Category Archives: Recommended Reading

Recommended: 06/28/2012

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Yep, still here. Hot and slightly cranky, but I’m here and for that I’m grateful.

If you’re like me and looking for things to do indoors, here are some interesting articles for your reading pleasure:

HOME
47 Skills You Need to Survive Home Ownership [This Old House]
I wish I’d read this article when I first entered the land of home ownership 20+ years ago. I particularly wish I’d read #9:

“9. Ensure a Lightbulb’s Long Life
You know that popping sound that signals another lightbulb has burned out before its time? The cause: The little brass tab inside the lamp socket that makes contact with the bulb base is dirty or bent, interrupting the connection and causing the filament to imperceptibly flash on and off, shortening its life. With the fixture unplugged or the circuit breaker switched off, clean the tab with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol; then nudge it up with a screwdriver so that it stays in contact with the bulb base. “

How many light bulbs could I have saved from an early demise, if only I’d known?

RECIPES
12 Cold Soup Recipes [NY Times]
I’m not a big soup eater (AT ALL), but I’ll be trying most of the fruit soups in this collection! (And I call dibs on using “Switch Froot Loops to Fruits Soups” as a future blog post title!]

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month [The Budget Diet]
I could stand to cut more than that, but this is a good place to start. Lots of good tips here, but one that grabbed my attention:

“Save money on prescriptions by avoiding “combo pills.” A combo pill combines more than one type of medication. For example, Lotrel is a blood pressure medicine that costs $70 a month for generic, but you could get a prescription for the two components (Amlodipine and Benazepril) for $6 each.”

I actually take that medication, and I’m hoping my doctor will agree that I no longer need it when I see him next month. (I’ve been in the “high-normal” range for a few years now and am taking the lowest dose possible.) If he’s adamant that I still need to take it, you can bet I’ll be asking about the two components.

PRODUCTIVITY
How Many Goals Are You Chasing Right Now and Do You Have Too Many?[Pick the Brain]
I have five major goals, and I’ve been attempting to make progress on each of them. That’s not really working for me. (If by “really” I mean “at all.”) I’m going to try this approach for a while and see if I can make more progress.

SELF
Seven Lessons to Reboot Your Life [Dumb Little Man]
This author shares lessons she learned while recovering from a brain aneurysm.

“I saw that the very same strategies that a business owner needs to build a strong brand, create a transformational organization, and save her sanity also apply to our lives at large. Especially when life smacks you full on in the face and you need to reboot and reframe the conversation if you want to get back in the game.”

MADE ME SMILE

Source: lolsotrue.com via Cammy on Pinterest

Recommended: 05/26/2012

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First, in honor of the holiday and the reason for it:

And now a few links I found interesting:

HOME
6 Great Alternatives to Remodeling Your Home [Wisebread]
I have a kitchen leftover from the 1970s. I can hardly stand to be in there. With only a tiny budget set aside for a remodel, I’ll definitely be using some of these tips.

RECIPES
Watermelon Recipes [National Watermelon Promotion Board]
To me, there’s nothing better than cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. I most prefer it just plain and straight from the fridge. I’m thinking of branching out into using watermelon in other dishes. This link looks like a good place to start!

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
Money Leaks Are Costing You Hundreds Every Year: How to Plug Them [MoneyNing]
Lord knows, I don’t need any leaks! These are good tips!

PRODUCTIVITY
How to Be the Most Organized Person in the World [Greatist]
Those people at Greatist are so smart, not to mention creative with the infographics!

SELF
101 Timeless Lessons Life Teaches [Marc and Angel Hack Life]
They had me at #1: “What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” Amen.

Oh, and I was pleased to see Marc and Angel have a new sister site, Everyday Life Lessons! Terrific, I need another blog to compulsively follow. :)

MADE ME SMILE
demotivational posters - FIGHT THE POWER!
see more Very Demotivational

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Recommended: 05/12/2012

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Yet another week that zoomed right past! I’m not complaining, mind you, especially since this week included actual income. :)

Reads of note that I stumbled across recently:

HOME
Use Up the Pantry Clutter [Small Notebook]
I already had a pantry-declutter on my to-do list, but this article actually got me into the laundry room to do it. I have empty spaces now!

RECIPES
Strawberries Recipes [Martha Stewart]
I’m not a huge Martha Stewart fan, but even I have to admit that there are some recipe gems in this collection.

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
9 Things You Should Always Buy On Sale [Second Act]
I always enjoy a list of money-saving tips, and this one didn’t disappoint!

PRODUCTIVITY
5 Sneaky Productivity Sappers [Simple Productivity Blog]
At one time or another (and sometimes in the same day), these have all kept me from making progress.

