Search Results for: blog the secret garden

California Proposition Could Reduce Insurance Rates

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In California, thousands of people have signed a petition that would give the California Insurance Commissioner the right to reject health insurance rates that are excessive. Several other states have already given their Insurance Commissioners this authority. A group of insurance companies is completely against this proposal, of course. There has been some ongoing issues with health insurance rates in California. In 2011, Blue Shield decided to raise its customer’s health insurance rates by 59%. The insurer said that the rate increase was necessary because the bad economy was making their costs go up. Obviously, a 59% rate hike was … Continue reading →

Sticky Situation

When it comes to scrapbooking, I am all about the stickers. Not only are scrapbook stickers extremely versatile, but they are also super easy to use and the varieties are practically limitless. What’s more, for me, they often act as the inspiration for an entire layout. I have long been a fan of Jolee’s Boutique stickers. I don’t use them exclusively, but due to their massive selection, I would estimate that 95 percent of my page designs include at least a few stickers by Jolee’s. The brand is manufactured by EK Success, which is a household name in the world … Continue reading →

Occupations of Our Ancestors

One of my favorite things about genealogy is the language. I am a self-professed lover of words, and I’m always looking to increase my vocabulary. Today I came across some fun words that come from occupations that our ancestors may have had back in the day. You just don’t run into many chiffoniers these days, and even those people who do make wigs for a living may not call themselves that anymore. Do you work in an office that employs an amanuensis? If the secretary greets you as you walk in the door, then you most certainly do. Just today, … Continue reading →

Save Money on Your Lawn

Summer will be here soon. Do you know how much money you spend on mowing and maintaining your lawn? Better yet, do you know how much you can save on this expense? Read on. Do It Yourself Right off the bat, you’ll get the most savings when you do it yourself. Even if you are unsure about seeding or fertilizing, you could could save by mowing your lawn yourself. Cost savings: $20-$100 per week. Maintaining the Mower Keep your lawn mower in good shape. Maintaining the lawn mower will go a long way to making it last longer. Read the … Continue reading →

Purposefully Using the Little Things

As you may know, my husband and I are really buckling down to reduce our monthly expenses. It seems as though the prices for everything are going up, while our income remains the same. Recent unexpected expenses have drained our emergency fund and we are really trying to get out of debt. Although our home isn’t that large by many standards, there is still plenty of space for little things to collect. Many of these things don’t normally get used because they are forgotten or aren’t convenient. But purposefully using these little things will help us stretch the budget a … Continue reading →

God’s Warnings

Sometimes as we read the bible or as we hear about people and the choices they make, we can be wonder. Often times it happens that God has given strict instructions about something and the person has ignored it. Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden is one example that had serious consequences. Solomon was another. How can they be so stupid to ignore God’s warnings like that? I thought that this week, when I was reading about Samson in Judges 15, 16. God had provided for and given victory to Samson when the Philistines sought to do him … Continue reading →

Creating a Multifunctional Potting Shed

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We built a playhouse over the weekend. However, I could just as easily call it a potting shed. It looks a little ramshackle, but it’s quite sturdy. We created it out of two bifold doors cut in half, four posts, some scavenged two by fours, and a lot of roofing planks that I had in the basement, just like any good playhouse. Since our back garden is mere meters in length, the playhouse will double as a potting shed and an avenue for my building-related whimsies. Granted, it is a rather deluxe and spacious potting shed, measuring all of 3.5 … Continue reading →

Solutions For Getting Gifts You Like From Your Spouse.

Yesterday we looked at the problems surrounding gifts and your spouse and how sometimes it can end up so wrong. Here are some simple solutions to getting gifts you like from your spouse. When shopping point out and admire things in the shops that you would like or in the catalogues mark things that you would like and leave it lying somewhere your spouse will see it. Or just give it to them and say, ‘if you’d like some ideas.’ Provide a suggestion list of things you would like complete with the name of the store where they can be … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Holiday Gifts: Time

One of the most frugal and heartfelt gifts for the season is the gift of time. Giving of your time and talents is a sure way to make someone’s Christmas merry, even if you are cash poor this year. Gifts of time are appropriate not only for family, but for friends, co-workers and associates as well. The secret is to come up with the right gift for the right person. Just as you would pick out the perfect gift from the store, picking out the perfect gift of time takes some thought. For example, let us say you have two … Continue reading →

How to Manage Your Man

‘Of course all women know how to manage men without you knowing we’re doing it,’ a woman said. recently in a discussion about the relationship between men and women. Would you agree? She certainly wasn’t talking about using nagging, sarcasm, threats or anger to get the men in our lives to do what we want. It was more about using charm. Attributes like sincere flattery, kindness, appreciation and feminine wiles to achieve our aims. Remember the saying about you can catch more flies with honey then with vinegar? I believe it to be true. On our fridge we have a … Continue reading →