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Hello,
Both of our latest contests end tonight at midnight. For each we are giving away a 30 dollar gift card. To enter, visit the links below. We still have less than 100 entries in the photo contest so the odds of winning are pretty good.
This weekend's TF News will be a Valentine's Day issue. If you have a Valentine's day tips to share feel free to submit them. If you know any good Valentine's Day crafts you could take a picture of them, write a short description and submit it to the photo contest.
If you have a topic you would like to see addressed in a future TF News, feel free to suggest it.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Enjoy nature in your own backyard by observing animals! Keep a camera close by to capture them candid. Use the pictures to make your own greeting cards or postcards with sayings to go along with the mood of the picture!
By Lisa Brady
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If you have any leftover wool (anything but baby wool, too thin) make some pompoms out of them leaving a long strand attached at the end. Then thread a darning needle with the long strand and sew them onto the palm and finger areas so it's quite fuzzy. Makes a wonderful duster or car washing mitt! Pick and choose your colors or all one color, doesn't matter but mixed is nicer. - Sandi
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake - Elegant Yummy Treat
For an elegant and yummy treat take a square pan and frost the inside with thawed cool whip. Unwrap rectangular chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches and lay side by side to fill pan (you may have to cut a few to fit the sides), top these with a fudge sauce, another layer of cool whip with nuts or sliced maraschino cherries if desired.
Make a second layer of the ice cream sandwiches and end with cool whip on top sprinkled with nuts if you choose. Cover with plastic wrap and then foil and refreeze till time to serve.
Cut pieces of this cake and serve. Pretty and yummy:) If making as a treat to give away you can make it in an aluminum square pan.
By Melanie
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Valentine's Day Suggestion - Renew Your Wedding Vows
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, plan to renew your wedding vows. Done it before? Then, you know how very special it can be. If you never experienced this fantastic opportunity, give it a try. After all, love is the reason for the holiday! What better way to tell that special person in your life how much they mean to you!
By Sandy
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To make a "mock" ice cream blizzard tasting treat, take equal parts of softened cream cheese and cool whip. (8 oz. + 8 oz. or 16 oz. +16 oz. etc.) Blend this well together with electric mixer then add your favorite treats to taste. We like crushed butterfinger candy bars (for the 16 oz. version we use about 2 mini bars) or crushed oreos. Also try tropical fruits and nuts. Chocolate cherries, etc. Ideas are endless. This is a very rich tasting treat that's almost like a mousse or pudding, that can be chilled or frozen for a bit.
By Melanie
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A lot of people don't think about it, but soap scum and build up happen easily in your washer. Run the machine on normal cycle in hot water and add a little vinegar. It will clean your machine really well.
By Robin
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A little oil added to the water will help prevent your pasta from sticking together or to the bottom of the pan as it cooks!
By Robin
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Defrosting Meat With A Hair Dryer
A hair dryer is a great aid in defrosting your frozen meats.
By Robin
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Keeping Track of Receipts for Taxes
This may be too late for this year but this is how I handle our taxes year round. I have a folder in the area where I pay bills, open mail, etc. Throughout the year I put dividend statements, Goodwill donation receipts, etc. into the folder. I also keep all paycheck stubs in a separate envelope nearby.
As I receive tax documents in the mail in January, I add them to the folder. Then when we are ready to do our taxes, everything we need is in the folder (including a copy of the kids social security cards). Taxes are still not fun to do but I at least skip the step of pulling everything together. I also make a copy of the current year 1040 form and put it in the folder in case I need some info for the next year. Hope this helps!
By Ann4
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Keeping Extra Toilet Paper Dry
I use a cake cooling rack under the bathroom sink to sit new rolls of toilet paper on. If, by some chance, there is a leak under the sink, the toilet paper stays high and dry.
By Brenda Henke
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Removing Paper or Plastic That Is Stuck to a Dresser or Countertop
If you ever get a piece of plastic or paper that is 'stuck' to your countertop or dresser, just add a drop or two of baby oil to the spot and it should lift right off.
By Robin
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Tip for saving money on electricity. Post your ideas.