SELF
Not an article, but sometimes a picture says it all. :)

 

MADE ME SMILE

 

Wishing you a magnificent weekend!

Recommended 04/27/2012

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My blog reader is filled with starred items these days! So many great posts, so little time….

HOME
Organization Should Be Practical, Not Always Pretty [Simple Organized Living]
I can’t be sure, but I think Andrea was speaking directly to me when she wrote this article. I get so hung up on creating perfect spaces that I lose sight of the higher purpose–which is to be able to find things when I need them.

RECIPES
Homemade Car Cleaning Products [Gather Little by Little]
Going outside the kitchen this week for some recipes for homemade car cleaning products. What can I say, my car is a mess!

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
Online Stores That Offer Free Return Shipping [Joe Shopping]
I don’t buy much of anything these days, online or otherwise, but when I do order online, I make sure that return shipping is free or that I can return to a brick-and-mortar store.

PRODUCTIVITY
5 Tips on Staying Productive While Traveling [Freelance Switch]
Oddly enough, the tip on taking time to recharge is the one I need to practice the most.

SELF
Great Dreams: Ten Keys to Happier Living [Action for Happiness]
Simple. Correct. Sometimes difficult to do.

MADE ME SMILE

Recommended: 04/15/2012

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Breezing through with this week’s finds:

HOME
Organizing Encouragement for the Discouraged [I'm An Organizing Junkie]
Org Junkie recently hosted a 29-Day Organizing Challenge. This post is filled with bits of advice from the participants.

RECIPES
20 Great Once-a-Month-Cooking Recipes [Wisebread]
If you’re new to batch cooking, this list is a good place to start.

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
8 Things You Should Buy Used [ Mango Money]
I don’t actually buy most of the things on the list, but I agree with the suggestions. :)

PRODUCTIVITY
27 Ways to Get More Sh!t Done [Greatist]
All good tips, but #13 is my magic remedy. Taking a few minutes each day to simply think and capture the ideas is one of my most productive tools.

SELF
Incredibly Simply Steps to Living a Truly Great Life [Dumb Little Man]
I always enjoy Henry Juntilla‘s posts on DLM, and this one is no different.

MADE ME SMILE

 
 
Hope you’re all having a great weekend!

Recommended: 04/06/2012

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I’ve let another week slip by without much content. Sorry, but paying jobs come first even if they do come with surprise road trips! :)

Here are a few interesting articles from bloggers who DID post this week:

HOME
Why Flylady Didn’t Work for Me [Simple Productivity Blog]
I have quite a few friends who successfully follow the Flylady homemaking methodology, but it was a big ol’ fail for me, too. I live alone, and my sink doesn’t need polishing that much!

RECIPES
100 Greatest Cooking Tips of All Time [Food Network]
Okay, so not a recipe, per se, but maybe you can use some of these tips in the recipes you already have.

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
Best and Worst Things to Buy in April [Wisebread]
Even though they didn’t say so, apparently lottery tickets weren’t a good idea. At least, not for me.

PRODUCTIVITY
Increasing Your Productivity – The Big Picture and the Little Picture [Dumb Little Man]
I’m better at the big picture stuff. :)

SELF
5 Ways to Change a Habit [Pick the Brain]
I especially like the discussion of “keystone habits” in this article:

Some habits, say researchers, are more important than others because they have the power to start a chain reaction, shifting other patterns as they move through our lives. Keystone habits influence how we work, eat, play, live, spend, and communicate. Keystone habits start a process that, over time, transforms everything.

MADE ME SMILE

Source: bit.ly via Cammy on Pinterest

 
 

Recommended: 04/01/2012

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HOME

How to Clean Oven Glass [DIY Home Sweet Home]
My house was built in the 1970s, and I still have the harvest gold double wall oven to prove it! Despite its age, the oven works great and is still in great condition. In fact, the glass doors are the only really gloomy part. Make that, “were” the only gloomy part. Thanks to this tip, they’re nice and shiny now!

RECIPES

10 Creative Uses for Peeps [Lovelyish]
They had me at Peep S’mores.

FINANCE & FRUGALITY

How to Get $2 Per Gallon Gas [Yahoo! Finance]
With my many road trips, I was more than interested in checking out this article! I’ll admit, my biggest offense is driving too fast. :)

PRODUCTIVITY

It’s Time to Finish Your Book: 9 Productivity Tips for Writers [Write to Done]
I have one book, 26 short stories, and 145 blog posts in various stages of production. Clearly I need some help. While I haven’t implemented any of the strategies suggested in this article, they are definitely food for thought. (I know, I know–I need action, not just thoughts. Thoughts just lead to more story ideas.)

SELF

Oh, Same Old, Same Old [Throw Out Fifty Things]
I almost skipped this article due to its unfortunate formatting (or lack of formatting.) I’m glad I didn’t, because it’s a nice short article about stepping outside the routine and trying new things.

