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Hello,
We have 11 new requests today, check them out and see if you have any advice to offer. This week's TF News will be about Frugal Landscaping. If you have any frugal landscaping tips to offer, please submit them.
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Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Ella and Bailey (Rottweiler and Yellow Lab)
This is Ella, our 6.5 year old Rottweiler. She was separated from her "older brother/companion" Sam when she was only 2 years old. (Get the play-on-names? Sam 'n Ella...like salmonella.) Anyways, she took his loss hard, as did we.
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Inexpensive Bridesmaid Dresses
For my son's wedding I made 4 bridesmaids dresses with a cheap Walmart pattern at the cost of $20 a piece. This is a photo of my Daughter in hers. The bouquets were also made by me.
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
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Today's Tips
This is triple cheap, triple easy, triple good. One pound of pinto beans, washed and picked thru. Dump in crock pot with 1 lb. of pork neck bones (flavor is wonderful with beans) and 2 packages of Goyas 'Sazon' spice, available in Mexican food section at the store. This is not a hot spice, and should be about 79 cents a pack. Set on low, it will be ready by evening.
c.j.cox
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Tips for organizing your craft patterns. Post your ideas.
Categorize and keep clean your craft patterns by inserting them into plastic page protectors, then into labeled binders.
By Bev B
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Cleaning Hands After Gardening
Tips for cleaning your hands, post your ideas.
I can't take credit for this, I read it in one of my Gardening Magazines, but it works great! If you are like me and dig around in the soil with no gloves on? To get you hands and nails super clean, just wash them in some OXI Clean. It does not dry your hands out any more than regular soap, and I always use a bit of hand lotion after I wash my hands anyway! Hope this works for you as great as it does for me.
By Rosa
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Choosing a Day for your Wedding
Tips to help you choose the right day and time of year for your wedding. Post your ideas.
By getting married on a Friday rather than a Saturday, you could save up to 20%.
By Terri H.
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Renting a Limo? Rent a Nice Car Instead
Wanting to rent a Limo? Why not rent a Cadillac? Actually you could rent several Cadillacs for the same price of renting a Limo. Best of all, you'd be able to keep the Cadillac for much longer time than the Limo.
By Terri H.
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Here are some uses for old or unmatched socks. Post your ideas below!
A lady I know cuts the tops off of old socks (that the elastic is still good) and uses them around her water bottles that she's partially froze and refilled with water, so her hands don't get cold.
By Terri H.
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When using manufacturer's coupons at your favorite stores, if there is a place for your name and address on your coupon. Be sure to fill it out before redeeming it. It could either enter you in a sweepstakes or on the company's mailing list for future promotional offers. It will be a sweet deal either way, but what's more wonderful is when the company notifies you that you've won a prize and all you did was redeem their coupon for one of their products! It happened to me a few years back!
By Terri H.
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If shopping is your thing and you're looking for a part time or full time job.. You might consider shopping for others. There's always people who can't get out and shop like they'd like to, for health reasons. There's people that simply do not have the time to shop. Neighbors, bachelors, friends that have too much going on and can't find the time to shop, or simply people who just do not like crowds, whether it be for groceries or clothing or gifts. Run an eye catching ad in your local newspaper. Put up some flyers at the grocery, or at the park.
By Terri
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Make Curtains Out Of Pillow Cases
Being a new homeowner I didn't have enough curtains for all my windows, particularly the small kitchen window above the sink. I took a pillowcase and split the seams and cut it in half at the end, hemmed them and made a temporary pair of curtains for the window. They fit perfect and the pattern matches the wallpaper in the kitchen!
By Connie
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This is a very nice link to making your own free printable calendar business cards.
Use card stock paper for best results. You can also cut the cards out with craft scissors that come in different cutting edges for a more creative look. Experiment with different colored papers till you get the look you want.
http://www.calendar-cards.co.uk/index.php
By Las Vegas Angel
Editor's Note: We tried this. It took a long time to print out the calendar side because there is so much text and the text is small but they turned out very well.
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When cleaning strawberries, use a heavy plastic straw, one that does not bend easily, and push it up through the berry from the bottom. The core is removed easily and none of the berry is wasted. Magic!
By Sandra McArdle
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Fruit Dip
For a delicious, addictive fruit dip, mix equal parts cream cheese (plain or fruit flavored) with marshmallow fluff from a jar. It's great with tart apples.
By Sandra McArdle
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Tips for finding beads for beadwork. Post your ideas.
If you make costume jewelry using beads, consider shopping in thrift stores. Some of the best quality beads, such as crystal, can be found that way for restringing. All are much less costly than in craft stores.
By Sandra McArdle
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Fixing Ground Beef for Casseroles, Taco Filling or Sauces
When fixing casseroles, taco filling, sauces or anything requiring cooked ground beef, use an old fashioned biscuit cutter to mince the beef while it's browning. This prevents lumps.
By Sandra McArdle
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A warm hairdryer blown over the ear area will often help to ease earaches.
