Your most efficient electric heaters are those with metal coils. These models can be small and portable, but they certainly get the job done.  You can also choose electric oil filled radiators, which are another great option.  The electricity heats the oil in machine and once it reaches a certain temperature, the electricity turns off, but the oil stays hot.

The biggest concern with portable heaters, however, is that you must turn them off when you are done using them or leaving the room they are in.  Make sure you keep them at least 3 feet from any combustibles and never plug them into an extension cord. I also recommend installing a smoke and CO2 detector in any room that has a portable heater. Another thing to look for when choosing a portable heater is anti-tip technology, which will cut off the heat, should the unit start to tip over.

A big no-no for portable heaters are kerosene heaters.  Any heater with an open flame should never be used indoors.

Post from: DIY Reviews

The upkeep of wood-burning fireplaces is intense and can dissuade you from using your fireplace all together.  Plus, you run the risk of encountering issues with drafting which can make your whole house smoky.  With gas logs, there is none of this to worry about.

Gas logs can be installed very quickly and look quite realistic.  And the upkeep is so much simpler! No more cleaning out the debris after every fire or lugging in chopped wood on cold days.  Now, you’ll still have to have your chimney cleaned every 3-4 years, but that’s much less than the annual cleaning that I recommend for wood-burning fireplaces. You also might have to look at having a gas line moved, which would increase your cost to install.  But in my opinion, it is absolutely worth it.  Another bonus, gas logs turn on with the flick of a switch, or in some models, the click of a remote control.  Talk about instant romance!

Post from: DIY Reviews

Who is Lou Manfredini?

After more than 10 successful years in construction, Manfredini had gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on homes that he began to consider ways to more broadly share his expertise with others. He believed that a house "was more like a living entity than an inanimate collection of lumber, wiring and plumbing." By showing people how various systems and components in a house rely on each other and instilling a greater understanding of a house as a "whole," Manfredini thought everyone could have greater success in their home improvement and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.

Lou will be providing several tips and resources for readers, based off the topics that are currently on the minds of everyone! To see a sample of the quality advice from Lou, visit the Helpful Hardware Man Projects page.

Armed with his expertise and enthusiasm, Manfredini began his media career when WGN Radio in Chicago launched his idea for a home improvement call-in radio show. The show quickly caught on: today, The Mr. Fix-It Show is the number one Saturday morning radio program in Chicago.

Not long thereafter, Manfredini branched into television and print media. Currently, he is the official home improvement expert for NBC's Today Show and a frequent guest on numerous network television stations across the United States as well as programming for CNN, HGTV, Discovery, and the History Channel. Most recently, Manfredini is the host of his own television show, HouseSmarts, which airs on the NBC affiliate in Chicago.

Reaching millions of DIYers every month with his friendly persona and down-to-earth project advice, Manfredini also has authored these successful DIY books: Lou Manfredini's Bath Smarts (2004), Kitchen Smarts (2004), Room Smarts (2004) and House Smarts (2002); Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home (2002); and Mr. Fix-It: 101 Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Repairing Your Home (2000). These books have been featured in national magazines such as People and Newsweek, as well as major-market newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.

Manfredini is a nationally recognized DIY expert, sought after both for his expertise and his energetic, entertaining style. In an extension of his ongoing effort to help people maximize the value and enjoyment of their homes, he is also Ace Hardware's "Helpful Hardware Man" and editorial media spokesperson. Along with his wife and four children, Manfredini lives in Chicago, where they also own and operate a neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

Post from: DIY Reviews

The biggest thing when dealing with pilot lights is to make sure that you have a good sensing device, called a thermocouple, which can sense when the light is on.  These need to be changed every 5-6 years and need to be cleaned on a regular basis.  If you are having a hard time keeping your pilot light on, 9 out of 10 times, you just need to check your thermocouple.

If your pilot light that is attached to your heater or furnace is going out, it could be from wind that is coming through the chimney and literally blowing it out.  A way to stop this from happening is to use a mechanical damper, which opens and closes when needed.

