Trista's Barn: Great Time To Join Thirty-One Gifts!

Trista's Barn: Great Time To Join Thirty-One Gifts!

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts: See the New Spring Thirty-One Catalog!

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts: See the New Spring Thirty-One Catalog!

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts: February Customer Special

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts: February Customer Special

Thirty-One

Thirty-One

Thirty-One Gifts

Now is a great time to join Thirty-One Gifts! 

The kit is awesome and the new catalog starts February 1st!

Click Here to see what you get for only $99! WOW!

If you have any questions, please contact me or if you are ready to become a part of 

Thirty-One Gifts, Click Here and then click on Join My Team

and you will be walked through the process!

I have been so blessed by becoming a Thirty-One Consultant 

and I would love to help you do the same!

Saturday

I am updating my website. Easy to do but, a little time consuming. Don't forget about the sale on the Thermal Zipper Tote and the Cinch-It-Up Thermal Tote. The sale lasts until January 31st. You can order these and any other items you want by clicking on this link... http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E1325473&from=DIRECTLINK

This will be the last chance to order from the 
Fall/Winter Catalog!

Got lots to do, Enjoy your day and the weekend!

Thirty-One Gifts February Customer Special

For every $31 you spend, get 31% off any 

item in the new Catalog during the

month of February!

http://www.mythirtyone.com/trista

Trista's Thirty-One Haven

Trista's Thirty-One Haven

Mary Kay Inc.: Makeup, skin care, beauty tips, virtual makeover

Mary Kay Inc.: Makeup, skin care, beauty tips, virtual makeover

Trista's Barn

Trista's Barn

PayBox

PayBox

PayBox

PayBox

Thirty-One

Thirty-One

Join Me!

Advertise Your Blog!

Very affordable advertising...only $10.00 a year or advertise your giveaway...only $2.99 a month.
TCH WAHMs!

Save With Avon

Shop Avon and Save! Visit my website!
For Specials and Free Shipping Deals send me your email address.

Blog

Get your website seen and known!

Click Here to get your blog out there!

WAHM Design Services

The most up to date version of WordPress is used for  blog services. Installation of your blog is absolutely free with any hosting account you purchase. You can buy your own domain or get a FREE sub-domain (you.atwahmblogs.com).

Our blogs come with 10 pre-installed custom designed Themes. You can add any blog theme you find as well. The option to buy other pre-made themes is available and a custom design is also available for ONLY $30!

We also install several plug-ins to get you started. Included is an WYSIWYG editor, Contact Us, All in One SEO and more! Plug-ins can be added by you at anytime.

With 4 packages to choose from you control your blog hosting! Choose the Preemie Package for only $1.99/month and upgrade only if you have to!

Click Here to see for yourself!

Sha @ WAHM Design Services is very reasonable!

- MomTraffic Forum - View Profile: trista5

- MomTraffic Forum - View Profile: trista5

PeopleString

Get Auto Insurance Basics

  Looking for car insurance should not cause stress. There are many reasons to shop around for the best car insurance. You need to know the basics of what coverage that you need.
  There are tons of car insurance companies out there and finding the right one is a must. It should start with a company that will help you, be honest and give you any information that you need.
  Do not let the thought of getting car insurance overwhelm you. Take your time and get what is best for you. You should be happy with your insurance company and have one less worry.

Auto Insurance Rates and Quotes

Crazy Dog T-shirt Review and Giveaway !!!

Crazy Dog T-shirts have T's for everyone, men, women, children, and of course dogs! They have a wide variety of shirts to choose from, some categories include funny T-shirts, Funny T-shirts, 80's T-shirts, novelty T's, vintage T's etc.

Enter a giveaway for a Crazy Dog T-Shirt @
http://captaincoupon.blogspot.com/2010/04/crazy-dog-t-shirt-giveaway.html#comment-form

Newsletter

Take a look at my Thirty-One Gifts newsletter.

Be the woman you want to be! Here at Thirty-One we are all about Celebrating, Encouraging and Rewarding Women. I encourage you to browse through this my customer newsletter to learn how YOU can create fun family time. Also you will find out how you can earn FREE Thirty-One products and how you can realize your DREAMS.

Click Here to see my Newsletter and subscribe if you would like!

Winner

Laura is the winner of the Avon Big Deal Spring Giveaway. Congrats!

Thirty-One Gifts

If you are interested in earning extra money, I invite you to check out the Thirty-One Gifts opportunity!

This is what you get in your kit, plus lots of business materials...

~Large Utility Tote~$29.50
~Boardwalk Bag~$39.50
~Pleated Top Beach Tote~ $42
~About Town Blanket~$39.50
 ~Key Fob~$5.00
~Coin Purse~$10.00
~Infant Bib~$12.50
~Fabric Swatches~$5.00
~Zipper Pouch~$12.00
~Thermal Tote~$14.00
~Snap Skirt Purse~$42.00
Above is a list of the bags, purses, etc. that you get in your kit, plus many business supplies.
The amount shown is the retail price of each item...and you get it all for $99.00!!!!