By Bobbie
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Cheap Battery Operated Toothbrush
A cheap battery toothbrush works great with household cleaner to scrub corners, tile grout, windows, shower doors, and around faucets. Just be sure to keep your cleaning toothbrush separate from your personal one!
By Bobbie
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Mother's Day, For All Types Of Moms
Mother's Day is fast approaching. When you send out cards don't forget those OTHER MOTHERS in your life who otherwise may be overlooked.
The SISTER who's been there for you all your life.
The SINGLE MOTHERS who are not only the provider but also the disciplinarian and mender of broken hearts.
The MOTHERS-TO-BE who are anxiously waiting to step up to the plate and find out what Motherhood is all about.
The MOTHERS WHO'VE LOST a child due to death.
The MOTHERS-IN-WAITING who yearn daily for the priviledge of being a Mother, yet to no avail and MOTHERS PAST, to whom we no longer have the opportunity to say I LOVE YOUs but merely to place a flower on their grave in their memory.
Just a simple THINKING OF YOU card would mean so much to THOSE forgotten Mothers.
THE SUBTITUTE MOTHER, a Grandma, or a loving sister who's always BEEN THERE for you throughout your life. A simple "THINKING OF YOU" card and a message of encouragement may be just what it takes to brighten THEIR DAY!
By Sharon Shearer
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Tips and recipes for making good pancakes. Post your ideas.
When making pancakes, use a meat baster to squeeze the batter onto the griddle.
By Bobbie
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Exerpts from GRANDMA KNOWS BEST
A GRANDMOTHER: Gets cold in the middle of the night and wonders if her Grandchildren are covered. Laughs at her grandchild's jokes, even when he gets the punchline wrong. Starts knitting a layette when a daughter or daughter-in-law says, "We'd like to have another." Laughs heartily at her grandchild's remarks about her getting old. Lets a grandchild take a nap on a $500 bedspread. Hears someone say "What a cute baby," and replies,"She'll be Miss America someday."
Kids Love their Grandmothers for a variety of reasons: She... Always buys what I'm selling. Never puts me on hold when she hears a call waiting signal. Never gets tired of asking me words on the spelling list. Gives me money and never says it has to be saved. Leaves my drawings up and doesn't just put them up when I'm visiting. Agrees that my doll DOES need a carseat.
These are exerpts from Grandma knows Best..But no one ever Listens. It'll have you laughing and crying!
Sharon,Ky
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To return socks to their original bright color, boil them in water with a few slices of lemon, which acts as a natural bleach.
By Bobbie
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Packing Materials for Glass Items
Cheap paper towels are the best wrapper for glass items when packing to move. It leaves no black ink residue the way newspaper does. It's thick and reliable and best of all, it can be used again after you unpack!
By Sandra McArdle
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When taking pictures keep your chin at a 60 to 90 degree angle to your neck and turn your head slightly to your best side. Keeping your chin above a 90 degree angle is unflattering and beside we don't want to look up your nose. Keeping your chin at less then 60 degrees can cause an unwanted double chin effect.
By EJ Murphy
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Grease 9 x 13 pan with butter. Cut crusts off bread. Butter both sides of bread. Place 8 slices of bread in pan, 1/2 of each of the cheeses, 1/2 of the bacon, a layer of leaf spinach (optional), and mushrooms (optional), and the green peppers. Place next 8 slices of bread on top. Cover with remaining cheeses and bacon. Beat eggs, 1/2 and 1/2 and spices and pour mixture over all. Let stand in fridge for 24 hours. Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Serve with cut up fresh fruit.
By Las Vegas Angel
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Prepare mashed potato mix according to package directions. Add egg, onions, and salt, stirring until blended. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 2 qt. baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Place strawberries in container of an electric blender; process until smooth. Combine strawberry puree, white grape juice, and carbonated water.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine first 3 ingredients in container of an electric blender. Add enough ice cubes to measure 3 cups; blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine first 4 ingredients; chill. Stir in carbonated water just before serving.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Place half each of yogurt, orange juice concentrate, skim milk, and vanilla in container of an electric blender. Add enough ice cubes to measure 3 1/2 cups; blend until smooth. Repeat procedure with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine first 3 ingredients; chill well. Stir in club soda just before serving.
By Robin
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INGREDIENTS:
1 package frozen roll dough
small package of thin sliced ham
package of pepperoni
bar of colby cheese
bar of pepperjack cheese.
DIRECTIONS:
Using unthawed roll dough, take out 3 (per pizza roll) and roll to about the size of an envelope. On rolled out dough lay 4 slices of ham,then top with 3 slces of colby cheese. On that lay 5 pepperoni, topped with 3 slices of pepper jack cheese. Wrap and mold together good turning ends underneath.Top with butter and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bread is done and top is browned.These can also be made ahead and wrapped in plastic to be baked later. This is my Family's favorite. They'd rather have these than a MEAL!
By Sharon Shearer
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Strawberry Pie with Homemade Glaze
To make Homemade glaze for strawberry pie:
In a suacepan combine:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 cup water
Cook over low heat until thick and clear. Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons of powdered strawberry jello. Add red food coloring if desired for a brighter color. Let cool. Wash and dry 1 quart of strawberries and add to the cool filling. Put in a BAKED pie shell and refrigerate. This is so much better than storebought glaze!
