Tackle It Tuesday: Buying College Books! Cost an arm and a leg!

My Tackle is not getting homeschool books together this year...it is getting College books together.

Boy, are they expensive.

But I have to do it, so I have decided to share some the resources I have come across.

First of all....................DON'T walk into the college bookstore and buy all new books from them...this is where you will pay top dollar. So unless you are made of money...DON'T!

• Buy used at the bookstore: This is the most commonly suggested method, but for good reason. You can save a lot of money just by foregoing that new book smell. Your college book store will sell used copies of the required books, but be warned that these are usually the first copies to sell out. So you might want to get there early to ensure you don't miss out and can pick up the copies in the best condition.

• Buy used from other students: Check out postings around campus or school-run websites for used books. A lot of students prefer selling their used books this way instead of going through the store, and you can often get a better deal than at the bookstore.

• Buy online: If you have access to your book lists ahead of time, you can also save a bundle online. Amazon.com was my site of choice, but there are a number of sites that specialize in textbooks.

Some places online to check are:

1. cheapbook
2. dealoz.com
3. chegg.com
4. amazon.com
5. addall.com
6. GreenTextbooks.com

• Buy at a "normal' bookstore: Many class books, especially those that aren't textbooks, can be found at bookstores like Borders or Barnes & Noble. These stores have rewards programs and frequent coupon deals that can garner some unexpected savings.
  

• Don't buy the books at all: Instead of buying the books, just use the copies at your school library. It's not ideal, but you can get by if you really have to. Most colleges have course reserve lists at the library that contain the class books with a restriction on the check-out duration. While the reserve restricts your time with the book, it also ensures that it's there when anyone in the class needs it. If you've ordered your books online, this is also a good way to bridge the gap between class starting and the delivery of your books.

• Share: I've also known some people to share copies of the book with classmates or friends. It's not the most convenient, so choose your partners well. If you're able to make it work, it's another great way to save.

• Read the syllabus: A lot of times, teachers will add suggested reading to their book lists, but these won't actually be used in the course. Your best bet is to only buy the books for which there are assignments on the syllabus. You can always get the suggested reading books at the library. Since syllabi are often distributed on the first day of classes, you have two options: you can wait to buy books after the first class, or you can buy ahead of time and keep the receipt to return the unnecessary books. This is my favorite tactic because it allows me to buy early and get the deals on used books without committing myself to extra books. Just be aware of your store's return policy- you don't want to buy so early that the return period ends before classes even start.

I do recommend you get the books...And since I have 2 students to buy for I have alot of searching to do.

Here is a great resource/download to help you as well:
>> Download the Cheap College Textbook eBook here!

Best Bargin Hunting

Please share with us any other resources, websites etc you may have!

Hate Carpet Cleaning ? NO MORE-I Have A Secret Weapon

Dirty Carpets....notice the clean spot in the center of the circle....Oh so sad.....Yuck!

When you walk through your home and your socks are gray on the bottom...It usually means that its that time again.....What time your ask?

There is one chore I hate more than anything else to do....Clean My Carpets! Thats my Tackle!

But let me tell you what "Works for me" on this tackle............

First problem..........

What do you use to clean carpets.
Rent a Carpet Machine....Get the WIDE one for sure.

Okay, now what cleaning solution?

I decided to use a degreaser to spray on the high traffic area. I remembered a degreaser that I had used years earlier on tough cleaning projects, so I thought maybe I'd get some to spray on the high traffic areas. I remembered that I got it at Lowes and so off to Lowes to rent a machine and get the degreaser.
When I got there I read the label on the degreaser and it says.....For use in Carpet Cleaners........That was me!
The Product Krud Kutter.......This stuff is awesome! So I bought a gallon.



Dirty Water after the first shampoo with Krud Kutter. Yuck Again.
This stuff really cut the dirt.....


Next Problem....have you ever noticed that when you clean your carpet......it looks great but in just a few months it is dirty again.....its crazy.

The reason.....Soap residue left on your carpet....Sticky soap residue.....ATTRACTS DIRT!

Solution......Rinse with White Vinegar and Hot Water in the Carpet Cleaning Machine.
Cuts the soapy residue and leaves your carpet squeaky clean!

