FREEBIES of the Day - 6/11/07

Edna Skin Care samples. Their products are all-natural; only the purest and richest raw ingredients are used. All of their products are hand blended and not only cleanse, but maintain skin's natural moisture levels and protect against skin damage. This is a toll-free call-in to 1-800-536-3362. To peruse the products that are available, click here!

Celestial Seasonings Tea samples. They have some wonderful teas - everything from Earl Grey to Chamomile to herbal blends. To get your free sample of tea, click here!

Ultra Swim Replenishing Shampoo sample. This is definitely the time of year to be in the pool (it feels so good to cool off in the swimming pool on these hot days). Swimming is a wonderful form of exercise, but can be really rough on your hair. To get your sample of replenishing shampoo to combat the damage chlorine does to your hair, click here!

Honey Bunches of Oats sample. This is a great cereal; it tastes great and is good for you. To get your free cereal sample, click here!

National Geographic Catalog. This is a great catalog with a lot of wonderful items. To get your free National Geographic Catalog, click here!

Stop Pain spray sample. This is the most incredible pain relieving spray I have ever tried. Within 30 seconds you feel relief and it lasts quite a while. My husband is never without this product, he has a lot of muscle strain, aches and pains and this is one of the few products that really helps him. I will keep this sample fresh for as long as they offer it, because it is so good and I want you to be able to experience the product for yourself. To get this remarkable pain relief spray and feel relief from your aches and pains, click here!

Free recipes. This is a site that has numerous free recipe offers; you have everything from bread machine recipes to cheese recipes, peanut butter recipes and so many more. To get your free recipes all in one place, click here!

Spiegel Catalog. Get this wonderful catalog for free and get a $15.00 merchandise certificate and free tote bag. Go to the Offer Code box and enter F8710, this gives you the free offers. To get a catalog filled with fashionable clothes, shoes and home accents, click here!

Post Shredded Wheat Chocolate Cereal sample. This is offered through Oprah.com and they send you the cereal (be sure to click on the box at the bottom that says you want the cereal) when you enter their body, mind and balance spa sweepstakes. Just use your free voice mail number and no big deal. To get your free cereal, click here!

House to House free kid's activity pack. This is a Christian organization and they have some great freebies for children and adults. When you fill out the info for the kid's activity pack, you can click on freebies and see all that they have to offer. To get your freebies from House to House, click here!

ASPCA Pet Safety Pack. They send you a window decal to alert rescue personnel that pets are inside your home, and an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet - this keeps the toll-free emergency number and website address handy for an emergency. To get this free safety pack to keep your animals safe, click here!

Lenox Gold Titanium Edge utility blade sample. This has a 4 notch design so the blade extends further and the titanium edge doubles the edge hardness to resist wear and reduce friction. To get your utility blade sample, click here!

Lenox Gold Titanium Edge saw blade sample. This is long lasting and has a reinforced tooth design and titanium coating that improves the wear resistance of the teeth for faster cuts throughout the blade's life. To get your free sample, click here!

Hot Dog on a Stick and Muscle Beach Lemonade & Hot Dogs free hot dog day. Wednesday, 6-13 from 5-8 p.m., All locations will be hosting a free hot dog day. You get one free hot dog on a stick per person. They are not in all areas of the country, so to see if you have one in your area, click here!

Free concerts in Detroit. These free concerts are every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. starting 6-29 and ending 8-10. They have some great artists: Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Asia, 38 Special and more. To get a listing of the artists and dates, click here!

Speaking of Women's Health event at Wal-Mart. On 6-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get a copy of the free book "Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence". They also have free samples and information. This is really cool and you do get a lot of freebies. To get more info on this great event, click here!

Free summer movies for kids. There are several theaters listed (hopefully one in your area) that are showing free movies. To check this out and have some free movies for your kids, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

You Know You're a Dog Person When...

All dates must pass your dog's inspection.

You get birthday cards for each of your dogs from family, friends, and the vet. (Bonus if you keep them on the refrigerator for more than a month.)

Every gift you ever get has something to do with dogs.

All your non-dog friends know to dress down when visiting your house.

You call long distance and talk with your dog.

If you are cold, you put a sweater on your dog.

All of your furniture came to you second hand or via curbside discard, but your dog crates are top of the line, industry premium.

Your voice is recognized by your vet's receptionist.

Dog crates double as chairs and/or tables in your family room.

Everyone at the office is eager to know if the dogs are all right because you were late for the meeting.

First time visitors wonder aloud: "Do you smell something?" and you really don't.

It takes an entirely separate garbage can to handle the poop.

It's easier to get a hairdresser's appointment for yourself than it is to get one for your dog.

More than half your grocery money goes to dog food and treats.

No matter how large your bed is, it is not large enough for you and your dog(s).

The cost of boarding your furkids equals that of your entire vacation.

The dog's kibble is stored in 45 gallon garbage cans, and the water is kept in a bucket with it's own drip tray under it. (Score extra if you have had a water tap installed over the bucket to save time, or [for longhaired breeds] if you keep a towel lying permanently on the floor to soak up drips and squeegee around with your foot.)

The largest display of collectibles in the house is dog stuff -- plates, photos, cards, etc.

The sound of any liquid hitting the floor two rooms away at 3 a.m. Is enough to launch you out of bed; but otherwise you can sleep through a ringing telephone, the alarm clock, earthquake tremors, etc.

