MAKE A NOTE!! -- December 15th, 1999

CIRCULATION - 2,243

A Free Twice Monthly Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics

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In This Issue:

	Christmas Shortcuts
	Microwave Shortcuts
	Make Flower Arrangements Last
	More Gift Basket Ideas
	Exercise Equipment that Works
	Save Those Christmas Cards
	Back Issue Treasure: Starting the New Year Right
	Joke, Quote, Subscription Info

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 at these locations to make it easier to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to others to check out too.

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CHRISTMAS SHORTCUTS

Time is now starting to run short & you feel like you have a million things to do before you can sit down & appreciate the whole meaning of the season. Well, here are a few ideas to help cut some corners, so you can get to that important family time. If you want some goodie gifts to pass on to family & friends, why not go with bar cookies instead of drop ones. It is a lot easier to cut than to drop. :) Or make some quick bread (use the mixes if you really want to cut some time) and slice it up on nice plates to share with others. Make some Spice Tea (aka Friendship Tea, aka Russian Tea, aka Orange Spice Tea) and put it in some baggies tied up with a pretty ribbon & some cinnamon sticks. Recipe for Spice Tea is in another great back issue, the December 10th, 1998 issue. Request by sending an email to make-a-note-issues@xc.org and in the subject or body of the message type in MAN-009. For gifts for others, why not try magazine subscriptions, or have fruit, or a flower arrangement delivered (remember to use local florists & not the 800 lines). Gift certificates are also an easy thing to do & mail if you know a favorite restaurant or store. POST IT...on the fridge.

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MICROWAVE SHORTCUTS

At this time of year we are much more likely to be using our microwaves & trying to get as many dishes in there as we can. Ever wonder how to work out the time when you have more than one dish? In most cases foods are cooked on high. Here are some GENERAL guidelines when cooking multiple dishes, not all microwaves work the same way, so watch the food carefully while it is cooking. 1-If all foods take less than 15 min individually, add times together & cook for that amount of time. 2-If all foods take 15-35 min individually, then add times together & subtract 5 min, then cook for that amount of time. 3-If any one food takes over 35 min, all food can be cooked in the time suggested for the food taking the longest time. POST IT...by your microwave, or in your microwave cookbook.

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MAKE FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS LAST

If you happen to be at the receiving end of one of those floral deliveries, here are some ways to keep things looking nice. When you first receive flowers, re-cut the end of each stem if possible. Most recommend using a sharp knife, although I have been pleased with the results using scissors. Cut under running warm water. Try to re-cut every 3 days or so. Use warm water to start, but after that, try to keep water & flowers as cool as possible. If you have room, store in the fridge at night. Remove any leaves that would be under water. Use floral food packets, or Knox gelatin, 1 packet to a large vase, & repeat every 3-4 days. If you receive rose buds

& would like to keep them from opening up too fast, try this. Before you go to bed, take strips of wet paper towel & gently wrap (overlapping ends slightly) around each bud. Remove in the morning. Easy way to water plants & large arrangements without soaking the table too, put ice cubes on top & let them melt slowly. POST IT...with your vases (under the sink?? Then post on inside of cubbard door).

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MORE GIFT BASKET IDEAS

Had such a wonderful response to the basket idea, and wanted to share some ideas from our many readers. Pam M. in Texas found a store where you could pick out Texas gifts along with the basket of your choice (they picked a star for the Lone Star State), then the person behind the counter actually put it all together for her at no extra cost. Call around to see if stores in your area do this. Some will also mail for you. Kathy K. wrote in with ideas for anniversary baskets. Since the first anniversary is paper, she would get a basket & fill it with paper items like various holiday napkins, an easy thing to get on sale after the holiday & keep around until needed. You could easily see how this idea could be adapted to other anniversaries, even the 50th/Gold could be filled with gold wrapped chocolate candies, gold colored ribbon or wrapping paper, all kinds of things that people can use every day throughout the year. Not sure what anniversary gift applies for that year, check them out at http://www.wam.umd.edu/~sek/wedding/anniversaries2.html. If someone has a February birthday you could fill a basket with Valentine items. Sometimes I think it is more fun to get a whole bunch of little useful gifts than one big expensive one. B. Smith also has a great little online article about hostess baskets, check it out at http://www.BsmithwithStyle.com, then click on Food & Festivity at the top, then on Celebration at the bottom on Gift Baskets. For those of you unfamiliar with B. Smith, she is sort of the everywoman's Martha Stewart. Her ideas tend to be easier, less expensive, & less time consuming, but just as nice. Check out the web site for where her show airs in your area. POST IT...with your greeting cards, on your calendar, etc.