Leaving your carpet that stays cleaner longer.

The white vinegar also deodorizes you carpet leaving your whole house smelling really great.

So here is what I do....I actually clean the carpet with the krud kutter 2 times.. then I rinse with the vinegar and water the 3rd time i go over each carpet.....Believe me you'll be glad you did.


If you are not a believer......do a test. Clean on carpet the regular method and clean one carpet with my method.

Let me know what you think when 1 month goes by...

Now you have my tackle and what works for me......






Carpet, After it had a cleaning......my method.....Looks great!

To Learn more about Krud Kutter...Visit the Website here.


Blessings

Tackle It Tuesday-Getting College Applications Filled Out!

I have a daughter that is a Senior in High School. We are in a frenzy getting applications and stuff filled out. It seems never ending.

There is so much to it. One thing is for sure...if you don't fill out the forms and go the extra mile you will not get any financial aid or scholarships.

I spoke to one mom recently whose daughter has been in college for 3 years and didn't know that there was forms to fill out to get financial aid.

The first thing all college students should do is go to fafsa.ed.gov and fill out this form and submit it. You will have to have finished your filing your taxes for the year and use those forms to help you. You need to do this as soon as you can after Jan 1 of every year you are in school. You have to refile every year.

You also need to decide which schools you are interested in and find out what their deadline for applications are to be elligible for different scholarships. They are earlier that I realized and we missed some of them.

Be sure to apply to all colleges that you are possibly interested in...you may be surprised who gives you the most money.

This is our tackle and I don't think we will be done in one day.

Tackle It Tuesday-Painting 3 Rooms

Livingroom, Bedroom, Office
(notice the ugly color yellow, when we first painted the carpet was a grey blue...so it looked good then, that was then and this is now)

Getting everything ready for the painting crew to come in! My husband does HVAC work and his friend paints, so............there was exchange of labor forces to get the job done at no cost to us.
Yeah, for bartering!

To get ready for the painters we:

• piled all furniture in the middle of the room
• cleaned walls , baseboards ,window and door frames
  
• remove cobwebs, yuck
  
• removed all wall hanging
• remove all nails
• spackle holes
• sand
  
• remove the covers from wall outlet covers etc

I think that is all we did. whew!

Now for the after painted pics...........................:)
Oh the smell of fresh painted walls

And for the stangest walls in the whole world..........................My daughters room.................................................................................................

It actually looks better in person that in this pic.
I will post the final pics after we get everything put back together.

Oh the lovely smell of paint.

Tackle It Tuesday:Wonderful Online Source to Help With Your Daily Bible Reading!

My tackle for today was going to be something that required the much taken for granted physical effort. But guess what...I broke my one of my ribs yesterday. It isn't really bad, just annoying because I need to restrict physical activity. So since my mind doesn't usually go to sharing with you the less physical things...today it was necessary and I am really glad because I am excited to share with you this.

I had decided at the first of the year to really commit the Holy Word of God, "The Bible", to my heart...The only way you can do this is to read it consistently. Getting a schedule is a beginning. Making a time that you read God's Holy Word. I decided that I would start with the Proverbs...I will read one chapter each day of the month. This is very attainable and after this I plan to do this every month...Next month after I have made this a consistent habit...I plan to add another book in the Bible and read out of each book daily...I will probably start with John or James.
I had been reading my Bible several time a week but it was not a scheduled time in my day...This is what I am working toward...My Bible reading often times got pushed aside.

I am a visual learner and I learn best when something is delivered by visual and audio...so I found this tool that is going to help me so much with this goal I have set for my self.



I found this site that has audio bible reading, along with the words (in large print on my computer screen). I set it on the King James Version....and off I go.

This is a great help in my study of the Bible. I hope you will find it helpful to your study of Gods Word. Bookmark this site!

To see more "Tackles" Visit 5 Minutes for Mom and see a long list of them!

Tackle It Tuesday-The Saga of The French Doors

Have you ever felt as if you will never have all the ducks in a row and have everything finished all at the same time....sometimes I think I might scream! Our house is a never ending list of things to do!

