I NEVER get pop-ups anymore since I took the advice of fratelli_can z5 on the plumeria forum...Make sure you are VERY comfortable doing some editing in your Windows operating system files. You might want to try Ademink's suggestion of the google pop-up blocker first. I don't have the google toolbar w/blocker installed. I will go on to say that I have no problems receiving e-mail from GW; I don't know if the two issues are related. Here is the post that fixed the problem for me. I will put the section in bold that I used. Good luck, Char ===================================================================== RE: Ads really getting annoying... Posted by fratelli_can z5 (My Page) on Sun, Dec 25, 05 at 17:52 Once and for all: How to stop the iVillage ad onslaught. First we need to understand how it's done: iVillage doesn't bother to try and buy ads directly from all the various companies that show up on the pages of GW. Instead they use large ad-service agencies like doubleclick, akamai and pointroll. You can visit some of these sites if you'd like to see who's behind the ads. http://www.akamai.com http://www.doubleclick.com/us http://pointroll.com This makes it easy to block out all or almost all of the ads very easily, just block the originating sites. Right now all the ads on GW come from: http://amch.questionmarket.com http://a820.g.akamai.net http://iv.doubleclick.net http://i.ivillage.com http://m.2mdn.net http://tste.ivillage.com http://img-cdn.mediaplex.com http://ads.vmirror.com http://cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com http://ads.pointroll.com The Universal Solution. This will work on Windows systems for all browsers; IE, FireFox and Netscape. The Windows operating system provides a system-level method to block specific IP addresses before they even get to the browser. To effect this solution you need to edit a Windows system file called hosts. This file is located in the directory: Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 2K: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 98: C:\WINDOWS Open the file in Notepad. Cut the following from this post and paste it to the end of the file. 127.0.0.1 amch.questionmarket.com 127.0.0.1 a820.g.akamai.net 127.0.0.1 iv.doubleclick.net 127.0.0.1 i.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 m.2mdn.net 127.0.0.1 tste.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 img-cdn.mediaplex.com 127.0.0.1 ads.vmirror.com 127.0.0.1 cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com 127.0.0.1 ads.pointroll.com Edit each entry so that there is a tab between the IP address 127.0.0.1 and the URLs. Save the file and you're finished. Close and re-open your browser and all the ads will be gone. Unfortunately, iVillage may in the future buy ads from a new source. In this event the new ad source will have to be added to the list. The IE solution. Most of the ads are placed using Java$cript. You can remove the more offensive ads in IE with the browser settings. You can't however remove them all. To improve GW using IE do the following: From the menu select Tools -> Internet Options -> Security and click on Custom Level. Scroll down to the end of the list and you'll see an entry for Scripting. Disable all the sub-entries. Now select the tab labeled Privacy. In the bottom of the box that appears check on the option to block pop-ups. I recommend you also click on the button Advanced and select the option to block Third-party Cookies. NOTE: By disabling Scripting you will also effect the way other websites behave. You may need to get used to switching scripting on and off as desired. That's why this is the least desirable of these various options. The FireFox solution This is an excellent choice -- it's the fastest performing of the options listed here: FireFox is superior to IE in every possible way. FireFox provides the added advantage of blocking all Spyware, an evil that IE brought into this world. * download and install Firefox 1.5 * in the FireFox address bar type about:config * scroll down the list to the entry xpinstall.enabled * right click on the entry and select toggle from the menu * toggle as needed to set the value to true * go to the Firefox website and follow links to extensions * find the extension adblock and install it * remember to toggle xpinstall.enabled back to false * in Firefox select Tools -> Adblock -> Preferences * use the New Filter field to add the following items: http://amch.questionmarket.com http://a820.g.akamai.net http://iv.doubleclick.net http://i.ivillage.com http://m.2mdn.net http://tste.ivillage.com http://img-cdn.mediaplex.com http://ads.vmirror.com http://cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com http://ads.pointroll.com * enable Adblock The trick with Adblock is to block the domain rather than the specific ad. If you click on Adblock to disable an ad. Select Tools -> Adblock -> Preferences from the menu and then edit the new entry; remove anything that follows after .com or .net. This will block everyting from that source. The Netscape solution. With Netscape you can shut down all the iVillage ads using the browser preference settings. From the menu select: Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Cookies Allow cookies for the originating website only Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Images Accept Images that come from the originating server only Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Images Block unrequested popup windows -- turn this on Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced Enable native object scripting -- turn this off Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Scripts & Plug-ins Enable Java$cript for Navigator -- turn this off NOTE: GW will now be ad free, however disabling Java$cript will effect how other websites behave. You may have to get used to switching this setting back and forth. Therefore I suggest the Universal option above is more appropriate. NOTE: You MAC users out there: Sorry I don't have more info for you except to say that FireFox and adblock are available for the MAC. There's no sense in further complaing, iVillage IS an ad. We need to let them be who they are and stop them on our end. Take care all.

