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Tricked But Not Treated

The Witch is back in the office! Ahem, that's me.

Trick or Treaters will be ringing the doorbell shortly. Since it's a school night, parents bring the little ones in late afternoon. Unfortunately, it's raining here today so I may end up with the bags of Butterfingers snack size bars still in the house.

What a terrible thing to happen! Not. I love those candies.

October was a tricky month—a trying month. Too many unexpected events that necessitated my being out of the office much of the month.

When in the office, I was focused on learning Facebook Ads, making new book covers, tweaking book blurbs, and other necessities an independent publisher must undertake or contract out.

It feels good to be sitting in my office chair again—good to be blogging again and good to be finishing up those design projectes so I can get back to writing my new book. I really want to get it out for Christmas, but I've lost a lot of time.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Wish me luck in getting that new book out by the holidays.

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I Voted This Morning

Early voting in Texas started today. Darling Hubby and I figured it would be a big turnout. We decided not to be there at 7AM.

At 8:25 AM, we arrived at the polling place and joined the crowd. It really was a crowd inside the very large room set up with about 32 voting machines.

The queue made about 6 "loops" from the back of the room to the front, but it was orderly. Everyone seemed cheerful and happy to be there.

One hour and 10 minutes later, we exited the room after voting. By then, the line was nearly twice as long as when we arrived.

I pulled my "I Voted" sticker from my shirt and stuck it on my keyboard.

Voting is a privilege and a responsibility. The responsibility lies with you—research the candidates beyond the sound bites and mud-slinging you hear from TV, YouTube, celebrities, and those who obviously have a dog in the fight. Find objective analysis which can be hard. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Discover the truth and vote for the candidate you think will be best for that position—from the highest office to the local school board and college trustees. 

Who Makes What in Appliances

Let's talk appliances. It seems to me as if they're just not made as good as in years past.

In today's world, it seems as if most appliances have a life of maybe 10 years if you're lucky.

I know in the year 2001-2010, we bought 3 refrigerators—costly and frustrating. I know people who have 1950s Kelvinators that still run!

If you want to get an appliance repaired, get ready to wait. My daughter's 5-year-old fridge died. She had an extended warranty. After buying 2 small mini-fridges, waiting 2 months for parts to come in, she gave up and bought a new fridge.

I think that's a lesson in "don't buy extended warranties." They're practically worthless. But I didn't write this post to rant but to give some eye-opening information.

WHO MAKES APPLIANCES

You'll probably be surprise to find that most appliances, regardless of brand name, are made by a handful of companies.

Appliances may look different on the outside, the mechanical design of the comparable models is usually identical regardless of brand name. To me, that means there's little reason to have brand-loyalty.

Here are the major manufactuers.

Electrolux makes: Frigidaire, GE., also some Kenmore depending on the model.

LG makes: their own label as well as some Kenmore depending on the model.

Samsung makes: their own label as well as some Kenmore depending on the model.

Whirpool makes: Amana, Maytag, KitchenAid, Kenmore, Jenn-Air, and Costco’s Kirkland brand.

You may well ask, why these companies continue to manufacture so many different brands. Mostly, it's a marketing strategy designed to help retailers sell branded products. I can understand that. Most of us start out buying the appliance names we grew up with. 

My parents' household had Whirlpool appliances so that's what I bought when I set up a home. I swore by Whirlpool and Kenmore which was made by Whirlpool back then too.

Manufacturing companies benefit from multiple brand names because they can target multiple markets all at the same time. They can offer lower-end, lower-quality appliances in a market and not worry that the lower-quality will affect their top of the line models. 

In fact, if someone bought a cheap appliance and were unhappy with it, they may think, "I'll buy Expensive Brand name next time." 

They won't know that both machines were made by the same company and may have many of the same internal parts.

