Friday-February 1

I came up with an idea the other day when my daughter said she was making meatballs, but usually when she does, they end up cooking uneven and sitting in grease.She was using a cookie sheet with tin foil. So I decided as well to make meatballs that evening for supper. This is a picture of what I came up with that worked for cooking the meatballs even, and keeping them from sitting in grease.

Cookie sheet with tin foil, but a cooling rack on top of that, sitting in the cookie sheet.

On another note, Gerry and I will be heading to Memphis in late March. He has a seminar and trade show there for a few days so I will be tagging along. Watch for upcoming posts on where we'll be staying and what we'll be seeing.

Although Gerry will be away most of the day, we have decided to stay a few extra days so we can see the city, as alot of the attractions close at supper time so we would miss them by the time he is done at 5:30. If you've been to Memphis, I'd love for you to drop me a line.

Glasses Are Not Your Only Option

Whenever someone receives their first eyeglasses prescription, they go through a series of steps. First there is the denial, the argument that you do not need the glasses followed by the eventual acceptation. These days there is not a lot of stigma attached to wearing your spectacles; in fact many people embrace the concept of having “four eyes”. Many people have a love hate relationship with their glasses, and it is that relationship that leads many to try out wearing contacts for the first time. Often, they fall in love with them from the very start. If you are not yet convinced about the virtue of contacts, check out these few reasons why you should consider them.

They make napping easier: 

Who does not love a good afternoon nap? Although you shouldn't wear your contacts to sleep, many of us have involuntarily fallen asleep on the couch while watching television, or in the car. If you wear glasses and have an accidental nap, you will spend a considerable amount of time searching for them afterward only to find them tangled up in your hair. Besides, the arms of glasses making difficult to fall asleep in public transportation as they put constant pressure on your temples.

You enjoy sunlight again: 

True, they make prescription sunglasses these days, but for someone who constantly loses their sunglasses, contacts are fantastic. You no longer have to switch your glasses between indoor and outdoor use. How often have you tried to put your sunglasses on top of your existing glasses while driving in the car against sunlight? It’s awkward. With contact lenses you simply slip on your sunglasses and you no longer have to drive with one hand while blocking out the sun with another.

They are convenient:

These days getting and wearing contact lenses is super convenient. You no longer have to order through your optometrist, but can easily order contacts online and they are delivered right to your door. Contacts are also designed to fit your needs. You can choose daily contacts that are designed for sensitive eyes and that you can simply throw out at the end of the day. There are also weekly and monthly contact lenses options. With a great variety to choose from, so you will always have something to suit your eyes.

They do not ‘date’you:

Glasses are wonderful, and you can find some super funky frames to suit your face and make you look stylish. The problem is when you look back on photos you can usually tell what decade it was by the type of glasses that the photo subject is wearing. So for big occasions such as graduations or weddings, even the most devoted glasses wearers opt to put in the contacts so that their pictures do not look older before their time. By simply putting in contact lenses you avoid playing ‘which decade is this’ game with your grandchildren.

Do not let bad vision get you down; glasses are not your only option on the road to 20/20 vision.

Kitchen Update

Well, we've been doing some kitchen updates- and trying not to spend too much in the process for a new look. But here is some of what we did so far:

-Going to resell the old microwave

                  

                                                ( OLD MICROWAVE/EXHAUST- ABOVE STOVE)

                                           

                                                        ( OLD MICROWAVE OUT)

        

   

                                                   (NEW RANGE HOOD WITH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED CUPBOARD FROM OLDER CUPBOARDS)

Gerry still needs to fix up wall and add handles onto the doors this weekend)

(NEW MICROWAVE BOUGHT WITH $100 MASTER CARD I WON-PAID $50 FOR THIS MICROWAVE)

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Choosing A Family Friendly Vacation

Many people are trying to incorporate their children in their vacation plans. After all it is difficult to find childcare for that period of time, and spending time as a family in a new location is a fantastic learning experience as well as a bonding experience. However, traveling with your children is not the same as travelling alone, as there are additional considerations to take into account. By following these few guidelines, you and your family can have a great and hassle free vacation.

