For a limited time, 102 Puzzle Quizzes for the Amazon Kindle is a free download until February 8, 2012.

Barnes and Nobles tried to hide the clearance section of books from me, and I recently discovered it again. Could not resist “Smithsonian Presidents – Every Question Answered” by Carter Smith with its lovely extra 50% off the lowest price sticker. I paid $5 for the book.

The updated and revised edition of this book begins with The Founding Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe). We start off by learning that George Washington was 57 years old when he was inaugurated and that he personally had no children, but adopted two from his wife’s first marriage.

The book then groups the rest of the presidents into the following sections:

• Presidents of a Young Nation – (J.Q. Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, W.H. Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, and A. Johnson)
• Presidents of the Gilded Age – (Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, B. Harrison, and McKinley)
• Presidents of the Early 20th Century – (T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and F.D. Roosevelt)
• Presents of a Global Power – (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H. W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush)

There is also a section that displays all of the inaugural addresses of the Presidents – pretty interesting. The book is a little over 390 pages long and jam-packed with information.

Each President has an info box filled with biographical facts. Some of the details you will learn include their ancestry, parents’ occupations, their marriages and children, education, nicknames, and place of burial. A timeline is added that documents the life of the President against U.S. and world events. Their term, presidential achievements, influential quotes, and highlights of their elections are discussed. You will also learn a bit about the First Ladies and scandals associated with the President.

This Christmas, my father gifted me “Who knew? Almanac” by Bruce Lubin & Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin.

This book has more than 600 pages of household tips, quick fixes and “money-saving miracles”. He actually saw it on the Home Shopping Network and ordered it.

So cool.

The book has 19 sections of information, including chapters titled: Saving Energy, Kids, Home Repair, Pest Control, Cooking, Cleaning, Baking, and even Organization. I’m already using it as a reference for some of the articles that I am writing.

Just a few things I’ve learned…

• Mayonnaise can remove gum out of the hair…so can peanut butter. The oils counteract the stickiness of the gum. You can also use mayonnaise to safely remove bumper stickers and adhesive from windows and mirrors.
• Lawns can get lazy. If you feed yours too much, the roots won’t need to reach down to find food so when it is hot, they will dry out.
• Get rid of Japanese beetles on your rose bushes by sprinkling self-rising flour over your entire bush. I wonder how long this trick lasts.
• Storing hydrogen peroxide in the refrigerator makes it stay active for a longer period of time (didn’t know it lost its spark over time). This trick also works for your nail polish, but bring your favorite color to room temperature before applying to your nails.
• To extend the life of your Christmas tree, you can add a small amount of sugar or Pine-Sol to the water.

“Borrowed” the “Big Book of Answers” edited by Kevin S. Hile from my Dad, but I’m thinking that this may have to stay in my own personal collection. Unfortunately, he saw me ‘borrow’ his book, so he’ll probably ask me about it every couple of days until I ‘bring it back’ (flash it on him and say that I returned it).

There are 19 chapters that touch upon some of the most asked questions or wondered-about topics. From discussing the invention of photography to the classification of hazardous waste materials, there are so many interesting topics. Although the book packs in a lot of information, the answers are still short and sweet (yet highly educational).

The Big Book of Answers also makes a great conversation piece. I took it to the doctor’s office during an appointment, and the nurse and I spent a few minutes marveling at the measurements of the largest hailstones in the world.



I’m not a diehard coupon collector (yet), but I am a coupon giveaway fanatic. I see giveaways for coupons for free products, and my eyes light up. However, when I opened up the colorful Couponizer, I immediately started using the accompanying scissors to clip away inserts from the Sunday paper. In celebration of its10th anniversary, the Couponizer has received an upgrade with all-new graphics and more materials that help you save money.

The Couponizer system includes:

• The Couponizer itself
• Customer Loyalty Card Sleeves that fit inside
• A really convenient Shopping List
• CoupTracker
• A medium-sized pair of Scissors
• CoupStacker – an expandable sorting mat for coupons
• A plastic Carrying Bag

How to Use the Couponizer

I’m a visual person and the Couponizer makes clipping and saving coupons fun and easy. Before this system, I was stuffing coupons in a small pocket inside my purse. I NEVER could find the coupons I needed when I reached the checkout. Some would literally be hidden underneath a handful of papers. Lots of coupons went forgotten and expiration dates came and gone. I’ve even missed out on using some of my free coupons (sigh).