When you need to buy an appliance, focus on the individual models and features, not brand name. Read all reviews, the good and bad, and make sure you're reading recent reviews. If you really want to be smart, do an online search for repair costs or rant from buyers about a specific appliance. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Better yet, talk to a local repairman about the appliance if you can find one because experienced appliance repair people are an endangered species.

Review - In Good Company - Netflix

If you're looking for a movie that has a serious subject and characters with real world problems, this dramedy is one that will entertain as well as make you think.

I'd not seen IN GOOD COMPANY, a 2004 film starring Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger, and Selma Blair, is a delight.

Dennis Quaid is Dan Foreman, a middle-aged advertising executive who finds himself demoted when his company is sold. At fifty, he now has a 20-something boss.

Truthfully, this kind of thing has happened very often in th last 30 years in the real world. Dan wants to quit and find another executive position, but he has a daughter in college and suddenly finds out that his middle-aged wife is pregnant.

Dan concludes that he must stay with his high-paying job even though the blow to his ego is painful.

As the story develops, Carter Duryea, Dan's young boss beautifully portrayed by Topher Grace, begins to realize that his scorched earth policy of dealing with people has consequences. Because of his relationship with Dan and his interaction with Dan's family, he begins to grow as a person.

You find yourself rooting for Dan and his family and also for Carter and his challenges. The ending is a bit surprising, but the most surprising thing is how Carter's life and expectations change. His character growth is awesome, and you find yourself very happy with the ending.

Written and directed by Paul Weit, I loved this movie and would happily watch it again. You can find this movie on Netflix if you're a subscriber. You can also rent it on Apple TV, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

You can also buy In Good Company DVD from Amazon.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Want a feel good movie? Watch In Good Company.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

 Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.

Personal Recs - What I Bought - Prime Deals

The Prime Day Specials I'm spotlighting are items I've already bought or will be buying today.

Some of these products have been in my  Wish List for a while, just waiting for October Prime Day to come around.

By the way, use the Wish List tool offered by Amazon. That way, you can easily check through your list to see if the price changes.

Of course, best thing is to buy on Prime Day at a much reduced price. The first product I'm listing is half the price I paid for it a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, that's true of a few things on my list today.

As they say on YouTube, "Let's get into it."


647 Reviews, 4.6 out of 5 stars, $88.42

When I bought this medical grade REd Light Therapy panel in September, I paid $179.99.

Ack! I'm trying to decide whether to buy another one since the price is so low.

If you haven't heard of the medical benefits of red light therapy, simply Google that phrase. You'll be amazed at the health conditions these devices are being used for and tested in other conditions that offer promise. 

We're talking pain relief, inflamation, visual improvement, strength improvement, overall better health, healthier hair and skin—the list is long, and the results are from medical testing.

I bought it because of arthritis in my thumb joints. I can honestly say I now have days with no pain. I've been using it since early September.

(2) TAGRY True Wireless Earbuds

67,444 Reviews, 4.4 out of 5 stars, $29.73 with an additional 20% off coupon

When I bought this the regular price was $49.99. I bought the pink case which has a bit of pink detail on the buds. They come in 8 colors. I had some wireless earbuds but they hooked over my ear and were uncomfortable to wear because of my glasses. These are perfect, fit well, and have great connection.

Great features: LED Power Display and 60H Playback: Dual digital LED power display outside of the case is to show the power level * Wireless Charging and IPX5 Waterproof * One-Step Pairing and Easy Touch Control * See all the features on the product page.

(3) California King Quilt Set Teal

2,694 Reviews, 4.6 out of 5 stars, $39.99 plus a $5 off coupon

Regular price was $49.99. Comes in 19 colors.

I redid my guest room last month and wanted a teal set. I'd had no luck in shopping local stores so I decided to take a chance and order online.

I don't like to buy fabric goods sight unseen because you really can't judge the quality by a photo. I took a chance and bought this Teal Comforter and Sham set.

To my surprise, it's actually very nice looking and feeling. It's not really heavy, but a lightweight comforter is perfect. I ordered the California King size, but the bed is only a Queen. I wanted the comforter to reach the floor on both sides and the foot of the bed. It fit perfectly and looks amazing. 