The Thirty-One Gifts Kit is amazing and it is only $99.00! Yes, $99.00 gets you started and you wouldn't believe how much you get for $99.00. You have to check it out. This is the best kit that I have ever received for the price. I was truly amazed by what all I received in my kit! It is awesome! You get everything in the above picture plus lots of business supplies...catalogs, invitations, advertising materials and lots more! The purses you receive are worth way more than $99.00 alone. Go to my website and learn about Thirty-One Gifts and what you can get for $99.00 to start your own Thirty-One business.

Visit...

www.mythirtyone.com/trista

Avon Footworks

My next Giveaway is going to be Avon Footworks...a Favorite!

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts

Trista's Thirty-One Gifts

The Ultimate Blog Party 2010

I would love  the US18 – Goodie Basket for Mom, includes health and beauty items for mom and kids. $5 gift card to Wal-Mart, Softlips Pomegranate Lip Balm, Moments for Mothers, Thoughtful Reflections to Warm Her Heart book by Robert Strand, 20 Sheets of Glossy Photo Paper, EcoTools earth-friendly beauty Intensive Hand Cream, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Workout DVD, Peaceful Waters Relaxation DVD, Tantric Toning Workout DVD with Stephanie de Phillipo, Magnetic Babysitter Checklist, The Flavor Point Diet book by Dr. David L. Katz, Photo Album that holds 80 photos and a Beautiful decorative Wood Chip Basket. Estimated retail value of prize $50.


Go on over and get in on the party!

Giveaway Linky(Add Your Giveaway)

Best Bargain Shopping Tip for the Online Auction Shopper

By: JLGroh
Why deprive yourself of that lovely black cashmere top you’ve needed to go with those new pants you bought last month or that Nintendo Wii game you wanted but didn’t think you could afford, maybe some car stereo equipment?  You work hard and you deserve to spoil yourself but maybe you can’t afford to just run out to your favorite boutique or your local shopping mall and splurge when ever you want well if you are a fellow eBay shopper like me, have I got a tip for you today!
I just so happen to be one of those compulsive shoppers like a character in a Sophie Kinsella novel.  Whether I need what’s got me all hot or not, whether or not I can afford it this week or even month, it does not matter, if I must have it, then I must have it.
Since the wonderful world of eBay, I have been in a shopper’s paradise!  With anything and everything you could ever think of to want or need how is a shopper to complain?  There are great deals to be had on online auction shopping.  Shopping eBay is like a yard sale, flea market and swap meet in the comfort of my own home where you can shop day and night, weekends and holidays.
Being the avid shopper that I am and always looking for a better bargain, I am a bit disappointed in myself that I have been missing out on even more bargains through eBay.  How could I have NOT known that http://www.auctionoops.com even existed?  I am doing some of my best bargain shopping ever!  No, I am not kidding, this website is truly a Bargain shoppers delight!  Whether you are male or female, this is the site that will connect you to over 150 popular brand named items like Abercrombie, Anne Klein, Armani, Craftsman, Dewalt, Hewlett Packard, Kitchen Aide, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nike, Olympus, Sony, Tommy Hilfiger and Westinghouse.
What Auction Oops does is research misspelled auction items, eBay typos and dedicates their website to these items.  Because these eBay items are not spelled correctly, you fellow eBayers are not being connected to these items in an average search, so if you are bidding on these misspelled items, you can usually pick them up for quite a steal compared to items that everyone else on eBay is seeing and placing bids on.  Auction Oops does all the hard work for you and you get the reward!  Now that is my kind of bargain shopping!
So start using Auction Oops today to search for listings that were accidentally misspelled when posted and gain an advantage over the other hundreds of thousands of eBay shoppers.  Auction Oops gives you the option to do a custom search for your query item or you can simply search by brand names or product types, or try all three and see what terrific bargains you come up with and enjoy.

About the Author
J. L. Groh is a freelance writer/editor from Brewer, Maine
(ArticlesBase SC #256548)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Best Bargain Shopping Tip for the Online Auction Shopper

What The Heck Wednesday

Or should I say Thursday...anyway...I went outside yesterday and What the heck?...there is this big pile of dog poop right on my sidewalk. My only dog is in a nice pen and can't get out on her own so I know it wasn't from her. I look around and all my pots that I was going to plant flowers in are all over the yard, things are out of place and I have no idea what happened...my only guess is that maybe Cujo gave us a visit and decided to tear up my yard and leave his mark???? What The Heck!

Giveaway!

Avon...The Big Deal


Greet Spring with Smooth Hands, Soft Lips and Bath Time Fun!

