MAKE A NOTE!! -- September 5th, 2001
CIRCULATION - 17,876 (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 SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2001
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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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Loose Ends (Photo Tips, Shower Rings, Cancer Site)
Slipped up a bit in the last issue. First, the back issue for the school photo tips is the SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1998 issue. Regarding the roller shower rings, one reader wrote & said that she was able to find them at her local Wal-Mart for about $5. Also omitted the mention of a site that is very helpful for anyone battling breast cancer. In our April 18th, 2000 issue we told you about a free booklet that had lots of helpful hints covering just about every phase of treatment for breast cancer. The author & her husband have now put all that info onto a web site with added helps. So check it out at http://members.aol.com/vrbeam/HHINTS and pass it on to your friends. Don't forget to thank the webmasters of the sites you enjoy, believe me, very few are in it for the money (because you don't usually make any:-). POST IT...by your computer.
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Buying Furniture
So you've decided that couch or table isn't going to last another minute. Where do you begin? First make a list of all the furniture stores in your area, use the yellow pages to start. Ask people you know in the area for recommendations, mark off any store where someone has experienced problems. For those that remain on the list, call your local Better Business Bureau or go to http://www.mybbb.org to check out stores online. If a store has had problems, even if they were resolved, you might want to consider marking them from your list. Use a book like Don Aslett's, "Make Your House Do the Housework" to get an idea of what you are looking for. This book will help you choose fabric & styles that are long lasting, and low maintenance. Then go to each store still left on your list. You want stores that will have a good selection of stock to choose from, but the biggest won't necessarily be the best. Use the sales people to help you find what you are looking for, but remember most work on a commission. With upholstered furniture you want to avoid anything that is a single color or level of fabric. These pieces may be the most popular right now, but they show every little spot & piece of lint. Go for multi-colored patterns in neutral shades, with a slightly bumpy fabric. Large modular pieces are easier to maintain & clean around that multiple smaller ones. Another plus with upholstered furniture is zippered cushions to be able to add extra stuffing for those seats that always get a little extra wear & tear. For wood furniture, avoid veneers, which don't last as long as solid wood, stick with the harder woods (oak, maple, alders, etc) which will hold up better than soft woods (pine). Wiggle the furniture around to see how sturdy it is. Ask to see their markdown section or floor samples that might be on sale. Ask if the price is negotiable, if they might throw in the Guardian (new Scotchgard) for free, what delivery would be to your home (some stores make up for low prices with high delivery fees), or if they will discount it farther if you pay the total bill up front. Buying furniture is one of those times, when it is better to spend a little more for quality, than to pay money for more frequent replacements. POST IT...under furniture in the yellow pages.
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Furniture Extras Worth the Cost
You've just found the furniture you want & the last thing you want to do is add to that bill, but in some cases it is well worth the investment. With upholstered furniture get the Guardian treatment, that has now replaced Scotchgard. Most people who try to do-it-themselves will tell you that it doesn't last as long as the job done by the professionals. With the Guardian service now, it is a lifetime guarantee. So if it stains & you follow their directions, they will come & remove it, OR even replace the furniture if necessary. But be sure to read all the fine print so you don't void your warranty. The price of this service will vary from $100-$500 for the same couch, but if you find a good price for a couch, the same store will usually have a reasonable price for the treatment. With most upholstered furniture you can purchase arm guards, the extra fabric cover for the arms of couches or chairs. The arms are usually where the furniture shows wear first & fastest, so to extend it with arm guards will extend the life of the whole couch. They usually run about $30/pair depending on the fabric. For wood tables pay to have glass table tops made to cover the wood. A good glass store will also provide small clear plastic disks to go between the glass & wood so the wood will be able to "breathe" & the surface won't be ruined by too tight a seal. With glass tops (I'm NOT recommending glass only tables...too easily broken...just a glass cover for wood table tops) you don't have to do the "coaster dance" when people come over & set a wet glass on your wood, it protects the wood from damage, yet lets the beauty of the wood shine through. We just had a kitchen table done & it was $155, so living room tables would be a little less, dining room a little more, but again, well worth the investment. POST IT...under furniture in the yellow pages.
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Recipe: Apple Dip for Teachers (From Janice C.)
We all remember the custom of sending an apple for the teacher, so here's a way to go one step further to show your appreciation. Why not send in a bag of sliced apples (put a little lemon juice in the bag to keep them from turning brown) and this apple dip that can be served at room temperature. Mix 3/4C brown sugar, 1/4C white sugar, 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese-softened, and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix all ingredients in order until smooth. Put in a pretty shallow container just right for dipping & attach a note of appreciation to go with it. Leftovers should be stored in the fridge. POST IT...in your recipe box & your shopping list.
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Back Issue Treasure: August 15th, 2000
This back issue will give you lots of ideas to help your children's teachers to feel your support, and what better time to start than right at the beginning of the year. Do your kids say, "I'm bored!!!!"? Well, with this article/link you can hand them a list to keep them busy anytime you hear the phrase. Now when my kids say that, I tell them to go check their list (I printed one out for each of them). Did you know you can camp at Wal-Mart free? Read this article to get all the details. Also stroke symptoms that no one should ignore. All this and much more. Check it out by clicking HERE.
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Final Words
JOKE (Or is it?)
"Most of us spend the first six days of the week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure."
--Fred Allen
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QUOTE
"Have you considered...that most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity?"
--Anonymous
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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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