Anyway, with that in mind.....I we have been in this house for 17 and 1/2 years. We just replaced the french doors in the basement, which is currently serving as our bedroom....yes, double french doors and no walls....do you get the picture....lol.

Well, so the new doors are in, and I am thinking, since we have someone renting the mother in law apartment right now ........................and they park right outside of the double french doors, which, did I mention is my bedroom, and there are no walls......just one big room and two french door!!!!!!!!:(.......

So, I decided maybe it was time to put something up to keep everyone from peeping in my bedroom. I got these sheers up and they seem to do the trick in the day time but at night, not so much....ugh...............so depressing to get the project done and it not be the total solution...

Here is the result...they look good except for the insulation all around the door...I am not really sure if this the the permanent look or temporary...lol..........do you see the pretty pink insulation?

Here is a funny for you. I have a very large grand upright piano the I put sorta as a wall between this lovely door and my bedroom part. There is an office right inside the door, a piano as a separation, (sorta) and then the bedroom...against the far wall is a mirrored dresser. The piano is a grand upright and is tall enough that is comes up to my nose. I thought I was purdy smart, right. I had made a place I could dress and be blocked from the dreaded french doors.

My daughter comes in one day from outside, the french doors and says to me, "Mom, do you really think that no one can see you?"
I peeking from behind the piano and said , Of course not, I am behind the piano silly."
She laughed and said, "Mom, turn around."
With a puzzled look, I looked around , into a very large mirror with her waving to me and me, in my unmentionables bigger than howdy for all to see.
I about died. She laughed until she was crying.

So there you have it, the saga of the French Doors and the solution that looks good but doesn't really solve the whole problem.
Do you have any suggestions, Please Help Me!
Hope you enjoyed my story.

Tackle it Tuesday-Tackling Clutter

(Not a picture of my house :) )
You know how you let the clutter get built up all over the house? Well, I am the master of clutter. making it that is. lol.
The best way to tackle clutter is to get laundry baskets. I have one for upstairs and down.
I set it in the hallway and start in one room. If the items go down, I put them in the basket...if it stays up I put it in the other. After my collection, I put the basket on my hip of off I go putting the items up.
This stops you from going back and forth!
Plus if you are in a hurry, someone coming over...you take the baskets and put them in a closet to finish later.
If you forget the baskets are there and find them later......and didn't miss what was in the baskets, take it all to goodwill....lol


My Dear Friend Robin over at Heart of Wisdom-Heart at Home has a wonderful list of her Top 20 Organizing and Decluttering Tips!
Here they are for you!

1. Laundry Room Makeover
2. Get Rid of Cord Clutter (cell phone recharging)
3. Organizing Computer Cables
4. Get Rid of Refrigerator Clutter
5. Declutter the Pantry and Discourage Critters
6. Tackling Bedside Clutter
7. 10 Minutes to a Sparkling Clean Bathroom
8. Pegboard Organization: Not Just for the Garage
9. No Shelves Linen Storage Solution
10. Tackling the Dreaded Sock Basket
11. Decluttering: Letting Go of the Baby Clothes
12. Shoe Storage in the Mudroom
13. Vinegar the Wonder Household Cleaner
14. Quick House Cleaning Tips
15. Gotta Love Those Label Makers!
16. Think Outside the Cardboard Box
17. Decluttering for Geeks
18. Need Help Getting Organized? Call the Kids!
19. Book Organizing Tackle
20. Get Organized with Good Ol’ Dishpans

Happy Cleaning
Lynne

Tackling Taxes

I am tackling my taxes. I am trying to get everything together so when i meet with our CPA next week I can just hand it over and forget it....whew!

I need some help from all you experts out there....lol. I need some organization tips.
How do you record or save all your information through the year. I know there must be a better way than what I am doing cause it just takes forever at the end of the year to get it all together.

I need suggestions.
We have our regular income, then we have a small business.

Just leave comments and feel free to email me personally...donicampbell@hotmail.com

Thanks and God Bless
Lynne

Tackling Doors!

I have been so busy that I didn't get to get this post in until the day was almost over.
So here I am....Better late than never, right?