If you’re a planner, you should evaluate your pantry and fridge, sort out potential recipes, and then create a shopping list. Spend a bit of time searching for online coupons and store deals. I say you should listen to your fellow bloggers who are constantly sharing ways on how to save at your favorite stores. Clip and sort the coupons before arranging in your Couponizer.

When you shop, use your list and available coupons as a guide. Once you’ve put an item in your cart that you have a coupon for – locate and transfer to the pocket designated for Checkout. At the end of your shopping trip, the coupons you need to enjoy savings are all in one nice, tidy place.

Not only are there nice pockets to sort coupons for dairy, beverages, household cleaning, and hygiene products, but there are also specialized pockets to store coupons and information that will come in quite handy for me, such as:

• Coupons to Expire This Month – Perfect for me so I don’t miss out on the savings.
• Fast Food Restaurant Savings – I’m constantly on the lookout for Buy 1, Get 1 Free entrée coupons for my favorite eateries like Smokey Bones. Also, I get a lot of food discounts for my birthday and buy Restaurant.com certificates and Groupons for local restaurants. The printouts are constantly getting crumbled in my purse.
• Shops and Retail – Perfect for mall gift certificates and shopping passes for department stores
• Rebates and Refunds – Great place to store UPCs and box tops, and serves as a reminder to send off rebate forms in a timely manner.
• Rewards – Don’t forget to use any rewards you earn at stores by placing them in this designated pocket.

The Couponizer makes sorting,storing, using and remembering your coupons very easy – a really versatile ensemble. Wouldn’t you like one for your own? This would also make a really cool gift for Christmas…

GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs is your very own Couponizer!

(use the Rafflecopter form – you may have to REFRESH or RELOAD the page to see the form)

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Just added “Life in Pictures: Marilyn Monroe” & “100 Foods to Stay Young” to my book collection. Bought on sale at Marshall’s.

The Lowdown

“100 Foods to Stay Young” by Charlotte Watts– This book lists 100 foods for staying young and healthy – each one accompanied by a recipe. An easy-to-read, brief description points out the reasons why the food is healthy. Had to purchase this book after reading #27 Sauerkraut, which has a recipe for Sauerkraut Salad with Chicken made with shredded carrot, bite-size red apples pieces, sauerkraut, and boneless chicken breast. A yogurt dressing then tops the salad – made with honey and black pepper. Cannot wait to make this.

“Life in Pictures: Marilyn Monroe” by Marie Clayton – I’m a fan of Marilyn. I find her life story and personality intriguing. She wasn’t a size 2, but is still considered to this day, a voluptuous beauty. I was in elementary school when I was introduced to Monroe. There was an oversized photography book at the library that I checked out, and her look just stood out to me. This book that I bought is chockfull of photos with biographical snippets here and there.

Whether you’re cleaning the house or creating in the kitchen, everyone needs a little help to make life easier. Home-Ec 101 by Heather Solos is a book that offers ‘skills for everyday living.’ The book is separated into four household-related sections: “Clean It”, “Wash It”, “Fix It” and “Cook It.” Filled with tips and tricks, my favorite feature of the book was the convenient charts, lists and checklists that include:

• A checklist for seasonal chores
• List of treatments for common stains
• Washing instructions for various garments
• Average lifespan of major appliances
• Common kitchen utensils and tools
• List of cooking terms (very interesting)
• Cooking and baking substitutions
• Harmful chemical combinations

The book is written in an entertaining manner with easy-on-the-eye takeaways of information that supplies you with valuable tidbits.  So far, I’ve learned what ingredients can stretch a tight budget, how to eliminate pesky countertop stains (great for the occasional spill of Kool-Aid), salvage a scorched pan, and prepare homemade cleaning solutions that save money.

Not only does Heather Solas share ways on how to make everyday living easier, but also enlightens us as to what can happen when you’re barking up the wrong tree. For example, cleaning a fake green ivy plant in a white sink is a no-no…if you get my drift.

From college-bound students to seasoned homemakers, Home-Ec 101 is an enjoyable and helpful read for people of all ages.

Disclosure: Thank you One2One Network for providing me with a copy Home-Ec 101 so that I could write a review on the book. All of my opinions are 100% my own!

Take a look at my giveaway wins and freebies that came in the mail for the past two weeks! It’s enough to make you want to jump on the giveaway train, doesn’t it? You never know what the mailman will bring you. To see what other people have received, check out A Frugal Friend who hosts the Mailbox Monday Linky.

