March 14, 2008

Daily Thrifty Tips - March 14, 2008


Vol. 7, Num. 52, March 14, 2008 (Read It Online)

Today we have a neat Bunny Hat Craft for Easter and a photo of a Shamrock cake for St. Patrick's Day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Photos:

Today's Tips:

Joke of the Day

New Requests:

Today's Sponsor:

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

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Today's Photos:

Shamrock Cake

Pictured here is my first decorated cake and for the longest time I've wanted to learn this. Years ago when we were raising my son I never had the time or the extra money to buy the cake decorating tools. So in my later years, I'm learning to do this by a book. I purchased "Cake Decorating for Dummies" on http://www.amazon.com. The book is so easy to understand that I can learn how to do this on my own. I used a white cake mix and filled the layers with lemon filling, with cream cheese frosting.

By MCW from NY

Shamrock Cake

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Craft: Bunny Hat Decoration

These bunny hats make cute door decorations for your home or office and can be assembled fairly quickly after the straw hat is painted. Instructions are for the white hat, but you can create a tan bunny by using tan spray paint, tan craft foam and brown chenille stems. The tan ones show up better on white or off-white doors.

Bunny Hats

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Craft: Crocheted Recycled Easter Basket

Here is a frugal Easter basket project. Crochet an Easter basket from recycled plastic grocery bags. Here is the free pattern link

By Cindy from WA

Recycled Crocheted Easter Basket

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Tazor (Pug)

Tazor was 2 years old in May 2008. He is a Pug. He was the "runt" of the litter. I fell in love when I went to see a friend who breeds pug, I had never seen pug puppies. Tazor was the smallest one and so sweet and loving. I had to have him but had to wait for another lady to decide whether she wanted him or his bigger brother. It was a long 2 weeks waiting, but he's my baby today! (Smile)

He likes to chase my male cat, play with the big dogs, go for rides in the car, and work with me in the gardens during the planting season. I'll be in the garden planting and when I look to check on him, because he's always with me, he sees me move, puts his head up to look at me, and his face is covered with dirt...LOL

Even though pugs are one of the most stubborn dogs that I have ever met in my life, my Tazor and other pugs are so full of love. He makes me laugh all the time. I can never be angry with him, no matter what he does, because he looks at me with that face and it makes me laugh. Everything is fun and games with him, hence, stubborn!

By Andrea from Turner, Maine

Tazor (Pug)

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Starting Seeds In February

On February 1st, we planted tomatoes, peppers, basil, and peppermint. We are going to experiment with our Wall O Waters this year, so are preparing our plants well ahead of the normal Mother's Day planting date in our area.

The sticks you can see are toothpicks with the name of each plant written in fine-tip permanent marker.

By Katie A. from Gallup NM

Starting Seeds In February

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Contests:

These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!

Today's Tips:

American Gas Prices 1996-2008

As we all cringe every time we go to the gas station for our next fill-up, I wondered just how the prices of gas have been over time. The Department of Energy had data for 1996-2008 so I made a graph. The most recent spikes are not included. Gas today here was about $3.59 a gallon for regular.

Gas Prices 1996-2008

Click Here for Larger View of the Graph

Gas Prices 2005-2008

What are you doing to cut costs when the cost of gas just keeps going up?

By Susan Sanders-Kinzel

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Link: March 14th Is Pi Day

I got this cute email yesterday and thought it was a great idea for math and science buffs.

Happy Pi Day!

Jess in Oregon

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Dog and Cat Hair for the Garden

If you have a cat or dog in the home then you are vacuuming their hair off everything all of the time. Empty your vacuum canister or bag each time around the perimeter of your gardens. The pet hair scares away rabbits, gophers and other wild animals. They smell it and think there is danger so they head elsewhere for their munchies!

By Pattie from Bridgton, Maine

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An Oh-So Obvious Way to Make a Shamrock

Sometimes things are so obvious, we don't see them. I know I miss them -- would you believe I just figured this one out? If you need a four-leaf clover design for a craft or anything, trace or stencil four green hearts (with the points together at the middle.)

Erin go deo and erin go brea -- a perfect shamrock!

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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Allergies Checklist

A--Air-condition your home

B--Bathroom mold and mildew can cause allergy symptoms; scrub sinks and fixtures regularly

C--Cats and dogs can cause runny eyes and sneezing. If you have pets, brush them outside daily. Use a bristle brush if your pet has a short coat, use a shedding blade and a flea comb if your pet has a medium-length coat, and use a shedding blade and a wire bristle brush if your pet has a long coat (better yet, keep the long coated breeds clipped) Talk to your doctor about pet allergen testing, shots, desensitization, and other new technology.