How is everyone doing tonight? I had the nicest surprise from Becki today! I got to try some of her Mocha Truffles and OH BABY are they good! The inside was this phenomenal creamy chocolate with the perfect hint of coffee, the outside was the white chocolate with the light dusting of coffee. Oh was it awesome! The flavors all complimented each other perfectly! Becki, You amaze me! I remember you saying that you thought the crystals made it a little bitter but I think it was very good! Perfect! I am rationing them! LOL! I will only let myself have one if I am on my very best behaviour and get a lot of work done! I know what you are going through with the whole getting things to look perfect. I went through the same thing when I was baking pastries for a caterer a few years ago. It is going to come together with practice. The more you get the feel for the chocolate the better you will get at it! I promise. You certainly have nothing to fear in the taste department! Your truffles were amazing! When I was making creme brulee for the first time I was terrified of how the caramelized sugar would look after it was flamed! I tried it under the broiler, nope! That sucked! Took too long, reheated the custard, made soup out of it. Blech! Had to start from scratch all over again. Pulled out the blow torch and it worked great, I didn't like some of the scorch marks but since then I have seen some of the cooking shows with the professional chefs and their's looked the same as mine! LOL! Same deal with my cheesecakes. I do mine in the big sheets instead of the round springforms so I can have lots for a crowd with bite size portions. The cream cheese layer on top was always a problem getting it to smooth perfectly, finally I went to a restaurant supply store and bought a large offset spatulala and it was big enough to get that smooth finish all the way across the 15 x 17 pan. The other day I read an interview with the pastry chef on food network that does the cake show (can't remember his name right now) he said that the one hard and fast rule is to not bake when in a bad mood or frustrated because your desserts will show it! I thought truer words were never spoken! That has been so true for me! April, didn't you say that you had trained to be a pastry chef? Any helpful tricks of the trade that you remember for Becki? I have had similar issues with the chocolate coatings in the past and remember trying different things to get it to work better but not always consistent with the same results. I don't have a ton of experience in this area. I would love to make some Hemp lip balm with you! LOL! I am growing my hair out so I can look more like a hippie at the commune! Communal Kitchen and dining room with separate living quarters is perfect for me! Oh, and a giant great room off the dining room and kitchen for lots of comfort, crafts and gabbing! I would love to learn how to make some of those essential oils. Bath and Body Works makes this awesome Vanilla Oil that I would love to be able to make myself. I have the vanilla, just need to know what to do to make the essential oils! LOL!

No problems with my Kindle. But this same problem has occured in the past....sounds exactly like something many of us suffered through a couple of years ago. It did turn out to be an issue with the ad itself. Clearly, it's difficult to keep up with all of the glitches that pop up on a big and complex website such as this. The best thing we can do to resolve such an issue is to bring it to the attention of the administrators right away. Contrary to what some believe, these websites are not monitored on a regular basis......GardenWeb is self-policed. Do not hesitate to report a problem like this, or spamming, bullying, proselytizing, etc. immediately. If 'they ' see something as a real problem, they will do something about it. However, if the ads that appear on the top or right of the screen offend or annoy you, then a free site might not be for you. I ignore them completely, but appreciate that some just cannot do that. I sure hope that this problem is resolved for Casey and others soon.

Cricketm, The best advise I can give you about Windows 10 is to watch a couple Tutorials on YouTube. Go to YouTube and Type either Windows 10 Tutorials or Windows 10 Tip and Tricks. Either of these should pull up some great Tutorials. I've got a nice Win 10 list started at another forum, but reading IMO isn't as good of a tool as a Video can be! I'm not saying you should read about it too! Here is a link to one of the better Videos: Windows 10 Tutorial I Decided to Copy the List here for you: 1. The First Trick is to Download and Install Windows 10 while it's still Free (Ends July 28th 2016) 2. Start Button (it's the White Windows Button in the Lower Left Corner of the screen) You can see the Start Button in the Above Photo numbered #3. 3. All Apps is where you'll find App and Programs that are installed on your Win10 computer. You can view where All APPS is located in the above Photo, #2 on the photo. 4. File Explorer is what My Computer or Computer in now called. You can find the File Explorer in the Above Photo, labeled #1. 