I have heard that several charities that give out food and gifts to the needy are coming up short this year for Christmas possibly due to the fact that people have sent all they can already to the earthquake victims in Pakistan or to the Katrina victims right here in the U.S. I would just like to encourage everyone to not forget the needy at this time of the year and if they cannot donate money, perhaps some food items could be donated to a local shelter. I know they would appreciate it so much! Thanks.

By Diane from Paradise PA

Editor's Note: Where we are the food banks and Toys for Tots say they are running low of the number of donations they need. Please be generous if you are able.

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Helping Others with the Costs of a New Dog

It was always hard to come up with an idea for a gift for my husband, an animal lover like the rest of our family. Finally, we came up with a perfect idea with the help of our veterinarian. The vet knows families that would love to have a dog but can't afford buying one, getting its shots etc. at one time but can afford the day to day upkeep.

A few days before Christmas we go as a family to the local animal shelter and pick out a dog. We take it to the our vet and get him checked out and get his shots. After adding a weeks supply of dog food, we let the vet contact the lucky family to come pick up their new pet. There is nothing like the heartwarming feeling to connect a loving family with a much wanted pet. And knowing that we may have very well saved a dog's life is the greatest feeling of all.

By Diane from Paradise PA

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Christmas Too Commercial?

Is Christmas too commercial for you and your kids? Do they have enough in the way of toys, etc.?

A wonderful tradition that will: 1) help you stay in budget, 2) avoid over-stimulating your kids, 3) cut down on the commercialism, and 4) remind your kids of the reason for "Christmas" is to limit your kids gifts to 3 a piece - the same number of gifts Jesus received from the Magi!

I also include other smaller things to stuff in their stocking, but knowing that they will have 3 gifts helps them think carefully about what they will ask for, and helps me tremendously when shopping!

By Tripleb from Greenville, AL

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Spaceman Joke

Q. What do you do if you see a spaceman?

A. Park in it man.

By Jim Haddock from Glasgow, Scotland, GB

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Remembering Where You Put the Decorations

A easy way to decorate for the holidays is to take a picture of the rooms you just decorated and after you put the decorations away also put the picture of the rooms in the box. Then next year when its time to decorate just look at your pictures and its easy to remember where to put everything. It works great for all holidays and makes putting up decorations very easy.

By Darijavan from Grant, MI

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Bonnie's Christmas Tradition

I grew up in a family of eight children so the holidays were always hectic. To calm the morning madness and make sure we all had the chance to see and open our presents at the same time, we had a Christmas morning rule. No one was allowed to go downstairs until after breakfast. Mom would pick a different child each year to be her "helper" and she would go downstairs with her "helper" to get breakfast ready. The advantage of being the "helper" was that you got to see all the presents Santa left behind before anyone else. Of course it was a look, but don't touch deal. While my mom prepared a huge fruit platter with sliced apples, oranges, kiwi, pineapple, bananas and grapes, the "helper" would carry the bowls, spoons, cereal, milk, toothpicks and plates upstairs. (Note: A week before Christmas, Mom would let us pick out our favorite sugar cereals for Christmas morning and a couple of healthy cereals for the adults) We usually picked one of the bigger bedrooms to host breakfast in. After all the food was upstairs we'd kneel down as a family, bless the food and eat.

Everyone would sit where ever they could find a spot. After eating, the "helper" would help Mom bring all the food and dishes back down to the kitchen. While that was going on the rest of the family in anxious anticipation would line up on the stair steps in order of age, youngest child on the bottom step. Mom would stand at the top and Dad would take pictures of the whole family from the stairwell.

When the pictures were over we would all place our hands on each others shoulders to form a choo-choo train down the stairs. Everyone would make choo-choo noises like "Choo-choo" and "Chugga-chugga" as we walked into the family room to see our stockings filled and presents left behind by Santa.

I love the memories of that Christmas morning tradition so much that I continue the tradition with my young children. When I was married and started a family of my own, I asked my mom where the tradition came from. To my amazement, she told me her mother started the tradition of eating breakfast before seeing the presents because she was tired of the children waking up Christmas morning and stuffing themselves with just candy. It's funny how something so small could grow into something so big that would touch generations and instill lasting memories of family togetherness.

By Bonnie from Aberdeen, MD

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Acorn Christmas Wreath

Hi Everyone, I'm a newbie here. Just wanted to share my idea for a wreath my daughter and I made one Christmas.

What you need:

A metal coat hanger
String of white mini lights
A lot of acorns
Gold or silver spray paint
A drill with a drill bit (large enough to put coat hanger through holes in acorns.