Several year ago my dear husband built a really nice apartment on to our home for my mom to live in. She was totally separate, in that you could only enter her apartment by going outside and entering by her door. It was very nice. When we built it, it was planned that when she needed help we'd put a door through the kitchen...so this door was already framed in within the wall...Smart man!

She fell ill one morning and I took her to the hospital and she was admitted. I called my husband and before I even got home that evening, there was a big hole in the wall...lol-This man lives to knock holes in walls...lol

Anyway, about 4 days later mom died in the hospital. The hole remained unfinished for 1 1/2 years...we used the apartment but never finished the door.

Fast forward to this week. We came across a friend who is working locally while his family is in Northern Michigan...The economy is really, really bad there. Anyway, he needed an apartment.

So we decided to rent it furnished to him and guess what we did last night and today....INSTALLED A DOOR> We decided to install the door and push the refrigerator back infront of the door(which locks).

That way, in the future when we need it open for our other parents that might move in...it is ready.

I have no pics cause I was rushing around getting paint everywhere.

We did get it finished and have just some finishing touches to do..

There you have it. My tackle!

Cleaning Frenzy at our House!!

At our house we have been cleaning out and moving everything....It is a mess right now.

We have been in our house for 17 1/2 Years. I am a pack rat. But we are trying to let go of "STUFF"!

I am finishing up homeschooling my oldest child this year and am trying to let go of so many books and software and stuff like that.

My mom died last year and she lived with us....I had been able to get rid of alot when moving her in but there was still alot here and still is in the attic....Oh the attic, I can 't go there.

We have cleaned out drawers, closets.....if it stands still and opens, it has gotten cleaned out.

Two truck loads to the dump and two truck loads to Goodwill.

We still have alot to do, but we are getting there.

I have not picks but you can visualize it I am sure.

It is just so hard to get rid of stuff......you don't use it for years, right and as soon as your let go of it.....guess what....you need it.

Oh well.

Wish me luck!

Now There is Cooking & Baking & Cleaning & Shopping.......

I feel as if I am naming off Santa's Reindeer and there is no end.

With my oldest daughter off from college yesterday and off from work...we decided to finally get the tree up. They did it all with a little directions ( unwanted as it may be ) from mom.

They did an awesome job. The tree was loaned to us from a dear, sweet, friend from church and it is the most beautiful tree I have ever had in my house. It looks so real....It is really big and we moved the room around to make it fit....Only problem is, if anyone comes to the front door....we can't get it open....OH NO!

We don't have a chimney either...how will Santa get in....OH MY! Another dilema!

While the girls put up the tree, I was off to the kitchen to make up a batch of sugar cookie dough to use in our homeschool party. We baked and decorated the sugar cookies of all shapes and then we split up and delivered them to many deserving folks in our community...I hope they all have health insurance...lol

It was a fun day and as soon as we got home the bad weather came in and we were safe and sound and snug in our home....It was a good time.

Today, we have ice everywhere and I am going to do some more baking while there girls clean. My youngest is finishing up her school work for the day first and nursing a cold she woke up with...yuck.

I have and will have several posts having to do with Christmas Baking, Cookie Exchange Parties and such topics. Come back and get some great Cookie Recipies. Better Yet Subscribe to the feed and get the post daily.

I hope your day is fruitful and you are warm and snug in your home. God Bless!

All It Needs Is a Fresh Coat Of Paint, Right? Right!

I really am not an experienced painter. So where else to try my hand at it...but the closet... Who in their right mind would look in my closet and examine the painting job....so I get brave and paint. I was scary and my husband wasn't even home to coach me.

It actually turned out okay. My dear husband will have to go back and fix a few mistakes. But like I said , who is gona be examining my closet....If they stick their head in to examine my closet I'll just kick them in and close the door...ha!

Here is the final product...Now just to find where we put the shelves and put them in. Now where did I put those shelves? Oh my....where are they....

More progress later.

Taking Care of My Ever Aging Skin

____________________________________________________________________
My tackle today is taking care of my Skin. After I turned 40,(several years back), I noticed drastic changes in my skin. I have gotten age spots and have been trying everything to lighten them...One thing I have found out for sure..