(4) EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 2

2,863 Reviews, 4.3 out of 5 stars, $168.00 includes a $10  off coupon

Regular price was $219.00. 1 Hour Fast Charging, 2 Up to 600W AC Outlets. Read all the specs on the product page.

This is a small portable generator most people buy as a way to power a computer, TV, or other small appliances in a power outage. It's also purchased for camping and RVing, but I'm buying it for a different reason.

I'm buying it to provide instant power to my kitchen island that has no electrical outlet.

LET ME EXPLAIN

We have an older house that has a great kitchen—custom cabinets, beautiful countertops, and a long island I use for food prep. The only problem is that the island does not have electrical outlets. That is amazingly inconvenient for me since I'm always cooking and baking.

I've had estimates to get power installed on the island. The only way to do it is to tap into an outlet nearest the island. That means fishing wires down inside a wall, cutting sheetrock, baseboard, busting the tile floor and the concrete foundation to place a steel conduit with electrical wires running from the "tap-in" location to the island then repairing it all.

Total expense? $1,500 up to $10,000 depending on how we repaired the kitchen floor since we don't have extra ceramic tile. Patch with something that would obviously not be original, or install a whole new floor.

Last Prime Day, I started looking at compact power backup generators, but I couldn't make the commitment. After thinking about it, I decided to go for it. I have a small bookcase full of cookbooks at the end of the counter. This 7 pound EcoFlo Power Backup would fit perfectly on top of the bookcase making it easy to plug in any of my countertop appliances.$168.00 beats $1500 any day. Genius idea, right?


284 Reviews, 4.5 out of 5 stars, $139.99 includes a $40 off coupon

Regular price was $279.99. We bought this back in the summer's prime day specials. This is a great air cleaner. It has an automatic feature where you can leave it on, and it cycles on for 20 minutes then off for 60.

We have it in a position where it takes care of half of the house and plan to get another one for the bedroom wing where we now have small air cleaners in each bedroom.

 
(6) LifePro Vibration Plate

24,615 Reviews, 4.6 out of 5 stars, $149.99.
 
Regular price was $199.99.

This is not the one I bought. I bought a BlueFin Vibration Plate—but it's $199.99 now and not on a Prime Special. I blogged about vibration plates back in August. I swear by the health benefits of these.

 My daughter has wanted one since she's been using mine every time she comes over. In fact, everyone who visits ends up using it. To my daughter's dismay, the price point of the one I bought keeps going up.

This morning, I saw this one from LifePro on a Prime Day deal and sent the link to my daughter. She ordered it. This device has the same features as mine and is the same size which is important. 

Some of these vibration plates are only 7-9" from front to back. My Darling Hubby has size 12 feet so his feet wouldn't be supported if he tried to use a shorter one. That was a factor when I bought one. I had a list of features I wanted, and the BlueFin fit that just as this LifePro unit does.

That's a wrap for Prime Day!

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Now I'm going to lock my credit car away until Prime Day is over or I'll go broke saving money.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.


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Monday Magic -Startpage Private Search Engine

If you're tired of search engines sellling your search engine data so you get inundated with email ads, you might want to try Startpage.

All the search engines do this because users' searches constitute a product to sell to merchants.

I'm sure you've wondered why you can search for something like espresso makers and then see ads for espresso makers all over your social media and search engine sites. DucDuckGo is a privacy focused search engine, but their search results aren't very good.

ABOUT STARTPAGE

The home page is the start search page. Startpage actually uses Google search but without the invasion of privacy. They don't collect personal data, and they don't target or track you either. They also do not save or sell your search history to third parties. 

When you use them, your IP address is encrypted. They block price trackers and third party ads. You may see sponsored ads on the search results page, but they are non-targeted ads not targeted to you based on personal data.

