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Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs My true garden story: 7 of 287

My True Garden Story Our backyard has always been a relaxing sanctuary for us, perfect for sunning in a chair, spending time with friends and family, or just sitting and reading a book. We have a nice brick patio with a gazebo, picnic set, and swing. A second smaller patio outside the back door holds a hot tub for relaxing a...
Food & Drink > Cookware & Cutlery How to season a wok: 1 of 7

A well seasoned wok is similar to a well seasoned cast iron pan. Over time, it develops a glossy black coating, or patina, that's practically non-stick and perfect for healthy and delicious stir-fries. A well seasoned wok doesn't need a lot of oil for cooking because food doesn't stick to it. Start by really scrubbing a new ...
Pets & Animals > Cat Care & Health Cat food reviews: Hill's Science Diet: 1 of 5

I used to feed Hill's Science Diet cat food to my two kitties, Cassie and Garth. After all, the breeder where I got them fed Science Diet, and I wanted to continue with a food that they were used to eating and seemed to enjoy. Then, we had the major pet food recall of 2007, and Science Diet canned cat food was on the recall ...
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Budget basics: How to set up a sensible budget: 5 of 22

So many of us these days are faced with too many bills to pay, and not enough money to pay them. In order to solve this problem and gain better control of your financial life, you need to have a budget. There's nothing mysterious or complicated about setting up a sensible budget. You can use a computer program or spreadsheet...
Food & Drink > Coffee How coffee is grown and processed: 10 of 30

Did you know that of all the beverages consumed each day, coffee is one that is enjoyed by people in every country in the world? In fact, in terms of trade, coffee follows closely behind oil in dollars traded each year. All coffee is grown in countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, two ima...
Personal Finance > Mutual Funds Guide to index funds: 1 of 3

Index funds are mutual funds that try to duplicate the performance of a particular index such as the Dow 30 Industrials or the S&P 500 for stocks, or the Lehman-Brothers Aggregate Bond Index for bond index funds. They do this by buying and holding all of the stocks (or bonds) that make up the selected index in the same perce...
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Holidays & Celebrations How to observe Ash Wednesday: 3 of 8

Ash Wednesday is a holy day observed by Christians all over the world. It marks the beginning of Lent, the period of prayers, penance and self reflection leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The most visible sign of Ash Wednesday is the cross of black ash marked on the forehead. These ashes are made from the burnt pa...
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Top 10 tips for financially struggling students: 8 of 19

Attending a college or university IS expensive. But you already knew that. What you may or may not know is that there are many ways to help with the expense. Here are a few tips: 1. Seek out any and all sources of no-cost financial aid. Scholarships are not only for incoming freshmen; you should keep applying for financial a...
Food & Drink > Pasta, Grains & Rice How to make pizza dough: 13 of 29

Almost everyone LOVES pizza, and homemade pizza is not only delicious, but fun and easy to make. If you have children, they can help you to knead and shape the dough. You can even make small individual pizzas instead of larger ones, and everyone can enjoy "decorating" and eating their own personal pizza. Ingredients for basi...
Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) The origins of Mardi Gras: 3 of 5

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday. It is, in fact, the last day of a period known as "Carnival", a multi-week pre-Lenten celebration filled with parades, pageants, parties, and of course, lots of good food and drink. Carnival begins on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, and ends a...