Pearls of Wisdom

 We won't solve the problems of the world from the level of thinking we were at when we created them.

                   ~ Einstein

1 (16 oz) pkg vanilla wafers, crushed
1 cup margarine, melted
6 bananas
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (12 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
8 maraschino cherries

Combine crushed vanilla wafers and melted margarine. Pat into bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan. Beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Spread over top of vanilla wafer crust. Spoon crushed pineapple over cream cheese layer. Layer sliced bananas over pineapple. Cover with non-dairy whipped topping and sprinkle top with chopped walnuts & maraschino cherries.

Source: All Recipes

Five Surprising Stress Fixes

• Cuddle - The gentle pressure of a hug can stimulate nerve endings under the skin that send calming messages to the brain and slow the release of cortisol.
• Lash out Less - Concentrate on the issue at hand. If necessary, take a deep breath and respectfully end the conversation, promising to talk when you're calmer.
• Put the Kettle On - Tea is the most popular beverage in the world (after water). Part of the appeal may be it's tension-taming powers.
• Loosen the Electronic Leash - Researchers speculate that the cell phones and pagers are responsible for the blurred boundaries of home and work. Take turns with your spouse being "on call" for minor emergencies.
• Reflect on What You Value - Think about the people who are important to you. Affirmations of close relationships are powerful sources to draw on.

Source: Good Housekeeping

Drive Smart: Save Gas and Money

Follow these simple tips from the Consumer Federation of America to save 20% or more on fuel costs.

• Check Your Air Filter - A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%. Savings: 28 cents a gallon.
• Straighten Up - Poor alignment forces your engine to work harder, which can reduce fuel economy by as much as 10%. Savings: 28 cents a gallon.
• Slow Down - For every 5 mph you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%. Savings: 19 cents, by reducing speed from 70 mph to 65 mph.
• Drive More Smoothly - Accelerte & decelerate smoothly for a potential gas savings of 33% on the highway and 5% around town. Savings: 48 cents a gallon.
• And last but not least, keep your tires properly inflated.

Source: MSN Green

Warranty Wisdom

Home service agreements give you the assurance that there is someone to help at any time with problems on covered items. A HomeTrust Warranty gives you the protection you need against breakdowns of covered appliances and major systems such as plumbing, heating, electrical and air conditioning.

EXISTING HOME SALES RISE IN FEBRUARY

Sales of existing homes increased in February and remain in a fairly stable range. Existing home sales, including single-family, town homes, condos and co-ops, rose 2.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million units in February from a paces of 4.89 million in January.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the gain is encouraging. "We're not expecting a notable gain in exissting-home sales until the second half of this year, but the improvement is another sign that the market is stabilizing. Buyers taking advantage of higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional mortgages will unleash some pent-up demand. As inventories are drawn down, prices in many markets should go positive later this year."

"In areas such as Sacramento, a rapid price decline has induced buyers to come into the market and sales are now rising," Yun said. "The relationship between home prices, interest rates and income has improved to the point where buyers are more serious about making offers."

Source: National Association of Realtors

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