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Chapter 6 - Christmas Dinner

One year, I wanted to have what I called a “Victorian Christmas.” I watched “A Christmas Carol” once too often and decided I wanted to replicate the goose, the plum pudding and the whole bit. I invited not only my family, but my husband’s family to dinner.

In our area, we had turkeys at the stores so I had to go to a butcher for the goose. I ordered it beforehand and on Christmas eve I picked it up. He gave me explicit instructions on how to cook it, which I promptly forgot the minute I walked out of his store.

I also purchased plum pudding in a can and hard sauce to go with it. Being an American, I had no idea what plum pudding was or that it had to be cooked. I envisioned myself with a fully cooked goose, all the trimmings and last but not least, bringing out a flaming plum pudding with the holly stuck in it for all to gasp in awe.

This was my first Christmas cooking as a bride. My parents and grandmother came over to help. I insisted that the goose only needed 20 minutes to cook. My grandmother said this was impossible, but hey, what did she know? She had only been cooking for 60 years. I made an orange sauce that came out of a recipe book that my mother had to keep stirring. I made stuffing. I made potatoes and vegetables. I had egg nog and even caviar an imported cheeses. It was sort of an upscale Victorian Christmas.

I also had plenty of liquor and the egg nog was spiked. And it was a good thing, too. Because when dinner was finally announced (at the dining room that had been immaculately set) that goose was raw. I had a house full of people and no main course.

Fortunately, they all had plenty to drink beforehand and no one noticed as I tossed the raw goose into the trash. Victorian Christmas was still coming, though. After we ate our vegetarian Christmas dinner, I rose to get the plum pudding. I didn’t realize that I had to cook it and had no idea how to do this. So that went in the trash, too. Fortunately, someone brought over a pie. When it was all over, my in laws stumbled out the door and we actually laughed about this.

Over the years, I have learned to cook poultry and have made some splendid Christmas dinners. I even replicated the “Victorian Christmas” the next year, but my in-laws begged off. The goose was cooked this time, but I didn’t care for it - it was too greasy. The plum pudding was like fruitcake and not to my liking at all. I stopped the idea of the “perfect” Christmas and cooked stuff that my family liked.

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Green Strategy #121

Make better use of your local library. They have more than books these days. You can borrow music, magazines and movies too, and most libraries have Internet connections available should you need one.

Green Strategy #122

Do you pick up a cup of coffee on your way to work? One that comes in a little plastic or paper container? And do you dump the container in a trash can when you've finished drinking it? Most people do, but you don't have to.

Consider taking a reusable mug with you and asking the person serving you coffee to fill it up. They will most likely agree, and you can feel good about saving the environment a little.

OK, you won't save much money on this one, but you will feel really good and totally superior to everyone else who chucks their used coffee container in the trash! Honest.

Green Strategy #123

Register with the Direct Marketing Association's mail preference service and opt out of receiving junk mail. They will then add you to the Do Not Mail database, and you should receive no more junk mail.

Most people don't know they can do this, but if you are fed up with receiving several trees of paper each week, begging you to buy something or other that you don't need, register now!

Green Strategy #124

Don't throw away old clothes. There are many charity and thrift shops that will gladly take them from you. This is simply a way of recycling your cast-off clothes, and if they are not badly worn,someone else will value them.

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Chapter 7 - Options to Avoid in Credit Repair and Building

There are several options available that make people believe it is a solution for freeing themselves of debts. One solution you want to avoid is borrowing money from finance companies. The companies that advances for consolidating loans and requires that you put your home or car up for collateral are often a source for getting your in deeper debt.

Most of the companies are offering a secondary mortgage against your home, and often the interest rates out outrageous. Most of the companies offer secured loans, but few of them offer unsecured loans. This is not an option for repairing your credit.

Another option you want to avoid is taking out a tax refund loan. This solution will get you fast cash, but the fees for this type of loan are often high. If you are getting $800 back in tax refunds, you will probably only get around $700 or $725. Another type of loan you want to avoid is the payday loans. Payday loans are loans against your paycheck.

Payday loans require that you write a check for the amount of loan to repay as well as the amount that you will pay the lender for borrowing the money. Payday loans eventually cost more money than what you have in the first place, and is not a solution for repairing your credit.

Pawn Shops are also a bad area to start in building your credit. Most Pawn Shops will take your merchandise, pay you half in some cases of what it is worth, and give you a certain amount of time to purchase your merchandise back before they sell.

Often there are interest rates on the loans provided by the business. It is certainly a way to loose all your belongings and halt you from repairing your credit. We can also take a look at debt consolidation. Although debt consolidation is much better than bankruptcy, it is not a solution for repairing your credit. Most debt consolidation companies drain the restricting resources by charging fees for the service. Many of the debt consolidation companies will pay the creditors minimal balance and put your assets at risk.

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If you have delinquent credit and are married, you might want to build your credit in your name instead of using your spouse. Somebody has to have stability. Also if you are divorced and all the credit cards of credit information are in your spouse's name you will need to re-establish your credit in your name. Getting your credit re-established is the first step to repairing your credit.

