When I first read this tadbit of advice on how to get rid of mosquitoes, I have to admit I was excited since I was sure I probably had some Listerine in the bathroom. Take Listerine and put it in a spray bottle. Then spray around where mosquitoes reside. Voila! No more mosquitoes!

Since I wanted a tad bit more information, I googled it and wouldn’t you know the first link is to Snopes. Snopes is the place to learn to truth about urban legends, old wives tales, and in general Internet rumors. Apparently it does work and will kill the mosquitoes it is directly sprayed on but says “false” to the claim that it will help repel mosquitoes.

I may try it anyway. I mean we already use Listerine, so all I need is a spray bottle. If it knocks out even 10% of the local mosquito population, then I’ll be happy.

It’s the most important piece of jewelry that a woman will ever receive - her engagement ring. It’s a symbol of hope, commitment, fidelity, and of course, love. There is a lot wrapped up into this ring of all rings, so guys (or girls!) feel the pressure when choosing the right one for their significant other.

I went with my boyfriend to help pick out my diamond ring and got exactly what I wanted. It’s nothing fancy but it’s simple, small, and fits into my life. But before we went shopping, I barely knew anything about diamonds and still not one to give advice on buying one. There are places to turn to when shopping for diamond rings. One very good source for information as well as selection is Sparkle and Dazzle Company.

Their website has lots of information and products. Build the perfect ring by choosing your set and then choosing your diamond. The geek in me loves this option as your diamond engagement ring will be one of a kind and something that was done just for one person.

Before buying any jewelry online, it’s best to educate yourself about buying anything from wedding rings to eternity rings. Sparkle and Dazzle has plenty of information that will help you make an informed decision when buying diamond rings. Not only do they have a broad selection, but competitive pricing. You can even sort rings by price to find something that not only fits your specifications but your pocketbook as well.

Sparkle and Dazzle lets you build your ring the way you want it. Use the 3D ring builder to see exactly what your creation will look like. This way you can check out several different possibilities when it comes to engagement rings without having to leave the comfort of your living room. Besides, it’s just fun to play with and will help you get better acquainted with the different cuts and settings when it comes to engagement rings and wedding rings.

Not only are there diamonds-a-plenty, so you can find the perfect one, but they have sapphire rings, ruby rings and even emerald rings. So, once you’ve have found the perfect engagement ring, you can keep Sparkle and Dazzle in mind for future jewelry giving occasions. Personally, anniversary rings are the perfect way to make the celebration memorable.

Sparkle and Dazzle has been in business since 1992 and boast that they offer the largest online selection of unique wedding bands, diamond wedding rings, and engagement rings. After spending some time on their website, the selection is vast and impressive. It is definitely worth checking out for a wedding ring, anniversary ring, or any occasion jewelry.

There is a local place that has just opened up that lets parents cook with their kids. It’s a cool idea. Sadly Rae is a little too young to take part in their classes. The whole concept did get me to thinking about all the fun recipes that Rae and I could make together even with her being so young.

So, I’ve decided to post recipes that I find that are especially good for cooking with your kids. I remember how much fun it was to help out in the kitchen and hope that Rae enjoys it as much as I did.  I’ll have the first recipe up sometime next week as it is one from an issue of High Five. We will try it out and possibly even do a little video.

So, I guess everyone has heard about the big switch to digital television in February 2009. It seems every nightly program has a crawl that announces that the analog signal will be turned off, and you will either need a digital TV or a converter to watch broadcast television.

Well, we need a second television for the bedroom and are torn about whether to go digital or not. Getting a HDTV will take up less room since we can buy an lcd mount and hang it on the wall. That appeals to me but also a cheaper TV sounds good to our budget, especially with trying to save money for a trip later this year.

We will probably go cheaper for right now. But it might be worth doing some comparison shopping since who knows what deals we might can find online for a HDTV. It would be nice to get the latest technology and then not worry with a converter.

That makes me sneeze? This is totally annoying. I blame it on allergies like everything else. I really need some sort of drug treatment to take from March until June.

I know by the time I find something to take for it, it will simply go away. I’m trying to wait it out but I’m impatient as it is a very pleasant day and I have a lot to do. Since it’s actually cool enough to do the stuff on my to do list, I don’t want to have my allergies get in the way.

I have tried several shampoos but I guess I will have to see if there are any non-scented ones. I would really hate to have to use it, though, since I really like how my shampoo smells.

Well, at least May is almost here. Maybe there will be less pollen in the air, and I won’t have to give up my shampoo after all.

I’ve already showed my homemade laundry detergent, now I’d like to share a good laundry tip for keeping those socks together. It might take an extra step but is definitely worth it especially if you hate matching socks as much as I do.

This week I made something I have never made before and loved it - homemade pizza. Was it ever yummy and had me wondering, “Why haven’t I done this before?”

Here is a list of what is needed to make the pizza I made:

1 box Jiffy pizza crust mix (or any mix will do. Jiffy’s mix was only 40 cents)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup pizza sauce (more or less depending on whether you like pizza sauce)
About 20 slices of pepperoni
1/2 cup sausage

Prepare the pizza dough as per the directions on the box. Once you have your dough prepared and laid out onto your baking sheet, use a ladle to place the pizza sauce on the pizza and spread it around. Next add your toppings and then cheese. Or if you prefer your pepperoni crisp, add it after the cheese. Then bake per directions on the pizza crust box. Here is how mine turned out:

While buying all the ingredients didn’t save me money when compared to a frozen pizza, I do have enough to make a second pizza, making it cheaper than both frozen pizzas and take out. All I need is another 40 cent box of pizza crust. So not only was it a delicious meal and have fun in the kitchen, it’s a way to save money, too.

I received this announcement about a towel contest from Micro Cotton. Thought I would pass it along.

Is your linen closet a disaster area? Are your towels threadbare and from the 20th century? MicroCotton is here to make your nightmare closet a dream come true! Fifty (50) lucky people will win a luxurious linen closet makeover worth $250 each, courtesy of MicroCotton. All you have to do is log on to www.microcotton.com and tell them in 100 words or less why you deserve to win. MicroCotton will take care of the rest. Just imagine yourself with a closet filled with brand new, soft, fluffy white towels. So throw out those ratty, faded towels from 1960 and click to snag some FREE eco-friendly towels from MicroCotton!

Contest ends June 15th, 2008.

While looking for swing sets online, I went to Toys R Us and noticed a new toy exclusive to their them. It’s called Natural Toys.

There are six toys that are made of natural wood. The toys are decorated with a wood burning technique, so there is no paint. Just all natural wood. In a day when there has been so many recalls of toys because of lead paint, it’s refreshing to see natural wood toys sold on a massive scale. And unpainted wooden toys is an added bonus.

Rae has a ton of toys that have broken simply because they just don’t stand up to being played with. Wooden toys last and are also are good for the environment. It’s definitely a section that I will steer up to the next visit as I’d much rather buy her something that will stand the test of time.

Summer is right around the corner, so I have been looking at the different outdoor toys that I might could buy for Rae. I picked her up a toy golf club set. While she is a long way from enjoying a round of 18 holes at Branson golf course, she seemed to enjoy playing with the set.

The set comes with three plastic clubs, 3 balls, plastic golf bag, and 2 putting holes. The set only cost $4, so I was expecting great quality. The driver has already broken. In fact, it broke the first day we had it. She has been playing with it for a while and really didn’t care for the driver anyway.

So, for $4 and at least a week of entertainment, the kids golf clubs were a good deal. Quality might not be great but maybe it will outlast her interest in the toy.