Each site in your search results allows you to visit in Anonymous mode so your personal data, IP, etc. are shielded and your identity and personal data are shielded.

You can add Startpage as an extension to the browser by going to their web page. There's also a mobile version. If you don't like it, simply remove the extension or mobile app.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This can be a game changer for online searches. I'll be using this in an effort to see if it cuts down on the junk email and ads that pop up when I'm online.


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Quote of the Day, Sunday, October 6, 2024

We took our T-Bird out for a spin today and drove the winding back roads to our house in the country.

Driving this car with the top down is so much fun—just riding in it is fun.

As we drove the hills, valleys, and curves, I remembered something the comedian George Carlin once said.

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I think Mr. Carlin was absolutlely correct. I know Darling Hubby remarked thusly on slow drivers, and I'm sure those same drivers probably thought my hubby was driving like a maniac. *LOL*

Saturday Share - Save Big Bucks on Food, Part 1

Image by Pabitra KaityPixabay

Everyone is trying to cut back on spending, but it can be difficult to reduce spending on food. We all have to eat, but there is a way to save money in this area.

By saving money, I don't mean nickels and dimes. This can save you big bucks if you really embrace it. I learned all of these strategies when I was young and a new bride, and my husband and I didn't have a thin dime to spare.

Even now, I still use these strategies so I thought I'd share my food management strategy with you.

2 CHANGES REQUIRED

To save on your food budget requires 2 things.

(1) Change how you put meals on the table.

(2) Embrace some or all of these genius food management strategies.

Today, I'm going to discuss the first thing you need to do: Change how you put meals on the table. Next Saturday, I'll discuss those genius food management strategies. This is a long post, but I didn't see any way to make it shorter and still give enough information to get you started.

Both of these changes begin with changing your thinking. These smart food management tips are easy but may be alien to you if your lifestyle regularly includes deli food, takeout and fast food meals, dine-in restaurant meals, and restaurant delivered meals.

Regularly means you do it more than once a week. We all do some of this. 

The trick is to save those "expensive food  events" for special occasions—celebrations or "I worked a 14-hour day and I have a cold and don't feel like working."

Even then there are strategies you can employ to keep from falling into the "expensive food event" trap.

EXPENSIVE FOOD EVENT

Let's think about this. How much does it cost to grab a fast food burger meal for one person? A little less than $10 bucks. If you're feeding a family of 4, that's $30-40. Even if you do that just once a week, you're spending over $100 a month. How much food could that buy at the grocery store for $100? Enough to make far more than 4 meals.

Then most people feel bad about feeding fast food to their families on a regular basis so they opt for a "better" meaning more expensive takeout or delivery meal. It's a vicious circle.

CHANGE HOW YOU PUT MEALS ON THE TABLE

First and foremost, you must commit to cooking at home

Every night—or at least more nights than restaurant meals. 

A home-cooked meal tastes better, costs less, and is more nutritious. All of those are good for your family.

Home-cooked meals aren't difficult. A pasta meal costs pennies even if you buy a good quality marinara or meat spaghetti sauce. Most people love pasta. 

Spaghetti, salad, toasted French bread with garlic. Takes 10 minutes to cook pasta, maybe 5 minutes to warm sauce, 5 minutes to toast bread, a couple of minutes to empty a bag of mixed greens into a salad bowl. In less than 30 minutes, you've got a delicious home-cooked meal.

THINK, PLAN, PREP

Today is Saturday, the perfect day to embark upon this challenge that offers so many rewards.

(1) Make the commitment.

(2) Sit down with a calendar and plan a week's worth of simple dinners—easy entrees and side dishes that feature ground beef, rotisserie chicken, and maybe a roast beef in the Crock Pot.

(3)  Make a shopping list if you need ingredients then hit the grocery store. Never go to the grocery store without a list.

This first few weeks, go ahead and buy bags of mixed greens, a good salad dressing, and grab some "freezer" and "storage" food bags too.

