Articles written by Helen Garda

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Pets & Animals > Animal Rescue & Adoption What you should know before adopting a puppy: 3 of 25
Before adopting your new family member, double check that everyone involved is up to the challenge. Puppies need more care and maintenance than most people would think; but once you have one, you will begin realize just how much work they are. Be sure to research the different breeds and their unique qualities. Here are some ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Holiday Crafts Creative do-it-yourself Christmas gift ideas: 4 of 31
Christmas gifts are expensive, but many people don't realize how expensive the wrapping supplies are. Having to purchase wrapping paper, tape, bows, and all the other trimmings of a present can be very costly. One idea to help keep extra costs down is to create your own wrapping paper. It's cheap, easy, and can be made into a... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Literature Book reviews: The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown: 5 of 23
History and background aside, the Da Vinci Code was a fun book.The main characters in the book are pretty well written, although Brown relies on their back stories to fill the readers in as to who they really are instead of building them slowly. Some begin as little bits and pieces we pick up while a character is remembering ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) On finding: First edition books: 1 of 4
First edition hardcover books can be very valuable. Browse your local used bookstore, or a rare book store to see which first edition authors are displayed. Classic authors such as Ernest Hemingway and C.S. Lewis are always great finds.To figure out if one of your old books is a valuable first edition, check out one of the fi... More..
Relationships & Family > Successful Dating How to avoid matchmaking disasters: 3 of 11
Emma!This entire subject has been written about by Jane Austen in her classic novel Emma. Really, match-making is no fun for anyone. If you're being set up, you feel as though you have an obligation to the person doing the organizing to like the person you're being set up with. Friends don't let friends make their matches. If... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Steps to take before purchasing a home: 1 of 3
Here are several steps to consider taking before you purchase a new home:-Create a budget. Find out how much money you need monthly for necessities. Then figure in what you will need once you are paying utilities.-Research neighborhoods. After visiting different areas, decide which neighborhood you would like to being viewing... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literary Themes & Ideas The book is usually better than the movie: 21 of 60
Very rarely can a full length movie truly capture all the excitement and information that an original book has to offer. Since the usual length of the movie is about two hours, it's almost impossible for a great book to be really depicted well. Therefore, the book is almost always better.When I see a new movie coming out that... More..
Personal Finance > Banking Basics Problems with automatic bill payments: 3 of 8
Automatic bill deductions from any account may be convenient, but there are many problems inherent with the system.-Sometimes it's hard to keep track of the exact day that the money will be withdrawn from your account to pay the bill, as billing dates may fluctuate due to holidays and changing pay periods. Bank transfers may ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) Guide to the Claw Machine: How to stop wasting quarters and finally grab a prize: 1 of 2
Everyone has tried the Claw Machine game. You insert a quarter or two, you move the claw, and you try and pick up a stuffed animal, ball, toy, or other small trinket. It takes some skill, some patience, a little planning, and maybe a couple of friends to master this game. Here are some tips and tricks:Identify which machine y... More..
Arts & Humanities > Literature (Other) The practical side of books: How to keep them from getting eaten by bugs: 1 of 2
Over the years, books can be damaged by any number of things: water and mold, mice, insects, etc. They also must stand up to the every day wear-and-tear of being read and replaced on a shelf.To protect your books, possibly to use them as a future investment, keep them stored in a cool and dry place. Keeping them stored on a b... More..