The total "poundage" of canines outweighs the total poundage of humans in the household.

Vaccination and licensing records for all your dogs are in perfect order, but your checkbook hasn't been balanced in months, and last year's tax records are nowhere to be found.

You believe it is your duty to talk to, pat, and even feed every dog in the neighborhood. You know their names.

You break down and buy another pillow so you can have one to sleep on.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

Avoiding Unnecessary Stress

Managing time

Time management skills can allow you to spend more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.

To improve your time management:

Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.

Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.

Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you.

Manage your commitments by not over- or undercommitting. Don't commit to what is not important to you.

Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines.

Build healthy coping strategies

It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you coped in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.

Have a sense of purpose in life.

Get enough sleep, because your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.

Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.

Get moderate exercise throughout the week.

Limit your consumption of alcohol.

Don't smoke.

Social support

Social support from family, friends, and the community is a major factor in how we experience stress. Research shows a strong relationship between social support and mental and physical health.

This type of support includes both emotional support such as love, trust, and understanding, as well as advice and concrete help such as time or money. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it can bring you closer to people you interact with every day, and it can significantly reduce your stress level. If you are feeling stressed, you can look for support from:

Family members and friends.

Programs offered through your school or job (for example, assistance programs or stress management courses).

Colleagues at work, or people you interact with in other areas of your life (such as people who share your hobbies or other interests).

A professional counselor. Be sure to see someone who has experience and credentials.

Members or leaders of your church or religious organization.

Support groups, if you have special circumstances such as providing care for someone who is elderly or has a chronic illness. Support groups may also be available on the Internet.

Changing thinking

When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress response, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress. You can learn these techniques on your own or seek help from a professional such as a counselor or specialist.

Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress.
Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly.

Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.

Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.


Courtesy of Web MD

Christian Quote of the Day

Grace is the incomprehensible fact that God is well pleased with a man, and that a man can rejoice in God. Only when grace is recognized to be incomprehensible is it grace. Grace exists, therefore, only where the Resurrection is reflected. Grace is the gift of Christ, who exposes the gulf which separates God and man, and, by exposing it, bridges it.

...Karl Barth

RECIPE of the Day - 6/10/2007

This is a great way to prepare a delicious Mexican dinner all in one dish. Serve with a guacamole salad and plenty of fresh salsa.





Layered Burrito Bake

5 Burrito sized flour tortillas
1 lb. ground beef
2 T. flour
1 t. beef bouillon powder
2 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin
1 t. garlic powder, divided
1/2 t. onion powder
1 C. water
1 (15 oz.) can refried beans
1 T. bacon grease
1 C. monterrey jack cheese, shredded
1/2 C. cheese sauce (queso sauce in jar)
Sour Cream
Sliced green onions

Cook ground beef until browned and drain well. Add the flour, bouillon powder, chili powder, cumin, 1/2 t. garlic powder, onion powder and water. Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook for 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened; set aside.

Cook refried beans in bacon grease and heat on med. high heat for 1 1/2 minutes; add 1/2 t. garlic powder and set aside.

Spray bottom of large, round casserold dish with non-stick spray. Place 1 tortilla on the bottom and top with 1/3 of the beef mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 C. of cheese. Place another tortilla on top and spread with 1/2 of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top and cover with another 1/3 of the beef mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 C. cheese. Top with another tortilla and spread with the other 1/2 of bean mixture. Place final tortilla on top, adding the last 1/3 of the beef mixture and topping with cheese sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes until heated through.

To serve, top with sour cream and sliced green onions.

FREEBIES of the Day - 6/10/07

Celine Dion's "Enchanting" fragrance sample. This fragrance has many different elements: freesia, gardenia, mimosa, red berries, diamond orchid, amber, sandalwood, and the list goes on. The top notes are osmanthus, red berries and cyclamen. To experience this new fragrance for yourself, click here!

White Lotus Defining Moment sample from Wei East. This offer is still going strong. This product is a luxurious, deeply hydrating cream for dry, mature skin. It helps add and retain moisture to replenish skin. To get your free sample of White Lotus, click here!

Taster's Choice samples. This comes around about every few months. If you love the convenience of instant coffee, this is a great freebie for you. Nescafe is one of those instant coffees that I don't mind drinking; it's really good. To get your free samples of Nescafe, click here!

Beano sample. If you eat a lot of veggies and fruits, chances are, you're going to get gas. Beano helps stop gas before it starts, so you can enjoy all the foods you love, without the pain. Just scroll down to the middle of the page for the free sample. To get your Beano sample, click here!

Prima Force samples. These are high-quality, research-proven products to enhance performance, body composition and quality of life. These are great products for those who workout, run or lead very active lifestyles. To get your free sample, click here!

Stop Pain spray sample. This is the most incredible pain relieving spray I have ever tried. Within 30 seconds you feel relief and it lasts quite a while. My husband is never without this product, he has a lot of muscle strain, aches and pains and this is one of the few products that really helps him. I will keep this sample fresh for as long as they offer it, because it is so good and I want you to be able to experience the product for yourself. To get this remarkable pain relief spray and feel relief from your aches and pains, click here!

