Does your family have any gift giving traditions that you would like to share? Especially ideas that help cut the expense of gift giving. Please post them here:
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Our little boy doesn't have much hair, and we love the Charlie Brown holiday specials, so it was a natural fit for a cheap and easy Halloween costume.
Supplies:
Yellow shirt
Black fabric pen
Black pants
Black eye liner
Google "Charlie Brown" and print a copy of his famous shirt as a model. Place cardboard inside shirt to keep two sides from touching. Using the black fabric pen, draw design onto shirt. Let dry. Draw curl onto forehead using eye liner. Viola!
Optional: Purchase a toy Snoopy doll as an accessory.
This is a cute little reminder that anyone can carry. It is simple enough for children, but also interesting enough for grown-ups. It should take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
You will need:
Scraps of plastic canvas (7 holes per inch)
1 yard of white yarn
2 yards of colored yarn (Camoflauge is very popular for sending these to soldiers.)
Darning needle with an eye big enough for yarn
Directions:
Cut the front piece 12 holes by 10 holes. Smooth off any little bumps.
Cut the back piece 12 holes by 20 holes. Smooth off any little bumps.
Cut the cross 3 holes wide along the vertical part and 3 holes wide along the horizontal part (see photo).
Cover each piece using a stitch that slants right from the bottom over three holes. Or any stitch that you like. Save the edging for last.
Cover the cross neatly with stitching.
Cover the front and back, leaving the edges for last. Now start at the right front of the front piece. Whip stitch across. Hold the front firmly against the wrong side of the back and whipstitch the two together. Go all the way around the back, until it is neatly bound. Run your needle through a few stitches to hide the end of the yarn, and clip it short.
Tuck the cross into the pocket.
Now type this poem and reduce the size on a photocopier until it can be neatly folded and tucked in behind the cross.
The Cross In My Pocket
I carry a cross in my pocket
A simple reminder to me
Of the fact that I am a Christian
No matter where I may be
This little cross is not magic
Nor is it a good luck charm
It isn't meant to protect me
From every physical harm.
It's not for identification
For all the world to see
It's simply an understanding
Between my Savior and me.
When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or a key
The Cross is there to remind me
Of the price he paid for me.
It reminds me, too, to be thankful
For my blessings day by day
And to strive to serve Him better
In all that I do and say.
It's also a daily reminder
Of the peace and comfort I share
With all who know my Master
And give themselves to His care.
So I carry a cross in my pocket
Reminding no one but me
That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life
If only I'll let Him be.
For Halloween this year, my department got together and made our costumes and decorations. We decided to be crayons. The total cost per costume was $5 and for decorations we spent $9 total. That's me in the pink!
I have a pineapple plant that is fully matured and the pineapple is ripe. How do I actually "pick it"?
Hardiness Zone: 10a
SMOODY from SACRAMENTO, CA
Answer:
Smoody,
Just grab it by the leaves and twist it to break it off from the stem. Timing is important when picking pineapples, because once they are removed from the stem they will not ripen any further or get any sweeter. The outer shell color isn't always a good indicator of ripeness, in fact a pineapple can be completely green on the outside and still be ripe. Size isn't necessarily an indicator either. It just means that you have more pineapple that isn't ripe if you pick it too soon. Start by selecting a pineapple that is fresh and plumb. The leaves should be green and fall off easily when you tug on them. Most ripe pineapples will have a pale orange complexion and the bottom of the fruit will have a pleasant, sweet smell. They are best when eaten immediately after being harvested, but will keep longer if stored in the refrigerator.
With three adult children and their spouses going to in-laws for an early dinner, I decided to have a progressive dinner for them. I would prepare the main course and take out trays would be available in case of overeating at the in-laws' homes. One of the other children would have the hors d'oeuvres, which we would begin with after they visited the in-laws. These food items would be light eating. At the end would be the "dessert home" which would be the last place to visit and enjoy the holiday as a family.
Take-out trays would be available for family members to fill up and enjoy the next day.
This idea will enable the family members to get together and not feel guilty about not eating at someone's home on Thanksgiving Day.
Instead of lifting snow, try to push it as much as possible. When you need to lift a shovel full of snow, be sure to bend your knees and keep your back straight.
Spell check doesn't work for internet boxes like we use to post our tips here but I found some freeware that does. It's ieSpell. Look it up on Google, download and enjoy! (Note - it's free for personal use only.)