Finally, if you have an electronic ignition, you might want to check that your flame sensor is working properly.  This is a piece of metal that is shaped similar to a large paperclip.  When the gas turns on it ignites and senses when the flame is on.

Post from: DIY Reviews

Student loans are loans that are distributed to students based on how well you may have done in high school, or how your parents income.  There are many factors that could determine how much money you will receive.

The loans are mailed to you at the beginning of you academic school year in for of a check.  It is your responsibility to decide what to do with this check.  Obviously you will be using it towards paying tuition.  But before doing this, there are many things you could do to help maximize the effectiveness of this loan.

You should start off by applying for each and every loan or scholarship available to you.  The more money you receive, the less money that comes out of your own pocket.  After you receive the money, you should sit down and meet with your financial advisor.  He or she will help you decide where you should spend your money.  There are many factors that could maximize your loans.  Where you live, your type of meal plan, and your books are things that could affect this.  Finding the cheapest apartment, eating at the cheapest food places, and the places you rent out your books will help you save money, and in the end you could find yourself using these loans to cover all of your tuition, or even having left over money in your pocket.  Another thing that can reduce your cost of college is work-study jobs.  This type of job is on campus and what it does is take a portion of your tuition and let you work for that money, so you are basically earning it back.

Student loans are underestimated by many people but if you play your cards right and do enough research to find out how to best maximize the loans, you could end up going to college for a low price, or even free.

Post from: DIY Reviews

Little Giant Ladder System

The Little Giant Ladder may be a higher priced ladder, but any Do-it-Yourself person who spends just 10 minutes reading reviews or talking to others who own one, you will not waste another minute before buying one!

26 Little Giant Pro Ladder 1A Wheels w Work Platform    US $399.00

Little Giant 1A 300lb Aluminum 4 6 Adjustable Ladder    US $114.99

22 1A Little Giant Ladder Platform New with Wheels    US $359.40

26 1A Little Giant Ladder PRO SERIES w 4 acc black NEW    US $497.00

Dewalt 18 Volt XRP Cordless Combo Kit

Every handyman or woman needs a cordless combo kit in their tool arsenal! The Dewalt 18 Volt XRP series combo kits deliver results above and beyond what you expect in one of these packages!

Dewalt DC4paka Heavy Duty XRP™ 18V Cordless 4Tool Combo    US $474.00

CASE ONLY DEWALT 4 TOOL COMBO CASE DCK450X    US $14.99

NEW DeWalt 18 Volt Cordless 4 Pc Tool Kit DC4PAKA    US $380.80

New DEWALT 18 Volt DC4PaKa Cordless 4 Tool Combo Kit    US $339.95

Wagner Spray Tech Paint Crew

Painting your home is pain, lets face it! If you are one of those who wants to paint their own home but is afraid to get overwhelmed with brushes, rollers and every other manual way of painting, the Wagner Spray Tech system is the way to go! You can spend thousands of dollars to hire someone... or just a couple hundred, and do it yourself! Perfect for DIY homeowners and small contractors alike!

Titan XT 290 RECONDITIONED Airless Paint Sprayer xt290    US $274.99

SprayTech Apex 1620 Airless Paint Sprayer    US $217.99

Spraytech 1920 Wagner 9190 Airless Paint Sprayer    US $349.99

Wagner Airless Paint Sprayer Spray Gun XL 06 New w Tip    US $39.99

Cricut Expressions

For the Crafter in your home, Cricut delivers the ease and versatility of all die-cutting systems without all the dies or even a PC. The Cricut Expression system is an all in one cutting machine for the Do it Youselfer that uses a cartridge-based setup to provide thousands of pattern options! You choose the size and shape, put in your paper and hit one single button. The Cricut takes over from there! Take it with you anywhere, with its comfortable and sturdy carrying handle.

If you have a crafter in your home, this is the one machine everyone is buying!

