Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 227 September 20 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Our new servers are in place now! We finally got it all straightened out. ThriftyFun now has two redundant servers and a dedicated database server, it should help performance dramatically. We hope to add another server before the Holiday season as well.
Thank you everyone that responded ot our request for help putting together a glossary. We will post more information about this project in the near future.
Be sure to check out the More Reading section, we have a few new craft projects as well as a great article by Ellen Brown about preparing your garden for fall.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Avery (Parrot)
This is my sister's parrot, Avery. He's the sweetest guy, sometimes like a perpetual 2-year old and has become a part of our family. He loves to show off for the camera.
By Rahime
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Titanic Cake
These are pictures and instructions for the cake I made for my son's 11th birthday.
I made three rectangle cakes (13x9). Tip: Don't make moist cakes.
My mistake. Very difficult to frost. Also being moist the stern dropped
constantly and I had to keep plugging in pieces. Lesson learned.
Materials Used:
- 3 yellow cakes (flavor optional of course)
- 1 tube yellow gel frosting (for outlining)
- 1 white frosting
- 2 cans of spray on black frosting (found at grocery store)
- Portholes: variety of candy dots red, orange, green, blue & yellow ($1 store)
- Funnels: 1 box (6 cakes) Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls (think Ho-Ho's)
- Masts/Stern flag: yellow straws
- Flags: construction paper/ink pens
- Ship labels: popsicle sticks cut with wire cutters to acquire size/length.
- Black construction paper glued on/gold pen for labeling "Titanic"
- Propellers: corndogs sticks cut with wire cutters painted with gold acrylic paint. Hot glued together. Hot glued to toothpicks
- Be creative use whatever comes to mind.
I used a card table with a balloon plastic table cloth. Wipes clean for any messy drops while decorating. I placed the cake on a ply-board used for art. You could simply use cardboard box. I covered it with blue construction paper. Used scotch tape to secure paper to the board. Then took foil and placed it center length wise on the blue paper. The cake sits on the foil.
The cake assembly:
1st cake: Place cake in a door position. Cut it a little more than half in width. Make your cut straight down. Take a spatula to lift the large piece out and place on foil front.
This is placed front for the Bow. Set the remaining cake aside.
2nd cake: Do the same for the second half for the Stern. Place as close together as possible. Of course it won't be perfect. Set remaining cake aside.
3rd cake: Do the same and place on top starting at Bow. Cut front Bow shape now that you have two layers. Set remaining pieces aside with the others. Now comes your creative skills. with the remaining pieces you will then finish extending for the stern.. Remember,
frosting covers it. Don't be alarmed at what it look like at this point. Once you have layered to the end of the stern you will need to cut into bottom layer to create rudder where the propellers will go. Take remaining pieces of cake to create a rectangle top for placements of funnels. I made a large square at the stern to balance the look. Take the shortcake rolls and eye ball where they will to go. Cut into the cake to position them (cut smaller circle you can always cut more out)
Place the rolls into the cut-outs.
Frosting the cake: Take Black frosting and spray onto a plate for spreading. Use a butter knife or frosting knife and begin applying black first. Then apply black tops to the funnels.
Take white frosting and apply to the rest of the cake. Take yellow gel and outline separating black and white colors. As you will see mine ran a little.
Portholes: I started at the bottom with orange, then green, blue and finished the top with yellow for first class.
Add Titanic labels, propellers, and masts with flags.
Take remaining cake pieces and lump together for icebergs.
I added the #11 to the scene to mark the birthday number.
This cake took 2 hrs to bake cakes. 2 1/2 hrs for labels, flags, propellers. To assemble, frost cake and decorations 2 1/2 hrs. This was my first layered creation. I prepared decorations ahead.
Happy celebrating!
Jennifer, CA
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Justin Time (Quarter Horse)
Justin Time is his name, "Justin" for short! He is a grand 8 years old, a Quarter Horse Breeding Stock Paint gelding. I purchased him as an unbroke two year old for a measly $500. Justin loves to drink Capri Sun, to jump, and to eat.
By Lacey
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Today's Tips
Discounted Items at Gardening Centers
Ask your local gardening center for any torn or broken bags of mulch, potting soil, woodchips, fertililzer, etc. They sell these at discounted prices to move them out. The average customer would probably not think to ask.
By Terri
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Using a Window Shade as a Bulletin Board
In my office, I don't have any room for a bulletin board. So I use my pull up/down window blind for the same purpose as a bulletin board, but with tape instead of pushpins. I keep my window blind half way up & put any pictures, notes, or any info, etc. on the blind, just above eye level. I've even had compliments on it!
By Terri
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Using Key Chains as Christmas Ornaments
In order to save money on Christmas tree decorations I use key chains as ornaments. Some key chains look similar to ornaments and are made of sturdier material. Keep this idea in mind when buying souvenirs on vacation. We have many Disney key chains hanging on our tree to remind us of our wonderful vacations.
By Ronda
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Uses for Cereal Boxes
Ways to reuse cereal boxes and the bag that comes inside the box. Post your ideas.