D--Damp mop hard surface floors at least once a week

E--Enclose your fireplace; avoid smoke and fumes and don't store wood indoors

F--Fluff-dry drapes, curtains, and small rugs in your dryer to keep them dust-free

G--Go see your allergist regularly

H--High-efficiency, non-electronic, ozone-free air cleaners can remove up to 99% of airborn contaminants from circulation. Get one for your home or office

I--Invest in an efficient kitchen exhaust fan

J--Junior's fabric toys can trap dust and other irritants -- keep them clean

K--Keep emergency medication handy, but out of reach of small children

L--Leave trees and planes alone during allergy season...or wear a surgical mask to reduce the pollen you inhale

M--Mattresses should be vacuumed regularly (be sure to pay particular attention to the seams) Pillows and other bedding should be made of non-allergenic synthetic fibers

N--Notify the school nurse and teachers of your children's allergies and symptoms. Provide emergency phone numbers if your child has a serious problem with allergies.

O--Outdoor activities should be minimized during allergy season. Stay indoors in an air-conditioned area whenever possible.

P--Proper relative humidity during the winter provided by a central humidifier will alleviate itchy skin and skin allergies

Q--Quit smoking! It's needless irritation for eyes, nose, throat, and lungs -- yours AND others. I will celebrate my 16th anniversary of kicking the habit March 27th

R--Replace or clean air cleaner, air conditioner, and furniture filters as needed

S--stay away from odorous chemicals and perfumes. Avoid industiral areas and high-traffic areas too

T--Tile your kitchen and bathroom floors; rugs and carpets trap allergens

U--Use wood or vinyl furnishings rather than those with heavy upholstery fabrics

V--Vacuum your entire house weekly. Use Swiffer-like dusters on bookshelves, blinds, window sills, and above doors before you vacuum

W--Windows and doors should be shut completely and sealed shut

X--X-tra care is needed during summer months

Y--Year-round attention is important to allergy relief

Z--Zip right through the allergy season with symptom relief using common sense and all these preventative tips

Source: Mostly Heloise, the goddess of hints and tips, as well as a few of my own. =)

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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Remedies for Hot Glue Gun Burns

Hot glue gun burns can be serious burns and extremely painful. Do not be hasty and try to pull the glue off as it will take skin with it! I protect myself each time I use a glue gun by placing a bowl big enough to fit my hand with cold water and ice cubes. Since the hot glue will stick to your hand and continue burning you want to immediately thrust your hand into the ice water. Do not peel the glue off until the pain stops and then do so very carefully. This has saved me many times!

By Pattie from Bridgton, ME

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Furniture Polish - Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

Here is a great tip on saving money on furniture polish.

  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 clean 16 oz. spray bottle

Combine the oil and lemon juice in the spray bottle. Shake well before using.

Use a clean, dry cloth to buff and polish. Works wonders and saves you money!

By Sabrina from Council, N.C.


I saw the following recipe on a video:

  • 5 lemons
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • spray bottle
Cut 5 lemons in half and squeeze all the juice in a measuring cup until you have 1/2 cup pure juice (remove any pulp and seeds) Pour lemon juice into a spray bottle, then add 1 cup olive oil. Shake mixture until well mixed. Acid in the lemon juice will prevent olive oil from spoiling.

Now you can be environmentally safe and polish all of your furniture eliminating the harmful fumes in the commercial furniture polishes. Source: MSN

By MCW from NY

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Don't Let Your Dryer Cool Down

The biggest mistake I found I have made in doing my laundry is letting the dryer cool off in between loads! It dawned on me that each time that happens the dryer has to be REHEATED, starting all over. If you pay closer attention as you empty one dryer load and have the next one ready to go to save a little bit of that heat!

I am still using my cousin's washer/dryer that came with the house and it is older, the timer is broken on the dryer so I don't start loads at bedtime or when I will be gone because it can't shut itself off! When I know the load is small and requires less dry time after I know the dryer is warm enough, I shut it off and let it finish drying with the heat already inside it, the same as do when I bake in the oven. Then hang the clothes up on hangers on a rod so they won't be as wrinkled if they are at all!

The second biggest mistake I make in the laundry room is using too much SOAP! After stain treatment, my laundry isn't all that dirty to require the full measure of soap so I find that 1/2 the cup is plenty. When I open the lid to stop the cycle and look, there are always lots of suds even though I am cutting back on the soap! Sometimes I will mix an off brand with a better brand and I am just as satisfied with the results!

