it never occurred to me until I saw this, to change the lives number! open the file in Notepad, copmom, change the lives number (if you dare :D), then save & close... next time you open the game it'll show whatever you typed in. I've done the whole game three times (am currently on Day 81 of the third game) & #81 doesn't ever seem to get any easier.
not a 'tip' per se, unfortunately, & seems you've probably got this figured Cyn... but my own best advice is to keep a *very* close eye on the pieces at the edges (from top to bottom), and when you see 3 of the same colour near each other just try to imagine which one(s) you can knock out with the hammer to get the '1-x-1-1' or '1-1-x-1' pattern set up. don't forget to watch carefully too for the vertical version of that pattern... I've found a combo of both horizontal & vertical is most helpful for clearing pieces off the board most quickly. also, look for ways to get the pieces going onto the main part of the board (rather than just off to the right or left); I've had a bit of success with moving them both ways.
of course, all of this is much easier said than done :D, and the flipping, flying, bouncing colour chips that hold up game play & ruin those carefully set-up patterns drive me absolutely bonkers. seems I most often run out of time with just one piece remaining, when it's really close to being cleared off the board, arg.
hmm... and click as fast as you can! (haha)
sorry I can't offer anything really specific/helpful, but I'm pretty much still fumbling away here. I'd love to know too if anybody has any actual 'strategy' (such as is possible) that works!