Choose a family friendly destination:

Try to choose a destination that can be enjoyed by all members of the family. Not all the activities have to be geared towards children, but there should be some things that the child can look forward to through the day. If, for example the adults want to do something through the day, the child can choose the restaurant to eat at dinner. By giving everyone an opportunity to be involved in decision making, they will all enjoy the trip more. If you are not sure of kid friendly options, be aware that some travels providers, such as Thomas Cook offer special vacation packages for families with kids.

Have some extra time:

Sure, we would all love to see everything there is to see at our destination. But family vacations cannot be go, go, go. Give yourself extra time when catching transportation such as trains or planes. It is better to arrive early then to be rushing through different airport terminals with your child. While at your holiday remember to have some down time every day. This will keep people from getting too tired and grumpy. It may be a good idea to decide that after dinner everyone just relaxes in the hotel, or make the morning more relaxing.

Look for deals:

Travelling with a family can be very expensive. Therefore it is vital to look for deals before you head out the door. Why not save money on breakfast, by choosing a hotel which includes breakfast in the price of the room? Many hotels have rooms large enough that the parents can stay with the kids and save a lot of money that way. There are also numerous attractions throughout the world that have family days with discounted admission or even free admission on certain days. By researching ahead, you can try to organize your days to see these sites on the cheaper days.

Keep them busy:

Travel often involves a lot of wait times. You wait in the airport, you wait on the plane, and you wait in lines at attractions. Not all kids can handle all that very well. This is why many parents choose to carry small books with them, or small video game devices which will keep the child occupied during those awkward times. Carrying extra snacks is a good idea, as it is not always possible to grab food on the go, and no one is very happy while, hungry, especially kids.

By taking a few precautions everyone can have a great family trip.

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Credit Cards – What You Need To Know

Credit cards are a pre-approved way for you to access money from your bank. When you use your credit card, you can spend up to your maximum credit limit, then you repay the money over time. Usually the terms of credit will be that you need to make a minimum repayment each month, and you will be charged interest on the remaining balance. If you pay the full amount owed by the due date each month, you will not be charged interest. 

Purchasing power

A credit card allows you to pay for purchases at your leisure. You can use it to grab that bargain when you see it without having to enter into a hire purchase or layby agreement, and because the card is pre-approved you know exactly how much you can spend. On holidays, a credit card means you don’t have to carry a lot of cash or travellers cheques, and you can load the card up with money before you leave, so you’re spending your own money rather than borrowing it. If you overspend your budget – and we all do sometimes - you can use your card and pay it off at your convenience later.

Repayments

While a credit card lets you buy without having to save first, that is exactly where it can become a problem! If you have trouble saving in the first place, you may have trouble making regular repayments to a credit card. You should have a serious conversation about what repayments you can afford, and what your credit limit should be, before taking on any credit facility. Missing repayments can affect your credit rating, which means problems for future borrowing. Your banker will be able to guide you in this – the bank doesn’t want you to get into financial trouble any more than you do! Online sites like Sorted.org can also help your decision making.

Watch that interest

The interest and fees on a credit card varies on the type of card. Every bank will have a variety of cards on offer. Low interest cards with higher fees may suit you if you are unable to pay the full amount each month. Higher interest cards, which have lower fees, are fine if you can pay them off in full by the due date.  Reward schemes are attached to many cards nowadays; talk to your banker to decide which is best for you.

Quick Tips

• Base your credit limit on what you can afford to repay. If your card is maxed out, can you afford the monthly repayments?
• Don’t use your credit card for cash withdrawals. You pay interest on cash withdrawals from the day they are made.
• Watch that your credit limit is not increased or your card upgraded without your approval. Higher credit limits can potentially mean higher repayments!
• Your credit card should be an aid to smoother management of your finances. Talk to your bank about how to make it work for you; they are there to help.

Nicky Taylor is a Christchurch-based writer and illustrator. As a long-term consumer of banking services, she is aware of the issues and concerns people may have around financial management.

