"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share
all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it
automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you
had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with
folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange
your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes
sure your pictures are always organized."
This is our second cat, Patton. We got him about a year ago from the Oregon Humane Society when they were at Petco. He was about 4 months old so we decided to keep his name. We call him the General!
Because he was so young when we got him, Patton is tolerant of my two boys (6 and 4). He cuddles with anyone indiscriminately at night. Unfortunately, he is a mighty hunter and we have come home to little "presents" both outside and inside the house.
We got this cat tower for our 10 year old cat, Desire. Patton has commendeered it ever since he arrived.
A Day at Your Favorite Spa: Your Own!
(Part 1 of 4 - Homemade Facials)
Most of us really need a day at the spa pampering ourselves. The everyday stresses that everyone feels can really get us down. But who can afford to spend that kind of money in this economy? So in this article, I propose to offer some suggestions on reducing stress in your life without the heavy price tag.
Why does a day at the spa cost so much? Most of what you are paying for is the designer products that they use. Did you know you can make your own spa products at home? Also, you are paying for the atmosphere which you can recreate right at home. Candlelight is soothing to the nerves and a soothing tape can take you far away in your dreams.
Facials
Facials are another place that spas charge the big bucks but with a few of my "fresh recipes" and a good friend to help you to apply, you can have a spa facial at a fraction of the cost. The first step to a great facial is to clean the skin well. You don't need expensive cleansers for this just a short trip to your local grocery store and you have all the ingredients for a natural skin cleanser.
Skin Cleanser (For all skin types)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. sunflower oil
1 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Mix all ingredients together and place in a sealed container. Store in the refrigerator. Use 1 tsp. morning and night to cleanse face.
Facial Cleansing Gel (For all skin types)
Add 2 tsp. flax seeds to a saucepan containing 1 1/2 cups of distilled water or herbal infusion. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Remove from heat and cool. The mixture should thicken into a gel. Strain. To use, add enough finely ground oatmeal to the gel to make a smooth paste. Rub over the face and neck, leave a few minutes, then rinse with warm water (not hot!)
Steam Your Face
The next step is to steam the face. Pour hot boiling water into a bowl and tent your head over the bowl. Dry herbs like peppermint or lavender can be added to the bowl for the rejuvenating properties (peppermint) or calming effect (lavender). Your next step is a face mask. Again, no need for expensive products, just a trip to the local grocery.
Herbal Facial Mask (Cleans and tightens pores)
1 Tbsp. honey
1 egg
1 tsp crumbled dried chamomile flowers
1 tsp finely chopped fresh mint
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply the mixture to your face and neck. Let dry (10-15 minutes) and rinse off with warm water.
Oatmeal Face Mask
1/2 cup of oatmeal
1 smashed avocado
1/3 cup of honey
In a bowl mix smashed avocado with the honey, then continuously add oatmeal. When all ingredients are mixed well apply to face and relax. After 10-15 minutes,wash off with warm water. Do this once a week or when you desire relaxation. You won't believe the difference!
Orange Yogurt Mask
1 tsp plain yogurt
the juice of 1/4 of an orange
Stir to mix and then dip fingers into mixture and smooth onto face. The sensation is both cool and relaxing. Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you.
*Yogurt will cleanse and nourish
*The orange is full of Vitamin C and AHA's
Peel-Off Mask Recipe
This mask will peel off your blackheads and tighten your skin. It is very strong, so those with sensitive skin may want to rinse this off instead of peeling it off. Do not use if you have acne.
1 tablespoon of unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 tablespoons of cold milk
1 egg white
Vitamin E Oil (break open a capsule, or buy in a bottle)
In a small pan mix the unflavored gelatin and the cold milk. Stir until melted over a very low flame. Once melted, remove from heat and let the gelatin mixture cool slightly. Then add one egg white. Mix until smooth, and when cool enough to touch, apply evenly over face. Do not apply on, or directly under, your eyes or on your upper lip. Apply quickly before mixture hardens in pan. Apply enough to cover your skin but not too thickly. Lie on the couch and let it dry completely, about 30 minutes. Once dry, lift up a corner under your chin and peel off lightly in an upward motion. This will really tingle. Rinse face with lukewarm water and apply vitamin E.