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Saving Money on Pet Supplies
Tips for saving money on pet supplies. Post your ideas.
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Quick and Easy Baby Gift
For a quick and easy and cheap baby gift, buy a package of cloth diapers, then personalize them by adding decorative ribbon. I have bought ribbon at Hobby Lobby for 10 cents a yard on clearance. If you do not sew, then apply heat n bond fusible to the back of the ribbon and simply iron on. This is a practical gift that any new (or not so new) Mom will love.
By Beth from Iowa
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Make Your Own Massage Oil
Recently a well known company released a new massage oil product. I priced this item at the local discount retail chain store, they wanted $9.99 for a bottle!!Make your own massage oil in the fragrance that you desire.
Take a bottle of baby oil, add 2 drops of your favorite essential oil, mix well & pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Makes a nice gift, and a lot cheaper than the store bought!
By Terri
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 17 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
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Photo Contest!
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Contest ends October 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
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New Requests
How Long Does an Open Bottle of Wine Last?
How long is wine good for? My friend has a bottle from last Thanksgiving, it's September now, he says its fine to drink. I disagree. Who's right?
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Reappearing Carpet Stains
I have tried all the tips and formulas listed here and even resorted to bleach but the stains in my carpet always reappear about a week after I shampoo.
I have a steam cleaning shampooer and have tried everything. It looks really good for about a week and then the stains reappear as if the carpet had never been cleaned.
I would appreciate any new methods that work for these type of stains.
SNIGDIBBLY
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Cat Not Using Litter Box
My three year old son and I have recently gotten a 16 month old kitten from a friend. The problem is the kitten doesn't seem to want to use his litter box. A few days after we got him he pooped on the floor (which I contributed to the fact that he had been wormed), but then he pooped in the same spot the next day. I cleaned up the spot and used enzyme cleaner on it and them moved his food to that spot.
Now he is doing fine with that, but a few days ago, I left laundry that I had been seperating on the floor and came home to find he had peed all over it. Over the last few days he hasn't used his litter box for urine even once and I found pee in my desk chair. Please help, I clean the litter box every day, don't used strong chemicals or perfumes and have it in a private place. I am at my wits end.
He has been to a vet and it is not a UTI. Any suggestions would be appreicated.
Michelle
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Disc Brakes Are Too Hard
I recently had someone replace the shoes pads on my Chrysler 300M. It has 4 disc brake. Anyway, he replaced the pads but now the brakes are very hard, harder than they used to be. The car stops fine but I think this person might not have done something right. I read some where that you must drain some brake fluid out first... this person did not do that. I guess my question is how to I fix the hard brakes and what exactly happened when he compressed the pistons without draining fluid?
erocki
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Apples for Mulch
I have 3 apple trees in my backyard. Are apples good for the mulch pile? There are a lot of apples that fall on the ground and rot before I get to them.
Thank you!
pakjc
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Hiding a Compost Pile
My new neighbors just cut down 3 pine trees that were on the border of my property. I kept my compost pile there. There was just enough sun and shade for good breakdown and it was nicely hidden. Well to say the least, we are exposed to the world now. And I am not too happy I might add.
All our privacy from neighbors behind us is gone. And we get to see the back of their lovely shed now. Any ideas on how to nicely disguise my compost? It's breaking down so nicely I don't want to take it to the recycling center for someone else to collect. I put hard work into that pile.
Is there an additive to help it break down faster? I know there is supposed to be something you can add to make it breakdown faster but I don't know what it is.
Thanks,
Val
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Remedies for Rope Burn
My Granddaughter was playing with a rope the other day and she put it around her neck and jumped off the porch when no one was looking. She now has a rope burn on her neck. We put a cold rag on it and later that night washed it in antibiotic soap and put an anticbiotic spray on it. Looks like it is ozing clear fluids and it also looks like it's starting to scab over. Is there anything else we can do?
Pam
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Dune Buggy Plans
Dose anyone have plans to make a dune buggy
augustus
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Reviving Velcro on a Elbow Bandage
I have one of those magnetic bandages (nikken) that close with velcro/scotch. It is for my elbow and I wear it a lot. After just a few months the velcro is not catching. It was expensive and it took all my pain away. Can I resuscitate the velcro or should I patch it?
Kiwi Eema from Israel
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Bringing a Hibiscus Plants Indoors for the Winter
I recently inherited two beautiful Hibiscus plants. I have managed to keep them alive throughout the summer and they have done pretty good. Two questions - I plan to bring them into my garage for the winter. I am not sure how to cut them back, how much should I take off and which of the branches should I cut - also should I fertilize them before I bring them in?
Sherry
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Today's Sponsors
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name savings, free samples and much more.
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More Reading:
Crocheted Toddler Girl's Hat
By Connie Decker Brown Level: Beginner
>View Project: Click Here
Prepping the Garden for Fall
By Ellen Brown As summer turns to autumn, it's time to take stock of this year's growing season and start shifting our focus to prepping the garden for fall. Here is a to-do list of seasonal chores for the lawn and garden:
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Bath Jelly
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Bath Milk
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