MADE ME SMILE (and nod)

Source: laughitout.com via Chris on Pinterest

Have a great week, everyone!
 
 

Recommended: 03/24/2012

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HOME

20 Low Cost Decorating Ideas [Real Simple]
I love Real Simple, and this article is one of my recent favorites. I definitely need to pump up the color in my house. http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/tips-techniques/low-cost-decorating-ideas-00000000053196/page20.html

RECIPES

6 Sweet and Semi-Healthy Treats to Make with Yogurt [Parenting Squad]
This article has links to some tasty looking recipes that will likely please even the little ones in your house. A couple of them would certainly please this not-so-little one.

FINANCE & FRUGALITY

7 Popular Ways You Can Be Scammed…and How You Can Stop Them [Yahoo]
I thought I’d heard them all. I was wrong.

PRODUCTIVITY

10 Organizing Mantras to Cut Clutter [Simplify 101]
Most of these mantras could actually be useful for any project on which you’re needing a boost. I especially like #10: “Done is better than perfect.”

SELF

7 Easy Ways to Improve a Bad Day [Pick the Brain]
Who hasn’t had a bad day? With one or more (or all) of these tips, the day might not seem quite so bad after all.

MADE ME SMILE (and nod)

 
 

Recommended: 03/16/2012

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Do you ever have the feeling someone’s trying to tell you something? I’ve tried to post here for the past three days only to have something else (phone calls, lightning, road trip) get in the way each time. So I’m saving the thrilling finale to Proofreading 101 until next week. I hope no one loses sleep over the weekend. But if you need something to read, here are some excellent articles I’ve read recently:

HOME

22 Tips to Get Organized for Spring [Simple Organized Living]
My organizational patterns follow the same path of my previous weight loss attempts. Each spring, I’m hopeful that THIS will be the year I finally get organized and stay that way. (Here’s hoping my tippy toe approach and this good article will get me there this year. Or if not there, then reasonably close.)

RECIPES

Frozen Yogurt Dots [One Good Thing]
So easy even I can do it! In fact, I just did! I’m really looking forward to mixing fresh spring berries into some creamy Greek yogurt and making yogurt dots. I think I will call them Yots! :) (Dibs on trademark!)

FINANCE & FRUGALITY

21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse [Wisebread]
I love getting the most use out of any product, and some of the ideas in this article are excellent. I already knew about #1, using butter wrappers for greasing pans or cookie sheets. My favorite new tip of this list is #7, using plastic utensils as plant markers. Brilliant!

PRODUCTIVITY

17 Tips to Double Your Productivity In 14 Days [Robin Sharma]
As a fledgling entrepreneur, I’m learning the valuable lesson of time = money. This article has some excellent tips on being our most productive “in this age of dramatic distraction.”

SELF

Time to Kill Your Mental Boundaries [Dumb Little Man]
“Frequently, people discuss what they would love to have or do but “can’t” for one reason or another. In some cases, there are huge challenges to overcome; however, all too often, what we perceive to be a physical, economical, physiological, or social boundary ends up being a mental boundary.”

I know this well and am actively working on stepping outside the box in which I’ve put myself.

MADE ME SMILE

 
 
Happy Weekend!

Recommended: 03/10/2012

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HOME
5 Ways to Use Lemon Essential Oil[Happy Slob]
I’m not a huge fan of lemon in cooking (except for pie and cookies and cake, of course), but I love the smell of lemons in my house!

RECIPES
Recipes That Trick Your Brain (and help you get fit) [The Sunday Baker]
New category! It occurred to me this week that I bookmark A LOT of recipes and that you might enjoy knowing what some of those are. This week’s link actually highlights several recipes, but the one that most interests me most is Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins. I can’t wait to make those!

FINANCE & FRUGALITY
Money Saving Tips for Buying Appliances [ The Centsible Life]
This is a very timely article for me as I’m in the market for a new cooktop. Lacking a lottery win, I’m stuck with electric, and I don’t really like the glass cooktops. Do you know how hard it is to find a “cute” coil-style cooktop?

PRODUCTIVITY
How to Turn Your Ideas Into Life Changing Actions [Dumb Little Man]
That #1 (Choose ONE idea) always gets me.

SELF
10 Ways to Self-Improvement [Yahoo]
A good little general purpose article that caught my attention because of this quote:

“Having dignity is knowing who you are and what you stand for and not swaying from those principles no matter what those around you are doing.”

It’s all too easy to get sucked in to what “all the cool kids are doing” and lose sight of who we ARE. I, for one, am taking some time out this weekend for a review.

MADE ME SMILE

Source: facebook.com via Cammy on Pinterest

Happy Weekend!