Hanging Clothes Instead of Using the Dryer
You can save bundles of money hanging your clothes out to dry instead of using a costly "dryer". In the winter when the weather is bad I hang my clothes on a line strung up in my basement.
If you hang your clothes out to dry to save money but hate the "crunchy " jeans, put them in the dryer for 10 minutes to soften. But watch the time or you will leave them in too long and waste your savings from hanging them out. I set a timer.
By Reta
Hot Water Heater
To save some on electricity I turn the breaker for my hot water heater off every day. Then a couple of hours before bath time I will turn it back on. Some nights I will even turn it off after kids baths. Most of the newer hot water heaters will hold the heat in there for many hours. I never realized how much it would cut down on our electric bill.
By Kat
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Tips for cleaning glass furniture. Post your ideas.
If you have glass topped tables, a solution of lemon juice and warm water will make them shine and sparkle! Use newspaper to wipe them.
By Robin
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Removing Black Scuff Marks From Linoleum
Tips for cleaning scuff marks from floors. Post your ideas.
If you have black scuff marks on your wood or linoleum floors an eraser many times will take them off with little effort.
By Robin
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Substitute Coffee Filter in a Pinch
Run out of coffee filters for your coffeemaker? Don't worry. Just use a doubled paper towel in it's place. Works great!
By Robin
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If your local library has interlibrary loans, you can request practically any book, CD, tape or magazine, since many libraries are involved. One of my favorite things to do is check the advertisements in magazines for new books (my favorites are Home and Garden and Spiritual) and request them through Interlibrary Loan. Also, there are several free publishers' lists that are filled with new and interesting selections.
Just ask your local library. Once your patron number is entered into their system, you can request books, etc. from your home computer. I found my local library's web site, went to the Internet icon and found exactly the same page that is on the computer at the library. It's self-explanatory and so much fun, as well as being convenient. The books are sent to your local library at your request, and you will receive a phone call and then pick them up, simple! You can also request movies. It's great! Have fun!
By Janet45101
Editor's Note: Many libraries have similar systems. You can also request that your library buy a book that you want. If it is a new book, they quite often will buy it for you.
View Article: Click Here
This is an answer to the keeping celery fresh inquiry, but it will work for MOST produce. I sold produce for over four years I was called the Produce Queen, so I know what I'm talkin' about :)
The key is first to buy quality produce, the better the condition, the better it keeps.
Shake off excess water, this is a primary reason that produce ROTS. Put it in a plastic bag, it could be a grocery bag or a clear produce bag you bought the produce in.
Then put in a couple of paper towels. Sorta wrap them around the produce, for example, for parsley I swaddle it in a couple paper towels. Monitor the produce for condensation, especially when you first put it in the fridge. Change the paper towels if they get soaked and replace with dry ones. Yes, this WORKS. It saves the produce and is worth the paper.
Be sure to monitor and cull or cut off any browned or spoiled parts, if you keep it for some time.
And, here is an IMPORTANT point. If you treat your produce (and food) with the appreciation and respect due food (as it offers its life force) THAT too is a very good preservative. I VERY SELDOM need to throw anything out. If I have surplus that I will not eat, I pass it on to a friend. We're talkin' THRIFTY, no waste.
By Pippiherrlein
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Put a tablespoon of Borax in your laundry and you can cut your soap by more than half. It cleans, brightens, and removes odors and saves on laundry detergent.
By Reta
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Hard Water Is Hard on Coffee Makers
We have well water and it is HARD. So three coffee pots later, I learned to boil vinegar water thru it every two or three weeks. Any longer and the coffee pot slows down to a crawl and the coffee is so strong you can not drink it.
By Reta
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No More Rust Rings From Shaving Cream Cans
Turn shaving cream cans upside down after you use them in the shower. Then they are sitting on the plasic lid-no rust rings!
-or-
Lids from margine tubs make an almost invisible coaster in the shower for shaving cream cans.
By Linda
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix all ingredients except ice-cream cones. Serve snack in cones.
Store in covered container. Note: Great-tasting, fun-to-eat Critter Crunch is easy enough for kids to make. They can mix it up to a month ahead of time and store it in a covered container or zippered plastic bag.
