Thursday, May 23, 2013
Who’s NOT planning a BBQ this weekend? If the weather holds and you’ve got propane or charcoal, chances are you’re grilling something with your friends and family. Here, new ideas for keeping your costs down. Sponsored by Home Depot.
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Yesterday
Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbecue experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party. 1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead—say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbecue America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbecue grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess.” …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Woodbury Lions Club's annual citywide garage sale is set for this weekend.
With the Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale slated for this week, someone asked on the Woodbury Patch Facebook page: We're going to be part of the Lions garage sales next weekend. We have a ton of baby clothes to sell, and we're wondering what is the best way to price and display them. Any other tips are also welcome. Thanks. So, what tips do you have for holding a successful sale? Just leave a comment in the section below. On its webpage for the event, the Lions Club offers some hints. The 2013 Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale is set for May 9-11. The 36th annual event is co-sponsored by the city of Woodbury. Net proceeds from the event are returned to the community to: “Please join us in supporting this great community event, and …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Gina Kuchenmeister, a member of the Washington County Child Protection Citizen Review Panel, provides tips for parents.
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Wednesday, March 20
Choosing child care for your infant is a very important decision, one that should only be made after you have conducted in-person interviews with the caregivers and visited the site to assess the quality of care provided. Here are some important things to look for, as well as some helpful questions to ask potential caregivers before choosing child care for your infant. Signs of a quality child care program: Important questions to ask: Before making your final decision, make sure to visit at least three different programs to compare the quality of care offered. If it seems like a good fit for your child and family, visit more than once. Visiting a second time will give you the opportunity to ask follow-up questions and questions you may …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Some lawyers focus on quietly reaching agreements to settle cases. Others have more of a “take no prisoners” approach.
I have previously written about the work that attorneys do to help their clients. But how do you go about deciding which attorney to hire? Is the attorney who advertises on TV or has a flashy billboard the best? Or should you just pick one from the phone book and hope it works out? Lawyers vary greatly in their expertise, experience, abilities, and costs. Like everyone else, they also have widely ranging personalities and habits. Some lawyers focus on quietly reaching agreements to settle cases. Others have more of a “take no prisoners” approach. As lawsuits frequently involve a lot of emotion, stress, and money it is important to find a lawyer that you are comfortable with. It is also a good idea to find an attorney who is familiar with …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
How dangerous are winter roads?
Sunday's snowstorm served as a reminder that winter in Minnesota frequently means car crashes. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the foul weather caused 367 crashes, 48 crash-related injuries, 299 spun-out cars, and three jack-knifed tractor-trailers. In some ways, those numbers are yet more proof that winter-weather driving can prove difficult. For this week's Patch Pro, we've lined up someone who can answer all your questions about winter driving safety, and winter car repairs. Jeff Matt is the owner and founder of Fridley's Victory Auto Service & Glass, a local, award-winning auto repair business with five locations in the Twin Cities. Jeff is also an ASE Certified Master Technician with more than 20 years of automotive …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Do you have questions about social media? Ask our Patch Pros by leaving a comment below.
How well do you know your friends? In light of the bizarre hoax involving star Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o and a renewed focus on online friendships, the topic for this week’s Patch Pro is social media. This week’s Patch Pros are: Lisa Genosky Genosky is the owner and co-founder of Queen Bee Media. Queen Bee Media is a Twin Cities social media marketing agency. Cherie DeBrule DeBrule is the co-founder of the St. Paul Marketing Team. She designed the books Rise Above the Race and The Google Places Bible. Ask your questions in the comments section below.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
As you iron the tablecloth, polish the silver or wrap Martha Stewart-style bows around your gifts, remind yourself why you’re doing these things.
The apocalypse approaches... according to the Mayan calendar, millions of knuckleheads posting on Twitter and a slew of loopy Russians. But if something disastrous this way comes, it’s more likely associated with relatives than Mayans. And doomsday might sound eerily like the doorbell ringing in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. If a holiday family gathering is your idea of judgment day, I’ve got some advice for you: Dos and Don’ts for family holiday interaction. Have a sense of humor. Mistakes are funny. People are funny. Forgetting to get cousin Carol a gift so that you have to wrap up your favorite Christmas tree ornament, the Muppets Swedish Chef that talks when you push the button, so that everybody gets a laugh, is funny. …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The department on its Facebook page issued a list of tips from the National Fire Protection Association.
As your kitchen gets overrun with Thanksgiving preparations this week, the Woodbury Public Safety Department issued several home-safety tips. On its Facebook page Tuesday, the department issued a list of tips from the National Fire Protection Association: Like Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our free newsletter
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Just because it's cold outside, it's no reason not to be stylish.
The time has arrived. We must begin planning our winter weather wardrobe. If you’re a freeze-baby like me, you’ll want to take advantage of what I’ve learned about staying warm during Woodbury winters. We’re not talking Man Vs. Wild or any real survival skills here. Just some reasonable ideas to ensure you’ll shiver a bit less this season. You’re welcome. Not just for mountaineering and winter camping. I wear a long-sleeved base layer almost every day from November to March. I’ve tried most varieties. Silk is the softest and thinnest and therefore adds the least amount of bulk under clothes. But I disagree with conventional wisdom that silk is the warmest. I’ve found engineered materials like Cuddl Dudds to be warmest. I prefer the …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Realtor Matthew Johnson fields your questions about buying or selling a home.
Is it a good time to buy? Good time to sell? Is the housing market beginning to rebound? This week’s Ask the Patch Pro is all about real estate. Answering your questions today is Matt Johnson, owner of the Johnson Real Estate Group, a realtor for the past 10 years. Just leave your question in the comments section below. For more information about Johnson, visit his website.
Kris Janisch
1:12 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Also saw someone on Facebook say she priced everything at $1 one year. Said it didn't seem to hurt her bottom line too much and it saved a ton of time tagging everything. more ›