Freebies

• Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy [cherry]
• Nivea Happy Sensation Lotion sample
• Crest Scope Outlast toothpaste sample

Giveaway Wins

• Red Robin Burger 50 Gourmet Burger Cookbook (not shown) + Coupon for Free Appetizer (or Milkshake) – Pretty Pink Momma
• Electric Wok and 75 boxes [for the Etsy shop I will one day launch – not shown] – purchased with a $60 CSN Store GC win.
• Totino’s Box Tops for Education Prize Pack [coupons for free Party Pizza and Totino's Pizza Rolls, calculator, 2 glue sticks, 4 highlighters, report cover, 25 Bonus Box Tops, and bookbag]  – GetHealthyCheap
• “Your Life in Comics: 100 Things for Guys to Write and Draw” book by Bill Zimmerman – Fun 4 The Children
• Bella Viva Trail Mix – Mrs. Nespy’s Frugal World

For my Blog or Review Freebies

• “Green Lighting” book by Brian Clark Howard (thanks to Bambeco)

I confess, I’m an avid reader and a book hoard, but I’m finding it harder and harder to completely finish a book. that’s why I’ve decided to track the books that I’m reading and have read (as of July 2010) to encourage myself to finish the books that I start.

I’m Currently Reading…

My Book Wish List

• Last Exit to Brooklyn – by Hubert Selby, Jr.
• Life is Hot in Cracktown – by Buddy Giovinazzo
• Gold Boy, Emerald Girl - by Yiyun Li
• World War Z – Max Brooks
• The Passage – Justin Cronin
• The Millennium Trilogy - by Stieg Larsson:

1. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest

Finished

5 People Who Died During Sex (and 100 Other Terribly Tasteless Lists) by Karl Shaw

I’d also love to hear your current reading list and recommendations.

For the past couple of weeks, Alexander Pushkin (the great Russian poet) has traveled with me. Braving the itch of hot sand, he’s nestled beside me on the beach. He’s kept me company on a car ride to Rochester, NY. He’s stared motivation into my limbs as I labored on a treadmill. Pushkin makes an exceptional companion.

Thanks to Julian Henry Lowenfeld, I have been touched by the poetry of Alexander Pushkin. Lowenfeld translated Pushkin’s work from Russian to English and shares his poetic genius in “My Talisman: The Poetry & Life of Alexander Pushkin.”

Reading “My Talisman” is a voyeuristic journey into the life of a man tormented by the loves of his life (poetry and his “Natalie”). The bilingual book offers an introduction, brief biography, and selected poetry presented in both Russian and English. Pushkin’s own sketches and other drawings serve as illustrations throughout the book.  The addition of his artwork intensifies the connection you make with the poet. I enjoyed the overall layout of “‘My Talisman.”

I also found it quite interesting to learn about the intricacies of translating poetry from one language to another. Liberties are often taken and slight variations will exist from one translator to the next. This not only shows in the spelling of some words, but also in their meaning.

What I Learned

Pushkin was both loved and feared in Russia – depending on whom you spoke to. For example, the government went through periods of watching his every move and subjecting his work to intense literary scrutiny and censorship. Letters to his wife were even read by the tsar of Russia before they reached her eyes. With his poems, Pushkin could incite political action just as much as he could passion and declarations of love. “My Talisman” offers an intriguing biography and effectively presents an increasingly fascinating picture of the poet, such as:

• Pushkin had African roots that shown through in some of his physical characteristics. He embraced this heritage while others mocked it. I found this very interesting.
• I learned that after Pushkin finally married the woman he had pursued for years, her coldness and inconsiderate nature contributed to an absence of romantic lyrics.
• Pushkin longed to visit Europe and requested to leave Russia, but was refused permission by the tsar. This was heartbreaking to learn, as Pushkin’s talents could have reached unimaginable heights if he had been exposed to European culture and scenery.
• Pushkin managed to survive many “duals” – choosing to intentionally miss his opponent or surrender to a distraction. However, one dual would prove fatal and most tragic in its meaning.
• Pushkin was lovesick over the women in his life, as well as for his craft.

My Favorite Poems

I have yet to complete “My Talisman: The Poetry & Life of Alexander Pushkin” – it’s a treasure to savor so I’m taking my time. Why would I want to lose my companion so soon?

So far, my favorite poem is ‘The Flower.’ I also feel that almost anyone can relate to how Pushkin referred to “his near and dear ones,” which appears in the biography.

“What does that mean, our near and dear ones?
Our near and dear ones are just these ones:
The ones we are obliged to kiss,
Caress, and love, and warmly miss,
Also, by custom and good cheer,
On Christmas we should pay them calls,
At least by mail should send them cards,
So all the rest of all the year
They’ll never even think of us!

And so, God grant them health, I trust!”