When you obtain your credit report you will see that your spouse's name is listed on the credit reports. This is because together you and your spouse applied for credit cards, took out car loans or what have you. This means that you are responsible for your spouse's account. The advantage is that credit bureaus cannot list the negative accounts against you if you are divorced. Once you have copies of your credit report you will then need to cancel all joint accounts. If you contact the creditors to resolve the issues on your credit report is sure to ask the creditors to take in consideration your spouse's credit history.

It is important to bring into light your spouse's credit history when applying for a loan. Let the lenders know that you are now divorced and starting your own credit line. If you apply for credit cards, be sure the cards are in your name and use them wisely since this helps to rebuild your credit quicker than most sources. Make sure that you pay minimum balance on the credit card accounts each month to avoid delinquencies. If at all possible when you see that your funds are low; pay your bills rather than making a purchase on your credit card.

Once you bills are paid be sure to make a payment on your credit card. This method not only keeps you out of trouble with other creditors, but offers a solution for repairing your credit. If you can afford to pay your bills each month and use your credit card be sure to only purchase items you need and keep it at a minimal. If at all possible payoff your credit card balances each month to avoid interest.

Interest rates cost an additional hundreds of dollars in the long run, so paying off your dues on time can save you money. If you don't have credit cards and decide to choose a card is honest on your application and look for the best interest rates available. If you are in debt it is wise to payoff your dues before applying for a credit card, unless you intend to use the card to get out of debt. If you plan to use the card to get out of debt search for the best interest rates, as well as cards that offer cash back on your spending.

There are tips for managing credit cards to repair credit. It is important that you are consistent with the use of your name. For example, if your name is Robert Leon Swisher Jr., always sign your name accordingly. Do not use your card dishonestly for advantages. Few people believe that lying can get them out of a problem. The truth lying gets you in deeper. If you are filling out an application for credit cards tell the truth.

It is important that you understand the timeframe to apply for a credit card. If you are out of work, lived at your resident for less than a year or you have negatives on your credit report, this is not a good time to apply for a credit card. If you are stable it is always wise to apply with lenders where you have done business with them at a later time. Building your credit after divorce is difficult at times.

However it is not an impossible task. It is important that you are aware that most credit card solicitations are gimmicks that only offer you a solution for hanging yourself. Instead of getting out a rope, it is wise to stay alert, and investigate any credit card offer made available to you.

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Chapter 10 – [Cake Art Cake Decorating and Candy Making Classes]

These classes use a large portion of Wilton school’s teaching in their curriculum. However, their classes and teaches may differ slightly.

Cake Art I – Wilton Method Basic Cake Decorating Course is a four 2 -hour session. For the beginners, you will learn the fundamentals of decorating tools, icings, stars, writing, figure piping roses, shell borders, floral spray, leaves, cake preparation, and basic icing methods. You will learn some practical ideas from instructor who will be sharing their experiences with you. Practicing at home between lessons is important to obtaining a solid base in basic Cake Decorating. The Wilton Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those students who attend the session faithfully.

Cake Art 2 – Wilton Method Advanced Cake Decorating Course is a four 2 -hour session where you will review the basics, and then you will concentrate on flowers such as Rosebud, Lily of the Valley, Chrysanthemum, Violet, Apple Blossom, Victorian Rose, Daisy, Daffodil, Pansy, Primrose, color flow work along with basket weaving, rope borders and ferns. Your will bring an iced cake ready to be decorated with the designs you have just learned. The Wilton certificate of Completion will be awarded to those students who attended every session.

Cake Art 3 – Wilton Fondant and tiered Cake Decorating Course. This is a four 2-hour session, and it is required for you to have completed Course 1 and 2 to take this course. In this course you will review the basics, and cover extensively the borders, lace and embroidery; string work, garland, e-motion, ruffle, Tiered Cake assembly. Fondant coloring, storing, covering cake, curved hearts piped, Lily, Poinsettia, Petunia, and working with a cake divider set will also be covered. You will complete a fondant-covered cake during the class. The Wilton Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those students who are faithful in their attendance.

Cake Art’s Tiered Wedding Cake Decorating and Assembly Course is a four 2-hour session. Student must have completed Courses 1 and 2 in order to take this course. In this course concentration on decorating and assembling a Tiered Cake for all occasions. Review of the basics along with a review of the embellished borders, side borders, lacework, lattice work, filigree, lace points, piping on net, color flow, tiered cake designing, measuring and dividing cake. A Tiered Cake using Styrofoam cake dummies will be completed during the class. Practice at home will improve your skills. A Wilton certificate of Completion will be given to all students attending every session.

Wilton Basic Gum Paste is a class about the use of one of the most decorative skills, which can now be mastered by any cake decorator. Cutters and molds allow students to accomplish the professional effect in a fairly short amount of time. The classes will teach the basics of making the paste, the use of the tools, and cutting and molding some of the popular flowers. The fourth lesson will cover arranging the flowers into bouquets and corsages.