Hello! We have some new subscribers so I want to welcome them. For anyone that is new, Phyllis and I have changed the publication of the newsletter from once a week to once every two weeks. This is mostly because it's nice weather now and there's always more work to be done in the spring and summer, so more work means less time to give to the newsletter.
Also for the benefit of our new subscribers I wanted to mention that if you ever have anything you want to share in the newsletter, send it to me or Phyllis and we'll publish it. Things to share could be: tips, recipes, book recommendations, new products you've tried, ideas to save money, etc...
Last issue I was complaining that spring had better get on the ball...well it bounced right in and then out, and here came summer--well, summer temperatures anyway. We've been hitting 90 for most of the week. I'm warm enough now, so let's turn off that hot air machine! ha
Don't tell her I told you, but today Phyllis will be celebrating her birthday. If you want to wish her a happy day, remember her address is the Gmail one.
Until we meet again...~Toni
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Last month when I threw my back out and couldn't do the newsletter, I had trouble getting ahold of Phyllis to have her email you all to let you know what was going on. It couldn't be helped because Phyllis was out and about and I kept missing her. But I know that when you're used to me sending the newsletter and then you don't receive it, you get worried that something has happened. What to do?! My friend Cathy K came to the rescue and offered to create a mailing list of all you subscribers, and to be the backup person to send out a notice next time something like that happens. Yay for Cathy K and many thanks!! I don't want to enclose her email address here because I know some of you forward the newsletter (we're glad you do--the more readers the better!) and I also post it on the blog, so I don't want her address being sent all around on the internet. I told Cathy that I would just tell you that you could be looking for "Two Friends Newsletter" in the subject line and that was how you'd know it was from her and not spam. Hopefully illness won't prevent me and Phyllis from sending out again for a long time, but it's good to have a backup plan just in case. :)
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Since we've changed our schedule, I am going to be able to use more of Cheryl's tips per issue because I have a good amount saved back. And as always I would like to thank her for working to keeping me supplied. :)
~Tips from Cheryl~
Road Tar on Your Car? To remove it, spritz the spots with an oil-based prewash spray. Allow it to set for several minutes. Rub gently with a plastic scrubber, rinse and then buff with a soft cloth.
Empty Glass Jars or Bottles Still Smelly? If they still have an odor after washing, make a solution of half vinegar and water. Soak them in it overnight and rinse well. Wash lids in hot soapy water and always store with lids off.
Have Leftover Cake? Don't throw it out. Make a new dessert. Tear the cake into pieces and layer with softened ice cream and then freeze. When you need a dessert, slice and drizzle a bit of chocolate syrup over it.
Soda Gone Flat? Don't throw it out because the fizz is gone. Instead, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop into your new soda to chill, so the cubes won't dilute it.
When Using Night Light Bulbs If you buy 4-watt bulbs with a clear finish instead of 7-watt ones, they will be just about as bright, and best of all, will use almost half the energy. Every little bit of conserving will help save on your electric bill.
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Start using your kitchen shears. Cut green onions, chives and all kinds of herbs with them. Cut chicken breasts into strips and cut thin cuts of beef into cubes for stew. Next time you cut anything with a knife think, "Can I cut this faster with my shears?" and then try it. They're great for cutting up small bites of food for children (think pizza, fish sticks) By the way, my kitchen shears is really just a cheap pair of scissors that works just as good.
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New postage stamp releases (many thanks to Cathy F for getting me the release dates I couldn't find):
Love: King and Queen of Hearts
On May 8, the Postal Service pays clever tribute to what is said by many to be world’s favorite “game” with the issuance of the King and Queen of Hearts, the latest stamps in the Love series. The two stamp designs, one of the King and one of the Queen, are based on images from 18th-century French playing cards. Stamp artist Jeanne Greco of New York City created the art on her computer.
Greco and art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, settled on a design flowing through the stamp perforations to make a continuous pattern. The Postal Service began issuing its popular Love stamps in 1973. Over the years these stamps have featured a wide variety of designs, including heart motifs, colorful flowers, and the word “LOVE” itself.
