by Confused Monkey on January 14, 2010
My wife’s mom was always a wonder in the garden and she had the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen…haha. My wife on the other hand could kill a plant from 10 feet away.
But although my wife doesn’t seem to have her mom’s touch with flowers and plants, she wants to learn. One of her favorite plants is the orchid, so I’m looking into an orchid delivery service to send some flowers over.
I’m also looking for any and all info I can on taking care of orchids. I’ve searched the web a bit and I’m going to pick up a book or two. Orchids for Dummies sounds like its about my sepeed. 
http://orchid-delivery.com
by Confused Monkey on January 13, 2010
No matter how small your online business is there’s one thing you absolutely can’t live without…quality web hosting.
If your hosting provider doesn’t offer the features you need to build a successful business your customers will be the ones who suffer. And if your web site is constantly down you won’t be able to do business at all!
This is why it’s imperative that you throughly research any hosting provider before signing on the dotted line. Read customer reviews (be careful if they are affiliates with a hidden agenda) and run your own webhost comparison of features so you know the one you choose will let you take your business to the next level.
by Confused Monkey on January 4, 2010
Ok, today I really want to stress the importance of a good laptop carrier. And I don’t just mean for when you’re on the go. You can also use a laptop bag at home to keep your machine safe from harm.
I learned this lesson the hard way when my kids knocked my laptop onto the floor. It was closed and sitting on a table and the kids went running by and after a big crash my laptop was knocked to the ground.
My IT buddy was able to fix it for me and save most of the data but I had to get a new hard drive for about $90.
Now when I’m not using my machine I keep it safely tucked away in a laptop carrier bag. If it gets dropped or knocked around I know it will still be safe.
by Confused Monkey on November 10, 2009
When you use a fax number lookup service you can find out who owns the number, where they are located, if it is a business or personal fax, their address history, and lots of other information. And you can get it online in about 2 minutes flat!
Why would you need to know who owns a specific fax number?
Well did you ever see the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine gets dozens of messages on her machine every day and each one is the ear-pounding scream of a fax machine trying to connect? In the end she has to change her number to make the endless calls stop.
If only she had been able to use a reverse fax number lookup to find out who was calling she could have put an end to the madness and kept her number too.
To find out who owns any fax number go to http://faxnumberlookup.net
by Confused Monkey on November 3, 2009
This article was contributed by Mike Collins. Check out his blog with tips for saving money at http://savingmoneytoday.net
If you’re going to start your own eBay business, one of the first things you’ll need to do is figure out what you’re going to sell. There are literally millions of items sold on eBay, and they come in an astonishing variety: from baseball cards to fine jewelry, from ebooks to pickup trucks, from Elmo dolls to real estate.
This variety is good. It means there are plenty of opportunities to carve a niche for yourself. But the number of possibilities can be overwhelming, and many people find themselves the victim of paralysis by analysis. They can’t decide what to sell so they sell nothing.
If that sounds like you, you need to snap out of it, and fast. The sooner you start setting up auctions the sooner you’ll start making money!
Most eBay business owners find their first items to sell by searching through their closets, basement, and attic. If you follow this method you can get your feet wet without spending a lot on inventory. Just rummage around your house and make a pile of anything that you don’t want or need. Pull out old books you’ve read, clothes that don’t fit, knick-knacks, and gifts that don’t fit your style. As long as they’re in decent shape, they’re perfect for the beginning auctioneer.
Of course, in order to take the next step and build a real business for yourself, you’ll need to start acquiring products to resell on eBay. Check out stores that specialize in overstock or closeout merchandise. Keep an eye out for “going out of business” sales. You can buy brand-new products at deep discounts and then turn around and sell them for a tidy profit.
Flea markets and garage sales can be hit or miss, but with a little luck you can find some deals.
Government auctions of unclaimed or possessed items can be a goldmine. Storage units also auction off a unit’s contents if rent is not paid. These are often blind auctions, where you place bids without knowing what’s inside.
Dropshipping is great because it eliminates the work of packing and shipping items yourself. You simply run an auction for an item, and once you’ve been paid you place an order with a dropshipper who sells the product to you at wholesale prices. The dropshipper than ships the item directly to the buyer. You keep the difference between the wholesale price you paid and what you sold it for.
by Confused Monkey on November 20, 2008
Thanksgiving is a week from today and that means turkey! You could be boring and stick with the same old oven-roasted bird…or you could kick it up a notch and surprise your guests with deep fry turkey.
I’ve been frying turkey for years and trust me there’s nothing like it. Here’s a cool article with deep fry turkey instructions and tips…safety first!
Deep Fried Turkey Instructions and Tips
By MJ Collins
Do you want to learn how to deep fry a turkey that will amaze your family and friends? I’ve been making our Thanksgiving bird like this for years and I promise you’ve never tasted anything like a whole turkey deep fried to perfection. If you’ve never tried to deep fry turkey there are some important things to keep in mind. That’s why I wrote this helpful article containing deep fry turkey instructions and tips to help your frying go smoothly.
First of all you need to pick up a Turkey Frying Set. You could just use a big pot and rig something up yourself but it will be a lot easier and safer to use a set specifically designed for deep frying turkey. They run around $39 to $79 and they’re worth every penny. They come with a large pot, a sturdy metal stand, a thermometer, a burner you hook up to your propane tank, and a hook you’ll use when moving the bird in and out of the oil. You should also pick up a pair of rubber gloves to protect you from splattering oil.
You’ll also need several gallons of cooking oil. Peanut oil works best but its a little expensive. If you can’t afford to splurge canola oil will work just as well.
To prepare your bird you need to wash him thoroughly inside and out. Make sure there are no pop up devices or anything else inside.
Next you need to measure how much oil you’ll need for frying. Place your turkey in the pot and add water until the bird is completely covered. Remove the bird and then measure the amount of water left in the pot. Now you know exactly how much oil you’ll need!
Use paper towels to dry your turkey both inside and out, then season it using whatever dry rub recipe you like. I don’t recommend using marinade for deep frying turkeys because you want the bird to be dry when you lower it into the oil.
Make sure the inside of the pot is completely dry too and then add the oil. Heat it up to a temperature of at least 350 degrees. For safety purposes you should have everything set up outside. Never deep fry inside your house or garage. It’s extremely dangerous.
Once your oil is hot enough its time to carefully lower the bird in. Use extra caution and go slowly so you don’t splatter oil or tip over the pot. You may want to have a friend standing by nearby just in case you need help.
Now one of the most common questions people ask is “How long to deep fry a turkey?” I never get tired of seeing the looks on their faces when I tell them just 3 1/2 minutes per pound. Isn’t it amazing that the same turkey that takes hours to cook in the oven will be ready to eat in just 35-45 minutes when fried?
When the time is up turn off the burner and carefully remove the bird from the oil. Let it drain out and rest for about ten minutes and it will be ready for carving. Despite what you may think, it won’t be all greasy and oily. If you followed my deep fry turkey instructions your bird will be juicy and delicious. You may never cook a turkey in the oven again!
MJ Collins loves cooking outdoors and can usually be found sipping a beer and standing over his grill. Pick up more of his recipes and grilling tips at http://how-to-barbeque.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Deep-Fried-Turkey-Instructions-and-Tips&id=1536417