When making cinnamon rolls, instead of cutting the roll into segments with a knife, which tends to squish them, just cut a length of dental floss or heavy thread about 10 or 12 inches long. Slide it under the roll, wrap over the top and around the roll, cross the ends and pull to tighten. As it tightens, it will very neatly slice the roll. This will also work with cake rolls and jelly rolls.
Well, people are getting ready for Christmas and Hanukkah. So I thought I would put in my 2 cents. I work 2 jobs, 1 as a nurse and 1 as a student assistant in a classroom. There are some folks out there that are very thoughtful and we appreciate them. I am not complaining, mind you, but I would like to offer some suggestions.
Giving gifts to someone you really don't know is fine but, keep in mind, they might get 10 of the same thing that you are giving. What can you do with 10 coffee mugs or #1 teacher ornaments?
I suggest a gift of food or a gift certificate. I really enjoy getting homemade cookies, a basket of fruit or even dog biscuits (I do have a dog), a gift certificate to a local grocery store or a restaurant. I scrimp and save to put heat in my house and for example, I would welcome a night out.
In case you ever got to the store and remembered you needed shoelaces but forgot what length, here is a tried and true formula. Count the number of holes on EACH side of your shoe, than multiply that number by 3. That's the number of inches to buy!
Example would be: 6 holes on the left, 6 holes on the right, 12 holes all together. Multiply 12 by 3 which equals 36.. you need to buy 36 inch shoelaces.
The real challenge comes when you're trying to figure out 'How many holes are there in the shoes that are still in my closet?' :)
When slicing tomatoes or peppers, I always slice them on a paper towel. Any and all seeds that fall onto the paper towel, I set aside for a couple of weeks and let dry out and then bury the entire paper towel in my flower bed and water as I water other plants in existing bed. Within a few days, seeds will sprout and voila! you have vegetable plants.
My daughter spilled nail polish on two pair of her denim jeans? She's tried to clean them w/a fabric cleaner, I suggested using nail polish remover neither worked - any suggestions?
I am 64 and have accumulated a LOT of supplies for sewing and crafting that I now am needing to downsize. Partly because I am no longer able to do some of the activities,and partly because of lack of space. Everything is in excellent condition, but I do not want to donate it to the local thrift store. My question is this; do any of you have any suggestions on how to downsize? Pperhaps even ways of selling some of my things. What would you suggest for ways of advertising? I have tried selling them at my garage sales to no avail. I am really frustrated!
The grand and great grandchildren are hosting a birthday party for my 99 year old grandmother in January 2007. I'm looking for a location (Inland Empire California area) with kitchen facilities (we'd like to cook ourselves). I'm also looking for party ideas, centerpieces something other than flowers. Any ideas? We are on a budget as the grands and greats range from 25-52 years old with families.
We are organizing a parade (11/18) for kids at a local orphanage. We are in need of materials and/or labor. No theme. Parade at 10 a.m. Also would love a marching band or drum line.
I am looking for advice to get the smell of vomit out of a leather couch? My 20 month old was sick on our leather couch and I have washed it with different cleaners but I can still smell it when I go to sit down. It's not a nice smell. I am a little embarassed to have anyone come over in fear they smell it. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
My daughter will be celebrating her golden birthday this year. She will be 6th on the 6th day and it's 2006 in the 12th month. Any ideas of what I should do? Help, I am clueless.
My Boyfiend will be 23 on the 23rd of this month so it is his golden birthday. I am just no quite sure what to get him. I was thinking of some funny things like gold boxer and the movie "Austin Powers Gold memeber". But what else can i do? More funny things? And is there anything serious that would be good for this?
Baked Beans left on too long have burnt the bottom of a Stainless Steel pan with copper middle. A thin black hardish sludge remains! Help. Mum will kill me!
I believe it is cotton. I tried nail polish remover, and although it did not remove the color on the fabric butit didn't remove the nail polish either. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!
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Our little boy doesn't have much hair, and we love the Charlie Brown holiday specials, so it was a natural fit for a cheap and easy Halloween costume.
This is a cute little reminder that anyone can carry. It is simple enough for children, but also interesting enough for grown-ups. It should take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
Toyo-Mikado, Japanese spitz of the hill!
