Articles written by Victoria Neely - Page 2

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About me - Victoria Neely

Victoria was only seven years old when she wrote her first story about a brown unicorn named Brown. Stories about cows and rabbits followed. Years later, she put aside her pencil and began a career as a retail serf in a department store, where she learned

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Food & Drink > Sauce, Spread & Dip Recipes Recipes: Enchilada sauce: 1 of 2
Most people reach for a can of sauce when they decide to make enchiladas. It's easy, it's safe, and it's what most enchilada recipes call for. And really, a can or two of Old El Paso enchilada sauce mixed up with a dry packet of enchilada sauce mix is pretty dang good. However, it's not the most frugal option. Plus, there re... More..
Food & Drink > Baking Baking powder versus baking soda: 1 of 1
I get baking powder and baking soda mixed up all the time; I always have to read a quick baking recipe extra close to make sure I don't make that mistake. While substituting one for the other won't make your cookies explode, it can make a huge difference in the quality and taste of your baked goods. But really, what IS the d... More..
Hobbies & Games > Crafts (Other) Polymer clay safety: 1 of 1
Since polymer clay is non-toxic, you don't have to fret too much about safety issues. Although it's a very new art medium compared to, say, oil painting, polymer clay has been around for decades and has been thoroughly tested by the Arts & Crafts Materials Institute. The standards polymer clay has to meet are set not just by... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Non-toxic slug control for your garden: 10 of 18
The humble garden slug is a ravenous curse to gardens everywhere. Gardeners know well the damage a slug can unleash. Hiding from the sun under rocks and mulch by day, the slug emerges at nightfall to slime their way over to their next meal. What's the best way to get rid of these gooey pests? One thing you can do is make you... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Getting over writer's block: 89 of 137
Just about every writer suffers from writer's block from time to time. It's easy enough to spin ideas in your head and dream up all the wonderful things you'll write about, but getting them down on paper (or the computer screen) is another matter. It's like everything dries up as soon as you try to commit your ideas to writi... More..
Personal Finance > Spending & Saving (Other) How to save money by getting rid of the television: 5 of 7
The television is an expensive toy indeed. We're not just talking about the cost of a snazzy 50" plasma screen or the monthly cable bill here, although those are obvious expenses. There are hidden costs as well: The time we lose and the opportunities we miss. While none of this means you shouldn't own a TV, there are a lot o... More..
Travel > United States Best attractions in Galveston, TX: 5 of 7
There's a lot to see and do on Galveston, Texas. There are many museums, parks, and other attractions that are worth experiencing at least once. But in truth, there are two things I most look forward to seeing when I visit Galveston: The Strand and the Seawall. The Strand, also known as Avenue B, is lined with shops full of ... More..
Food & Drink > Bread & Baking Recipes Recipes: Biscuits: 19 of 25
"Biscuit" is one of those funny words that evoke different images depending on where you live in the world. To folks who live in the UK, a biscuit is a small, hard bread that we Americans would call a "cookie" or "cracker". Here in the USA, our idea of a biscuit is a small, soft, savory bread not unlike a British scone. Amer... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing & Rating at Helium Criteria for rating articles on Helium: 24 of 30
I want to change the title of this topic to "MY criteria for rating articles on Helium", because that's what it's all about: We each have our own set of rules for how we rate articles. Many of the rules are the same. Some of us have different pet peeves. Some rules are given more weight than others. However, I think it's a g... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Credit Why you should shred your mail and documents: 6 of 7
Did you know that you have no right to privacy when it comes to your trash? In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court (California v. Greenwood) decided that anything you throw out for trash pickup is fair game for any snoop who comes along. "Dumpster diving" is a common tactic of identity thieves, which is why you're much safer if you... More..