Included in the Giveaway:

4 Spring Hand Creams
Each, 1.5 fl. oz.
Vita Moist
Silicone Glove
Soft and Sensual

4 Avon Kid's Bath Time Body Paints
Each, 1.7 fl. oz.
Coconut Custard
Cotton Candy
Candy Apple Bubblegum

8 Spring Candy Lip Balms
Each, .15 oz. net wt.
Sugared Berry
Luscious Lollipop
Sliced Coconut
Chocolate Truffle

To Be Entered In The Giveaway:

~Visit www.youravon.com/tristarobertson and name a product that you like in a comment
(you are not required to make a purchase to enter this giveaway)

Bonus entries (separate comment for each entry):

Follow Me by Google Friend Connect (1 entry)

Follow me on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/tristaibo (1 entry)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to me and leave a link to your post (3 entries)

Grab my button and post on your blog (2 entries)

Subscribe to My Thrifty Barn (3 entries)

Rules:

Giveaway ends on 4/16/10 at 5:00 PM EST

Please leave your email address in each of your comments.

I will announce the winner here at My Thrifty Barn and will email you if you are the winner.

If you are the winner, please contact me within 48 hrs. or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen at random.

Thanks!

Winner

Captain Coupon is the winner of the Avon Giveaway...Congratulations! Thanks to all of you!

Create Your Splash Page

Click Here to create your Splash Page online!

Guide To Switching Car Insurance Companies

By: Jaime Petersen


There are many reasons why you may choose to change your auto insurance coverage to another company. Perhaps you've found another company that offers you the same amount of coverage for considerably less money. You might have changed jobs and are eligible for a group discount through another insurer, or maybe you're unhappy with the service that your present company provides. With the growth of the internet and quote comparison sites, investigating your options has never been easier!

Why change to a new Auto insurance carrier?

You need to regularly review your auto insurance coverage to make sure that you are receiving the best insurance value for your money. You will discover that it pays to shop around. In some states, premiums for identical policies vary widely among different auto insurance companies. The reasons for this price variation can be very complicated, but they boil down to a company's claims experience with policyholders in a coverage group (e.g. people of similar age, number of accidents, type of vehicle). For example, if a large number of people in a coverage group files claims during a given year, their rates will likely rise. When this happens, better discounts and lower overall premiums may be available at other insurance companies. When you decide to switch your auto insurance to another company, you'll find that it's fairly easy to do so.

How to cancel your old Auto Insurance policy

Generally, all you need to do to cancel your auto insurance policy is to inform your insurance company in writing, specifying the date you want the policy canceled. In some states, the new agent must notify the previous agent of the policy change. Some auto insurance companies ask the policyholder send back the actual printed policy. The insurance company will send a cancellation request form that will need to be signed and returned. Examine the form carefully to make sure that all information regarding the policy is correct. If the form is not received within two weeks of sending the letter, call the agent or company immediately to check on the status of the cancellation. Don't just walk away from the old policy without formally canceling it. Each state requires that auto Insurance policies be cancelled with notice, thus the insurance company might assume one wished to continue the coverage, and it might eventually terminate the policy for failure to pay premiums and report the lack of coverage to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. This can hurt your credit rating and ability to get a new policy.

Be sure to get a new Auto Insurance policy first

Always have a new policy in place before canceling the old auto insurance coverage. Otherwise you might have a gap in protection for a day or more! Most states require all drivers to carry a minimum level of auto insurance and most insurance companies require policyholders to present proof of new coverage before they will cancel an active policy. The new company will be able to time the beginning of the new policy to coincide with the cancellation of the prior coverage.

When to Change Auto Insurance policies

At Renewal

Renewal is a convenient time to change auto insurance policies, as you don't have to wait for a refund from your current carrier. A renewal notice will be sent to you approximately 30 days before a new policy begins, depending on the regulations in your state. Should you decide to switch companies, you'll need to have a new policy by the time the current policy renews. Though a company might say there is 10-30 days to get your payment in before a policy terminates, you do not have coverage until the carrier receives the payment. If you have an accident during this time period you most likely will have no coverage since the premium wasn't paid!

Anytime:

All Auto insurance policies contain a provision allowing you to cancel your policy with proper notice at any time. In a few states auto insurance companies "short rate" the policy that means one pays a penalty for canceling before the policy renews. Most insurance companies pro-rate their policies so there is no penalty. The advantage of switching before the renewal date can save you a lot of money. For example if you have a policy that runs from Jan 15th to Aug 15th and you have an accident or ticket that will be over 36 months on March 15th. By switching Auto insurance companies on March 16th, you get a discount for having a clean driving record. Your current carrier won't apply this discount until the policy renews on August 15th! This can save you Hundreds of dollars immediately!

How long does it take to change Auto insurance?

When you change auto insurance companies, the new agent or insurer can generally change carriers while you wait! Generally they'll just need a copy of your current declaration page, driver's license and down payment to get the policy issued.