.If you do nothing they will not go away..

.If you do something, it might help...

This facts are not really comforting...but it does keep me searching for a product that will really help.

You can spend alot of money on skincare! Goodness, sometimes I wonder if there is gold in the bottles..lol

I have been trying several products and found several that seem to work.

First, let me say that if you have hormone problems..this could complicate your skin aging problems.
I recently have started on bioidentical estrogen and a compounded mixture from my pharmicist that really seems to be helping my skin. yeah!

Second I found a good, affordable,skin brightner and moisturizer. I have had dark circles for years and they are much better and my skin looks much better.
It is called Juice Organics.

First I use the Brightening Serum Cost approx $19.00
Then I use the Brightening MoisturizerCost approx $14.00

This really works and I am happy with the price...I actually got mine on clearance for $2.00 a bottle which is awesome...but, this is a product that I will purchase for the prices listed above. It is good stuff and organic too. I Love it and it Works for me.

Tackling Relaxation In New England With Garmin GPS Works For Me

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Leaves in Harvard Yard-Cambridge, MA

It is so hard to get away from daily life and all its obligations....You know what I mean, I know you do!!

Anyway, sometimes you actually have to MAKE it happen. So......since my husband had to attend a school in Boston, MA....I decided to tag along....he he. I just climbed in his suitcase and off we went....not really.


It is fall and the leaves are turning and the company puts him up on a really plush hotel....I sleep with him so thats no xtra cost...lol

We came early and spend a day at Cape Cod and 1/2 day in Boston .....It was so awesome and the weather was so beautiful.

Monday it was off to school for him and I was off on my own....But not to worry....I had my Garmin GPS and off "we" went...

Garmin and I were really getting along well by the end of it all. Garmin "Works For ME" for sure. And, as far as a TOY that is worth buying .....this one fits the bill for me and my husband.

I was able to navigate through the busy streets with no problems. I LOVE this thing. We have used GPS before off our computer and I HATED it. But this Garmin GPS is a wonderful thing.

What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

How it works

GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on the unit's electronic map.

A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more.

How accurate is GPS?

Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin® GPS receivers are accurate to within 15 meters on average.

Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability can improve accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service. This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.

I just programed it and drove...It really gives you a heads up on all turns!

Hope you can tackle some R&R soon even if it is forced...lol.

Lynne

Getting Out the Paint Brush........Now What?!

We have been in our home for 16 years come Thanksgiving. We built it new and as you all know, even a new home needs repair and redo's.

Over the years we have finished the originally unfinished basement into a family room , Bath, Bed room and a laundry room.

All this to say that the process seems neverending.

We are in the process of touching up the kitchen cabinets with a little varnish to spruce them up some.



My daughter and I took of the handles and pulls, cleaned them up really good, then did some light sanding.

Then we finally painted them...I held my breath because my husband was out of town and I am scared to death of doing a job like this with him in the room....much less out of town.

We did about half of them and I think they look fine....Better anyway. I am anxious for my husband to come home and tell me what he thinks.

So there you have it.

I tackled it on Saturday...but I decided I would share it on Tuesday...lol

I will get my pic abilities set up so I can share better and make this more exciting.

Announcing The Birth Of.....My Very Own Blog!

My Tackle for Today is......drum roll please.................

My Beautiful Blog!!

I have been attempting to do this for quite sometime. But I never did. I wanted to, meant to, knew I ought to, had the desire....but the get up and go....just got up and went.

I have been reading all the fine posts on the "Tackle it Tuesday" meme and learned so much.....Really Ladies, You have been such an inspiration for me. Inspiration and encouragement!

So here it is....I wanted to share it with you first....My very own blog. Both my daughters have one and now it is my turn to enter the 21 century!

Feel free to offer comments and constructive help...I need all the help I can get!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention my secondary Tackle....I got my self a really nice..... SPEEDING TICKET! So I must tackle how I am gonna come up with the $148.00 to pay for the silly thing.

Oh, Here is my before pic.....




Get it, there was nothing....now the after pic.....it what you see before you....:)

Blessings to you on Tuesday,
Lynne