Create your own stickers free. You can upload any image file from your computer and create a set of stickers that they mail to you for free. These are stickers that you can use to seal letters and holiday cards. They say that they erase the data from their files after printing, so use your discretion as to the pictures you upload. To make your own free stickers, click here!

Taster's Choice samples. This comes around about every few months. If you love the convenience of instant coffee, this is a great freebie for you. Nescafe is one of those instant coffees that I don't mind drinking; it's really good. To get your free samples of Nescafe, click here!

Dine Dome free catfood sample. These have no preservatives and are made from real meat or real fish. To give your cat an indulgent sample all their own, click here!

Johnny's Toys free Pampers. This is only in the Greater Cincinnati area, so if you or someone you know lives there, this is a great deal (any savings on diapers at all, really helps). They will send you a coupon for a free package of Pamper's diapers (14 medium or 10 large). To get your free diapers, click here!

Lemonade Xtend energy samples. This is another good product if you workout and are very active. It gives you the energy you need to maximize your training and comes in 3 flavors: Refreshing Watermelon, Refreshing Grape and Refreshing Lemonade Flavor. To get the Xtend sample to give you the energy you need to workout, click here!

Family Education.com freebies. This is such a cool site for kids and parents. You have rainy day activities, games, printables (everything from coloring pages to math, geography, seasons, health and safety, songs, early learning for preschoolers and so much more. This site has so much to offer, that I can't possibly list it all. To help your children learn and have fun, click here!

Summer fun. Go to Free Attractions.com and see what cool places or attractions that you can visit for free. They have numerous fun outings and places to visit all over the country for free. To find some neat places to go this summer cost free, click here!

Griot's Garage free handbook. This is the ultimate Handbook for the automotive enthusiast. To get your free copy, click here!

Hot Dog on a Stick and Muscle Beach Lemonade & Hot Dogs free hot dog day. Wednesday, 6-13 from 5-8 p.m., All locations will be hosting a free hot dog day. You get one free hot dog on a stick per person. They are not in all areas of the country, so to see if you have one in your area, click here!

Free concerts in Detroit. These free concerts are every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. starting 6-29 and ending 8-10. They have some great artists: Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Asia, 38 Special and more. To get a listing of the artists and dates, click here!

Speaking of Women's Health event at Wal-Mart. On 6-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get a copy of the free book "Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence". They also have free samples and information. This is really cool and you do get a lot of freebies. To get more info on this great event, click here!

Free summer movies for kids. There are several theaters listed (hopefully one in your area) that are showing free movies. To check this out and have some free movies for your kids, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. When I signed up they only had a New York area code available, now they have a few more (which is fine, because with Vonage your area code doesn't have to be in your actual geographical location). You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

Beef Recall

United Food Group, LLC, a Vernon, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli. They have recalled a total of 460,000 pounds of ground beef (this includes the 370,000 pounds that they just added). The ground beef products were produced on April 20 and were shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.

The labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package.

All of the products in the original recall bear a sell by date of "Apr/29/07" or "Apr/30/07", a freeze by date of "Apr/28/07" or "Apr/30/07" or a produced on date of "April 13-07".

All of the products in the expanded recall bear a sell by date of "May/06/07," a freeze by date of "May/07/07" or a produced on date of "April/20/07."

Products subject to recall include:
10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 73/27 fine ground beef."
10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
2-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 93/7 ground beef."
1-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 80/20 ground beef."
1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
5-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
3-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 93/7 ground beef."
2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 96/4 ground beef."
3-pound chubs of "STATER BROS. MARKETS 73/27 ground beef."

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

To view the USDA article, click here!
To view the Meat News article from today, click here!

Ol' Roy Dog Food Recall

Only a single batch of 55-pound bags of Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition dog food is being recalled. The dog food was produced at a plant in Manassas and distributed to 69 Wal-Mart stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio. Forty of the stores are in Virginia.

The company recalled the dog food after the Food and Drug Administration detected the presence of salmonella. People handling the food could potentially be exposed to the bacteria, along with pets that eat the food. The company said no illnesses have been reported.

Affected bags have the code 04 0735 1 and a "best by" date of April 13, 2008.

If you have questions, you can call 1-800-624-7387 or find further info by clicking here!

To view the article click here!

Ol' Roy Dog Food Recall

Only a single batch of 55-pound bags of Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition dog food is being recalled. The dog food was produced at a plant in Manassas and distributed to 69 Wal-Mart stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio. Forty of the stores are in Virginia.

The company recalled the dog food after the Food and Drug Administration detected the presence of salmonella. People handling the food could potentially be exposed to the bacteria, along with pets that eat the food. The company said no illnesses have been reported.

Affected bags have the code 04 0735 1 and a "best by" date of April 13, 2008.

If you have questions, you can call 1-800-624-7387 or find further info by clicking here!

To view the article click here!

More Allergy Tips

Mites and Mattress Pads
Wash your mattress pads weekly in hot water to kill dust mites.

Nasal Sprays
Don't be tempted to treat an allergy with an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray for more than three days. After a few days of use you may get a "rebound" effect, and your nose may become even more congested than before. These drugs are more useful for short-term use to relieve nasal congestion associated with a cold.
The one thing you don't want to do is have your nasal passages drained, because you used the nasal spray for too long and not only became dependant on them to breathe, but also had fluid built up in your nasal passages due to overuse.

