Some people may think gift cards are tacky but for hard to buy people they really are a lifesaver. Just be careful that you don’t get caught in the gift card scam as I call it – if you don’t use the gift card in a certain amount of time they actually loose value.

Remember to visit Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works for Me Wednesday ideas!

Today from 12pm until 8pm participating Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops around the world will be hosting Ben & Jerry’s Annual Free Cone Day. Click here to find a participating scoop shop near you!

1. What begins with T, ends with T, and has T in it?
2. What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?
3. I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?

If you want more fun with riddles, visit The Hardest Riddle on the Internet for interactive fun!

• Answer 1: teapot
• Answer 2: a towel
• Answer 3: a nose

1. the old humidifier
2. the ESPN sportscenter 6 in 1 toy
3. the old blankets stuck back in the closet
4. two bags of old clothes
5. the old snow blower
6. old toys
7. some gifts I’dlike to re-gift
8. glass vases – we have a ton of them!
9. the cat that leaves me “presents” on the rug daily ?
10. fiction books I’ve read – we could have a mini library
11. a box of mismatched holiday decorations
12. old PDAs – maybe some kids could use them?
13. the kids — heheehheeee

Your turn: What items do you have around your house that you could sell?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

1. To clean a toilet — Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
2. To remove burned on grease from a pan — Fill the pot or pan with water, drop in six Alka-Seltzer tablets, let soak for one hour, then scrub as usual.
3. To unclog a drain — Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Remember to visit Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works for Me Wednesday ideas!

Their reason:

we have been struggling as a family to find the right balance of life, work and blogging. Unfortunately life has been suffering more and more

Although we will miss their creative stream of fun activities and information, I want to give a big shout out for quitting for the right reasons.

Although the Diva Spot just an itty bitty blog in the giant blogosphere, we can understand some of the concerns our friends at Kidley had.

There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes at an organized blog: planning the posts, finding links, creating images, writing and editing content, managing comments.

As more and more Moms out there turn to blogging we applaud them expressing themselves creatively. Just don’t lose sight of who your real audience is — your family at at home!

Best wishes to everyone at Kidley and we hope to see them again someday

• recipes
• style / fashion
• family
• other

I read People magazine – it has some gossip – and some interesting articles.
Usually it takes me longer than a week to get thru it.

Here is what I read
when I have time!

• recipes: Cooking Light / Everyday with Rachel Ray
• style / life: Oprah
• entertainment: People

With all the eggshells left from Easter, here’s something you can do with them. Start your spring garden!

Click here for instructions from Highlights magazine to make the clown egg planter in the photo above.

To make a simple eggshell planter, you’ll need:

Eggshells
Potting soil
Grass seed or bean seeds
Hot glue sticks and glue gun or white glue
A small clay saucer

Directions:

1. Take a large egg and crack the shell about one-fourth of the way from the top by tapping the egg against the edge of the counter or a bowl. Empty the contents of the egg into a bowl. Rinse the eggshell with water and dry it gently with a paper towel.
2. Glue the eggshell to the clay saucer.
3. Fill the eggshells a little over halfway with potting soil.
4. Add many grass seeds or two bean seeds (in case one doesn’t sprout).The grass seed takes a few weeks to grow, but the bean seeds will spring up in just a few days.

How a seed grows by Helene J. Jordan is a great book for younger kids that will be fun to read and goes along with this activity.

1. bake bread — the house will smell delicious all day!
2. simmer cinnamon sticks with apple slices, or orange peels in water on the stove
3. burn scented candles
4. Febreeze
5. burn incense
6. put out bowls with sponges that have vanilla extract on them
7. open the windows and let the fresh air in
8. sprinkle carpet deodorizer on your carpets, leave, then vacuum
9. dried eucalyptus in arrangements smells great
10. use plug-in fresheners in hidden locations
11. spray your favorite perfume on an unlit lightbulb – the heat will warm up the scent and make the room smell great
12. put out dishes of dried rosemary and lavender, or in sachets in closets or drawers
13. use a product like Fridge-it to capture unwanted odors

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

• Sticky fingers — gotcha covered!
• Spills — not a problem!
• Messy faces – not anymore!

Remember to visit Rocks In My Dryer for more great Works for Me Wednesday ideas!