5. Once you open All Apps if you Click on a Letter (not an App) you'll receive a list with numbers 0-9 and the 26 letter alphabet. If you know your App is in the Windows Accessories Folder you can press W. This will take you directly to the W's instead of scrolling down from A to W. 6. Cortana is your Personal Search Assistant. She can easily be found in your Taskbar at the Bottom of your screen. She can either be set as a Circle or a Search Box you could Type into (to the Right in this Box will be a Microphone, clicking on this will allow you to ask Cortana a Question). Finally if you don't want to use Cortana you can Hide her. All these features can be found by Right Clicking on the Circle/Search Box and Choosing Cortana, check the feature you want for Cortana. You can see the Cortana Search Box in the above Photo, is numbered as #4. In addition you can also find other setting for Cortana by: Clicking on the Circle/Search Box and picking the Notebook Icon in the left column of Cortana. This has a feature that will allow you to just say "Hey Cortana", this wakes Cortana up and then you can ask Cortana your question. To do this you need only turn this feature to the ON Position! 7. Cortana can help you do many things. She can Set Appointments on you Calendar She can remind you of your appointments She can set reminder like I set today to Remind me to take out the trash (Guess you have to remember to set a reminder)! She can Search your computer For File or Programs (really anything you need to find) She Can do a Internet Search for you, all you need to do is ask. I'm finding her a Very useful assistant. I started using her on my Windows 8.1 SmartPhone and was very glad to find they included her on Windows 10! 8. To Pin an App or Program to the Taskbar you only need drag it there. Some do offer to Pin to the Taskbar if you Right Click on them, but not all do. Pinning to the Start is not the same thing. 9. You can Pin most Apps and Programs to the Start Menu triggered by the Start Button. Right Click on the Icon you want to pin, if it's available to pin you will have that option. 10. Task View is next to Cortana in the Taskbar. This is useful so you can easily switch between open apps and programs. If you click on this Icon when the programs are maximized it will show you all available app/programs that are opened. If the Programs are minimized you will see all open apps/programs but will also have a feature below (just above the taskbar) that offers another Desktop. There is an Add Button to the Right that will allow you to open another Desktop. In this new Desktop you can have another program opened and by clicking on Desktop 1, 2, 3 or 4 you can switch back instantly to a program you were working on. Example Desktop 1 I have Internet Explorer opened to IBBS. Desktop 2 I have it Opened to Excel, Desktop 3 I have opened to Word. By clicking on the #3 Desktop Word will open to my Document I had opened at the exact spot it was opened before. I can then pick Desktop #1 and it will take me to IBBS to the Windows 10 Tip and Tricks where I'm currently at. With the click of one button I can be right back to Word or Excel on Desktop #2 or #3. 11. Snap Assist You can use Snap Assist to open two documents on the same screen without have to manually resize them. To do this take the first window and Quickly Drag it to either the Right Edge of the screen or the Left Edge of the screen (do this by Clicking and holding on the Top bar of the window) once your half way off the screen release your mouse button. Repeat this on the second window except for you'd drag it to the opposite side and release. 12. Right Clicking on the Start Button will open a Menu (List) with many features. Control Panel, Command Prompt, Device Manager, Disk Management , Programs and Features, etc... Lots there, Right Click and see! 13. In the Notification Area (where the clock is located) there are many running Programs as before many versions of Windows. There is one that looks like a Text Balloon. If you click on that Balloon the Action Center will open. The Buttons at the bottom have many different Functions. a. If you would Click on the Tablet Mode Button your Desktop will instantly change to the Windows 8.1 look with enlarged App Buttons. b. There is a Brightness Button you can adjust you Screen Brightness with. c. There is a WiFi Button you can turn your WiFi On and Off. d. One of the buttons is All Setting which is the Windows 10 Version of Control Panel (although right now Control Panel still exists All APPS> Windows System Folder) e. Bluetooth Button if your computer has Bluetooth capabilities, turns it On and Off. There are many more, you'll just need to explore it yourself! 14. You can open two documents and scroll both (not at the exact same time) but you can scroll the document in the background without bringing it to the front by clicking on it. Just running the cursor on top of that document (don't click, just scroll). BTW, To be able to view both documents you can't have them maximized on the screen. You could never do this with any other Operating System, you always had to bring the document to the front to be able to Scroll the document! Like in the Picture below (as you can see the IBBS Forum in the doc in the back, but I can scroll it without moving it to the front): 15. You can Resize the Start Menu. Place your mouse cursor at the Top of the Start Menu or at the Right Side until the cursor turns to a Double Arrow. Click and Hold, then drag it out to the desired distance (or back to make smaller). 16. You can Resize the Tile Size in the Start Menu. The Tiles are on the Right Side of the Start Menu. This was a Windows 8 feature but Windows 10 retained it! You can make the Tiles 4 different sizes: Small, Medium Wide and Large You only need Right Click on the Tile you want Resized the choose Resize from the menu. 17. You can Move the Tiles around on the Start Menu until you have them like you want them. Simply Click, Hold and Drag the Tile where you'd like it to be, Release and done! 18. Turning Pop-up Blocker on in Microsoft Edge: a. Click on Three Dots upper Right Corner, choose Settings from list b. Scroll Down to Advanced Setting and Click on View Advanced Settings Button below. c. Make sure Block Pop-Ups is turned on Windows 10 Pop-up Blocker Video