YUDU Screen Print Machine From the Creators of CRICUT    US $239.95

Cricut CGULL Leather Tote Original Create Machine    US $54.95

Used Cricut Expression Used Jukebox    US $250.00

Two CRICUT expression 12x24 cutting mats pads 12 x 24    US $21.95

Weber Portable Tailgater Grill

ANY Tailgater knows, your pregame party is only as good as your grill! Weber truly came through on this Portable Grill for Tailgaters, by delivering a medium sized cooking surface, fueled by propane gas!

Set the Tailgater grill onto your tailgate or on a small box, fire it up, and within minutes... this DIY Tailgater gift is working on your chicken, steaks, burgers, or whatever special party recipe you bring to the big game!

NEW WEBER 566002 Q 220 Q220 PORTABLE GAS BARBEQUE GRILL    US $207.77

Brand New Weber Q 200 Gas Grill NIB    US $179.99

NEW WEBER Q 100 Q100 386002 PORTABLE GAS BARBEQUE GRILL    US $147.80

WEBER 586002 Q 320 PORTABLE OUTDOOR GAS GRILL    US $234.00

Web Design Software from Adobe

Ask any Website Developer what makes their job the easiest, and chances are pretty good... you will hear a common theme of the Adobe CS3 Dreamweaver suite being used! The full suite of tools is not a cheap buy for sure, but after you build just one site... it will pay for itself in the time saved during the development as well as the time saved for updating the site in the future!

Adobe CS3 makes the Perfect DIY Website Developer Gift!

ADOBE ROBOHELP 8 WINDOWS PN 65030153 WIN ROBO HELP    US $699.00

A dobe CS33 Web Premium Mac Brand New Sealed    US $1,398.25

A dobe CS3 Master Collection Mac Upg from 1 Suite New    US $1,745.95

A dobe CS3 Master Collection Mac UPGRADE from 2 Suites    US $1,245.85

Mechanics Hand Tool Kit

If you have a backyard do it yourself mechanic in the house, he or she can never have too many tools! Craftsman has proven they will not only stand the test of time with high quality, but they carry a lifetime warranty and will replace ANY tool that breaks for ANY reason!

Simply put, your DIY mechanic cannot go wrong with a set of Craftsman hand tools!

7 PC 3 8 DRIVE SAE CROWFOOT WRENCH SET w CLIP ON RAIL    US $9.99

7 PC 3 8 METRIC CROWFOOT WRENCH SET w CLIP ON RAIL    US $9.99

NEW CRAFTSMAN Tools 11pc 1 4 Drive SAE socket set    US $8.99

NEW CRAFTSMAN Tools 10pc 1 4 Drive SAE socket set    US $7.99

Gourmet Coffee Expresso Kit

Gourmet Coffee is not new for sure, but making it at home is just now catching on! One of our recent articles on Using a French Press Pot has received thousands of readers in less than 45 days, which means it is coming to the masses!

For a friend or the coffee lover in your home, getting them a Gourmet Coffee Machine Gift is always the right choice!

NESPRESSO CITIZ D120 ESPRESSO MAKER MILK FROTHER BLACK    US $299.99

Mr Coffee Steam Espresso Cappuccino Maker ECM20    US $39.99

Gaggia Titanium SS Super Auto Warranty Inc FREE SH    US $825.00

Mr Coffee ECMP50 Pump Espresso Cappucino Latte Maker    US $79.95

Canon EOS Rebel Digital Camera Kit

For the DIY Photographer in your home, the Canon XSi 450D is by far, the most popular digital camera on the market! From the changeable lenses to the one of the most dynamic pixel ranges available today, you will be cherished forever by getting this gift for the do it yourself photographer!