No Open Windows
If you're an allergy sufferer, do not ride in a vehicle with the windows down or vents wide open. It will worsen your allergies 200 percent. The same goes for your home. Invest in an air conditioner.

One Room Sanctuary
If central air conditioning isn't an option for you, make your bedroom your sanctuary. Install a window air conditioner, properly care for your bedding and keep the door closed at all times.

Pets, Bedrooms and Allergies
Pet dander is a common allergen, especially cat dander. To ease the suffering that Fido or Fluffy may cause you, keep them from your bedroom at all times and do not let them curl up on the bed linens that are warm from the dryer.

Preventing a More Severe Peanut Allergy Reaction
In one of seven studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers say liquid charcoal, which is often used when people ingest poison to block absorption, can also absorb peanuts.

"After you've eaten the peanut and you have an allergic reaction, you still have peanut in your stomach," explained Dr. Donald Leung, editor of the journal. "And so rather than allow further peanut to be absorbed and have an even more severe reaction ... drinking the charcoal will prevent the further triggering of increased symptoms."

Leung advised that parents of young children with the allergy keep liquid charcoal (available in pharmacies)in the home, in case of accidental ingestion.

Ragweed
Problems with ragweed, the most common weed pollen, usually start in the middle of August and continue until the frost begins. Interestingly, some regions are less affected than others: The West coast does not have any ragweed.

Synthetic Pillows
Dust mites like synthetic pillows as much as down or foam ones, but synthetic pillows have the major advantage of being washable in hot water which kills the mites.

Tree Allergies
Trees that can cause seasonal allergy symptoms include: maple, ash, oak, elm, birch and cedar. When they pollinate depends on the area in which you live.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

Enjoying Summer Fruits

Berries: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries add a wonderful touch to salads, drinks and desserts. Berries make a delicious topping for yogurt, cereal or mixed into smoothies and shakes.

Nectarines: These are relatives of the peach and are smaller, sweeter and smooth-skinned. You can slice them and add them to fruit salads for a delicious touch.

Peaches: There are two types of peaches: cling and freestone. The most common variety in your supermarket is usually freestone. These range in color from pink-blushed white to red-blushed yellow. They have soft flesh that separates easily from the seed (thus the name freestone), making them great for baking. Eat them as a snack or use in pies and cobblers.

Cherries: These can be either sweet or tart. Firm, heart-shaped cherries are sweet and can be eaten as a snack or made into pies and cobblers. Sour cherries are too tart to eat by themselves, but they're great for baking or for jams and preserves.

Plums: They range in color from red to purple to golden and their flavors vary as well. Plums can be slightly tart to really sweet. They are great in fruit salads, for snacks or for jams and jellies.

How to store your fruit

Peaches, plums and nectarines will keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Refrigerate them only when they are ripe, as they will stop ripening once refrigerated. They are at their juiciest when at room temperature; if they are not quite ripe and you want to speed up the process, place them in a paper bag for 1 to 2 days.

Cherries should be shiny, firm and plump. They are very perishable and need to be refrigerated. They will keep for up to 2 days.

Berries are best when firm and brightly colored. Sort them before you store them in the fridge, removing any bruised berries. Wash them when you are ready to use them, moisture hastens decaying. Use fresh raspberries and blackberries as soon as possible.

Christian Quote of the Day

Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation -- speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.

...François Fénelon

RECIPE of the Day - 6/09/2007

Not only does this look really cool when sliced, but it is so delicious. It is very impressive and goes with just about anything, after all, you can't go wrong with chocolate.





Chocolate Fudge Cookie Ice Cream Cake

1/2 C. Fudge Topping for ice cream
1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed and divided
1 (4 serving size) pkg. of instant chocolate pudding
8 chocolate sandwich cookies
12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches

Pour the fudge topping into a medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping with a wire whisk until it's well blended. Add the dry pudding mix and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. The consistency of fudge topping can vary depending on the brand, so if the mixture is too thick, add 1/4 C. cream. Chop the sandwich cookies into chunks and stir into the pudding mixture.

Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches, side by side, on a 24x12 inch piece of foil; top with half of the pudding mixture and repeat the layers. Top the pudding mixture with the remaining 4 ice cream sandwiches. The layers create a really neat striped effect when sliced.

Frost the top and sides with the remaining whipped topping. Bring up the foil sides and double fold top and ends to loosely seal the packet. Freeze at least 4 hours before serving. Let stand at room temperature to soften slightly before serving. Store any leftovers in the freezer.

Makes 12 servings.

FREEBIES of the Day - 6/09/07

Goody's Cool Orange sample from Wal-Mart. Goody's has been providing pain relief for 75 years with their Headache Powders and now they have introduced a new flavor. Goody's Cool Orange is fast-acting and has a new, fresh and cool orange taste that is easy to swallow. To get your free sample of Cool Orange, click here!

Terralina skincare sample. Terralina is a highly moisturizing, luxurious skincare line. They create advanced formulations, extracting the best from nature, while avoiding harsh or potentially harmful ingredients. Their products are also rich in antioxidants to combat the damaging effects of free radicals. They don't tell you which product sample you will get, but they all sound wonderful and should be very nourishing to your skin. To get your free skincare sample, click here!

