Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement: The Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence by Rachel Richards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement: The Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence" gives hope to those of us who feel like we're living paycheck to paycheck. The author tells how you can make something out of nothing (well, not *nothing* if you consider time and energy to be *something*), which means that anyone with a little grit and desire can build an income stream that isn't tied to a 9-to-5 gig. Rachel gives down-to-Earth, practical advice for so many different income opportunities that there's surely something for everyone. I'm going to start writing the book I've been thinking about, designing the online class I want to teach, and plotting ways to buy a rental property. I have a vision! Ha! Also, I work in marketing for a publishing company, and I learned things I can use on the job, so that was an unexpected bonus!

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TV as a Dual Monitor

Did you know that you can use your giant flatscreen TV as a dual monitor so that you have more screen real estate on your computer? This is especially helpful if you are using a laptop, since the screens tend to be much smaller. I am working in a hotel right now, and when I'm working on layout for my magazine, I like to use two screens. That way I don't have to keep flipping tabs or windows back-and-forth. I plugged an HDMI cable into my computer, which is a 2013 MacBook Pro, and plugged it into the HDMI input on the side of the 42 inch flatscreen in my hotel. Just change the AV input on the TV, and bam, I have two screens running from the same computer, so I can fit a million windows in here without having to switch around (ok, not a million, but a lot). This TV also has a USB input, so that is another optional connection, and you can also do the same thing if you have an Apple TV with your Apple Computer. I'm sure there are other ways to accomplish the same thing, and I'm glad it's getting to be so easy these days!

Fix Broken Lollipops

The face of a two-year-old weeping over a broken lollipop is nearly unbearable. That angelic face led me to the Internet a few days ago in search of a way to repair the shattered confection. So here you go, in the event you encounter the same emergency.

1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. Crush candy bits inside a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin, hammer, or similar whacking tool. The smaller the bits, the faster they will melt, but bigger bits we've prettier colors. Decide which you prefer.
3. Spray nonstick spray in cupcake liners or cupcake pans or candy molds or whatever you choose for your shape. I used cupcake liners, even though I knew that would leave a ridged edge.
4. Pour crushed candy bits into your molds.
5. Bake in preheated oven approximately 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it, because time will vary depending on the size of the mold and the size of your crushed candy bits.
6. When the bits are melted, take them out and let them cool couple of minutes. Then either insert the sticks into the molds, or wait until they are cool enough to handle, but still soft, and pop them out to stick the sticks in. (I did not have any lollipop handles, so I used chopsticks from the Chinese restaurant I found in the back of my silverware drawer. I snipped a tiny hole in the paper cupcake liners and poked the sticks through it into the candy.)

I assume this technique would work well for leftover bits of any hard candy. May the joy return to the face of your little one!

Whipped feta? Yes, please!

A friend inspired my bedtime snack this evening - home grown Heirloom tomatoes with whipped feta and black Hawaiian sea salt on crostini. Delish! Next time, I think I'll try whipped goat cheese. (For the whipped feta, I blended 8 ozs. room temp feta with 3 ozs. room temp cream cheese and a little splash of olive oil in the food processor until creamy.)

Rosemary

I love the flavor of rosemary, but I hate the little woody twigs in my food. I have texture issues - my husband teases me relentlessly. My solution? I put the rosemary into my coffee grinder and pulverize it to a fine powder. Hurray! Delicious flavor without the annoying twigs.

Costco Dipped Ice Cream Bars

Did you know that the Costco snack shop does hand-dipped ice cream bars? I remember seeing them on the menu near the frozen yogurt sundaes, but have never ordered one, and have never seen anyone else with one. My secretary brought some into the office today, and these things are incredible. They are huge and delicious. Definitely worth a try!

Tomato poachers

Something is eating my tomatoes. Squirrel, maybe? Has anyone had luck deterring squirrels? If so, how?