Canon Rebel XSi EOS w EF S 18 55 IS Lens Kit 450d NEW    US $549.99

Canon EOS XSI 450D Digital Rebel 18 55 IS 4GB Kit NEW    US $604.99

NEW USA CANON EOS Rebel XSi 450D Digital Camera 5 lens    US $959.99

NEW Canon EOS Rebel XSi EOS 450D 18 55mm KIT    US $560.00

Post from: DIY Reviews

Over the years, I've figured out that you can make soup with anything and turkey is no exception! By making soup with it, you have the ability to make another large meal for the family, use up those leftovers, and stretch a buck - which we all need!

Below is a great starting point, but remember, you really can throw in any leftover veggies you have.

How to Make Turkey Soup

• Remove all turkey from the bone. You can choose to simply shred the turkey or chop it into large chunks. If you choose to shred it, remember as it cooks in the soup it will become a little stringy. I prefer the chunks.
• Place all the leftover bones and skin into a large stock pot and cover with water. You can also add any drippings that have not already been used. Quarter an onion and add to the pot along with a few chopped carrots, a bay leaf and some peppercorns. Add salt and pepper to taste - usually about 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper. You can always add more near the end.
• Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook 3-4 hours uncovered. If any foam forms on the top, skim that off.
• After simmering is complete, remove all the bones and vegetables and strain your stock. Return strained stock to stock pot and keep on low simmer.
• In a saute pan, add a couple of tablespoons of butter and allow to melt. Add one large chopped onion, 2 cloves of garlic chopped, 4 carrots chopped, and 3 large potatoes chopped. Saute until onions are clear.
• Before adding vegetables to stock pot, its best to thicken your stock just a bit. There are many ways to thicken a stock, but I prefer the flour method. Take about 1/4 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water and blend until there are no lumps. Take 1 cup of your hot stock and add to the mixture. Stir quickly so there is no lumping. This is called tempering. Now, add this back into the stock pot and stir quickly and immediately  - again, so there is no lumping.  Your stock should start to thicken quickly.
• Add all sauted vegetables to stock along with the chopped turkey and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• If you have any leftover rice or noodles, you can these within the last 15 minutes of cooking. It adds more depth to the soup and acts like a binder. You can also add mashed potatoes if you have those leftover. This just serves to thicken the soup a bit more.
• If you like tomatoes, you can also add a large can of chopped tomatoes with green chilis. This adds a little kick to the soup!
• Test for salt and pepper and you are done!

You can also make this recipe in a slow cooker using the same directions. After thickening the stock, pour it into a slow cooker and follow the rest of the recipe. Make sure you set the slow cooker on low heat and cook for 2-3 hours.

Post from: DIY Reviews

This list was originally started as a top 10 list, but I only included 9! I will be picking one from the comments below and posting it as #10 on the list!

Texas Cornbread Dressing Ingredients

• 2 c Yellow cornmeal 3 c Chopped onion
• 2 c Flour 3 c Chopped celery
• 1/2 c Sugar 1 cn Green chilies
• 2 tb Baking powder 2 tb Minced garlic
• 1 ts Salt 1 cn Green chilies
• 2 c Milk 2 tb Minced garlic
• 4 Eggs 2 tb Chili powder
• 1/2 c Vegetable oil 4 ts Ground cumin
• 4 tb Butter 1 c Chopped walnuts
• 1 lb Sweet Italian sausages 2 c Chicken broth

Instructions for Texas Cornbread Dressing

Combine all ingredients in order. Blend well and pour into 9x13 inch baking dish that is greased well. Bake at 400 degrees until done, about 25 minutes. Cool. (This can be done a day ahead.) Cut cornbread into cubes. Spread on baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Remove casings from sausage and crumble. Melt butter in large skillet. Add sausage and saute until brown. Add onions, celery, jalapeno and garlic. Saute about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cumin. Saute about 2 minutes more. Stir in nuts. Season with salt and pepper. Mix into cornbread. Stir in broth to moisten. Transfer to greased baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 25 minutes longer. Yield: 10 servings

Chestnut Turkey Stuffing

• 2 cups chestnuts
• 1 1/2 cups margarine
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 2 (1 pound) loaves day-old bread, cubed
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk

Directions for Chestnut Dressing

With a sharp knife, cut slits in the surface of the chestnuts. Place chestnuts in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook 25 minutes, or until tender. Drain, peel, and chop.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Melt margarine in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chestnuts, onion, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning, and cook until onions are tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium baking dish, and mix with the cubed bread.

