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Herbie is a little over a year old and is a mix- Pharoah hound - terrier? He's a designer dog - one of a kind. Herbie along with six of his brothers and sisters including his mom were placed with our family to foster for a month. They came to us at five weeks of age. They were all rescued from a high kill shelter that our local humane society tries to save as many as possible.

They stayed with us until they were old enough to be adopted. They all found happy homes even mom and we got to keep one out of the litter. Herbie attached himself to us and we have been together ever since. He goes to work with me and my husband.

He loves to play tugs. He hates fetch or also known as "steal the toy away from me" game.

He has a great personality, extremely smart. He loves to go for long rides in the truck. He's our family's best friend.

By Jenn from Alton, NH

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I live in a house that was built in 1957, apparently when tacky wood paneling was in style; and after fifty years it has only gotten uglier! I can't afford to remove the paneling and drywall, so for a quick fix of color I decided to prime and paint.

I used the comforter to pick out colors for the color scheme. I bought Ace brand paint and primer. I have used other types of primer on the paneling in other rooms and found that it ran down the wall. The Ace brand is very thick and did not run at all and spatters very little when rolling.

My bedroom is now my most favorite room in the house!

By Paula from Christmas, MI

Paula's Bedroom Before

Paula's Bedroom After

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Use cookie packs to make handbags, this is great for kids to use,for storing your shopping receipts,etc. I have used the 2 packs back to back and belting material. I'll also have for sale the complete ebook directions.

By Sharon Johnson from Miami

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My Frugal Life
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Wow! 45 years of cooking! I do remember the first recipe I learned in 7th grade Home Ec. was potato chips with cheese melted in the oven. Not a microwave, a regular oven. My mother and grandmother taught me several family favorites before that, though. My first memory of a comfort meal was on a Sunday; wet, humid windows because it was cold outside, and Gunsmoke on the radio...Hamburgers with sauteed onions and gravy, mashed potatoes and corn...and the feeling of complete safety and love.

By Margie Minard from Mount Vernon, Ohio

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I love to use pillar candles for both decorating and to create a romantic mood at the dinner table. I have always hated having to throw away a tall candle that I could no longer reach the wick to light. Instead of paying for a gadget to address this, I use an old non-stick skillet on the stove. Hold the candle upside down and evenly circle it in the pan over low-med heat until the wick can be reached. The wax melts and can be poured into an empty can to dispose of.

By Peggy from Turlock, CA

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Woo-HOO! New shortcut. : ))

Tonight was spaghetti night. I sauteed some ground meat, onions and garlic in a little olive oil. I poured this into a bowl, poured in my favorite brand of sauce and set it aside. I poured out most of the oil, and put the pasta water right into the pot without any extra cleaning. When the pasta was done, I poured it into a colander. While it was draining, I poured the sauce and meat right into the same pan and heated them together. By the time the pasta was thoroughly drained, the sauce was hot.

I put the pasta in bowls, poured the sauce on top, filled the pot with water and set it on the stove. By the time dinner was over, all I had to do was swish one pot with a soapy scrubby and set it in the dish drainer. I guess an old dog can learn new tricks ; )

By Doggy from San Antonio, TX

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Most people think if you put a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) into a light fixture, you will automatically save money. This is not true! And I'm here to tell you why.

CFLs are the screw-in fluorescent lights. They can screw into a regular lightbulb base, and they work just like a fluorescent light. That is, they use a burst of energy when you first turn them on, so you don't start saving money until they have been on for 15 minutes. But after they are turned on, they start daintily sipping electricity. What this means is you should only use CFLs (or any fluorescent) in an area where the lights are on for 15 minutes or more. Good places for CFLs are: living rooms, kitchens, porch lights, yard lights. Bad places, where lights are turned on for a short time then turned off are: bathrooms, bedrooms and halls. Know where CFLs work best is the key to saving money.

By Chuck R. from Grand Rapids, MI

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I went on this website to get ideas for removing dry-erase marker stains from clothing as my son comes home from Pre-K frequently with these stains. After trying a few of the suggested solutions and still having a visible stain, I remembered that my mom used to use Lestoil heavy-duty cleaner to remove tough stains from clothes when I was a kid. The product is still around today, and works to remove various tough stains from clothes, including grease and tar. I tried it on the dry-erase marker stain and it worked! I was so relieved as the shirt that was stained was a designer shirt. I just had to share this great tip with any other stressed-out parents dealing with dry-erase marker stains I wish they still used chalkboards in school!

By Kate from Cape May, NJ

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Here's a great tip for road trips or any vacations; the kids love it and it is a space saver! Wherever your vacation is, always get a postcard and write your highlights on it and date it. Take a hole puncher, punch a hole and collect them on a sturdy key ring. This is so easy, you can make your own and let the kids do theirs. What a easy way to remember trips, have fun collecting postcards, and save on storage space.

By Linda from Oceanside, CA

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My son and I were discussing the tip I added here of using fresh coffee grounds to safely remove odors of all kinds. He told me that he was listening to a problem-solving program on the radio when someone called in with an odor problem. The host said for them to use apple cider vinegar.

He gave the example of a terrible odor problem that was caused by a death in an apartment that took a month to discover. I won't go into the details. But the host said that a bowl of apple cider vinegar was placed in each room and left there for several days. The odor went away, and they were able to rent out the apartment with no problem.