So why not get started today and Get Free Auto Insurance Quotes from Top Companies?


About the Author



Learn about seedless tomatoes and growing tomatoes indoors at the Types Of Tomatoes site.

(ArticlesBase SC #1945609)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Guide To Switching Car Insurance Companies

Achieve Anything In Just One Year Review and Giveaway

This is a really amazing book. It is designed to be read daily over the course of a year. Each day there is a short passage to read and some days there are little assignments. Each day has a quote that goes with each days' reading. We all know that habits can not be broken or learned in one day. The same is true with bettering yourself. It will not happen overnight or even in a week. It takes time and developing healthier habits to reach that goal. That is why I like this book. It is broken down into a single page that you read daily. So you can't use the excuse of I don't have the time, because anyone can fit this into their day. This book is well written and easy to read. It teaches you how to live your dreams. This is a really good book no matter where you are in life. 

Comprehensive and inspiring, Achieve Anything In Just One Year will teach you how to:

• Feel happier everyday!!!
• Overcome procrastination.
• Set goals and stick with them.
• Stay motivated, focused and balanced.
• Find out what you really want from life.
• Take daily action that creates a ripple effect.
• Define, pursue and celebrate personal success.

You will learn how to make small daily choices that will transform your life, find your personal inspiration and rediscover your motivation. This will propel you out of an unfulfilling existence and into the happy, fulfilling life you deserve.

You can find out more about this book athttp://achieveanythinginjustoneyear.com/

Win It:

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Achieve Anything In Just One Year by Jason Harvey.

Enter Here:

Click Here to Enter!

Skysa.com

Check out Skysa.com to get your free apps and menu bar like the one at the bottom of my blog. The announcement that was on my blog when you got here is through skysa. You make your own announcements, polls, etc. It is really neat. I love all that you can do to enhance and update your blog and all the features. Check it out:) If you have any questions about anything and how to use it, let me know.

LOOK!

Book Review: Danny The Dragon "Meets Jimmy"

 Tina Turbin's book Danny The Dragon "Meets Jimmy" was loved by all in my home. My daughter loved reading the book and reading along with the DVD, which features sign language for the hearing impaired. You can also read along with a CD. This book is a great addition to any home and is kid friendly all the way.Danny and his friend and navigator, Skipper meet Jimmy and his family when Jimmy finds a sea shell that talks to him. Jimmy's family does not hear the sea shell talk. Jimmy takes the sea shell home with him and something amazing happens. Danny is a magical character that kids will love. The illustrations are very eye-catching and make the story so real. There are lessons to be learned by children in the book.

 I highly recommend Danny The Dragon "Meets Jimmy" and look forward to more in the series which, after reading the book, you will know that there is more to come.

 Danny The Dragon Kids Contests!

Tina Turbin (http://TinaTurbin.com) is an award-winning children's published author, writer, researcher, humanitarian, cook and mother of three. Working for many years with children in the Entertainment Business, she has always been an advocate for children, families, celiac and gluten issues (http://GlutenFreeHelp.info). As a member and contributing writer for such distinguished organizations as the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and numerous other publications, her indispensable advice on topics such as family, children, gluten issues and celiac disease has proven invaluable to many. You can listen to Tina as a guest on a variety of weekly radio shows.  She is proud to work closely with the Celiac Disease Centerat Columbia University Medical Center in raising awareness for celiac research, and is a friend to many through her delightfulDanny the Dragon children’s series (http://DannyTheDragon.com) – including libraries, schools, families and hospitals.  She is a member of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME). You may contact Tina at info@TinaTurbin.com.

*I was sent a packet for review from the author. No other compensation was given.

Groceries again

Went to the grocery store today. It is unreal how the price of groceries is going up. There were things that I bought two weeks ago that had went up. I am a thrifty shopper, but there are some things that are a must, one of them being Jif Peanut Butter. My mom always bought Jif and that is literally the only kind of Peanut Butter that I will eat and it too has gone up, but I guess that I will still be buying it even if it is $20 a jar...gotta have my Jif. Just wanted to vent a little and hope that grocery prices will not keep going up.

If You Were A Skirt Purse...

Join in on the fun!

Leave your answer in a comment.

Why be a Frugal Shopper?

By: Kate Tilmouth


Everyone is feeling the pinch these days with everything rising in price almost weekly. Whether it is the cost of fuel, the rising cost of the weekly food shop or the increasing mortgage repayments, it is something that will affect all of us at some point. We can’t however stop these increases from happening and for most of us it is impossible to ask for a pay rise to help us cover these extra costs, so what can we do?

Being a frugal shopper could be the answer but to be able to do it successfully you have to ask your self why you want to change your spending habits in the first place. Having a clear goal in mind will help to make sure that your spending stays within your new frugal budget plan. A few of the most common goals and reasons for becoming a frugal shopper are:

To reduce existing debt.
To prevent debt from building up in the first place.
To be able to save for the future i.e. retirement, a new home or even a holiday.
To be less wasteful in general.