In a small bowl, beat together eggs and milk, and drizzle over the cubed bread mixture.
Bake 30 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until surface is crisp and lightly browned.

Garlic, Onion, and Sage Stuffing Recipe

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 small onions, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 14-ounce bag cubed herbed stuffing mix
• 1-1/2 Tablespoons rubbed or ground dried sage
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 eggs, beaten to blend
• 1 cup chicken stock or canned broth

Preparation

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, celery, and garlic and saute until soft, about 8 minutes. Combine stuffing mixture, sage, salt, oregano, thyme, pepper, and Italian seasoning in large bowl. Stir in onion mixture and eggs. Add stock and mix well. Fill main cavity and neck cavity loosely with stuffing. Place any remaining stuffing in small buttered baking dish and cover with foil.

Southern Cornbread Dressing

• 1 (16 ounce) package dry corn bread mix
• 1 (1 pound) loaf day-old white bread, torn into small pieces
• 4 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 eggs
• 4 cups Chicken/Turkey broth

Directions for Southern Cornbread Dressing

Prepare an 8x8 inch pan of cornbread according to package directions. Crumble the corn bread into a large bowl. Mix in the white bread.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the margarine and stir in the onions. Slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.

Stir the onions into the bread mixture. Mix in the chicken, 4 cups reserved broth, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, pepper and eggs. Blend with a potato masher until the mixture is the consistency of gelatin. Use more of the reserved broth as necessary to attain desired consistency. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Bread Crumb Turkey Stuffing

• 1 1/2 oz butter
• 6 scallions, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated finely
• 4 cups fresh white breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, freshly chopped
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparation

Melt butter in skillet, add scallions, garlic and ginger. Stir fry for about 4 minutes or until soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Add the breadcrumbs, cilantro and egg and stir until well mixed. Spoon mixture into bird and cook according to directions.

Midwest Sausage and Dried Cherry Turkey Stuffing

• 6 cups country style white bread, cubed and toasted
• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 1 stick of butter
• 2 chopped onions
• 4 ribs of chopped celery
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of crumbled sage leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crumbled thyme leaves
• 1 cup dried cherries (purchase them dried)
• 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of chicken stock (canned)
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions for Midwest Sausage and Cherry Stuffing

Toast the 6 cups of bread cubes for 10 - 15 minutes in a 325 degree oven until golden. Transfer toasted cubes into a large bowl.

In a skillet, sauté the sausage, until brown. Drain grease and transfer it the bread bowl.

In the same skillet, using 1 stick of butter, sauté all of the vegetables for 10 minutes, until soft. Remove vegetables and place in bowl.

Now, in your bowl, combine the sausage, vegetables, cherries breadcrumbs and the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT for the chicken stock. Mix the ingredients until well combined. Now add just enough chicken stock to moisten the bread mixture. You do not want it soaking wet.

If packing the turkey, stuff the neck and cavity loosely with stuffing, folding the neck skin under and fastening with a skewer. If not, lightly pack stuffing into a large, shallow stoneware-baking dish.

If you bake the stuffing inside the bird, roast the bird at 325 degrees for 15 minutes per pound, or until the temperature of the bird reaches 180 degrees and the juices run clear when thigh is pierced with fork. * If you back in a separate dish, drizzle the stuffing with a little bit of stock (do not soak). Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Apple Walnut Stuffing

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1 cup chopped red baking apple
• 1 cup chopped green cooking apple
• 2 cups soft bread cubes or whole wheat bread cubes, toasted
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons dried whole-leaf sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions for Apple Walnut Stuffing

Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and celery, and cook, stirring constantly, until tender. Combine apples, bread cubes, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in vegetable mixture, egg, and remaining ingredients.