Tip: The vitamin E is for moisture. If you prefer, you can use your favorite moisturizer on your face instead.
Prune Porridge
This mask sounds and looks disgusting but is very soothing and good for a face tormented by sore underground pimples.
Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over 2 dried prunes in a bowl and leave until soft. Mash prunes. Use any leftover prune water in cooking about 1/2 cup oatmeal. Mix oatmeal with mashed prunes and enough honey to make a sticky mash that will adhere to the face. Apply while still warm (but not hot), leave 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Toner For Your Face
Your last step is to apply a toner to your face. Then you will have a clean palette to apply your special makeup. Here are some great recipes for them.
Astringent
3 tsp. lemon extract
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Transfer to a jar and shake well. Store in the refrigerator. Tightens your pores, refreshes your skin, and helps remove oils from skin.
Citrus Astringent
1/2 thinly sliced lemon
1/2 thinly sliced orange
3/4 cup ethanol alcohol
Combine lemon, orange, and alcohol in a blender and mix until fruits are pulverized. Strain liquid into a jar using a small strainer or cheesecloth. Tightens your pores, refreshes your skin, and helps remove oils from skin. Will keep 6 months refrigerated. Yield, 3/4 cup.
Basic Toner
3 cups distilled water
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
Mix water and vinegar. Pour into a clean decanter and store in bathroom. Use daily after washing face by putting on a clean cotton ball or gauze and wiping face. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET INTO EYES!
Chamomile Astringent
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint (or 2 tbsp dried)
2 tbsp dried chamomile flowers, crushed
4 cups water
Combine ingredients in a small saucepan. Boil for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Strain liquid into a jar, cover and refrigerate. Will keep 2 weeks refrigerated. Apply with cotton balls to skin. Especially good for very oily skin.
By Debra Frick from Colorado Springs, CO
Editors Note: This is a four part article. Look for "Part 2 - Homemade Manicures and Pedicures" next week!
I have a plain old Swiffer and I didn't want to pay for the cloths that go on it. I went to the Dollar store and got similar cloths. I used it and then turned it over and used the other side the next time. I save a lot of money this way.
Here is the Christmas List Budget Worksheet I like to work off. I list the names of everyone I need to get gifts for, gift ideas and how much I am able to spend on gifts. Then, once I purchase a gift, I put a check next to the person's name and note what I paid for it. Once I have finished my shopping I can compare how much I spent with how much I had budgeted. You can download this Christmas list and print it out, it's in PDF format.
You can get lots of medicines free! Go to Patient Assistance Programs and put in the name of your medicine. The site will direct you to the manufacturer and tell you how to apply. Their income standards are quite liberal. I have been getting meds from several manufacturers for several years. They are really good about it! It makes me feel a lot better about those manufacturers than I did before. Good luck!
Why do companies offer large rebates on both high and low ticket items? As many as 40% of all rebates are never redeemed by the consumer. The redemption rate is even less during the holiday season. Redeem rebates quickly after buying a product to help insure that you won't forget to mail the rebate or won't be able to since you've lost the receipt. If you are buying gifts make sure that you can get the rebate and still give the gift to the recipient without destroying the box.
By ThriftyFun
Here's a printable rebate checklist that can be helpful in tracking your rebates. It's in PDF format.
I do this every year with the Thanksgiving leftovers. These freeze well and are a big hit.
Ingredients
chopped turkey
mashed potatoes
cranberry sauce
green bean casserole
turkey gravy
bread stuffing
This is what I had left over this year. Any other leftover ingredients can be used. In past years, I have had carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, you name it. Sometimes you need to make some extra gravy, veggies or potatoes to flesh out the potpies if you are lacking in leftovers in one category.