Wedding Cake
Coming out on May 1, and sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence, the 2009 Wedding Cake stamp will be issued at the two-ounce mailing rate to accommodate the heavier weight of an invitation, as well as other mailings such as oversize cards or small gifts that require extra postage.
The stamp, designed by Ethel Kessler, features a photograph of a wedding cake taken by Renée Comet of Washington, DC. The photograph depicts a three-tier wedding cake topped with white flowers, their green stems and leaves a delightful contrast to the cake’s creamy white frosting.
Wedding Rings
A new one-ounce stamp featuring wedding rings is intended for use on the RSVP envelope often enclosed with a wedding invitation. The stamp features a photograph of two gold wedding rings resting on a small white pillow; a slender ribbon of white silk unites them. The photograph also was taken by Renée Comet.
The Simpsons
On May 7 the US Postal Service will recognize The Simpsons, the longest-running prime time comedy in American television history. Marking their 20th anniversary as a regularly scheduled half-hour show, this celebrated series remains a groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchise, recognizable throughout the world. Cartoonist Matt Groening created the infamous Simpson family: Home, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson--all now identifiable by their silhouettes alone. For this project the Postal Service was pleased to use original artwork created by Groening.
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You work hard for your money, so make your dollar work hard for you. Join the Stretch Your Dollar Community Challenge and starting May 4 you'll get a four-week action plan to save big on home, food, family and more. http://challenges.ivillage.com/stretch-your-dollar-community-challenge
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Oversalted soup: For clear soups, add some uncooked pasta or a raw, peeled potato to the pot. The starch will absorb much of the salt. Discard the pasta or potato after 15 to 20 minutes.
Stale rolls: Wet your fingers and flick some water on them, then microwave in a microwave-safe cooking bag for no more than five seconds, or wrap in foil and heat in a 250-degree oven for ten minutes.
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Have books you'd like to sell? Check out http://www.cash4books.net/ Just type in the book's ISBN number and see if you can get cash. Complete the transaction online, print out a prepaid mailing label, pack up those books and send them in. In just a few days you'll either receive a check in the mail or a deposit to your PayPal account.
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~Marie's Laughter~
Little Peter was taking his new puppy for a walk when a policeman stopped him.“Has your dog got a license?” The policeman asked. “Oh, no,” answered Peter.“He’s not old enough to drive.”
Please take note: Marie will be having a surgical proceedure on May 4 at 10:30 a.m. She will need to stay in the hospital overnight. I would like to request prayer for her.
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Nebraska...
--Nebraska was once called "The Great American Desert".
--In 1927, Edwin E. Perkins of Hastings invented the powered soft drink Kool-Aid.
--J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day in Nebraska City in 1872.
--Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.
--Nebraska has the U.S.'s largest aquifer (underground lake/water supply), the Ogalala aquifer.
--Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.
--Nebraska is the only state in the union with a unicameral (one house) legislature.
--Nebraska was the first state to complete its segment of the nations mainline interstate system, a 455 mile stretch of four lane highway.
--Nebraska's Chimney Rock was the most often mentioned landmark in journal entries by travelers on the Oregon Trail.
--The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska.
--Marlon Brando's mother gave Henry Fonda acting lessons at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
--Lincoln County is the origin of the world's largest "Wolly Mammoth" elephant fossil.
--Weeping Water is the nations largest limestone deposit and producer.
--In Blue Hill, Nebraska, no female wearing a 'hat that would scare a timid person' can be seen eating onions in public.
--The world's first college course about radio personality Rush Limbaugh is taught at Bellevue University in Nebraska.
--Origin of Nebraska's Name: From an Oto Indian word meaning flat water.
--The largest porch swing in the world is located in Hebron, Nebraska and it can sit 25 adults.
--Chevyland USA near Elm Creek, Nebraska is the only museum dedicated to a single line of cars.
--Cozad, Nebraska is located on the 100th Meridian where the humid east meets the arid west. --Buffalo Bill Cody held his first rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska July 4, 1882.
--Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917.
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Unusual town names in Florida:
Christmas
Frostproof
Jupiter
Howey-in-the-Hills
Kissimmee
Okahumpka
Red Head
Sopchoppy
Two Egg
Weeki Wachee
Weewahitchka
Yeehaw Junction
Yellow Water
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I thought you might like to check out the story of how Mother's Day came into existence.
http://www.wvgenweb.org/taylor/mothersday/founder.htm
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More celebrity real names:
John Garfield -- Julius Garfinkle
Beverly Garland -- Beverly Lucy Fessenden
Judy Garland -- Frances Gumm
James Garner -- James Scott Baumgarner
Crystal Gayle -- Brenda Webb
Bobbie Gentry -- Roberta Streeter
Boy George -- George Alan O'Dowd
Whoopi Goldberg -- Caryn Johnson
Elliott Gould -- Elliott Goldstein
Cary Grant -- Archibald Alexander Leach
Peter Graves -- Peter Aurness
Rocky Graziano -- Rocco Barbella
Robert Guillaume -- Robert Peter Williams
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Catalog Choice is a free service that lets you choose which catalogs you no longer wish to receive.http://www.catalogchoice.org/
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If you have ununsed mobile phones lying around, recycle them through the Keep America Beautiful: Wipe out Wireless Waste program. Go to http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index , click on the "Wipe Out Wireless Waste" tab and download a postage paid mailing label. Then put your phone in an nevelope or box, affix the lable and drop the package in the mail. Be sure to shut off phone service and erase all personal Information first.
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Toni's tip for easier grocery shopping
I'm guessing most of you like to grocery shop about as good as I do. I know for myself I am always trying to think of ways to get organized to make that chore as easy and quick as possible. Over the years I've tried a little of this and a bit of that and I have finally happened upon the best system I've had so far. And I thought I'd share it with you. I know it won't be exactly what's right for you, but maybe you could adapt something in my system to make your grocery shopping a bit easier.
I had John write down all the aisle numbers and then an item or two from each aisle so we could remember what all is stocked there. When we came home I copied the info down all nice onto a sheet that I'll use each week. I have a rough draft grocery shopping list on the fridge for us to add onto all week. When it's time to go shopping I take the rough draft and get out my "aisle list". I go down the rough draft adding the aisle number to each item. Then I go down and first copy all the aisle one items, then aisle two, etc. to make my final shopping list. That way my entire list is in the order the store is laid out. This keeps the shopping moving, and less time to wander around looking means less impulse buying.
And let's not forget coupons! I looked and looked for a coupon organizer that suited me and came up empty. Eventually I bought a kids pencil pouch--the kind that zips. Inside I used index cards as dividers. And the system I used for dividing was the same as for the shopping list. One divider for the items on each aisle. That way my shopping list and coupons are all in order of how the store is laid out. Neat, huh?
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Hello everyone from Phyllis! May is almost here...it seemed like April just flew by! Here are a few things to know about the month of May.
Mothers Day is the second Sunday in May. It was first celebrated in 1908, and it was recognized officially by Congress in 1914.
The Kentucky Derby is on the first Saturday in May in Louisville Kentucky at Churchill Downs.
May 5 is Cinco De Mayo which is a national holiday in Mexico.
The birthstone for May is emerald, and the flower is Lily of the Valley.
May 1, 1931...Empire State Building opens.
May 3, 1765...The first medical school in America opened in Philadelphia.
May 10, 1869...The first transcontinental railway is finished in Promontory, Utah.
May 24, 1607...The first permanant English settlement is established.
May 24, 1883...The Brooklyn Bridge opens for traffic.
May 27, 1937...The Golden Gate Bridge opens.
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The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said
The recent buds relax and spread
Their greenness is kind of grief.
Is it that that are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too
Their yearly trick is looking new
It is written down in rings of grain.
Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May
Last year is dead, they seem to say
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
The Trees by Philip Larkin
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Test your knowledge of healthy dining!
http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/game/?cm_mmc=Yahoo_Blog-_-ETNT-_-Worst_Drive_Thru_Foods-_-ETNT_The_Game
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If you like getting mail order catalogs and would like to get more, or if you're looking for a specific type of catalog, check out
http://www.catalogs.com/
This page will also takes you to links where you can find out how to have your name removed from mailing lists if you'd like to receive LESS catalogs, too!
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Take a hike!
To find a list of hiking trails across America and near you, go to
http://localhikes.com/
and not only will you find state by state listings of hiking trails, but you will also get a quick description of each trail and the length of the hike.
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COOL PICK
This issues cool pick website is especially for kids! School will be letting out soon, so here's a site to help beat boredom. It has lots of fun activities, and its educational too!
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/
The site is full of games, experiments and fun! Its billed as "by kids, for kids." Your kids can send in poems and short stories, take a survey, share a recipe, do a scientific experiment and lots more. There is also a free "Zoomnooz" online newsletter that they can sign up for. There's so much going on at this site, so be sure to add it to your favorites for when the kids are home this summer!
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To view some beautiful time lapse photos of flowers blooming, go to
http://www.urlesque.com/2009/01/27/time-lapse-tuesday-flowers-and-plants/
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Quick & Easy Zucchini Pie
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 large tomato, chopped (one cup)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reduced fat Bisquick
1 cup fat free milk
1/2 cup Eggbeaters
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400. Spray Pam into a 9 inch pie pan.
Layer zucchini, tomato, onion and cheese into pie pan.
Stir remaining ingredients together until blended. Pour into pie pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
This recipe makes six servings at around just 100 calories each.
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I haven't had a chance to check this out yet, but it looks like Barnes & Nobles is offering 9 free download audio book short stories.
http://www.dealhack.com/archives/2009/04/free_downloads_9_audio_book_sh.html
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Spring cleaning time is here! Hopefully you all have gotten yours started. If you're short on time though, and company is coming, here are a few tips to fake clean your house.
1. Reserve one side of your sofa cushions for guests only. When company is coming, flip the sofa cushions over to the nice side, and then flip it back over later for your family.
2. A quick way to remove pet hair from upholstery is to put on your rubber gloves, wet the fingertips and glide your hand across the fabric. Most of the pet hair should stick to the glove.
3. To cover up lingering cooking smells, boil orange peels, cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon in a saucepan on the stove.
4. Light candles. Everything looks cleaner by candlelight!
5. Hang fresh guest towels in the bathroom.
If you have any good tips for fake cleaning your house, send them to me at twofriendsnewsletter@gmail.com
and I'll put them in a future issue.
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To find out if your favorite TV show is a re-run this week, go to
http://reruncheck.com/
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I never have formal, fancy meals at my home, but if you're planning one and are worried about setting the table correctly, here's a site to help you out.
http://www.wholesale-table-linens.com/setup-tableware.html
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Click to give...its easy and its free at
http://www.greatergood.com/
At Greater Good, you can support causes you care about with a simple click.
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HEALTHY LIVING
We all want to be healthy, but it can be hard to make a complete lifestyle change all at once. Instead of trying to do everything at the same time, how about making just a few small changes each week? Here are some small changes that you can make this week that will payoff for you later.
1. If you can't give up fast food, you CAN resolve to stop supersizing. Fast food is loaded with calories, so do you really want that extra large order of fries?
2. Never eat mindlessly. Pay attention to what you're eating. Take your time when eating so that you can enjoy your food, and give your brain time to signal that you're full.
3. Don't skip breakfast! Believe it or not, skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. If you eat a nourishing breakfast, it will help you to consume less calories duriing the day.
4. Ideally, your plate should be half vegetables or fruits for lunch and dinner.
These are simple, easy tips that you can implement right now, even if you're not ready to make a big change.
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Just for fun!
http://www..fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp
About Me
- Two Friends Newsletter
- Two Friends Newsletter is published by Toni in WV and Phyllis in MD.
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