I do MOST of my shopping on line, particularly since this past winter when WS began using up all my daylight time and then of course the beautiful garden that came as a result took all my daylight time this spring and summer! Here is my strategy: Clothes: LLBean - I find using their charge card gets you free shipping and monograming, plus no tax in my state and quick delivery. Always shop the "sales" section of their site.Pay the bill each month, so they aren't making any interest on me. Ebay: I am hard to fit. If I find a brand or designer that "works" I keep an eye on ebay for listings. Works especially well for something you fall in love with and then the manufacture stops making the style (for me Charter club cashmere cardigans (MACYS) and a Maidenform bra. The key is investing a bit of time to learn how to use the search engines so you are only looking at exactly what you want (For instance I put this all in the search: Charter club cashmere cardigan XL New with tags). Set up a paypal account to make shopping easy. Food/groceries: yes I still go to the market for fresh stuff, but I have found that Amazon can save me a bundle on things we consume in large quanties."Lady Gray" tea bags, coffee and cliff and Luna bars come to mind. Amazon has become my reference point for all other shopping. If I see I need a frying pan, I check prices there (where else can you see and read reveiws on a dozen different kinds of 12inch frying pans?)Buy one if I see a good deal or at least know the "going rate" when I am looking at one in a store. Shoes: I have wide feet. Using the search engines on Shoebuy.com helps me find exactly whats available. No shipping/free returns - easy. And good buys too for good quality. Want to get really crazy obsessed with online shopping? I spend at least an hour a day cruising this sites "forums" where folks write in about great buys they have found on the web that day: Fatwallet.com, dealtaker.com, slickdeals.com. Lots of "computer/tech stuff" to wade through (I rarely buy any) but worth it when you find 500ct Queen sheet sets listed somewhere for $25 bucks! Around the holidays these boards really heat up - I got tons of gift ideas and bargains last year. Craiglist.com - Probably where I have saved the most money. My husband and I have never spent big bucks on furniture - would much rather take a trip or save for our kids college education, so our home was furnished mostly with nice hand me downs from parents or antique pieces I have bought cheap and refinished.LAst year I decided I wanted a "real" bedroom set - one that all the pieces matched! A friend told me about craigslist. Doesn't operate everywhere, but we have it here in Long Island, NY. Bascically it's a webased garage sale - but lots of people are selling brand new furniture because they are moving. I got a complete solid oak bedroom set - 6 pieces - for $500 (originally over 3k), a white Ikea bedroom set for my daughter for $250 and a Brand new living room (couch, love seat, matching chair, coffee table and 2 end tables) for $500 . Fabric/cusions were like new - bachelor who owned it worked all the time. We have had to borrow a truck from a friend each time to pick the items up, but so worth the savings. Inside my house is starting to look as "Martha" as the outside gardens! Happy shopping! Nancy

I've thought about this one a lot. After close to 3 years, some things that I thought I'd never do again are easier, and some may never be. For 3 months after Dave and Millie died, I was in a fog, but I do recall that I made jam, pickles, and then fruitcake, things I'd not made in decades. It helped, I don't know why. I still have a really hard time going through the pictures and videos. Certain songs on the radio still make me cry, but some which were so much Dave or Millie, just make me want to laugh, after all this time. I can't go back to the zoo or the Children's Museum. I spent so many really great hours at both places with Millie. I did give my middle son a museum membership for his birthday so that he can take his little girl, but I'm not ready to be there. Last week, I made ice cream with my almost 3 granddaughter, and I can tell you it was painful. Millie and I did that every summer together. But I'm hoping that the next time won't be so hard. Sarah loved it, just as Millie had done, and she was so proud that she'd helped make dessert for the family. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. Hugs to you all, and thanks for listening to me.

I check myfamily.com daily. It's a place you can set up a website just for your family. Since I come from such a large "tribe", it's a wonderful way to keep in touch with all my siblings plus nieces, nephews and cousins. No one else can log on unless they were given a name and password. We share all our news, pictures, recipes, book and movie reviews. It isn't free but it's worth it to keep family close. Always check the 10-day forecast at weather.com Facebook, Yahoo mail, 1saleaday, and my home town (Indiana) newspaper. I also play 2 games that are so addicting--mah jongg and colored bricks, which someone on here posted a long time ago.

Molly3573-I did not strip the cabinets -clean /fill/prime- The base board trim is just taller base trim from Home Depot- I used the pre-primed faux wood stuff and I used a newall (sp?) post cut down for the corners of the island and corner guards for the corner of the cabinets to dress them up. The bead board was just the pine bead board sheets (4x8) at Home Depot primed and painted with the same. I did not glaze them like the cabinets. All attached with a brad nailer- small trim nails would work and a hammer-but take longer- hope this helps -adding crown molding really gave the best bang for the buck as an upgrade- good luck with your kitchen!