Recent comments

  • How to Get Netflix and Hulu to Play on Your TV   13 years 12 weeks ago

    My husband installed an HDMI cable about two-three years ago and we have been cable-free even since. And yes with Hulu and Netflix it is easy to catch plenty of TV. In fact, even with those to limit my choices, I still find myself staring at the tube a little too much while folding laundry. Hmmmmmm, maybe your next post could be how to convince myself to turn it off? :P

  • 8 Ways to Buy Jeans on the Cheap   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Thrift shops are an amazing place to find cheap jeans. I can easily find premium jeans for pennies on the dollar. Plus if they look a little torn or used it doesn't matter - as that's the current style anyway.

  • Why I Love Lists   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I've been making lists since high school, and I just about lost my sanity when I stopped for a semester. My biggest problem is that I list EVERYTHING I need to do and usually, it's way too much for me to finish in one day. At least it's all written down.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Cool Off on a Budget?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    We actually don't even have an AC unit here, so we open windows, use fans, and sometimes even hit up our local dollar theater or Subway or go to the mall to cool off. We also play in water outside.

  • 4 Cheap and Easy Homemade Mosquito Repellents   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Tried the garlic/mineral oil/lemon one....Total no go. It seemed to work at first but then after 10 mins I was getting ate up...Kept spraying just to see if it would work, but didn't work..even when I sprayed it directly on a mosquito. Gonna pick up some Skintastick tomorrow..sucks :o(

  • 8 Ways to Buy Jeans on the Cheap   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I've found that secondhand stores like Plato's closet and Buffalo Exchange to be a great place to find jeans. You can find and try on many different styles and cuts and versions of your size, it seems like all designers have a different opinion on what a size 8 really is. So it is perfect for those college and recent grads that want to be stylish but don't have the funds.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Cool Off on a Budget?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Okay, here's a weird way to cool off -well, this is more about beating the dreaded HUMIDITY (Bleh!). Believe it or not, turning a space heater on low will help to dry the humid air out in your house and reduce the effect.. strange I know, but the dry heat is much more bearable than the humidity. And to really cool you down quick without getting you soaking wet or forcing you to don your skivvy's, do this: take a face cloth, dampen it well with water, hang it in the freezer for a few minutes until it starts to freeze. Remove it before it gets too stiff, and place it around your neck or on your head for an extremely refreshing and cooling sensation! Plus as it warms up the ice-cold water will continue to drip and cool you off.

    Thanks for reading..

  • Naturally Get Rid of Ants in Your Kitchen   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I control outdoor ants with grits. They eat them and take them back to the colony and the queen eats then too. Cheap and works great for me. I have never had an ant problem in my house (knock on wood). But I had a water heater installed in my basement yesterday, and my cousin left the door open.He came upstairs and said - your basement has mosquitos all over it. Never have had them before. I saw a treatment online recently using a 2 liter bottle. Sure wish i could find it.I turned on a fan I keep in the basement and turned on the dehumidifer, so I am hoping this works.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Cool Off on a Budget?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Popsicles!

  • 10 Self-Improvement Apps to Make You Smarter, Stronger, and Happier   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Another one I like is called Habit Streak. You list either bad habits you want to quit or good habits you want to start and you keep track every day until you've mastered or de-mastered the habit.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Cool Off on a Budget?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    We're blessed with a whole house fan we run that does great at creating a breeze.

  • 10 Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Mashed Potatoes   13 years 12 weeks ago

    What's wrong with good ole' fried potato cakes? XP

  • 10 Safest Cities in America from Natural Disasters   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Ironic! A couple of days after this article, Edinboro, just a few miles outside of Erie, was hit by a tornado. Edinboro is not far from Albion, also hit by a tornado a few years back. Both are in Erie county.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Cool Off on a Budget?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I use a lot of fans, keep my windows covered, and stay on the lower level which is always cooler!

  • Making Money From Clinical Trials: Worth the Risk?   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I've got a roommate who does this (always the medical studies) for a living and has been for the past six years. The guy is a big time LOSER. He is very antisocial and is about as uninteresting as talking to bread. He says he does not want to have to work his whole life and doesn't want "work to define him," but he has no hobbies and never goes out of the house unless he's getting food. A very sad and lonely life. He is thirty six and still relies on his mom to give him money sometimes when he can't pay his bills on time. His body is very unattractive and I'm sure part of that is from the studies. He also tries to do the bare minimum as far as eating so he doesn't have to pay much in life. Seems like a life style where you have given up and are waiting to die. To me, this is a tactic that is one step up from a homeless person or panhandler. I would suggest that you not try to do these for a living because it becomes you: you will not be developing any skills or contacts because it's not meant to be a job, and you will have even more trouble trying to get a real job afterward. You probably also will start despising life and the guy seems like he secretly hates everyone and is jealous of people who are good looking or are popular or rich in life. DON'T LET THIS BE YOU! He deserves to be called a loser...

  • Naturally Get Rid of Ants in Your Kitchen   13 years 12 weeks ago

    We've always had ant problems, but this year, they are coming back in full force. My husband sprayed around the outside of the house, I sprayed around the baseboards inside, laid traps everything, wiped the counters with vinegar, I've kept EVERY dish clean and out of the sink, and they STILL come back, more and more every day! They get in the cereal (until I got plastic containers), the trash, the cat food and everywhere! This morning, they were all over the CLEAN dishes in the dish drainer! I haven't tried the Borax because of the cat, but I may have to give in. Last night, my husband made pork chops and this morning I noticed that the ants in the trash were only crawling on the pork chop wrapper, which is the first time I've seen them go for something other than the sweet stuff.

  • How to Deal With a Rude Neighbor   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I cut the grass over the imaginary property line as my neighbor cuts his grass three times a week missed part of the yard just wanted to "EVEN" up the cut. Wrong thing to do next morning he was waiting for me at the end of my driveway. Let me have it for "Cutting" his grass. He has not spoken to me in almost two years. Sad part he is a retired minister, his heart has grown cold and hard, he wont forgive me.. Very Sad !

  • 8 Truths From a Mystery Shopper You Must Read Before You Get Started   13 years 12 weeks ago

    What would you do if you didn't get paid without justifiable reason? I am in this position now.

  • Cheap and Simple Sunburn Remedies That Really Work   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Me too . When did you get better .

  • Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Flour Tortillas that Taste Great!   13 years 12 weeks ago

    I made these last night and was pleasantly surprised by their texture and taste. This recipe is definitely a keeper!!

  • Training Your Dog: 9 Hazardous Habits (and How to Break Them)   13 years 12 weeks ago

    You can buy additives to put in your dog's food to keep them from eating their own poop. My vet suggested adding about 2 Tbs of canned pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie filling) to their food if I didn't want to buy the commercial additives. Also, to help your dog to not be overly aggressive with other dogs it is very important to socialize them with other dogs starting from the time you bring them home. Also people need to realize that training their dog is a daily activity and all members of the household need to be involved - you will never be finished training your dog, it is a life long process. If you're not willing to put in the time and effort, go visit your pet owning friends and offer to walk or play with their dog.

  • 8 Good Reasons to Learn Canning Now   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Hi! That never occurred to me (duh). Enjoying your blog, BTW. Thanks for writing!

  • 8 Good Reasons to Learn Canning Now   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Hi, Mary. I remember that too, and how it was the "norm" in many homes. I am sure you could do it!

  • 8 Good Reasons to Learn Canning Now   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Thanks, MZ! :-)

  • 8 Good Reasons to Learn Canning Now   13 years 12 weeks ago

    Thanks for the baby shower idea - I really like the practical aspect of that!