(4) When you're home and have your purchases in the kitchen, it's time to either store them away or do a very simple food prep

Keep it easy. If you want something other than greens in the sallad bowl, chop and dice now—tomato chunks, cucumber, apple, grapes, etc. 

Bag each separately in small Ziplok storage bags and store in the fridge.

Many things can be prepared in advance so they're ready to go when you cook a meal. For instance, if you plan on having potatoes at any meal, peel, chop, and store in a bag filled with water.

Storing peeled potatoes in water keeps them from turning brown.

When you want to use the potatoes, simply drain, rinse, add fresh water, and cook.

An entire bag of pasta can be cooked in advance. Store in a Ziplok bag or storage container. 

When you want to serve pasta, simple place the amount needed in a pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes, drain, and serve.

Garlic bread can be prepared and toasted in advance. Store in the fridge and reheat in a toaster oven.

(5) When you have food left from a meal, don't think of them as "leftovers" but as Planned Overs. More on this next week, but for now think of a Planned Over meal as the 3rd day re-run of a previously delicious meal.

If you fixed spaghetti for a meal and have sauce and pasta left, don't serve it again the next night. On the third day, serve it again but do something a little different with it. Maybe put it in a casserole dish with slices of cheese on top and bake in the over until the cheese is melted and gooey.

A small amount of meat spaghetti sauce also can be the base of a really delicious Italian style soup or stew.

(6) Rotisserie chicken, the perfect Planned Over.

Best thing is to remove all the chicken immediately. 

Freeze the carcass if you don't have time to make bone broth immediately. 

Serve select pieces the day you buy it, hopefully along with some mashed potatoes and gravy or French fries.

(Buy a bag of frozen fries even though they're much more expensive than making your own,  but this is the "easing into this strategy" phase so it's okay.)

Store the rest in a Ziplok bag. Two days later, make a planned meal like Chicken Casserole—pasta, sauteed onions, cream of mushroom soup, chicken chunks, cheese. Bake and serve hot.

If you have any chicken left after that, skip a day and then serve a chicken dish again, like Chicken Pot Pie. Always save any tiny bits of chicken to small to feature in an entree. You'll use them in soup..

For the first week, you could actually alternate meals using your Planned Over ingredients of meat spaghetti sauce, pasta, and chicken with each meal being different and delicious.

Finish up with the chicken by turning it into Bone Broth. Place it in a stock pot or other large cooking pot, toss in a carrot, onion, and celery if you have it along with optional ingredients like thyme and bay leaf and fill with cold water.

Simmer for a couple of hours. Make sure the water level doesn't reduce more than half. 

Cool, strain, and toss in any tiny bits of chicken you saved. 

Store the resulting bone broth in the fridge and/or freezer. This will make the richest soups, stews, and gravies.

If this inspires you to save on your food budget while increasing the quality of the meals you serve, please leave a comment.

Look for recipes using rotisserie chicken, ground beef, and think of ways to use what's left from the meals you make. I'm always inspired by YouTube cooking videos and really enjoy watching Chopped episodes where chefs must use leftovers rather than pricy ingredients.

I hope you get the whole family involved in this which will teach kids the importance of good nutrition, time management, strategy, and how fun it is to be together and cooking.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope to see you again next Saturday. In the meantime, run the numbers and compare what you spent previously each week and what this food strategy costs you for a week. Happy cooking!


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Celebrate World Teacher's Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow, October 5, 2024, is World Teacher's Day.

If there's a special teacher who impacted your life for the better, send a note of thanks if you know where they are today.

Teachers educate, and in many cases, do far more than that to shape a person's ability to think and reason as well as learn the subject matter.

In many cases, teachers inspire students to be achievers, to create fulfilling lives, to strive to be good people as well as good citizens.

At least, that's the way it was when I went to school. I had wonderful teachers—as well as parents and grandparents—who shaped me into the intelligent, thinking woman I am today.

