My Life, My Children

I found a very useful tool. Article Changer. It is a free article rewriter tool available online. You can paste your article into the top window box and click on the rewrite button. In the second window is your newly rewritten article.

So, why do I use it? I rewrite a few of my articles I submit to a variety of pay per view article services. This saves me a bit of time and money being able to utilize the research and rewrite the article so I can submit it to more than one location. I always read through the rewrite and change the phrases that don’t make sense, but it does speed up the process.

The other thing I do it to paste the rewritten article into a Word Document and then compare it to the originally saved article. Going under tools, select track changes, and then select compare documents. Locate the original document you saved on your hard drive and the new article will highlight in red what has changed making it easier for you to locate the changes as well as the volume of changes.

http://www.articlechanger.net

American Gem Society $25 gift certificate.

http://info.americangemsociety.org/cnn/

Use at your local participating jewelry store. Find something small and only pay tax or apply it to something larger for a discount. Why not give it to your spouse as a hint for a great present.

Notes of the GC from the America Gem Society:
You will receive your $25 American Gem Society Gift Certificate via email. To ensure delivery, please add giftcertificate@info.americangemsociety.org to your address book.

**Participation may vary. One gift certificate per email address and household. This gift certificate is redeemable for new jewelry purchases only at participating American Gem Society retailers. It cannot be redeemed for cash. Any unused amount will not be reimbursed. Certificate cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Certificate cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Excluding TIFFANY & CO. One gift certificate per customer, per transaction. A minimum purchase may be required.
This certificate will expire on December 31, 2008.

I have a few websites that I like to visit on a daily basis. Woot and Shnoop both offer deals on a daily basis. The forum discussions are as fun as the savings are. The other site I am having fun visiting is Slickdeals. It lists all the deals that are found on a daily basis. They also have a forum where people discuss their findings and savings. If you like to shop and save money doing it, these sites will entertain you. I personally like a bargain. I get excited to see how much money I can save, it energizes me.

http://www.woot.com

http://www.shnoop.com

http://www.slickdeals.net

Restaurant.com has created Feeding it Forward for the holiday season. What does this mean for you? Well, from now until Christmas, you can give three friends each day a ten-dollar restaurant gift certificate. Each email address can only be entered one time. So that means thirty dollars of free gift giving for you to be generous with each day. Make your list now and decide who has been naughty and who has been nice. Then, give each nice one a treat. Maybe they will ask you to join them! What a great way to spread around the holiday cheer without spending a dime!

http://www-ws24.restaurant.com/FeedItForward/signup-step1.aspx

This is a great tip I just heard about.  I can’t believe I didn’t think of this on my own. It is so simple.

We bought a new vacuum, which I love. But it didn’t come with all the tools I used to have. It did come with a few new ones. The tool I miss the most is the long attachment that narrows down to a small thin slit. I am not sure what this tool is called but every vacuum should come with one. Since I don’t have one, I read you can utilize a wrapping paper tube and pinch it at one end while slipping the other end over your vacuum extension. How simple! How easy! This is the way to solve a problem, and a need I really want. Solved without spending anything!

I have a new favorite drink. I like soda. A few years ago I switched to diet soda. I have always been a Pepsi person. For the longest time, I enjoyed Diet Pepsi Lime. I also like Coke but don’t really drink it often. I tried Coke Zero. I have heard from many a Diet Coke drinker that it is sweeter than Diet Coke. This is probably why I like it. Pepsi is typically sweeter than Coke. I am glad a found Coke Zero because it is more readily available than Diet Pepsi Lime. In the area I live, they only sell Diet Pepsi Lime during the summer months. I’ve even found Coke Zero in soda fountains and fast food establishments.

Looking for a gift idea for someone hard to buy for on your list? Maybe you are looking for a gift that keeps on giving year round. Consider a magazine subscription. Many times people will not splurge on themselves but would enjoy getting a subscription. Well, here is your chance. DiscountMags.com has a few good deals on popular magazines.

Maxim $3.50 with code TURKEYMAX (12 issues)
Maximum PC $3.50 with code TURKEYMPC (12 issues)
Vanity Fair $3.50 with code TURKEYVF (12 issues)
Car and Driver $3.50 with code TURKEYCD (12 issues)

Use coupon TG20 for 20% off most other magazines available on the site.

We have hard water. It comes from our well. Even though we have a water softener, the water is still full of minerals and such. It is safe to drink but it is difficult in the bathroom because it leaves a distinctive mark behind. Our bathtub glass doors tend to always have water spots, which makes the glass look dull. Not to mention the soap residue. I’ve tried so many different cleaners it isn’t funny. Nothing seems to work. I just learned a new trick to try. A magic erase marker takes off the markings.  I can’t believe the simplicity of this tip. Do keep them away from children because of the chemicals in the erasure can effect their skin.

This baked dish is a family favorite. We use it for any pitch in dinner since it is easy to make and feeds a lot. Family members often request it.

Ingredients:
1 bag frozen hash browns or shredded potatoes (not patties)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8oz sour cream
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup shredded cheese (I use more)

In a bowl, mix the potatoes, soup, sour cream and cheese together. Place this into a prepared baking dish. Pour the melted butter over the top. I add more cheese to the top of the dish before baking. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour. Serve hot.

This recipe reheats well. You can add bacon bits to the potatoes is desired.

My new favorite meal is so easy to make, thanks to a friend who told me about it when we were discussing pork chops and how to cook them. I had taken to frying them when she suggested baking them in barbeque sauce.

Ingredients:
4 pork chops with bone in
Favorite BBQ sauce about a cup
4 potatoes

Using a baking dish, place the pork chops into the dish and cover them with BBQ sauce. Cover the dish with tin foil so the sauce doesn’t burn. Place the dish with your potatoes into the oven at 425 degrees for about 45 minutes and dinner is ready! It couldn’t be easier and you don’t have to do anything but make a salad or vegetable.