Many of us may think that frugal shopping is not for us, as we already spend our money wisely. To double check that this is actually true, ask yourself these few questions:

Do you like to buy all the latest gadgets but never seem to have any spare cash for basic home maintenance?

You eat takeaways several times a week and often complain about how much your weekly food spending is, blaming it on the supermarkets rather than yourself.

You have some debts but can’t resist buying expensive label clothes

Do you complain about the clutter in your home but just can’t resist buying things for it all the time?

If you recognise any of the descriptions above in yourself, you may just have to reconsider and perhaps a little frugal shopping could be for you after all.

To be a good frugal shopper you will have to have a completely different way of thinking about what is good and what is not. For many, buying cheap means buying inferior. This is simply not true and by changing your opinion of so called generic cheap goods verses brand names, will allow you to shop frugally much easier.

There are six main rules to successful frugal shopping and if you stick to these golden rules you will soon notice a difference in your regular spending amounts.

Credit cards should only be carried with you when you plan to make a specific large purchase. By keeping them at home during normal spending trips you will not be tempted by impulse buys. Similarly, know what you want to buy before you go shopping and only carry enough cash for that purpose.

Give yourself time to make a decision about a purchase. For instance if something catches your eye and you are tempted to buy it, don’t, instead tell yourself that you will think about it over night first. It is amazing just how many things loss their appeal over night.

Collect and use coupons whenever possible. Coupons are available everywhere from newspapers and magazines to downloadable ones online. However be sure to only collect coupons for things that you need, you won’t save money if you use coupons to buy things that you wouldn’t normally use.

Bulk buying can be a great saver if you have enough storage space and you know you will be able to use the goods in time. Those three for two items look great but if the product will be stale before you get around to eating or using it, you will be wasting money.

Check out your local second-hand shops and garage sales when you can. Again don’t buy for the sake of it but seek out items that you can either use yourself or give as little gifts. Children’s toys and clothes can often be found at a fraction of the cost and when you consider how quickly they get bored with or grow out of such items, it really isn’t worth spending a fortune on them.

Lastly, shop around a little. You will soon get to know where shops are that are cheaper on certain items than others. It may mean a little extra legwork but can save you plenty of money in the long run.

With these few simple rules under your belt, frugal shopping becomes, not only easy, but can also be quite fun, after all there’s nothing like finding a bargain.



About the Author



Kate and her partner co-write http://www.frugal-living-tips.com a site all about living simply and frugally in the modern world. Their second site http://www.our-happy-cat.com  is a cat friendly site full of cat health and cat care advice.

(ArticlesBase SC #468590)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Why be a Frugal Shopper?

Tips for Thrifty Grocery Shopping

Tips for Thrifty Grocery Shopping

How To Grow Tomatoes In Your Vegetable Garden

By: Dave Truman


For many people, growing big juicy tomatoes is part of what makes vegetable gardening so enjoyable. Whether purchasing plants from your local nursery or starting tomatoes from seed, there are a few basic steps to follow to ensure that you harvest an abundant crop at the end of the growing season. There are many different varieties of tomatoes to choose from, depending on whether you will be cooking, canning, slicing, or eating miniature or grape-like varieties right off the vine. Sweet 100ís are very abundant, and are good for salads as well as eating fresh from the garden. Roma tomatoes are good for making salsa, because the peels are not as tough as others so you donít need to peel the skins off. Romas are also known as the classic paste and sauce tomato. There are Early Girls, Early Boys, Big Boys, Big Mamas, Sweet Baby Girls, Beefsteaks, French Rose hybrids, Big Rainbow, specialty tomatoes and many more. So start by choosing the kind of tomato you would like to grow.

Planting Tomatoes from Seeds

Tomatoes grown from seed will require six to eight weeks before they can be planted in the garden. Purchase individual containers or flats, starter soil or mixture, and the seeds of your choice. Fill each container with soil, pressing it tightly to remove air and to avoid settling problems after watering. Typically, seed companies print instructions for planting right on the tomato seed package. Each variety is a little different so follow instructions carefully. Prepare a label identifying the type of tomato and the date started. You can make your own from Popsicle sticks or purchase them at the store or garden center.

Insert your label in the pot and mist with water. Place containers in a sunny window and keep seeds moist by placing a plastic bag over them. Small greenhouse containers are also available at your local nursery. Watch for seeds to germinate and remove plastic when plants emerge. Wean out weaker looking seedlings to give strong ones more room to grow. Keep moist by misting or watering tomatoes when needed. When plants have a second pair of leaves it is time to transplant these seedlings to your garden or a large pot in which they are to grow.