My teachers have all passed on to that big Faculty Lounge in Heaven, but I'd like to name the really special ones who had such an impact on my life: Nina Eves, Mildred Richard, Mary Minta Moore, Daniel Ayoub, Mary Robinson, Espie Lee Powell, Coach Pickett, and Rebecca Guice.

Thank you for demanding the best from me even though I didn't know I had a "best" in me to give.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Tomorrow, if you can, thank teachers that influenced your llife, and thank teachers who now educate your children.

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Free Romance Ebook - 2 Days Only

LAST CHRISTMAS is free for 2 days only.

This "heartwarming and steamy small town romance will have you laughing, crying, and falling in love all over again."

Until tomorrow evening, Oct. 4, you can get a free copy but only at select booksellers. (NOT at Amazon.)

Get your free copy of LAST CHRISTMAS now.

(Be sure it still shows as free because I don't know the cutoff time at the various booksellers for this free offer.)

STILL THE ONE—ON SALE UNTIL OCTOBER 11

You can still pick up a copy of STILL THE ONE for only 99¢ until October 11. This sale price is good at Amazon as well as all the other ebook sellers. Simply click the book seller you want to use when the link opens.

Looking for hot chemistry and witty banter?

Do you love an enemies to lovers romance wrapped around a second chance at love story with a marriage of convenience hidden inside?

Then STILL THE ONE is what you're looking for.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Sales and free books are first offered to subscribers of my newsletter, I LOVE READING. Sometimes it doesn't make a difference, but sometimes the number of freebies is limited to a specific number of downloads.. Subscribe today so you'll never miss a free or sale offer.

Review - Nobody Wants This on Netflix

Okay, I'll admit I've only seen the first couple of episodes of this Netflix series, Nobody Wants This, but I had to tell you about it immediately. Watch it.

If conflict is the engine that moves a story, then this story is going to fly. Conflict? You better believe it.

QUICK BLURB

The premise is this: agnostic sex podcaster (beautifully portrayed by Kristen Bell whom I always like) and a newly single rabbi (the so-cute and sensitive Adam Brody) fall in love.

Will their relationship survive the completely different lives they lead as well as their nosy, meddling families?

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

It's witty, funny, and delightful. Let me know what you think.

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October Update of 24 for 2024

I think it's about time for an update of my 24 for 2024 Plan.

I've given updates on my Plan, focusing on 3 or 4 elements in my Plan. If you're interested, here are my previous posts:

JANUARY 



BEST THING I DID

In June, I developed my If-Then Plan which has been the best tool to aid me in using my time more effectively. It helped me change my thinking so that I always had a way to take action.

An IF-THEN plan works like this. IF blank happens, THEN I will blank. In other words, you make a plan for the curve balls life throws at you so you'll know what to do when you can't do something the way you'd planned. Here's an example.

If the electricity goes off, then I will draft chapters using my AlphaSmart and upload what I've written when power is restored. 

Yep, the If-Then Plan is a success tool that's easy. It just takes a little thinking and planning.

For the rest of the summer and into September, my focus was on formatting several books for uploading to multiple booksellers. 

In September, I tackled another long-delayed item that's been on my To Do list since we moved into this house in 2021.

This was completing my design/sewing project for the drapes and window treatments for all the bedrooms. I finished it! Hurray!

I still haven't decided what I want to accompany the wood blinds in the "public" rooms of the house. That willl go on my list for 2025.

THE WRITING SCENE

I didn't get a lot of writing done in the last 3 months, but I'm okay with that since I made significant progress on the tasks I did undertake. I still have those 4 finished books that I need to get published so that's going to take up much of my time this fall.

How are you doing with your own personal list of things you wanted to accomplish? Leave a comment and inspire me to do better. *g*

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I feel the pressure to get those finished books published so wish me luck because my newsletter subscribers are waiting to hear that a new book is available for pre-order.

 Love to read? Sign up for my free Newsletter, I LOVE READING. Once a month, you'll receive exclusive content and news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases.