom and Jackie Hawks
This is one of our most popular end of year issues. Looking for a way to make the season less hectic, consider the article on when to open presents/decluttering Christmas. You can also read that this is the best time of year for decluttering toys without little ones noticing. Not sure how much of a tip/gift to leave for the holidays, then read all about it here. Make some resolutions...send out those thank you notes (see the article), and do any marriage some good with our Marriage Saver article suggestions. But to stay organized all year, check out the article in this issue for a single tool (the datebook) that might help you stay on track all year long.
Final Words
JOKE
"Bugs Bunny is who we want to be, Daffy Duck is probably closer to who we are."
--Chuck Jones (1912-2002), Master Animator of most of our favorite cartoon
characters.
QUOTE
"I know you are what you give--to your husband, your family, your friends,
your fans, and yourself."
--Loretta Lynn (1935- ), Country Singer, Author, First Female to Win the CMA's
Entertainer of the Year Award.
From her SECOND autobiography, "Still Woman Enough."
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