By Sharon Shearer
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Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest Prize! Now a 2 $25.00 Gift Cards
In our contest we are giving away two $25.00 Gift Cards (we will
select to winners at random) at one of the following stores: Home
Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you
get to choose which gift card! This contest ends on May 15th,
2005.
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests:
Nicotine Residue on Plaster Walls
I am purchasing a new home where there were obviously heavy smokers in the house for a long long time. The walls are plaster!
Does anyone have any "valuable" recomendations about cleaning the residue off of the walls, cabinets, original wood molding, etc. ?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards.
Cindy
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Thank you to those who suggested I use Goo Gone to get sticker residue off my daughters shirts. Now I can't get the smell of Goo Gone out of the shirts! I've washed three times with vinegar, I've let it soak in detergent, I've used extra detergent and the smell still lingers strongly (which smells like gasoline for those of you wondering what the odor is like). Any other ideas?! Thank you!
Melissa W.
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I work long hours and am too tired to cook when I get home. I need some tasty, yet easy recipes for a new crockpot I just purchased. FIrst, I ask for a recipe for pinto beans for the crockpot.
Thank*you*all
Michele
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I have termites, my neighbors have termites. I also have BAD allergies to chemicals. What can I do to get rid of termites that won't kill me, too? Please let me know. I'm hoping there are some "natural" ways of dealing with termites.
Thank you,
Msjane from Austin, TX
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Need Help Cooking Without Canned Goods
I found out my son has ADHD, we are a family of 5. Myself, hubby, 3 kids (Brandon 7, Angela 5, Jessica 1). I am learning to cook all over again and I am so overwelmed, it is not funny... We can no longer use canned goods so I am learning to cook from scratch. Can anyone grab my hand and tell me it will be ok and help (lol)? I am looking for all sorts of recipies.
Thanks,
Jean
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I did a dumb thing. I didn't realize that it was bad to flush cat poop down the toilet. I would scoop his litter box and flush the feces down the toilet. The litter was just regular clay litter, and I would shake all access litter off, but there was still pieces stuck to the feces. It didn't cause damage at first so i didnt see a problem, but one day it backed up and ever since it has been semi clogged and will clog up easily. We have tried plunging but its not helping. What should I do?
Lacy
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I have nail polish that has dried on my wall, long story. Does anyone know what I can use to take it off?
Ashley
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Are there any easy ways that I can get nicer hair? My hair is fine but every time after I take a shower my hair frizzes up and it looks all poofy and ugly. I always have to tie my hair after I take a bath but then it always makes my hair a little lumpish looking when I take it off. So please if you have any tips, it would really help
Kat
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Is This a Pineapple Growing on My Plant?
I started this about 4 years ago from a pineapple I bought from the grocery. I cut off the top and planted it in soil in a pot.
It started coming up from the middle of the plant about a week after Easter. My neighbor thinks it's not going to be a pineapple because of the pointed thing coming out of it. I was all excited too thinking I grew a pineapple. What is your opinion?
Thank you,
Teddi
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Soap for Aphids - How Much to Use?
We have aphids on some of our plants. I have heard that dish soap in water will control them. Does anyone know the amount of dish soap to use?
Thanks bjgarcia
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Odor After Cleaning Up Dog Vomit
Our dog ate a dozen and a half Krispy Kreme donuts and then threw up in our car. Now it smells like vomit and we don't know how to get the smell out of the carpet. We tried pet stain cleaners but they won't work. Any Suggestions?
Tracy
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Looking For Baby Themed Postage Stamps
I have to send some baby shower invitations. I am looking for postage stamps with baby pictures or something related to a babies or a shower.
I looked for them at the post office but they said they used to have them but no longer do. I haven't found any useful websites.
Any help would be appreciated,
Renuka
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
More Reading:
Scallops and Bacon
By Charlie Burke
There is no doubt that the salty smoky taste of bacon matches well with scallops, but it is nearly impossible to properly cook them both when the bacon is wrapped around the scallops. Usually, they are cooked until the bacon is done, resulting in rubbery over-cooked scallops.
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The Dangers of Canine Parasites
By Rose Smith
When you get a puppy, one of the first things that you need to do is make an appointment with the vet to get your new family member his or her vaccinations. Along with any recommended shots, your cuddly canine will probably get a dose of a de-worming formula to rid them of any internal parasites.
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Mildew gets its food from the root system which works its way into the material on which it is growing. Mildew can only get its food from natural materials such as protein, cellulosic, etc. In a carpet the protein material would be wool, the cellulosic would be jute or cotton.
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1. Keep Things Clean
Keep closets, dresser drawers, basements--any place where mildew is likely to grow--as clean as possible. Soil on dirty articles can supply enough food for mildew to start growing when moisture and temperature are right. Greasy films, such as those that form on kitchen walls, also contain many nutrients for mildew-causing molds.
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