Pizza Hut Travels Back in Time Offering $10 Pizzas

Remember when the Blue Jays won the World Series, Jurassic Park hit the theatres and Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You was at the top of the Billboard charts? Well,Pizza Hut wants you to reminisce, take a short trip back in time and enjoy its new hand-tossed style pizza at its original price in 1993, for only $10.
Pizza Hut is now offering a medium hand-tossed style pizza with any three toppings for just $10 at Pizza Hut Delivery and Carry Out locations across Canada. No holds barred when it comes to this $10 deal-customers can choose from any of Pizza Hut’s pizza toppings, including: spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, basil pesto marinated tomatoes and roasted red pepper.
About Pizza Hut Pizza Hut is one of Canada’s largest pizza restaurant chains with over 320 franchised restaurants across Canada offering dine-in, delivery, carry out and online ordering experiences. In addition to $10 hand-tossed style pizzas, Pizza Hut boasts a number of other trademark offerings including WingStreet Wings, PANormous Pizza and a line of pizzas made with multigrain crust that are part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Health Check™ program. With more than 12,800 locations in 100 countries, Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza restaurant company.

Money Saving Tips for the Purchase of Healthy Meals

                                         Photo Source

Healthy food tends to be relatively expensive, especially if you stick to the organic varieties of products and to the highest quality. Shopping for healthy food on a budget is possible but you will have to do some planning and research.

Every grocery store has its prices and policies. The stores that you choose and the way in which you shop will be determining for the success of your endeavors.

Spend Less on Restaurants: 

The first thing you will have to do in order to cut down your food expenditure is to stop eating out. Restaurant food is much more expensive than the meals you will be capable of preparing at home.

You can still enjoy your favorite restaurant every once in a while but try to turn that into special occasion rather than in the routine. Takeaway food is something else that you should consume in smaller quantities. You will be surprised by the amount of money you will save this way.

Cut All Junk Food: 

To have more money for healthy food, you need to stop spending on junk food. Although relatively inexpensive, the junk food will affect your budget.

Be very strict about the products and items that you and your family need. Stop buying pre-cooked meals and all types of delicious treats that you used to have in the past. You can cook everything from scratch. Once you get into the habit, the preparation of food will take up very little time.

Always Have a Grocery List: 

Put an end to impulsive grocery shopping. The best thing to do is to prepare a grocery list before you leave home.

Buy only the items that you include in the grocery list. You may also try to come up with a price estimate. Take that approximate amount of money, rather than a lot of cash. Having a credit card may also tempt you into buying more than what you need.

If you do use your credit card to make food purchases, you should check the monthly report on a regular basis. Try to figure out what your shopping pattern is and whether something has been overpriced. To find out more about credit card safety visit website of forthsonline.

Look for Discounts and Promotions: 

Internet is a very valuable source of information for the individual that is shopping on a budget.

Most supermarkets and large grocery stores have websites where you can learn more about the prices and the discounts that the store is offering.

Companies are struggling to attract loyal customers and they will be willing to offer excellent shopping conditions. Coupons and discounts are two options you can make use of to decrease the cost of food. Some stores have shopping cards for their loyal customers that provide additional discounts.

Shop in Bulk: 

Shopping in bulk will be challenging in the beginning, especially if you have never done it before. Yet, this is one of the best ways to decrease the cost of healthy food.

Try to come up with weekly or bi-weekly meal plans. They will help you determine the ingredients you will need and their quantities. Going to the grocery store two times per month will enable you to buy products in bulk and to benefit from the lowest possible prices.

Seasonal Products: 

Follow a simple shopping logic to decrease the price of healthy foods even further – products that are in season tend to be less expensive.

Sticking to local products will benefit the economy and the family budget. The locally produced foods are less expensive than imported items. Additionally, they tend to be healthier because of the shorter transportation and storage time.

Imported, exotic fruits and vegetables can be tempting but they will usually be relatively expensive. You can enjoy such treats every once in a while but local products are the healthiest and thriftiest option.

Buying healthy food requires a bit of change in mentality and shopping habits. Once you get used to planning and cooking such meals for your family, you will begin enjoying the shopping process without spending a fortune on it.

Guest Post written by Adam Stevenson.