Spoon into a lightly greased 11x7x1 1/2-inch baking dish and bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings (4 1/2 cups).

Celery Turkey Stuffing

• 2 cups diced celery, with leaves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 quarts bread cubes
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon sage
• 1 pinch dried thyme

How to make Celery Stuffing

Melt butter in saucepan. Saute onion in melted butter until soft, but not brown. Add celery and stir well. Add 2 cups bouillon mixture. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place bread cubes into large mixing bowl. Add eggs, salt, pepper, sage, thyme and marjoram. Add onion and celery mixture. Combine thoroughly. If still too dry, add more chicken broth. Makes enough to stuff a 10 to 15 pound turkey.

To bake dressing out of the turkey, place in a buttered baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. More broth may be needed for this method to keep it from drying out.

Oyster Stuffing

• 1 lb bread, including crusts (10 cups packed and cubed)
• 1 pint oyster, raw
• 4-8 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 1/4-1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
• 1 tablespoon sage, minced
• 1 tablespoon thyme, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1/8 teaspoon clove, ground
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 large eggs, well beaten (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400, and toast the bread until golden brown on the middle rack. turn into a large bowl. Meanwhile heat butter until melted and foam subsides. add onions and celery and cook about 5 min until tender. Remove from heat and stir in the spices.

Stir in the bread cubes, and drained oysters and toss well, until the stuffing is moist, but not packed together, stir in the stock and eggs. put in bird while moist, remoisten and adjust spices as necessary.  If cooked in a casserole dish at 350 until heated through with a crust on the outsides, 25 to 40 min.

Oyster juice may be used in place of some of the stock.

Sausage Turkey Stuffing

• 1 lb. bulk sausage, mild or sage flavor
• 2 c. chopped onion
• 1 c. chopped celery
• 2 tsp. rubbed sage (if using mild sausage)
• 1 tsp. marjoram
• 10 c. dry bread cubes
• 1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley
• 2 c. chicken broth
• 2 TBS. butter
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions for Sausage Turkey Stuffing

Brown & crumble sausage in skillet. Remove & drain off grease.

Cook onion & celery in drippings until tender. Combine sausage, cooked vegetables, sage, marjoram, bread cubes, and parsley in large mixing bowl; blend well.

Stir in chicken broth to moisten (just gradually add it as you may not need the full 2 cups).

Season with salt & pepper and stuff mixture loosely into cleaned cavity & roast along with turkey.

OR, you can make dressing out of it by placing it in a greased 13x9x2" baking dish. Dot with butter, cover & bake in 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Uncover & bake 10 minutes or until golden.

12 Cups or 10 to 12 Servings

Share YOUR Favorite Turkey Stuffing Recipe

Post from: DIY Reviews

Live On Campus or Stay at Home!

The most important thing you could do would be to live on campus.  Living on campus allows you to have a meal plan which means you don't need to worry about having money to eat.

Don't Drink EVERY Night!

You will not only suffer in your grades, but you will go broke FAST! Pick your nights carefully that way you do not end up spending money every night on alcohol.

If you MUST drink every night...

Drink Cheap Beer

Honestly, it wont hurt you.  Instead of the Coors Light, or Cornona's, stick with the cheap beer like busch light.  It will end up saving you almost 5 bucks a week.

Buy Food at the Grocery Store - Not Pizza Hut!

If you do live off campus, go grocery shopping! Don't eat fast food every night, it costs you almost 5 dollars a meal and eating 3 times a day, you could get a weeks worth of grocerys in one days worth of fast food meals.

Nice Car - Don't Drive It!

Try to take the bus or shuttle to class each day.  Gas prices are ridiculous so theres no need to drive extra places. Of course, if you need to get cheap beer or groceries, its OK, as long as everyone chips in!

Don't Have a Girlfriend or Boyfriend!