It is a good idea to harden off or acclimatize a plant to outdoor conditions before planting by setting it out in direct sun during the day and bringing it in at night. After a few days, the tomato plant will have adapted to the new surroundings and can be transplanted in the desired location. Place plants directly outdoors after the threat of frost in a shady location, out of the wind and protected from heavy rains.

Purchasing Started Plants

If you prefer to purchase plants from your garden center or greenhouse, select dark green plants that are stocky in size and that do not have any fruit. The fruit will stunt the plant growth and the total yield will be reduced. Tomatoes are one of the few plants that will tolerate being planted deeper than they sit in the pot. So a taller plant can be placed a little deeper if preferred. As mentioned, harden off the plant before moving it to a final location.

Preparing Garden Soil For Tomato Plants
The soil should be deep, loamy, and well-drained for the best harvest. Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. The term pH balance refers to acidity or the alkalinity of your soil from a numerical scale of 1.0 to 14.0. The neutral point on the pH scale is 7.0. Higher than 6.5 indicates alkaline soil, lower than that indicates acidic soil.

Test kits are available at garden centers or through local horticultural organizations. To raise the soilís pH, work agriculture lime into the soil. Use sulfur to lower the pH of alkaline soil. Using fertilizers and compost amendments will also change the soilís pH over time. Adding decomposed organic compost will improve any soil structure. You can purchase or make your own compost. Once you have cultivated your garden area and prepared the soil, it is ready for the plantings.

Planting The Tomatoes

Inspect all of the transplants, looking for insects, wilting or blight. Plant only healthy plants. Tomatoes prefer full sun, so choose an area with at least six to eight hours of sun per day. Practice crop rotation in your vegetable gardening by planting tomatoes and other vegetables in a different spot every year. Tomatoes prefer to be planted by chives, parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, garlic bulbs, and carrots. Avoid planting tomatoes by potatoes or members of the cabbage family.

For large healthy tomatoes, give them plenty of room to grow. Space plants twenty-four inches between rows and leave twenty-four inches between plants. With your shovel or spade, make holes slightly larger than the plants. Tap gently on the bottom of the individual container, loosening the soil and gently removing from the pot. Tomatoes are susceptible to cutworms, but placing a 3-4 inch nail next to each stem before planting or wrapping strips of newspaper around the bottom of the stems will help prevent these pests. A paper cup surrounding the stem also works well.

Place tomato plant in hole and back fill with soil until it is well compacted. Place a rack or cage around each individual plant to help support future growth. Water around the base of the plant, avoiding the foliage. Do not over water or soak the seedlings as this can promote disease and rot. Water early in the day to discourage blight.

Using a rake, spread organic mulch, such as weed-free straw, over plants at least two inches deep. These is an effective way to prevent weeds, preserve water and keep the soil warm, thus reducing the maintenance required for vegetable gardening. Fertilize the plants throughout the growing season with compost or organic matter. Water when needed and inspect leaves periodically for the signs of tomato blight and insects. If blight is discovered, remove any infected leaves and destroy them. Treat plant with a fungicide. Be sure to remove all debris from your garden in the fall, as blight can survive on the dried tomatoes over the winter.

Most tomatoes take 100-days to bear fruit, so follow these easy directions and get ready to harvest the fruits of your labors and enjoy that first BLT of the season.

Items Needed For Growing Tomatoes:

- Tomato seeds or plants
- Containers or flats
- A small greenhouse kit or plastic bags
- Starter soil or mixture
- Marking pen
- Popsicle sticks or labels
- Rake
- Spade and shovel
- Water, sun, adequate soil and patience


About the Author


Dave Truman offers helpful advice about vegetable gardening on the Vegetable Gardeners website. For more helpful tips and to receive your free guides to composting, mulching and pest control, visit http://www.vegetablegardeners.com

(ArticlesBase SC #93363)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - How To Grow Tomatoes In Your Vegetable Garden

Some Great Ideas For Spring Cleanin

By: Cletus Richards


With warmer months just around the corner, spring cleaning isn't far away. Whether you want to clear some of the winter clutter or just feel like a change in scenery, spring cleaning can make it happen. Now is the perfect time to clean out the garage, basement and/or attic. If there are any items that you don't plan to use, this article will tell you how to get rid of them while making money doing it. As we all know, this can take a lot of work but a few simple tips can make your spring cleaning experience a breeze.

Tip 1:
If you are storing away your winter clothes, consider using large plastic storage containers that feature snap-on lids. These can be found in the house wares department at most stores and are very inexpensive. Storage containers are very important to keeping your clothes dust and discoloration free, which may otherwise be a problem if they are left hanging in the closet from one season to the next.

Tip 2:
When packing your clothes, roll them instead of folding. This not only eliminates creases and wrinkles, but also saves a lot of space. You will be able to pack a lot more clothes with this technique.

Tip 3:
Label your clothing containers as 'spring,' 'fall' and 'winter.' This will help you to easily locate your wardrobe inside the closet.