By melody_yesterday

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Combine Old Bar Soap With New

Using Dial soap, I drop the one almost used-up into the shower while I bathe, along with the brand new bar. Once they are softened, the used-up bar fits nicely into the indentation on the new bar. Just squish them together and once it dries, it is firmly attached to the new bar. I don't know if this works on other brands, but it definitely won't work on Ivory!

By Marilyn from Terre Haute, IN

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Recycling an Old Grapevine Wreath for Easter

I recycled an old grapevine wreath. I took off all of the old flowers and decorations and put on some new fresh plastic spring flowers and hot glued one dozen plastic Easter eggs around through the flowers and on the wreath. I looks wonderful on my front door.

By Carol from West Milton, OH

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Make Ham Gravy From Drippings

Easter is coming. Try this. Bake your ham, however you like. The drippings in the bottom of the pan, make great gravy, like you would make any gravy. Add a little flour, water and stir, add to drippings. Wait until you try this. My mother made this for years.

P.S. You can freeze this also. I freeze it in small amounts so whenever all the Easter Ham is gone and I purchase a ham slice or two, I add this gravy, you will love this. Please try this.

Source: Ham Gravy is a tip from my mother.

By Carol from Blairsville, PA

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Low Fat Creamy Dip

Want a low calorie dip? Place cottage cheese (in lieu of sour cream) in blender. Put powdered dip Seasoning in blender. Add enough milk to liquefy to a thick 'pancake batter' consistency. Transfer to container and place in refrigerator for 8 hours.

No one will know. :)

Cajun62234 from Collinsville, IL

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor

New Requests:

Deep in Debt and No Way to Pay

I'm disabled and my husband is retired. We have very low income. Our credit card debt is about 100,000.00. We stopped paying creditors. So far they call all day and ask for money. How long they will be call? What happens after few months if they not received payment? What will be the next step what they can do to us? Our house, no market, is worth less what we own to the mortgage company. Please give answers.

Thank You,
Danuta

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Keeping Dog Out of Vegetable Garden

How do you keep a dog out of a vegetable garden? It's a very small garden, and not worth the cost of fencing it in. If I fenced it, I'd have no room for the plants.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Choosing Colors for Kitchen Walls

Our new kitchen will have: maple cabinets stained ginger, very pale cream/taupe tile with light brown/tan markings, brown and peach granite counter tops. What paint colors would go?

Jaye from Toronto, Ontario

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Litter Box Training a Puppy

I need help with litter box training my puppy. Anyone have any tips?

Debora

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Youth Wrestling Banquet Centerpieces

I am planning a youth wrestling banquet and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what type of centerpieces to use. The kids are 5-15 years old. Last year they had flower pots with lollipops in them. Any ideas?

Jen from Downingtown, PA

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Simple Pound Cake Recipes

I am looking for simple but good pound cakes. There are some that can be made with mixes. If you have any great simple ones, could you please share with me?

Deebee from Sicklerville, NJ

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Using a 1950's Sunbeam Mix Master Mixer

I bought a 1950's Sunbeam Mix Master mixer at a thrift shop. It has a juicer attachment set (which includes a bowl with a center hole and a funnel hole, a ceramic juicer cone with a slotted metal rod in the center, and a metal double-pronged clamp-on device). But it seems that the handle of the mixer is in the way of the place you need to hook the juicer up (a hole on the left side next to the handle ).

Is there a way to remove or turn the handle out of the way? There does appear to be a tiny slot/hole on the right side of the handle. Perhaps a key? Also, can you remove the beaters from this mixer? I don't see an eject button at all. I do see two black buttons, one on either side of the mixer. When I unscrewed one a little spring popped out from behind it. I put it right back. Does anyone remember these mixers or how to use them? Many thanks!

Cathy from Delaware

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What Kind of Dog Brush Should I buy?

Wire slicker brushes look sharp - like they could hurt a dog's skin if you press repeatedly and brush in the same spot. I tried it on my arm in the store and wondered what else there is. This is for a dog whose fur is densely packed, straight and short.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Caring for a Baby Mole

We have a baby mole and we need to know what baby moles eat. We need to know what to keep it in and at what temperature.

Jodi

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Horse Related Crafts for 4-H Kids

I am a 4-H Cloverbud leader, and am looking for craft ideas to keep our younger members busy, and quiet, while the older kids and adults are in their meetings. I would prefer they have something to do with horses, but any ideas will be very helpful. Thanks!