Stop Pain spray sample. This is the most incredible pain relieving spray I have ever tried. Within 30 seconds you feel relief and it lasts quite a while. My husband is never without this product, he has a lot of muscle strain, aches and pains and this is one of the few products that really helps him. I will keep this sample fresh for as long as they offer it, because it is so good and I want you to be able to experience the product for yourself. To get this remarkable pain relief spray and feel relief from your aches and pains, click here!

Sore No More Natural Pain Relieving Gel sample. This is such a good product and really helps with the aches and pains we get all too often. It has menthol to cool the skin and give a local anesthetic; camphor to condition the skin and also give antiseptic and anesthetic properties; capsaicin to relieve aches and pains by intercepting the pain signals sent to the brain due to inflamed joints; aloe vera extract to condition skin; orange peel extract that has properties of an anti-inflammatory biological additive and so many more natural ingredients. To get this wonderful pain-relieving gel with natural ingredients, click here!

Old Spice Razor. Join their shaving crew and get an Old Spice Razor free, plus other future samples, offers and coupons. To get your free razor and savings, click here!

Playtex Sport Tampon sample pack. This sampler includes 2 regular unscented, 1 super unscented and a coupon for $1.00 off. To get your tampon sampler pack that gives you extra protection, click here!

EastStore 100% Cotton Towel. Create an account with them and they will send you a free 100% cotton towel that you should receive in about 2 weeks. They won't sell your info, so you can feel good about creating the account. To get your free cotton towel, click here!

Hot Dog on a Stick and Muscle Beach Lemonade & Hot Dogs free hot dog day. Wednesday, 6-13 from 5-8 p.m., All locations will be hosting a free hot dog day. You get one free hot dog on a stick per person. They are not in all areas of the country, so to see if you have one in your area, click here!

Free concerts in Detroit. These free concerts are every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. starting 6-29 and ending 8-10. They have some great artists: Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Asia, 38 Special and more. To get a listing of the artists and dates, click here!

Basic Ping Pong Rules poster. This free poster is a cute addition to your game or family room and helps you understand the rules of ping pong. To get your free poster, click here!

Speaking of Women's Health event at Wal-Mart. On 6-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get a copy of the free book "Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence". They also have free samples and information. This is really cool and you do get a lot of freebies. To get more info on this great event, click here!

Free summer movies for kids. There are several theaters listed (hopefully one in your area) that are showing free movies. To check this out and have some free movies for your kids, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

Allergy Tips

This is definitely the time of year for allergies caused by pollens and grasses, but there are so many different allergies. Here are some tips to help you not only cope with, but possibly prevent some of your allergies.

Air Conditioning and Allergies
To help alleviate problems with pollen, molds and dust mites, air condition your house and car and, if possible, add an air cleaner to your central air conditioner.

Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock, the most severe allergic reaction, is most commonly associated with bee or fire ant stings. If welts (hives) erupt following a sting, this is a warning flag to seek prompt medical attention.

Attic Fans
Don't use your attic fan during allergy season. The fan sucks pollen into the house.

Avoid Dyes
Avoid dyes, especially the ones in toilet paper. Use white to wipe.

Bedding and Dust Mites
If dust mites give you trouble, seal your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-resistant plastic covers available at most discount stores.

Carpeting Causes Allergy Problems
Allergy experts recommend you dump the carpeting and use throw rugs instead. Since most people enjoy a carpeted home, try the new allergy care carpet treatments now available.

Cheap Fungicide
Clean humid areas, such as the bathroom and basement, with a fungicide (mold-killer). A cheap and effective one is bleach. Use a solution of 3/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water, let stand 5 minutes and rinse.

Choose Antiperspirants Carefully
Aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate and zirconium chlorohydrate in antiperspirants often cause dermatitis, especially after shaving. Try to choose antiperspirants that contain the anti-irritants allantoinate, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, or triethanolamine.

Cold Compresses for Allergy Relief
Are your allergy eyes giving you fits? Try a cold compress for 15-20 minutes. Wet a washcloth with cold water and place over your eyes.

Common Allergens and Allergy Symptoms
A listing of common allergens: pollen, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, feathers, foods, medications, and insect stings.

Common allergy symptoms: watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a constant runny nose.

Common Pollens
The most common pollens causing allergies include: tree pollens (April - May), grasses (June - July) and ragweed (August - October).

Dandruff and Shampoo Dyes
Dandruff sufferers may be allergic to the dyes in the shampoo they use. Even dandruff remedy shampoos often contain dyes.

Decongestants and Blood Pressure
If you are hypertensive, over-the-counter decongestants are a big no-no. Decongestants raise blood pressure and can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Dehumidifier and Allergies
Keep the humidity in your home below 45%. To measure the humidity level, buy an inexpensive hygrometer available at many discount stores.

Driving and Antihistamines
Antihistamines often cause drowsiness and should not be taken if driving or operating machinery.

Drug Treatment for Allergies
The over-the-counter antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) works well for allergy treatment and has few drug interactions. Be sure to read the label for proper dosage, side effects, etc. and check with your doctor if you have any questions.

Face Masks
Wear a face mask when doing chores that are most likely to expose you to allergens like vacuuming and gardening. You can buy face masks at a hardware store.

Fall Allergies
Even though fall temperatures are mild, keep windows closed and use air conditioning to reduce allergy problems. Air conditioning filters out pollen and keeps humidity low, which keeps indoor mold down.

