I think a lot of people are looking for more frugal ways to do things. Sometimes it becomes a contest to see just how loud you can make those pennies shriek!!!! My son started listening to Clark Howard several years ago and it really opened his eyes to things we'd tried to instill in him concerning debt for years. Suddenly mom and dad weren't so off the wall, lol... I also had a Math teacher in the 8th grade that really brought home to her students the meaning of 'caveat emptor'..... She would also make us figure out how many hours based on an average wage a person had to work for whatever was popular/hot at the moment. I taught my kids to do that from time to time when they thought they just had to have something. It's an eye opener! It's a shame they don't make teachers like her anymore. Some of these are better than others. Take what ya need and leave the rest. :) http://www.tightwad.com/ http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/index.php?s=37bd3402327961db160b1f7ea300921e http://www.thesimpledollar.com/ http://frugal.families.com/blog/ http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/ http://community.stretcher.com/ http://frugalliving.about.com/ http://www.frugalmom.net/

She doesn't do the yearly thing either. I used to subscribe and she stopped I think 2001 or 02 ? I think.... I have it in my file cabinet. .... I would have to go dig it out to find out the exact date but it really doesn't matter cause they don't do them anymore. Amy said she and the family were ready for privacy.

Yes, I have some of his books and I recommend them. He has a very natural approach to gardening and i have used alot of his ideas with much success. You have to be a junior chemist tho!!! For example, there is a houseplant tonic that calls for ammonia, whiskey, plant food, etc. a little of this and a little of that......works pretty good for me tho! I think it's all a matter of preference. Maybe you could find a used book of his on ebay or Amazon, try it that way. Good luck!

Whoopie Pies with Mint Filling and Chocolate Ganache Cookies: 2 cups all purpose flour 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/8 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup non hydrogenated solid vegetable shortening or unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature 1 cup sugar 2 large egg yolks 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup whole milk Mint Filling: 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons nonhydrogenated solid vegetable shortening or unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/4 cup egg whites (from about 2 large eggs) 3 to 4 drops green food coloring Chocolate Ganache: 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips Special Equipment: Pastry bag or resealable plastic bag Medium-size star pastry tip preparation Cookies: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375�F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat shortening, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beating until blended after each addition. Drop dough by very rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake 1 sheet at a time until cookies are slightly puffed and spread but are still soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on sheets 10 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookie dough. DO AHEAD: Cookies can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight in single layer at room temperature. Mint Filling: Using electric mixer, beat shortening, peppermint extract, and vanilla in large metal bowl until blended. Add powdered sugar, egg whites, and pinch of salt; beat until light and fluffy. Add food coloring drop by drop for desired shade of green; beat until well blended. If mixture looks curdled, place bowl over low heat several seconds and beat until smooth. Repeat as necessary until smooth. Ganache: Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool until lukewarm but spreadable, about 15 minutes. Spoon 1 teaspoon ganache onto bottom (flat side) of half of cookies. Place cookies, ganache side up, on prepared baking sheet. Spoon mint filling into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip (or spoon filling into resealable plastic bag, squeezing filling into 1 corner of bag, then cut off 1/4 inch of plastic bag corner to allow for piping). Starting at outer edge of bottom (flat side) of remaining cookies and working toward center, pipe mint filling in spiral. Place 1 mint-filled cookie, mint side down, atop each ganache-topped cookie, pressing slightly to adhere. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Store airtight at room temperature. This is just one recipe I found by searching. There are a lot of recipes out there. Sue