Thank you,

By Donna from Cherryvale, KS

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I had foot surgery a couple weeks ago, and I am in a non-weight bearing cast. I still want to do some house cleaning and the bathroom was giving me a hard time. I found if I used a new toilet bowl brush, I could sit on the toilet seat and scrub the tub without too much trouble. It was too much effort to stand with crutches and I sure didn't want to get on the floor.

By Leann from Columbus, Ohio

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You can use household objects for other purposes. I keep one set of my recorders in a padded ex-chocolate box, put the keyboard on a folding wooden tray table, and use a wooden folding plant stand/stool as a harp stool. Oh, and I make swabs for my recorders with wooden chopsticks with strips of old hankies stapled to them! (when they are inside out). Thinking about whether I can make a recorder stand out of the stand stacks that blank CD's come on. I'll let you know.

By pamphyila from Los Angeles

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AARP Tax Question Line

Tax time is coming. Did you know that if you need help, you can call 1-800-829-1040 for free. This is from AARP.

By Jodi from Texas

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/

More Information:
http://webby.com/humor

I have 10 grape vines that have overgrown and are not producing. Can I cut them right back to the ground so that I can start over and put in new supports and tend to them better or will I lose the plants by cutting too drastically?

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Roberta from China, ME

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How do I put minutes on my Alltel phone without paying anything now?

Tassie from Orange Park, Florida

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I am looking for the recipe posted a few weeks ago for some kind of popcorn mixture. The ingredients included microwave popcorn, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. I'm pretty sure I saw it on this website, or got it in my email from ThriftyFun.

Thanks!

Pattie from Fredonia, NY

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I received a four post custom crib for a steal when I was going to have my baby. Now as she approaches turning two I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to convert ANY crib into a full size bed? I know I would need to find a really good carpenter/woods man however, I just wondered if it could be done when the crib was not originally made to be converted. Thanks

Andjerm from TEXAS

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Does anyone know what I can use to coat a photo to laminate it onto something without destroying the photo?

Susan from New Jersey

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I am having serious painting problems! I decided to paint over my white walls in a deep red/burgundy Behr paint from Home Depot. They advised me to use a deep primer so I wouldn't have to paint multiple times. So after priming it once, and painting it 2-3 times, it still looks bad. I can see the roller marks and brush marks everywhere. If anyone has any advice as to how I can fix it, or cover it up, it would really help!

Vanessa from Toronto, Ontario

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I have a glass-topped table which is a funny color green. I would like to paint it, perhaps high gloss black, so it looks like black laquer. Is this possible? How do I do it or where can I get it done?

Thanks,
Tracy from Colorado

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I am looking for simple steps to crochet panels together.

Nancy from kernersville, NC

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I need ideas for hanging chiffon on my daughter's dormitory cinder block walls. I can not make any holes or permanent marks. I wanted to drape some chiffon on one wall to give the room some color and personality.

Carol from Fairview, TN

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I am looking for hash brown casserole recipes with, or without, soup as an ingredient. Similar to the one that Cracker Barrel serves. Thanks!

Maryeileen from Brooklyn OH

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I'm looking to purchase a good and reasonably priced sweeper that will last and do a good job.

June from Kent, WA

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We are taking a trip to Nashville in April - I would like any info on places to visit, places to eat and lodging.

Thanks for any info.

Patty from WV

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We had a baby swing given to us but it has mold or mildew on the seat cover. Can this be removed and if so what do I use? Can you buy new seat covers for them?

imaqt1962 from Illinois

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Does anyone have a recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies that are moist and chewy? Mine always seem to turn out crunchy and dry.

Joyce from Tooele, UT

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I have a black porcelain stove top. How do I clean it without streaking?

Barbara

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I am looking for instructions on how to make a quilt out of crown royal bags.

Sharon from Kansas

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I am looking for tips for dealing with termites.

Juanita from Texas

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Do dogs over the age of 1 need distemper shots?

Alaina from Lynchburg, VA

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Can you get the moisture out of leaking double glazed windows?

Rae Ann from Templeton, CA

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Product: LCD TV

Manufacturer: Curtis

Request: How good are Curtis LCD TVs?

Kyle from Manchester. CT

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I need help diagnosing a problem with my ice maker.

Mike

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I am a receptionist and my office desk is so unorganized with pencils/ink pens and scissors laying around, desk trays, date stamp, rolodex, tape dispenser, etc. I have a large office and it looks so dull. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can organize my desk?

Onesummer from CA

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I live in Essex in the UK and along with a friend, we would like to start making and selling at craft fairs to enable us to continue to stay home with our children.

I thought I would ask for suggestions on here as being an american site, you would probably come up with suggestions that we don't have over here.

Thanks in advance,
Tracey from Essex

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I have aggressive and destructive squirrels, raccoons and possums that are ruining the flower garden. I need to deter these garden pests this spring, summer and fall. The squirrels are the worst! Any Ideas?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

ML Dubose from Chicago, IL

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I am looking for suggestions (best time to visit, best sights to see, best places to stay) when visiting New Mexico from other travelers to the state or those living in New Mexico.

Thank you,
Ba Rok

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