Hay Fever vs. Sinusitis
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is caused by allergies and is often characterized by a runny nose, sneezing and congestion, and itchy eyes, nose, throat and inner ears.

Non-allergic rhinitis (sinusitis) is characterized by a swollen, inflamed nasal lining and a stuffy nose. It may be triggered by irritants such as smoke, changes in barometric pressure or temperature, or overuse of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays.

Hidden Sources of Peanuts
Hidden peanut sources may include: Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut.

Mandelonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.

Arachis oil is peanut oil.

It is advised that peanut-allergic patients avoid chocolate candies unless they are absolutely certain there is no risk of cross-contact during manufacturing procedures.

African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts, or are contaminated with peanuts during preparation of these types of meals. Additionally, foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts. It is recommended that peanut-allergic individuals avoid these types of foods and restaurants.

Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

Laundry Allergies
If you have severe allergies to laundry products, try using baking soda to wash your clothing and linens.

Sherri's Poetry

Perfect Peace

Heavenly Father, majestic Lord;

Perfect peace we receive from Thy word.

Fill our hearts with Thy heavenly love;

Let our spirits soar like a pure white dove.

We love Thee, Lord, as we walk in Thy spirit.

Thy will you give us if we will only heed it.

Thy perfect direction, Thou guideth us in,

So that we are not directed in the path of sin.

Love is abundant with our Holy Lord.

Our past is long ago, we are only to look forward.

We thank Thee for Thy love and everlasting peace.

Our devotion to Thee shall ever strongly increase.

Politically Correct Cat Definitions

The cat does not barf hairballs; he is a floor/rug redecorator.

The cat does not break things; she helps gravity do its job.

The cat does not fear dogs; they are merely sprint practice tools.

The cat does not gobble; she eats with alacrity.

The cat does not scratch; he is a furniture/rug/skin ventilator.

The cat does not yowl; he is singing off-key.

The cat is not a "shedding machine;" she is a hair relocation stylist.

The cat is not a "treat-seeking missile;" she enjoys the proximity of food.

The cat is not a bed hog; he is a mattress appreciator.

The cat is not a chatterbox; she is advising me on what to do next.

The cat is not a dope addict; she is catnip appreciative.

The cat is not a lap fungus; he is bed selective.

The cat is not a pest; she is attention deprived.

The cat is not a ruthless hunter; she is a wildlife control expert.

The cat is not evil; she is badness enhanced.

The cat is not fat; he is mass enhanced.

The cat is not lazy; he is motivationally challenged.

The cat is not underfoot; she is shepherding me to the next destination, the food dish.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

An Organized Kitchen

An Organized Kitchen for the Entertaining Cook

If you’re a cook who enjoys performing before an audience, all the kitchen’s a stage. Your goal? To create an illusion of effortlessness that belies a tightly organized support system behind the scenes.

The Strategies

Set a mood. Use glass-front cabinets to showcase what you love most, whether it’s your best china or an antique-pitcher or ceramic-cow collection.

Keep party gear handy. Create a place for platters and trays — with dividers to maintain order — so you don’t have to hunt for them. Give candles, place mats, and other table toppers a dedicated drawer. Use an index-card box to store recipes, past menus, friends’ food preferences, or wine labels. (Soak a bottle to remove the label, let it dry, paste it onto an index card, and jot down tasting notes.)

Set up a beverage station. A beverage trolley strategically parked out of the way keeps guests from gathering in the hot zone. If they don’t take the hint, slide a tray of appetizers between the tonic and the limes.

The Tools and Tactics

Folding table. A drinks table lets guests help themselves while the cook arranges appetizers.

Glass-front cabinets. Use these like vitrines in a china shop to display your favorite dishware or treasures you want to share.

Bowls of fruit. Clear counters as much as possible, then set out glossy apples and pears or fresh citrus in your prettiest bowls.

Recipe box. Jot notes about dinners past on index cards and keep them in a nice, retro, nondigital recipe box.

Tray Dividers in Chrome. With clips and screws to fix them in place, they are perfect.

Spring-Loaded Dividers. For drawers at least four inches deep.

Lacquer nesting boxes. These come in vibrant colors and add drama.

60-minute kitchen timer. A timer can be useful for pacing the evening. For example, when it rings, it’s time to warm the rolls.

Christian Quote of the Day

When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out.

...St. John Chrysostom

RECIPE of the Day - 6/08/2007

This has the most wonderful lemon flavor. It is just tangy enough, just sweet enough and very refreshing. This is the perfect frozen treat for those really hot days.


Lemonade Pie

1/3 C. Lemonade flavored drink mix (with sugar)
1/2 C. cold water
2 C. vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (8 oz.) tub whipped topping, thawed
1 graham cracker pie crust

Place drink mix in large bowl. Add water; stir until mix is dissolved. Add ice cream and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Freeze until mixture is thick enough to mound. Spoon into crust.

Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight until firm. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving. Let stand at room temperature until pie can be easily cut into. Store leftover pie in the freezer.

Makes 8 servings.

Note: You can use 1 1/2 C. of crushed shortbread cookies mixed with 1/3 C. melted butter and 3 T. sugar, mixed and pressed into an 8" pie plate to use as the crust instead of a graham cracker crust. Both are delicious.

