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Hello,
The tip contest ends tonight at midnight (PST). This weekend's TF News will be about living on one income. If you have an advice for people living on one income, please post it on the contest form.
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Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
This is a picture I took for Easter last year.
Great Grannie Vi
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Instead of trying to find a window to make these valances fit on, I decided to use them for side table covers. They are also foam backed so anyone placing a wet item on the cloth, will not spoil the finish of the table.
By Maryanne
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
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Today's Tips
Quick, easy, and inexpensive--this is great for any party (just change the color scheme!) Go to your party supply store and buy a large spool of "curling ribbon" (the kind you put on balloons).
Attach long ribbons of this from the ceiling (I like to use tape in case it falls--no unintended injuries, but have seen thumbtacks used on some ceilings) space them randomly--the effect is something like rain. I usually precut the ribbons into varying long lengths and lightly curl them (curling is optional). I try to have most "above head level" but find it fun to have a few longer ones. It gives the illusion of many helium balloons being there without the expense (or noise). If tape is too "ugly" for your tastes, try using pretty stickers to attach the ribbons. I do this throughout the party/traffic areas including pathways to the yards, and bathrooms.
I especially like using silver or irridescent ribbon for this, but have found many pleasing color combinations for different occasions (wedding, birthdays, Xmas, etc.)
RinEff
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Ever wonder what to give the person with everything? Yesterday after church we had a ministry faire. It was wonderful! During the faire we designed a painting. The background was pink and everyone painted a heart on the canvas. The colors, glitter, different sizes and shapes made this one terrific painting! It will be auctioned off at the Valentine's dinner/dance.
I thought, what a wonderful gift at a 50th anniversary celebration or a wedding rehearsal dinner. In the recipients home this would be a great conversation piece!
By Sandy
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Make Bookmarks Out Of Kid's Artwork
Don't want to throw away your children's artwork? Well, for Valentines Day this year I cut up my 2 1/2 year old twins artwork they made on posterboard into bookmark size strips and laminated them, punched a hole in the top and added a piece of colorful yarn for a tassel to give to our friends and family so they can enjoy their artwork as well as a bookmark. We have also framed artwork to give as gifts, grandparents love it! Our kid's artwork is displayed on their walls!
By Darcy in Indiana
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Cough remedies that you can make at home. Post your ideas.
Half a large onion, sprinkle with sugar. Tilt slightly and let the juice drain into dish. Drink. Wonderful home remedy for cough and breaking up phlegm.
By Nanasuegibbs
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Keeping Windshield Clear of Frost
If you live where you have a lot of snow and ice, this will help keep your windshield clear.
I use a piece of plastic tarp just larger than the windshield and cover it each night. I just set a wiper on top of it, and close the front doors on it. It stays and place and works great.
By lighthouselady
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Keeping Side Mirrors Clear of Ice
To keep your side mirrors clear of ice and snow, just cover them with plastic grocery bags and tie the handles. In the morning, just remove and you have clean and clear mirrors.
By lighthouselady
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Things to consider when looking for a new home. Post your ideas.
When looking to buy a new home, besides all the other necessary items to look for, go online or to the town's city hall to see if the home you're looking at is in a flood zone or near a dairy or pig farm. Some folks don't take these things into consideration before purchasing a new home & later wish they had!
By Terri H.
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Tips for keeping your food pantry organized. Post your ideas.
I have an old dresser in my pantry that I keep various items in. One drawer has all my wax paper, tin foil, and Tupperware lids. Another drawer has multiples of boxed rices & pastas, as well as dry dressing mixes and gravy packets, and the rest have can goods. It keeps my pantry looking nice as well as my kitchen cabinets.
By Terri H.
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At Christmas, I was signing cards and found more than a few I'd like to endow with a 'tiny' gift. I enclosed a flavored tea bag or two and got nice responses. This is a relatively inexpensive treat, since they come in various sized boxes. It only takes one cup with a note 'for a little rest and relaxation'. People do enjoy it!! CATHY
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Shop for Greeting Cards at Thrift Stores
When shopping at your local thrift stores, remember to ask about their greeting or all occasion cards. They're usually a lot cheaper than most places. I know our local thrift store's are. One thrift store sells their cards for .25 ea. and another sells theirs for .05 ea. (both complete with their envelopes). It's easier to stock up this way, much cheaper than $3.29 each at the grocery store.
By Terri H.