Directions
Take ovenproof bowls or large ramekins and grease them with butter. Warm gravy in saucepan, making sure you have about 1/2 cup of liquid for each potpie. Layer other ingredients, except for stuffing, in bowls and mix slightly. I usually fill all the bowls together a little at the time so I get an even mix of ingredients. Ladle gravy over the top and place leftover stuffing on top as a crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F. Serve hot or freeze for a taste of Thanksgiving anytime.
Around our town, a lot of people have those big (5 to 7 inch) patriotic (or other colored) ribbon shaped magnets on their vehicles. I heard on the news that if the automobile owners don't take these magnets off their vehicles on a regular basis and clean both the magnetic side of the magnet and the area where the magnet had been, that the dirt from the roadway will scratch the vehicle's finish.
Also, if the magnet is on the vehicle for a long period of time, when the person goes to sell their vehicle, most likely taking the magnet off then, the area where the magnet was might be a darker color than the rest of the vehicle.
Don't toss an unwanted artificial Christmas tree! Regardless of the reason, if it has realistic branches and will stand up, find a bare spot in your yard near a newly planted tiny tree, perhaps against a fence in the back yard. Dig a one foot hole for its trunk, fill with rocks and dirt, and enjoy it until the tiny new real tree matures!
Meantime, search for other artificial Christmas trees being tossed about this time of the year as they are replaced for "lighted ones" or fuller ones, or taller, thinner, or smaller ones. Most that you find can be trimmed, shaped with scissors and tin snips into temporary beauty for the fence row and give you an idea of what that little new tree and/or shrub might look like in a couple of years.
If you find only parts of a tree, use the tops and shape into temporary shrubs. They hold up well out door and look good, even to the most scrutinizing observer! After a time, you will be willing and ready to part with the artificial tree(s) and/or shrubs.
If you are lucky enough to have found or own a silk tree, it will withstand all sorts of weather abuse for that time! Even strong plastic needles survive, but not as long. Unless the artificial trees/shrubs are some weird color, or funky plastic big Bottle-bushy branches, you will fool even the squirrels and birds!
By using all you can find and need, you can fill out or design your own new landscape plan and goals. You cannot beat a visual aid like this! Next, after they begin to look a bit worn, use them as a temporary shade-row for the Summer Veggie Garden until the heat has passed. Then you can toss them for the City/County recyclers!
If you have kids in school - check out http://www.planetcdrom.com/ . PlantCDROM has lots of educational software for about $6 in shipping a piece - a very good deal. I like the language software - but they have all sorts of learning programs and games.
For an awesome, fail proof flower bed, select a location for your flower bed, being careful to remember what you want to grow, with or without sun. My favorite flower beds are under trees, surrounded with blocks. ALWAYS, throw all left over foods in your beds, including coffee grounds, egg shells, vegetables, cooked or raw, tea bags, anything except meat and dairy.
Make it a habit to throw used paper towels and or napkins in flower beds along with your Sunday newspaper, shredded by hand. Over time, this will compost and make great black soil! It is not necessary to wait to plant flowers, they will grow and hide all the paper and food under them.
Remember, never forget to throw these in your flower beds forever! Makes a great soil with simply your garbage. Why pay for potting soil when this is better!
For one of my friends that I exchanged gifts with last year, I bought a Holiday Gift bag about the size of a small shopping bag, and picked up lots of little treasures from the dollar store like old classic movies on DVD, office gadgets for her computer area, etc. To hide them in the bag, I shredded the colorful newspaper inserts that are so plentiful this time of year, and stuffed them in and around the gifts. I just kept adding things until the big day.
By Harlean from Arkansas from Hot Springs, Arkansas
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/
I know there was this question asked not too long ago but I didn't need it then. My daughter asked how to remove gas odor from interior spill. I told her I'd check with you all to see. Thanks.
A few months ago there was a "master" weekly (or maybe monthly) grocery list on this group that listed what items are on sale and which staples to stock up on when; using this plan, you can drastically reduce your grocery bill. Now, I cannot find the list on thriftyfun.com; anyone know where it is, or how to shopping this way? Thank you!