How to put together

Drill holes through acorns. Spray paint them gold or silver or both, let dry. Untwist hanger and string the acorns onto hanger, shape hanger into a circle and twist hanger ends back together. Starting at the top of hanger wrap lights around acorns and end in the middle at the bottom and in back. Find a place you want to hang wreath, hang it and make sure there is enough string to reach to the outlet you will use.

By Barb from Sioux Falls, SD

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Using Wallpaper for Gift Wrap

Old leftover wallpaper makes great gift wrap! Stick a piece of old lace or ribbon around your gift and you've got one beautiful package. I'm an avid recycler, why waste that leftover wallpaper? Also, most thrift stores sell rolls of wallpaper for a fraction of what you'd pay for new gift wrap.

By Susan M. Smith from Mattoon, Illinois

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One Color for Each Family

At Christmas I use one color of wrapping paper for each family. Example my brothers family gifts I give I will use blue paper and my sisters family gifts I give I will use red. It helps with time all I have to do is gather all of one color per family it saves a lot of time that night looking through all the gifts.

By Delane from Swords Creek, VA

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Giving Baked Gifts

Some of the most popular gifts I have ever given are the baked kind! Most people enjoy having something special to eat for the holidays. This is especially popular with the elderly or shut-in people.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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New Requests

Indestructible Dog Bed

You all were such a big help with my lab mix puppy's new chewing habits so I thought I'd try again. Now that we have her back in her crate, I need to find something indestructible for her to lay on while she's in there. We tried towels but she rips them to shreds. At night she sleeps on a doggy bed in our bedroom and she's fine so we bought one more for her cage. It lasted all of one day. She absolutely ripped it to shreds, stuffing and all.

I hate to have her sleep on the cold metal of the cage, but I don't know what to give her that she won't rip apart. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help! :-)

Chima0692 from NJ

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Ceramic Heads, Hands and Feet

I am looking for ceramic heads, hands, feet for 3 kings, Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Shepard for a Draping Project. Leewards used to sell them, can anyone help? The heads are approximently 2 1/2 inches tall.

Pat from Pittsburgh

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VarTech Phone Card for My Kids

I am trying to locate a phone card that my kids use to have when in school. It is by VarTech, who are still in business. This card ONLY allowed them to dial a specific code that rang our home number. This way I did not have any excuses of a cell phone out of range, or out of minutes, etc. If anyone has any leads or info, I would deeply appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,
Raven from Kerrville, TX

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Dog Pee Stain on Carpet

I have a large recurring urine stain from our Alaskan Malamute puppy that she keeps going back to. I have used vinegar, Spot Shot, commercial products, steam cleaner products and the stain reappears after a day. Do you have any suggestions?

Laurie1313 from Port Huron, MIchigan

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Scorch Mark on Furniture from a Lamp

I have a scorch mark (made by a too close lamp) on the corner of a dark green leather-like recliner. I wondered how to remove it without having the whole piece re-upholstered? Could I use any type of paint or magic marker? There must be something? I'm in a panic!

Claudia from West Frankfort, Illinois

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Gas Smell on Car Seat

Looking for ways to eliminate gasoline odor from a car seat. not sure how much gas spilled on the seat but any help is appreciated. Last resort will be to replace the seat.

Russ from Chelmsford, MA

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Preventing Your Project From Curling When Using a Knifty Knitter

When I work on knifty knitter round looms my work always curl at the bottom. How can I get this to stop?

Margie from Selmer, TN

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Mardi Gras Masked Party Ideas

I wanted to know if anyone had any decoration ideas for a Mardi Gras masked party? Be as lavish as you can. I'm thinking of a vitorian garden with a center stage and a ball floor around stage with arbors and trellis entraces. At the entraces I will have victorian light posts (if I can find them). I'll put large trees by the light posts and small foliage around the stage to fill in gaps of non-entraces to stage.

I'll have: Tables and chairs around the dance area with linen tablecloths. Mardi gras center pieces. Ice scupture of Boeuf Gras "fatted bull". A traditional theme float in the REX parade. Buffet style caterer. Music/DJ or band. King and Queen Chairs. I feel like I missing so much still.

Any ideas?
Alyssan78 from Albuquerque,NM

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Dye From Other Clothing on Blue Jeans

I washed my blue jeans with a red piece of clothing that faded (bled) on them. How do I get this out?

Susan from Asheville

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Repairing Scratched Eyeglasses

Does anyone have any good repairs for scratched eyeglasses. My five year old has tiny scratches on her glasses and I just want to minimize them.

BarwickJ from Ottumwa, Iowa

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