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EXERCISE EQUIPMENT THAT WORKS

Already starting to think about those 5 extra pounds the average person gains over the holidays? Looking for a way to fulfill one of those resolutions? Here's a little tip from our friends at RealAge: "Ever wonder which exercise machine best helps you lose weight? It's the unassuming treadmill. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared calorie expenditures on stair steppers, stationary cycles, rowing machines, combination cycle/row machines, cross-country ski machines and treadmills, looking at three different levels of exertion-light, medium, and hard. At all three levels, the treadmill came out on top, burning more calories per minute than all of the others. To calculate your RealAge, and receive personalized recommendations on how you can make your RealAge younger, please visit www.RealAge.com (c)1997-1999 RealAge Inc. The content of this electronic transmission, and any portion thereof, is protected by US copyright laws. Real Age, RealAge, Age Reduction, and What's Your Real Age? Are trademarks and service marks of Real Age, Inc. RealAge shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon." As always, be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine. POST IT...on your shopping list or in your exercise book.

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SAVE THOSE CHRISTMAS CARDS

If you are like me, you hate to throw out all of those beautiful cards once Christmas is over. So here are some ideas on recycling the cards. If the back of the cover has not been written on, then cut the cover off to reuse. If they have smooth backs, then use them for postcards. You can also use them for gift tags for next year's gifts. Even the ones that have been written on can be used for crafts for the following year. Also St. Jude's has a program where they can make money for a home for troubled youth by using your old cards. Mail them to: St. Jude's Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude St., P. O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006. POST IT...near your trash can.

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BACK ISSUE TREASURE: STARTING THE NEW YEAR RIGHT

The January 1st, 1999 issue has lots of wonderful ideas to help you start the New Year right. Advice on making positive, not negative, resolutions and plans for the same. Help on decluttering your home, decluttering your phone (getting rid of telemarketing calls or at least making some money when you get them), and a tax preparation check list. To request this back issue, send an email to make-a-note-issues@xc.org and in the subject or body of the message, type in MAN-010 and you should receive the issue promptly. POST IT...by your computer.

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JOKE

Farmer Joe decided that his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company responsible to court. In court the trucking company's lawyer asked Farmer Joe, "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?" Farmer Joe started to talk about loading his favorite mule Bessie into the trailer. The lawyer interrupted him & spoke to the judge saying, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident this man told a Highway Patrolman that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to answer the question." But the judge was interested in Farmer Joe's answer & asked him to continue. Farmer Joe said, "Well, as I was driving my truck, pulling my mule Bessie in the trailer, the huge semi-truck & trailer ran a stop sign & hit me. I was thrown into one ditch & Bessie into another. I was hurting real bad & didn't want to move. Bessie was moaning & groaning so I knew she was hurt bad too. Shortly thereafter a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He went over looked at Bessie, who was still moaning & groaning, pulled out his gun & shot her between the eyes. Then he came over to me with his gun in his hand & looked at me. The Patrolman said, 'Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?'" :)

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QUOTE

"Because perseverance is so difficult, even when supported by the grace of God, thence is the value of new beginnings. For new beginnings are the life of perseverance."

Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882)

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Merry CHRISTmas to you all. See you in 2000!

Sharon

Editor, Make a Note

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