Do you prefer the original medicare plan, and also adding a supplement (referred to as Medi-gap) and a prescription plan (plan D), or do you prefer a type of plan called medicare advantage plan that incorporates all three in one (the medicare, the supplement, and prescriptions all in the same plan).
I remember my mom cooking acorn squash in the microwave just by cutting one in half, dotting the inside with butter, sugar and cinnamon but I don't remember how long she cooked them for. Can anyone give me ideas of this.
I'm the student council president at my school and I was wondering if anyone had any decorating ideas for a classic christmas themed semi formal dance.
l recently made pumpkin pie using a mix. l read the instructions, threw the pies in the oven and took them out when they were cooked all the way through. When l woke up the next morning they had splits in the middle. What did l do wrong?
I would like recipes that uses dry cake mixes to make cookies, cakes, etc. I especially would like the ones using angle food cake mixes with the additions of one or two other ingredients. I would appreciate other uses for cranberry whole berry sauce used in making cookies, etc. as I was blessed with about a dozen cans of this. Are there sugar free cake mixes on the market? Thanks for any suggestions on these subjects.
I have a Smith Corona SL500 electric typewriter that I haven't used since got computer. When turned on the lock light blinks. The manual is missing. Would any one have an idea how to fix or where can get manual? Thanks for any ideas.
Is it financially practical to get a fishing license? We live about seven miles from the Snake River. The license costs $25.75 this coming year. We don't mind catching what other people call "trash fish." Carp are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Suckers are homely but so are lots of fish. I know how to prepare them to get rid of the excess water. I have even canned them which gives soft bones but is a little boring flavor-wise. If nothing else, they make fabulous fertilizer. Lots of people throw them up on the bank to die, and I could gather those up, too. We would probably eat fish a couple of times a week. What do you think?
I am looking for dry recipes to put in empty, small jelly and pickle jars to give as gifts such as flavored coffee creamers, seasonings, nothing too expensive.
I just accidentally poured hot candle wax on my brother's formica dark green (pattern) counter top. We've tried hot soap and water and then we used a scrunge. I believe it looks scratched and a little discolored now and the shine is gone. I would welcome ANY suggestions. Do you think it's totally ruined? Hopeful!
I have a large collection of empty blue glass wine bottles. I'm looking for design ideas for reusing them. I love the cobalt blues and all the different shapes and sizes. Ideas?
How do I get the grease spots off my microwave oven window? I have over-the-range microwave, and grease often splatters on the window. Ordinary window cleaner does not work.
My bird has been weezing at times, fluffing his feathers, and sometimes standing on one leg. I've tried antibiotics, but he hasn't changed very much in his behavior, but has luckily stopped spending his time at the bottom of the cage. Does anyone know of any good home remedies or antibiotics that could help him?
I recently got a old Betty Crocker Gourmet Indoor Barbeque Grill from a garage sale. There were no instructions, and I was wondering if anyone knows how to use it? Do you put water in the part that is meant to catch the grease?
I had a dead skunk in a really big puddle on my property and the dog keeps getting in the water and she stinks. She always goes back to the spot and I can't fill in the puddle, it's way too big. How can I get the smell out of the water?
My son's cub scout troop is planning to be in our annual christmas parade and this will be their first year entering, our theme is "racing for christmas". Any ideas or suggestions on how to decorate a float?
"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share
all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it
automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you
had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with
folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange
your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes
sure your pictures are always organized."
We get so many requests about how to get rid of pests and invariably people say to use mothballs or were given this advice from exterminators. Mothballs are very toxic. They contain Napthalene which is highly poisonous. It does keep moths away and many other pests but is also bad for us, our pets (dogs, cats, and birds) and wildlife.
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This is our second cat, Patton. We got him about a year ago from the Oregon Humane Society when they were at Petco. He was about 4 months old so we decided to keep his name. We call him the General!