Tip 3:
If you have any clothing that you don't plan to wear or simply have outgrown, consider donating them to a local goodwill or other nonprofit organization. Rather than tossing them out, your clothes can provide revenue for a worthy cause and help the less-fortunate to be able to afford clothing that would otherwise be unattainable.

Tip 4:
If you are looking to clear out some knick knacks or perhaps even some Holiday decorations in order to make room for new ones, consider a trip to the local flea market. Everyone is looking for a bargain and they just may be looking for something that you no longer wish to own. A setup fee is usually required which, depending on the location, can be $10.00 to 20.00 per day. Otherwise, you can always sell items at internet auction sites, including Yahoo and eBay.

Tip 5:
With all of the changes that you're making, it may be time to switch to a lightweight vacuum. This will save from lugging around a heavier model and will glide across the floor with ease. There's no use in completely wearing yourself out during spring cleaning, so try to make it as easy as possible.


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Some Great Ideas For Spring Cleaning

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My Blog Award

 

Sandra@bargains4wahms  has awarded me the Prolific Blogger Award. Thank you so much for thinking of me for this award Sandra!

A Prolific Blogger is one who is intellectually productive… keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.

1. Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!

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Link To Me widget for blogger

This is a nice little widget which can find its place in your blog’s sidebar.You might want to let your readers link back to you in an easy way.We will now make a new Link To Me Widget which will display the code needed for a reader to link back to your blog.We will also provide a Add link using Blogger Button.
This button will work like a widget installer,which makes it easier for your readers to add your link.They can link back to you easily by adding your link to me widget.

How to make the Link to me Widget?

1.First of all Make a Small Logo of your blog,which can easily fit into any blog sidebars.It should be small and pretty :P
2.Now upload this image somewhere.[You can use blogger to upload the logo if you want or you can opt for some service like tinypic.com]
3.Now note the url of this uploaded image
4.Ok now you Copy the following  Code into a Text File

<p>If you like this blog,then link back to me.<br/>
This is what you will see.p>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a style="border:0px;text-decoration:none;" href="Your_Blog_URL" title="Your_Blog_Title">
<img alt="Your_Blog_Title" style="border: 0px;" src="Url_of_a_Small_logo_of_your_blog"/>
a>
div>
<textarea rows="3" cols="30">
<a href="Your_Blog_URL" title="Your_Blog_Title" style="text-decoration:none;border:0;">
<img src="Url_of_a_Small_logo_of_your_blog" alt="Your_Blog_Title" style="border:0" />
</a>
textarea><br/>
<br/>

Optionally use this Widget installer to add this link to your blogger blog.

<form action="http://beta.blogger.com/add-widget" method="post" target="_blank">
<input style="display: none;" value="My Favourite Site" name="widget.title"/>
<textarea style="display: none;" name="widget.content">
<a href="Your_Blog_URL" title="Your_Blog_Title" style="text-decoration:none;border:0;">
<img src="Url_of_a_Small_logo_of_your_blog" alt="Your_Blog_Title" style="border:0" />
</a>
textarea>
<br/>
<input style="border:0px;" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/add/add2blogger_lg.gif" value="Link To Your_Blog_Title" name="go" type="image"/>
form>

5.In this code replace all occurrences of Your_Blog_Title with the Title of your blog
6.Replace all occurrences of Your_Blog_URL with the url of your blog.
7.Replace all occurrences of Url_of_a_Small_logo_of_your_blog with the url of the logo that you uploaded.
8.Now your code is Ready!!
9.Copy out the modified code from your text editor.
10.Now Goto Blogger > Layout page
11.Choose to add a gadget and Opt for HTML/Javascript
12.In that widget paste the modified Code and Save.

Now you should have a link to me widget on your blog.If you want to test the Add Link With Blogger Button,Then try adding the widget to your blog itself.[You can remove it after testing!]
With Slight Modifications to the code,you can change this to a text link instead of an image link.

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Some tips and ideas for having a successful yard sale