FREEBIES of the Day - 6/08/07

Schick Intuition Plus razor. They are sponsoring a giveaway and you simply check the "I want to receive a sample" box after you fill in your info. This is the perfect opportunity to use your free voice mail number. The Intuition Plus razor is really a great one for women. You don't have as much irritation and nicks, plus you get a very close shave. To get your free razor and maybe even win something in the process, click here!

Stayfree Dry Max sample. They say that this is the driest ultra thin pad (and we all know that thinner and drier is definitely better) and Stayfree is a great brand. To get your free drier, thinner pad, click here!

Chamonix skin care samples. They have all-natural skin care products and they will send you a samples package and catalog. To get samples of all-natural skin care, click here!

Wrapped-n-Wonder free candy sample. Join their mailing list (left hand side of page under yellow bow) and receive a free sample (candy included) and 5% off your first order (if you like what you see). To get your free candy sample, click here!

Creme of Nature hair products sample. This is from Vibe Vixen and they will be updating their site to offer this freebie rather than the Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Color. If you haven't ordered the nail polish freebie, this is your chance and then check back to get the Creme of Nature Freebie as listed in the June/July 2007 issue of Vibe Vixen. To get one or both freebies, click here!

Remifemin or Remifemin Good Night 20 day samples. These are safe and natural alternatives for relief of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and irritability. The Good Night formula has a proprietary herbal restful Sleep Blend to help you fall asleep and stay asleep (Good Night sample is for 7 days). To get your free natural sample for menopausal symptoms, click here!

Health & Wellness Magazine. You get a free issue of their magazine, plus a free pedometer. If you do not wish to receive other magazines, mark your bill "cancel", you can still keep the pedometer. To get your free issue and pedometer, click here!

Kozy Shack free recipe cards. They will send you a free deck of "Who Knew What Pudding Could Do?" recipe cards that have a lot of great recipes. This is the offer on the right-hand side of the page. If you're turning 40 between 6-7-07 and 6-6-08, you could receive a 1 year subscription to More magazine (they require a copy of an ID verifying your date of birth and I don't really like sending my driver's license, passport or birth certificate info out on something like that - but that's just me). To get your free recipe cards from Kozy Shack, click here!

Muralo Paint for free. Print out a coupon to take to your local Muralo dealer and get a free quart of any Muralo product. They have quality paints in quite a few varieties, so if you want to get free, quality paint, click here!

Blue Note Records free CD sampler. Free music is always great; there are so many styles and artists out there. To get your free CD sampler of handcrafted music, click here!

Speaking of Women's Health event at Wal-Mart. On 6-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get a copy of the free book "Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence". They also have free samples and information. This is really cool and you do get a lot of freebies. To get more info on this great event, click here!

Free summer movies for kids. There are several theaters listed (hopefully one in your area) that are showing free movies. To check this out and have some free movies for your kids, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

Sherri's Helpful Hints

An Organized Kitchen

Organized Kitchen for the Come-On-In Cook

Some cooks want to be alone. You prefer to share conversation — and KP — with a friend, a mate, your kids. For you, the goal is to arrange things so that two (or five) can work as efficiently as one.

The Strategies

Make things easy for helpers to find. To keep the conversation going without interruptions in the form of “Where do you keep your (fill in the blank)?” bring things into the open with a wall-mounted utensil rack and clear storage bins. Group tools by function — for example, knives, cheese cutters, and egg slicers are “things that cut.”

Create parallel work stations.When one cook has to keep stepping in front of another to retrieve this and search for that. Set up separate work areas with equal access to commonly used tools and ingredients. Trash is fine under the sink, unless someone is standing there. An enclosed bin with a wide foot pedal can be moved about easily to serve cooks on both sides of an island or a counter.

Make the room kid-friendly. If you’re a come-on-in cook with kids, create a zone where they’ll feel welcome to help or just visit. For safety, move cleaning products and knives to adults-only heights. Stock up on kitchen tools made for kids and plastic bowls that won’t break if dropped. Don’t forget chairs for them— and some folding ones for grown-up visitors.

Add music. Remember how Motown turned dishwashing into an after party in The Big Chill? With an MP3-friendly music player, you can write your own dinner-prep sound track.

The Tools and Tactics

Magnetic Knife Bar. Use a magnetic strip to keep frequently used utensils, like the vegetable peeler and the can opener, in sight.

Lazy Susan. A large lazy Susan placed between work stations makes the wooden spoons and the olive oil just a spin away from a cook on either side.

Large Bin Box. Clear bins keep similar items (spices, baking supplies) together and easy to locate. Square containers let you pack more onto a shelf than round.

Play table and kiddie chairs. Give your little sous-chefs a place to help hull strawberries by creating a kids' area.

Semiround Step Wastebasket). Tucks flat against a counter.

Nesting bowls. In kid-friendly plastic - bright colors work great.

Dual cutting boards. Twin cutting boards let you chop the onions on your side of the island while your friend preps the apples on hers.

Christian Quote of the Day

We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another.

...William Law

RECIPE of the Day - 6/07/2007

This is one of my favorite pasta salads. It has wonderful ingredients that blend together perfectly to give your taste buds a real treat.