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If you were to buy a brand of pet food that your pet won't eat for whatever reason. Don't toss it out in the trash, look in your phonebook to see if your city/town has a no kill animal shelter. Take it there. Lots of people take their pets they no longer want there and just forget about them. They still have to eat and any donations are greatly appreciated and accepted.
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Mail College Kids a Roll of Quarters
As a special surprise for your college kids, mail them a roll of quarters. That way, they can do their mailing (and laundry) on you and maybe even have something left over to buy a treat from a vending machine!
By Robin
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If you have a sore throat try eating something with garlic and it could help give you relief very quickly. Garlic has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties to it so it really does help.
By Robin
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Our bank recently began offering a debit/ATM card with a photo of the carrier on the card. It helps a great deal to fight against identity theft, which has become a real problem. Also, they provide $10,000 insurance along with the card and this was no cost to us at all. Might be worth checking with your bank to find out if something like this is available.
By Robin
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Keep Oatmeal from Sticking To The Pan
If you are making oatmeal on the stove, one way to make sure it doesn't stick so badly to the pan is to spray the pan with cooking spray like Pam before you start.
By Robin
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Tips for using clothng belts for something other than keeping your pants up. Post your ideas.
I take cloth belts (usually the ones that come with a pair of pants) and create curtain ties from them and use them to hold my hair clips.
By B Schroedter
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I like to have a cup of coffee on my way to work. Sometimes I spend a dollar on this luxury. About a month ago, I was at Gordon Foods in Michigan (they are a institutional food supplier with retail outlets). I went to the paper products aisle and found styrofoam cups (a variety of sizes) and lids to go with them. The price was very reasonable. Now I take a cup of coffee from home in one of these. Probably costs me an additional 10 cents (I would have thrown the left over coffee in the sinK. Now I drink it on the way to work. Sure makes traffic jams and train crossings more bearable.
-Cindy from Michigan
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix all ingredients adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled (yogurt or butter containers work really well.)
By imaqt1962
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix in saucepan over low heat. (it does not have to heat long) dough is ready when it rolls into a ball. Keep fresh in an airtight container or baggie. If you want colored play dough add food coloring as desired while mixing over heat.
By imaqt1962
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix together until smooth (for milk allergies you may substitute flour for the instant dry milk)
By imaqt1962
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Great for exfoliating away all the icky dry skin!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine the hot water and aspirin until the tablets dissolve into a crumbled paste.
You can mix the paste with honey if you choose, or apply the aspirin paste to your face alone. Apply in circular motions to exfoliate.
Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse. Your skin will feel amazingly soft and any noticeable blemishes will be on their way out in no time!
I believe the aspirin has some sort of ingredient that's great for exfoliating, but I couldn't recall it for the life of me.
WARNING: Avoid this if you have aspirin allergies.
By Ashley
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine in usual way until well blended. Pour into large 9x5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix and melt the margarine and chocolate. Allow to cool. Combine powdered sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla. Fold in beaten egg whites. Add to chocolate mixture. Combine vanilla wafer crumbs and nuts. Layer in 9x13 inch cake pan:
1st layer: 1/2 of the crumbs and nuts
2nd layer: 1/2 of the ice cream
3rd layer: Chocolate mixture
4th layer: Remaining ice cream
5th layer: Remaining crumbs and nuts
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Cream sugar and margarine. Add eggs and cream again. In blended add milk, soda, and ripe bananas. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture of bananas into the sugar, margarine and eggs. Mix. Stir in flour and mix. Grease the bottoms only of a loaf pan and fill with mixture. Let bread rest in pan for 20 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bread is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Bread may be wrapped in foil and frozen.
By Robin
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New Requests:
Cleaning Vomit Stain from Suede
Can anyone suggest how to remove a vomit stain from suede? Had an accident on my beautiful red, suede boots.