   We are right upon yard sale season. Yard sales are for everyone. I love yard sales to find things that are unique and that you can't find in stores anymore. The saying someone else's trash is your treasure is absolutely true. I have gotten some of the neatest things at yard sales. I don't have many yard sales myself, although I am having one this weekend. I have been getting ready for it for quite a while. Having a yard sale can be a lot of work. Well, getting ready for it involves the most work.
   Pricing everything is a must. If you have bulk items such as books, you should label them with a large sheet of paper. I would go .25 for 1 or 5 for $1.00. This way people feel like they are getting a deal. Pricing things will keep people from asking you "How much for this?" That can get annoying after a while, but if the items aren't priced no one will know the price...they have to ask. Pricing items can be time consuming, but it will help. You can't overprice items. People come to yard sales to get stuff cheap. If you have items that you want to get a decent price for, maybe you could try selling them in a consignment shop. If you are trying to get rid of stuff and do not want to pack it back up, let it go cheap and maybe towards the end of the day, you can even mark the prices down.
   Another must is advertising. If you live in an area where you don't get a lot of traffic, I recommend running an ad in your local paper about your yard sale. You can put up flyers and as always word of mouth works. Let your friends, family and co workers know about your yard sale and ask them to spread the word. You will also want to put up signs near your home directing people to your yard sale. Before doing this make sure your area allows you to put up signs. Most areas do not allow you to post signs to poles or stop signs. You can check. You also want to make sure the signs are pointing people in the right direction. Make sure you take the signs down as soon as your yard sale is over.
   Check your county ordinance and see if you are allowed to have yard sales, how many a year and if there are any stipulations.Some areas only allow you to have a certain number of yard sales a year, which brings me to my next point. It's probanly not good to have a yard sale every weekend anyway. People will get tired of coming to the same yard sales. I would have maybe two a month or maybe even one. It's up to you, but again, check your county ordinance.
   Make sure that you have ample parking. If you don't, maybe you could ask a friend who does if you could have your yard sale there. You want to make sure that parked cars will not onterfere with traffic and that you will not get the law called on you for blocking streets.
   If you have dogs, try to keep them up during your yard sale. Some people are scared of the smallest dog or they may be allergic. You don't want anything to deter customers. This will also be safe for your pet as there will be a lot of cars going and coming and you do not want your pet getting hit.
   If you are having your yard sale on a hot day, offer people water or maybe you could have a cooler of canned drinks on ice to sell. You want everyone to hang around long enough to browse everything and having water or drinks may help there.
   Make sure that you do not put out anything that you really do not want to sell. I have been to yard sales and picked up something and the seller would say "Oh, I have put that out here by accident." That is not good. Also, check pockets and boxes for receipts, cash, etc. before putting out. You may have credit card receipts in an old shoe box or money in a pocket that you didn't know was there. You would end up selling a pair of jeans for $1.00 and the buyer getting home and finding a $20.00 bill in the pocket.
   Make sure you have change. Quarters and singles are a must. You will also want to have some fives and tens. Price your items at an amount that will be easy to make change...$1.00 or .50 for example, not $1.20 or .40. If you need one, have a calculator on hand. Make sure you keep your money with you in a fanny pack or a carpenters apron. Make sure you add up the items that the buyer is buying and when they give you the money, keep their bill visible until you give them their change, that way they and you will know that the transaction is correct.
   If you have children, let them help. If they have toys that you know they need to get rid of and you are having a hard time convincing them, let them know that they can sell these toys, make some money and have room for some new toys.
   If you have neighbors you could see if they want to sell at your yard salew and make it a multi-family yard sale. That way you could slit any advertising costs and get the word out to even more people.
   I find it helpful to keep all of the same or alike items together...all toys together, all kids clothes together, etc. That way people will see eveything that are interested in at one time. I have even been to yard sales where the seller color codes clothes, much like some Goodwills do. This makes it easier for someone looking for a certain color of something.
   As I said, a yard sale will take some work, but to have a successful one you have to be willing to do it right. Don't just throw stuff on the ground and expect people to buy it. Make it look nice. Don't put out dirty stuff and stuff with cobwebs all over it. At least wipe your stuff off a little. Most buyers understand that yard sale items are not going to look perfect, but they will buy something that looks decent before they will buy something that is dirty. You can also have a box marked free if you have broken things that can be used for parts or something that you know you may not get money for. If you have larger items, put them near the road so that passersby that didn't know about the yard sale will see them and maybe stop. If you have toys or anything that requires batteries, have batteries on hand to show people that the items do work before they buy them. Most people want to know that an item will work before they buy it.
   This is in no way everything that you can do to get ready for a yard sale or to have a successful one, but it is a few pointers to get you started. Good luck with those yard sales and HAPPY SELLING!
 

Today

Monday again. The weeks just fly by. Going with hubby to Doctor today and then to get some groceries. Then home to clean and start on my taxes(about time). I have got a full day. I hope that today is as warm as yesterday. It was such a beautiful day. I had my windows open. It really gets me in the mood for Spring. I will be back later when I have more time. I hope that everyone has a great day!

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Mommy Blogging Forum

Join my Mommy Blogging Forum to meet other moms, talk about blogging, discuss your business and blog, etc! Forum is brand new. I am still working on it and will continue to do so. I would love to have you. Great way to promote your blogs, businesses and websites! Invite others to join!
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How to have your siggy added to every blog post

Save your siggy to Photobucket or other photo hosting site.
1.In your blog, go to layout then edit html.
2.Check the expand widget template.
3.Click Ctrl f and paste the code below.

4. Under it paste code blow and change the IMAGE URL section to the url address of your signature.

5.Preview it first before saving to avoid error.
6.If this is right, save template!

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