Clean Your House in Half the Time

By: GranMamma

When cleaning your house, the first thing you need to do is to find a
supply and tool apron. (gardening apron works well) The apron should
contain several large, deep pockets. In these pockets, you will keep
your cleaning supplies .... (glass cleaner, vacuum nozzles, bathroom
supplies, etc.). This little known secret can cut your cleaning time in
half.

Wear microfiber cloths at all times (they are the best dusting
tool for all surfaces.) This way, you have your dusting tool handy at
all times.

Work your way around a room. Start at the top with your high dusting and proceed to your low dusting.

Buy filters for your home that minimize dust.

When you begin your cleaning routine, move clock-wise around the
room. Moving in one direction as you dust and clean glass is the
fastest way to clean a room.

After dusting, it's time to vacuum any cloth furniture and then
proceed to the carpets. To save time, clean every floor in your house
at the same time. If you vacuum one room at a time, dirt and dust can
easily be carried from the dirty floor to the clean floor.

To finish, mop the bare floors and allow them to dry thoroughly.

The bathroom is often one of the most dreaded chores. However,
you can turn it into a manageable task by taking five minutes twice a
week to spin through with a paper towel and pine sol.

Concentrate. This is often hard to do because housework can get
very boring. However, if you focus on what you're doing, you'll finish
faster. Put on some music for a little extra motivation!

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box
- Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings.
Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore
names, and many names from the literary classics. Be sure to say hi to
GranMamma!

Fun and Creative Dating Ideas to Spice Up Your Marriage

By: GranMamma

One
of the best benefits of marriage is that you have a permanent dating
partner. Don't let the fun end after the honeymoon. Here are some ideas
for fun dates.

1. Spend an afternoon at the opera. These
aren't as expensive as you might think. Check out a local college for
possible discounts on campus performances. If you go, be sure to check
out the plot of the story beforehand.

2.Sample a variety of cafe's.Instead
of just staying at one restaurant, have dinner at one place and dessert
at another. Try to find places within walking distance, this way you
can enjoy the scenery.

3.Head to the zoo. The zoo can be
quite a fascinating place. Check out everything from pengiuns to
gorillas. If you're more of an aquatic fan, check out your nearest
aquarium.

4.Up for peanuts! A summer ball game is always fun, whether it's major league or little league.

5.Hit the outdoors. Pack a lunch and head to the nearest trails or even learn to kayak.

6.Check out the museums.

Whatever your interests, you're sure to find a museum that matches your
tastes. The next time you're out on a dinner date. Stop in at a museum
before-hand.

7.Picnics are always a pleasure. Pack a lunch and a blanket and head to your nearest park.

Are you more of an adventurous type? Check out some of these ideas.

* Design a card board box car and order your favorite meals at a fast food restaurant.

*
Get together with friends and make your own movie. You could also film
a scavenger hunt. These are a blast to film and to watch.

Are you a married couple looking for some cheap dating ideas? You could:

- Sketch your dream-house floor plan and talk about the possibilities of each room.

- Attend an art festival.

- Walk in the rain.

- Build a fire, turn out the lights and talk for hours.

- Go swimming in the middle of the night.

- Build a snowman together.

- Take a bike ride.

- Have a candlelight picnic in the backyard.

- Share a milkshake with two straws.

- Go to a coffee shop.

- Raid the kids room and fly a kite.

Hope these ideas help to put a little quirky fun into your marriage.

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box
- Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings.
Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore
names, and many names from the literary classics. Be sure to say hi to
GranMamma!

Fun and Frugal Gardening!

by: Cyndi Roberts



Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or
just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a
little money!

1. Stale coffee and coffee grounds make great organic fertilizer. They
provide many trace minerals and low, gentle levels of nitrogen, potassium
and phosphorous.



2. Remember that a good soaking of water less often is better than a light
sprinkling every day -- for veggies and for your lawn.




3. If your neighbor has a plant you particularly like, ask for a cutting,
instead of going to the nursery and buying one. Maybe you could trade a
cutting from one of your own plants.



4. To easily water a tomato plant, bury a bottomless coffee can next to
the plant and pour the water into the can. This allows the water to go
straight to the roots.




5. Plant marigolds in your vegetable garden. They will attract insects
that eat aphids and other pests.




6. My husband bought some used carpet at a garage sale, cut it into wide
strips and laid it down between the rows in our garden. Now we can pick
peas with getting our shoes muddy.



7. Use grass clippings as mulch around your vegetable plants to keep
moisture in and weeds out. Just don't use the clippings right after you
have fertilized your grass or treated for weed control.




8. If you have access to them, pine needles make excellent mulch.



9. A natural, frugal garden pest spray: mix 1 tablespoon of liquid
dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil. Use 3 tablespoons of this
mixture to 1 quart of water and spray on plants.




10. In the herb garden, to keep plants like mint from taking over too big
an area, put it in a clay pot and simply plant the whole pot!



"He who plants a garden, plants happiness."




About The Author




Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly
newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com
to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to
the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery
Bill".

editor@cynroberts.com