Thanks
sm from ny
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Painting Dining Room a Dramatic Color
I want to paint my dining room a dramatic maroon, but my husband insists that it would make the room "small". Also I am looking for a finish that would add depth, without being trendy (like sponging). Any tips for colorwashing? Debbie
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Cat Pees on Dirty Laundry only
My cat seems to pee only on my dirty clothes. Any idea's on why? She is almost 2 yrs old, and her litter box is kept clean. Please help with any ideas of how to make her go back to using her litter box. No changes in the household. Debbie
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Looking for a Way to Supplement Income
I am looking for a way to supplement my income. I work full time as a secretary and have a computer at home. I am a very fast typest and am organized. I have bills I need to pay. Any suggestions? Thank you very much for your suggestions! Eric
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I have 4 stray cats that hang out on my back porch. I have a male neutered cat inside. Apparently, one of the strays is also a male (unneutered) and he has been spraying my house--gross! I have a 2 year old and I don't want him to go out and play when this cat sprays. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this stray cat to stop spraying or to get him to leave? Help please! melissa in wv
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Homemade Swiffer Wet Mop Replacement Cloths
Does anyone have any ideas on what to use as the cleaning cloth of the Swiffer Wet Jet Mop.
These cloths are expensive to buy for only 12 of them.
I use them freqently to spot clean my hardwood floors and keep the dust and dirt down to a minimum.
Any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mel in Illinois
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Need Cinnamon Roll Type Recipe
I'm asking for your help on helping a friend find a recipe that her Mom used to make. (Her Mom is in a nursing home and doesn't know or remember much any longer, sorry to say.) My friend says it's along the way you make cinnamon rolls, but you use cottage cheese as a filling, along with cinnamon and chopped nuts. Thanks for any help!
Terri H.
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Cleaning Stubborn Shower Doors
Does anyone know a good way of removing hardwater stains from glass shower doors? We recently bought this home and the shower doors don't look like they have ever been cleaned. The water in the house is hard water to begin with, so once it is cleaned I will have to keep it up regularly! Any help would be appreciated?
Joanne from CO.
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Chocolate Milk Using Hershey's Cocoa Powder
Does anyone have a recipe to make chocolate milk using Hersheys Cocoa Powder. I have two children who love chocolate milk and I was thinking maybe making milk this way would be less expensive.
Any ideas?
Melissa
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Recycled Plastic, Twist Ties and Glue School Project
I'm looking for some suggestions for a school project. The item can only be made from recycled plastic, twist ties and glue. The end result must look like something useful, although I believe it is not actually going to be tested. Any ideas?
Mom in Need
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Does anyone know how to get the smell of cigarette smoke out of rubbermaid food containers? They were given to me, and other than the smell they are in great shape, so I would like to keep and use them if I can get that smell out. Thanks a lot!
Sheila
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Using Sewing Patterns Again For Different Sizes
This is a request about how to use sewing patterns that have two or three sizes on them over again. I love to sew for my granddaughter, but hate to throw the pattern away after using it for one size. Is there a way to transfer the pattern to another piece of paper so that I won't have to throw the pattern away and not be able to use it any longer?
Thanks,
Joyce
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5 Year Old's Princess Theme Birthday Party
My niece is turning 5 and we are doing a Princess theme Birthday Party. What kind of games and craft ideas could we do? Some of the kids may be a little younger than 5.
Donna J.
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Removing Blood Stains From Fake Fur
Does anyone know a way to get blood out of fake fur? It's 75% acryilic, 25% wool with a cotton back and is machine washable. It's not a big stain and not too deep either-my nose just suddenly started gushing with blood and I couldn't move it out of the way quick enough! Any help is appreciated greatly,
Catherine from England
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My friends female cat began peeing on the carpet, clothes on the floor and other places other than the litterbox. She is about 4 years old. At about the same time my friend started dating someone new. The cat would pee on his clothing. Could she be doing this because she doesn't like the new boyfriend? Recently she moved and the cat is still peeing on brand new carpet and other places. I think she only cleans the litter box every 3-4 days. I think this should be done every day. Now she wants to get rid of the cat.
Donna J.
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More Reading:
Gardening for Kids
By Judy Williams
Kids love to contribute to the family, especially young children. But there is generally not much they can do. These simple gardening projects will allow young children to contribute something meaningful while learning heaps!
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Tips For Traveling With Rover
By Ron Swerdfiger
Whether it be on a vacation to your favorite resort, or just visiting the in-laws for the weekend, many people are choosing to take their dogs with them when traveling. Land or air, there are many things to take into consideration. The best advice is simply, be prepared. Below are some great tips for traveling by air and land.
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Emergency Methods for Someone Who is Choking
In response to the person who used a straw to dislodge something they were choking on...
NEVER, NEVER put anything down your throat. If you or someone is choking follow these steps. These steps are for anyone over the age of 1. Moderate the thrusts according to the size of the person.
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