As much as you want on, they are expensive and if you dont have a lot of money, you don't need a girl or boyfriend sponging off what you do have! Hook up every now and again, its cheaper!

Stay away From Drugs.

Aside from the obvious benefits of this, getting hooked on drugs will do more than just get you high! You will go broke, lose your friends, get kicked out of school... and your parents might not want you back in their home!

Don't go Home every Weekend.

You dont need to waste money on gas when you can stay up at school use that money for groceries, cheap beer, or to save it.

Eat Ramen Noodles - Try ALL Flavors!

These little noodles are cheap and delicious!  A couple packs will fill you up for less than a dollar, and as long as you try the different flavors, you will feel like you are eating gourmet every day!

Party in a Friends Apartment!

When you live in an apartment you only have a certain amount of electricity you can use each month before you end up paying extra on your rent.  So keep your lights off and TV off when your not watching it! Talk your friends into parties at THEIR apartment versus yours!

These are ten good ways a college student can make a dollar last. What have YOU got to add to the list?

Post from: DIY Reviews

10 Ways to Treat a Cold or Flu

Get Plenty of Rest

The more rest you get while you are sick with a cold or flu will help your body use the energy towards fighting the virus. Take a rest under a blanket and try to sweat it out.

Keep Hydrated

Not only should you drink plenty of liquids while you are sick, drinking hot liquids will help relieve nasal congestion. Hot liquids can also help soothe a sore throat and help open up your nasal passages. Sipping hot chicken broth is a great alternative to hot tea or coffee

Steam up the Bathroom and Take a Long Shower

Steam works the same way as hot liquids work. It opens up your nasal passages to relieve stuffy noses. It also helps to hydrate your skin which tends to dry out while you are sick. In addition, a hot shower will relieve achy muscles sometimes caused by cold and flu

Use Hot or Cold Packs on your Sinuses

Your local drugstore will have reusable packs that you can either keep in the freezer or pop in the microwave. Either hot or cold will usually help temporarily relieve congestion and promote better breathing. Even a wet washcloth placed in the freezer or microwave will do the trick if you don’t have (or care to go get) reusable packs.

Prop Yourself Up at Night

Adding an extra pillow under your head will help promote easier breathing and allow the sinuses to drain.

Blow your Nose Often

When sick with a cold or flu, it’s important to blow your nose regularly rather than sniffing it back into your head. Do not blow too hard though, or you can risk earache.

Wash your Hands!

Washing your hands often will help promote quicker healing and also keep others in your home from getting the same thing!

Gargle Several Times a Day

When sick with a cold, the throat tends to dry out and get sore just like your nasal passages do. Gargling with warm salt water several times a day will help to soothe and heal an irritated throat. You could also try gargling with very weak hot tea, or warm water with lemon.

Steam Up your Room with a Humidifier

The mucous membranes of your nose tend to dry when you are sick and are also irritated by blowing. Humidifiers can help by moistening the air with little water droplets. They can also help in the spreading of the flu. The flu virus stays around longer in dry air. By using a humidifier, the water droplets will adhere to virus particles and force them to ground – no longer airborne.

This one is my favorite...

Have a Warm Stiff Drink!

When I was younger and I had a cold, my father would heat up amaretto and put it on vanilla ice cream. The cold of the ice cream and warmth of the alcohol seemed to always make me feel better!  Or, you can try a shot of whiskey – my grandma said that always works!

Do you have other tips for fighting off a cold or flu? Please share them below.

Additional Resources

• Google Influenza Map
• Wikipedia Flu Page
• CDC Flu Center
• Top 5 Ways to Beat the Flu on iVillage

Products mentioned in this post:

Aprilaire 700 Automatic Whole Home Humidifier Free Ship    US $225.00

NEW Crane Elephant Cool Mist Childs Nursery Humidifier    US $30.99

Honeywell HCM650 QuietCare Cool Moisture Humidifier    US $49.99

Vicks Cool Mist 1 gallon evaporative humidifierV3100    US $29.99

Post from: DIY Reviews