Greek Style Pasta Salad

3 C. bow-tie pasta, uncooked
2 C. baby spinach leaves
1 c. feta cheese, crumbled
1 C. grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 C. canned garbanzo beans, rinsed
1/2 C. sliced greek olives
1/2 C. olive oil vinaigrette dressing

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Place in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix lightly.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.

FREEBIES of the Day - 6/07/07

Sonic Drive-In free root beer float. This offer is good today from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. It will more than likely be crowded, but their floats are really good. To see what other yummy treats they have to offer, click here!

Slim Jim sample from Wal-Mart. These have been around for as long as I can remember and I have always loved them. To get your free sample of this tasty snack, click here!

Eucerine Redness Relief system sample. Just answer 3 questions and they send you the sample of the entire redness relief system which includes: Soothing Cleanser, Daily Perfecting Lotion with SPF 15, Redness Reducing Concealer and Soothing Night Creme. This is a skin care system that provides immediate redness relief and improves the condition of visibly red skin in 4 weeks. This is safe for sensitive skin and appropriate for Rosacea. It is fragrance-free, oil-free, non-irritating and non-comedogenic. To get this kit to soothe your skin, click here!

NouriFusion sample. They have Herbal Aloe Skin Cream, Herbal Aloe Gel and NouriFusion MultiVitamin Skin Care. They don't tell you which sample you will receive, but all of them sound really good. To get your free sample of NouriFusion, click here!

Speaking of Women's Health event at Wal-Mart. On 6-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can get a copy of the free book "Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence". They also have free samples and information. This is really cool and you do get a lot of freebies. To get more info on this great event, click here!

My Healthy Info.com samples. You have a few to choose from (even an e-book) and all you have to do is fill out a short survey. There is Stress Relief Complex, Shaklee Basics, Total Control and more. To get your free samples from My Healthy Info.com, click here!

Today's Creative Home Arts free issue and decorative candle set. Discover unique projects, decorating tips, entertaining ideas and much more. Packed with step-by-step instructions, tips and techniques to help you turn your home into a haven. If you do not wish to receive any other issues of their magazine, just return the bill marked "cancel" and you can keep the candle set. To get your free issue and candle set, click here!

Free summer movies for kids. There are several theaters listed (hopefully one in your area) that are showing free movies. To check this out and have some free movies for your kids, click here!

Stump Your Family free game. This is a nice game for the entire family and teaches kids how to be responsible. It is located in the clean home journal under crafts and decorations. Just download and print it out, it's that easy. To get your free family-oriented game, click here!

Billy Graham's book "Peace with God". This book was written in 1953 and has become a Christian classic. To get your free book by Billy Graham, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. When I signed up they only had a New York area code available, now they have a few more (which is fine, because with Vonage your area code doesn't have to be in your actual geographical location). You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

Basic House Rules for Dogs

If you have to throw up, get into a chair, QUICKLY! If you can't manage that in time, get to an Oriental rug. If no Oriental rug is available, any good rug will do.

ALWAYS accompany guests to the bathroom. It's not necessary to do anything; just sit and stare.

Do not allow closed doors in ANY room. To get a door opened, stand on your hind legs and hammer with your forepaws.

When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on, picked up and consoled with food.

Once a door is opened, it's not necessary to use it. After you've ordered an outside door opened, stand halfway in and halfway out and think about several things. It's particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, and mosquito season.

Begin people training early. You'll then have a smooth-running household. Humans need to know the basic rules. They can be taught if you start early and are consistent.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

An Organized Kitchen

Organized Kitchen for the Sunday Cook

When you’re too busy on most nights to cook, one weekend session — making dinners in bulk and freezing portions for weekdays — reduces daily stress. Your kitchen setup should facilitate that.

The Strategies

Keep essentials front and center. In this case, “essentials” means stackable storage containers, large plastic mixing bowls, and other tools of the bulk cook’s trade. Items left on the counter won’t be in the way during your noncooking weekdays and will be ready to go when Sunday comes. And when you’re spending hours in the kitchen, an apron with pockets is especially useful to keep things handy (and you tidy).

Invest in equipment. Where others might station the toaster, the Sunday cook has a food sealer — just the thing for turning blanched green beans, fish fillets, and muffins into future instant meals. A scale is useful for weighing ingredients, which some cooks consider a faster and more reliable way to measure for bulk recipes. A calculator speeds the doubling and tripling of recipes. (Tip: Keep it spatter-free with a little plastic wrap.)

Organize the freezer.Doing this once will repay you in time and money: no more scrounging for lima beans and coming up with freezer-burned chicken. Make designated sections (prepared meals, vegetables, desserts). Use dividers, baskets, or multilayer ice caddies to keep containers neat and accessible. Same-size holders take up less space overall. And be sure to label everything.

The Tools and Tactics

Melamine Bowls. Those big ceramic bowls are great to look at but tough on arms busy with big jobs. Go for plastic instead.

5-Speed Blender. Sunday cooks need a blender big enough to prepare tomato soup for the whole week or pesto for the winter.

Collapsible three-cup containers .Collapsible freezer- and microwave-friendly containers take up little space when not in use.

Erasable labels. Won’t come off in the freezer, microwave, or dishwasher.

Freezer storage baskets .Plastic-coated metal bins, one deep, one shallow.

FoodSaver Bagging Device. Attractive enough to keep on the counter. Bagging material can be cut to size.