Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

Hmm, do I do any of this? This guest post is by Christine Kane. A great thing about blogging is that you are the boss and there aren’t many rules you can break. With that said, there are some things that bloggers make mistakes on that should be left off of blogs. Here is a list of 5 common mistakes bloggers make and that you may want to avoid: Blogging too much or too little: Believe it or not there is a thing as blogging too much. If you post a blog daily, chances are your readers are not reading it. And if you blog less than once a week, chances are your readers have moved on. The key is give them a little bit to keep them wanting more. Blogging twice a week is perfect for your readership and your stress levels. No visuals: Want to see a cool magic trick? Don’t post any images on your blog post and see how many people fall asleep. Please, whatever you do, upload an image. Whether it is a video, pie chart or a photo-upload it! Readers need something to brea...

I’m fond of the spray sunscreen for the little folk, not leprechauns, grand-kids.    It is often easier to spray than hold them still long enough to effectively cover them with lotion.   Keep in mind the convenience may be off set by the price, spray sun screen is more expensive. This can claims a cooling feeling.    Frankly I didn’t notice that it cooled anymore than any other spray sunscreen I have used.    It sprayed nicely with a fine mist.   It did seem non-greasy; which is a very positive thing often claimed by others and seldom true.    It did dry very quickly.    I spent 2 hours out at prime burn time, 1:00—3:00 and did not notice any sun impact.    I was doing gardening and sweated profusely.   The spray seemed very resistant to sweat as I took a dark cloth and vigorously rubbed my forearm and got a white film on the cloth which I am assuming was the spray as I don’t normally produ...

4 Must-Know Tips for Saving Money on Novels and Textbooks Online Everyone wants to get the most for their money, especially when it comes to typically expensive products, like textbooks and new novels. Whether you’re a student or just a book-lover, the cost of buying books can definitely set you back a bit if you’re not careful. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to reduce or eliminate the cost of your next book purchase by following several easy tricks online. Read on for the best ways to find books online at the lowest possible prices, sometimes even for free. 1. Always search for free copies first. Before you ever buy a book online, the first thing to do is look for an available free copy. There are many resources online where students and readers can download copies of the books they need for free. Usually free downloads are available for people who already own a Kindle, like Barnes and Noble’s Free Nook Books . Users with accounts can browse the wide selectio...

Kellogg’s Special K Granola Bars-Dark Chocolate 110 calories—Calories from Fat 25 Sodium is only 4% of daily values 17g carbs 4g protein This was a very tasty snack.   The chewy part is accurate which makes it easier to eat in the car.    The crunchy ones spray all down the front of your shirt when you are driving and eating.    This had a nice flavor and the dark chocolate flavor made it more candy bar-ish than many. I liked it and particularly like the low sodium.   I’m always amazed at how much sodium is in supposedly healthy foods. If reviewing a product, it may have been received free of charge. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

This ottoman comes knocked down but it is easy to assemble.    The legs come in a set of two and the body is got post that go into the leg piece.   The screws use a barrel bolt and it assembled quite easily with no scraped knuckles or cursing.   The ottoman is very sturdy and can seat two adults and several kids.    It is heavy enough that it shouldn’t easily blow into your pool if you are using it on the deck. It claims to be for outdoor use but it looks like a nice piece of furniture.    I think it might be better suited for a porch rather than a deck.    The cushion is thick and comfy.    You could easily get a sheet of Plexiglas caught to fit the top and use the base as a coffee or drink table as well as an ottoman. Good looking and sturdy it is part of a whole patio ensemble. Strathwood Info: This Strathwood Anderson Hardwood Sectional Ottoman Includes stone-colored fabric cushion with Velcro attach...

UXCell Glass Cutter I recently pulled out my stained glass tools and discovered my glass cutter and corroded beyond use.    I found this one on Amazon for $6.63.    It worked just fine.   I chose this and not one with an oil reservoir due to the frequent complaints about oil leakage.    A couple of cotton balls soaked with 3-1 Oil work just fine for cleaning the cutter after each cut.    I did research and find that the expensive cutting oil often recommended is not necessary.    You can use sewing machine oil or 3-1 oil for far less money. The cutter worked just fine. Amazon Technical Details This is a new Glass Cutter for mineral glass and diamond The Diamond Cutter (note: this cutter is not diamond made, but for cutting diamond) is perfect for cutting and glass art work The Minerals Cutter also perfect for cutting stained glass, other craft and household uses With a metal holder, anti-slip d...

I do not like running into things.   Since I can’t see in the dark, I am a believer in nightlights.    I am of an age where I am frequently up during the night.    Stumbling around is counterproductive to healthy toes.    Walks in the dark lead to cracked elbows, throbbing stubbed toes and immoderate speech therefore I use nightlights. I found these nightlights on Amazon and they were priced aggressively at $12.99 with free shipping on orders of $25.00.    There were a variety of ratings and reviews.    They provide adequate light.   The light they provide is bluish in color.    One complaint was they are flimsy in construction.    They are a bit flimsy but once you plug it in, who cares?   You aren’t going to be handling it.    You do need to firmly plug them in.    They do not easily seat themselves, you need to give them a good push.    They have a lig...

 If you heat your home with oil or have a summer/winter hookup which means your furnace heats your water as well as heating your house, you may want to read this.   The average in-house oil tank holds 275 gallons of oil.  Now compare that to the average in-ground swimming pool that holds 20,000 gallons of water that doesn’t sound like much oil. Consider for a moment though that if the swimming pool leaks, you get water in your yard.   If your oil tank leaks you get an EPA rated mess.   When my furnace was last serviced the service repair guy told me that my oil tank looked like it was on its last legs.   He said 36 years old is an “old” tank and that I should consider replacing it.  Considering the hassle of clean up and intrusive government oversight on heating oil, I decided to replace it.   I got four quotes and chose the one from the plumber I most frequently use.   One plumber who ...