Carey from Wise, VA

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Meals That Can Be Prepared in Advance

I like simple, easy, and quick. I like Hamburger Helper, frozen dinners, those complete meals and the like. I'm over 4 months pregnant with a 16 month old and my husband at home. We would like to start eating healthier, but my husband and I are both picky eaters. We are also on a VERY tight budget since I just lost my job due to the pregnancy.

Does anyone know recipes for these types of quickie meals (especially Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper) and others that could be prepped and stored for those days I just don't feel like cooking? Also does anyone know how long these foods could be frozen or the mixes be stored in the pantry?

Jessica

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Simple Muffin Recipes

I would love to have a simple, easy way to make muffins. For example, for poppy seed muffins, poppy seeds and lemon pudding, of course with other ingredients. Is this possible?

Jamish from Leoti, Kansas

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Granite Looking Contact Paper

Has anyone seen, and maybe knows where to purchase, granite looking contact paper? I saw a sample on a website and it looked great--really looked like a granite counter top. I'm not sure where to look for it except maybe at a home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot. Anyone know anywhere else I might find it? Thanks.

Bonnie from Tuckerton, NJ

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Cleaning Ink Out of a Dryer

How do you remove ink from a dryer? And Clothes?

Robert from Staten Island, NY

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Rag Rug Made with Pantyhose

Do you have directions for making a rag rug out of pantyhose?

Carmela

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Side Dishes for Baked Chicken at Wedding

My daughter is serving baked chicken at her wedding reception and we're wondering what are some good side dishes. We're both picky eaters but we both want everyone to enjoy the food and have a good variety without overdoing it. Also, any tips for wedding favors?

Shannon from Zwolle, LA

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Paint on a Pale Pink Top

I have got white paint on a brand new pale pink top that I have only worn once. I have tried scrubbing it with soap and water but that is making the material around the stain all bobbled. What can I use because I don't want to scrub it too much?

Laura from Newcatle, UK

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Name for New Business

I need help renaming my business. We were a custom home builder, but now I am bidding on work for other builders. I no longer want the debt that goes with being a builder. I am also going to be doing property management and development, a variety of things.

I want a business name that's catchy, not so manly, but will not put me in a box of a certain occupation. One idea that's already been used in my family is 'Milestone'. I love that, I might use that if I can't come up with something.

Lisa from Memphis, TN

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Can Milk Be Frozen?

Can milk be frozen? I buy fat free 2% milk in pints most of the time but tonight could only find half gallon size. Can I freeze some of this milk for use later on? If so, how soon do I have to use it? Thanks.

octoberbabye from Bradenton, FL USA

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Zote Soap

Who out there has discovered ZOTE soap? This is a Mexican product that is to die for. I have added leather cleaning to the list of things it is great for. I love the scent of it more than anything I think.

Rebecca

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Looking for Hamburger, Cheese, Egg and Toast Recipe

Looking for a recipe someone told me about but can't remember all of it. It has hamburger, cheese and egg in it and is layered on toast and baked in the oven, if I remember right. Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Tammy

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Gift for Both Bridal Shower and Wedding?

Is it customary to buy a gift for both the Bridal Shower and the wedding? Also, if so, do I get both gifts from the Bridal registry list?

DJ4JC from Washington, IN

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Removing Permanent Marker

How do I remove Sharpie ink from my computer flat screen and keyboard?

AngryGrandma from Alpine, CA

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White Rings in Calphalon Pan

My husband put water in my hard anodized Calphalon pan and boiled it. Now I have a white ring around the inside of as well as inside on the bottom of the pan. Can anyone give a suggestion as to how to remove this? I really enjoy cooking with this cookware and I saved my money in order to purchase the 2 pieces that I really wanted.

Faye from Washington,DC

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Cleaning a Shower Curtain

How do I remove scum from clear plastic shower curtain? I was told to wash it in the washing machine with laundry soap and vinegar. I did and all I got was a torn ruined shower curtain.

Coreen from Burnaby, B.C.

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What Breed is My Dog?

Can anyone tell me if they think my puppy is a Chihuahua mixed with Min Pin?

Dionne from Decatur, GA

What Breed is My Dog?

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Potty Training Two Puppies at Once

We had a 14 week old 'Bug' Pug/Boston Terrier mix and then I was able to buy favorite dog in the whole world a English Bulldog. The only problem is that my Bug was not potty trained yet so they both are peeing and pooping on the new hardwood we just put down! HELP! How do we do this?

Shannon from Buckhannon, WV

Potty Training Two Puppies at Once

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Today's Sponsor:

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

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