Makes 10 servings (1/2 cup each)
By Kat
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Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on January 31st.
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests:
Every winter my houseplants get little bugs on them that really fly around if I disturb the plant. What do I do about it?
MB in WY
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I am an avid scrapbooker but always checking out new ideas and tips. Being on a budget I love to try new things and embellishments. I will be attending a formal banquet this Valentines weekend as well as celebrating my 24th wedding anniversary and am looking for some great layout ideas. I would love to exchange ideas and tips with fellow scrappers as well. If anyone is interested in scrapbooking please let me know. We often set up scrapping events and crops and would love to have new faces join us. barbnov55 @ msn.com (remove spaces)
Barb from BG, Kentucky
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I have a pair of new shoes with rubber non-skid soles. Bought them onsale, price on bottom of sole in permanent black marker. Have tried alcohol, both rubbing and denatured, Dawn, little pad soaked in oxy-clean, fingernail polish remover, etc. Problem is, I sit with my leg crossed lots of time when wearing casual clothes and shoes such as this, don't want the price "glaring". LOL.
Carol
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I have two faux fur throws, the back of them is polyester, and i have a leather suite. How do i stop them slipping off the leather suite?
Sharon Dawber
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Wedding Decorations Using Ivy, White and Silver
I am getting married in April of this year. My colours are white and silver. I plan to create an ivy headress, and would like ideas of CHEAP ways to decorate the room, using ivy, white, and silver! Any ideas for wedding favours would also be gratefully received, and ways to use Ivy (and my colour scheme) that I haven't thought of. It is an intimate gathering with only four tables to decorate. Many many thanks!
Julie (near London)
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Decorating Rooms With Pink Carpet
Here's the thing, I am about to move into my dad's basement and it had two rooms: a medium sized den and a bedroom with a closet and bathroom. It will be great, but the entire area has light pink carpet (except a small area with pink and gray linoleum). I cannot change the carpet. I would like to do something to balance out the pink, especially since I am not real fond of it.
Another thing is, I am 17 and if guy friends come over (or girls) I do not want them to be overwhelmed with girliness or feel as if they are walking into an easter egg. There is one more problem: The walls are right now white wood paneling. All of them except the closet and the bathroom. What can I do paint-wise and decorating-wise to help tone down the little-girly qualities of the basement???
Please help!
Cassie
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Washing Bathing Suits Without Soap
We have found that when people use our hot tub, we often get too many bubbles. We have solved this by only allowing bathing suits that have been washed without soap. However, I would like to wash our bathing suits and I need an alternative to laundry soap. Please help!
Tori
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Keeping Color From Bleeding When Washing Clothing
Does anyone know how to stop color bleeding from clothes when washing them. Is there any way to stabilize the colored fabric so it will no longer run? Hoping someone has answer for me and thanks in advance if you do.
Dinnie from Tampa
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Removing Skunk Smell From House
A skunk sprayed our neighbor's dog right outside our living room window. Now that entire side of the house smells of skunk still, now almost a week after the event. I smell it in the living room, bedroom, closets on that side of the house, etc. It seems to be in everything... linens, mattress, clothing, curtains, you name it. What can I do to rid of this awful smell once and for all? I'ts freezing and I've been leaving all the windows and doors open but it's not getting better. Thanks so much for any advice.
Arianne
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Removing a Pee Stain From a Mattress?
How do you remove pee stains from mattress?
dgrubb36
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Do you open gifts at the housewarming party or wait until the guests leave? pjm
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Hello All!
Using "brown paper" grocery" bags, ripped pieces, you then put up on wall, & when it dries, I guess it looks like "leather" or something.
Any specfic instructions or materials would sure be appreciated! Thank you All! I'm going to surprise my husband one day when he's at work. "All you husbands" I hope you want a leather wall cause this is a "fake" name & so you never know till ya get home to discover if your caught with a "Surprise" by Wife! lizzy
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More Reading:
Authentic French Onion Soup
By Charlie Burke
Many variations of onion soup are served, but the best, I believe, are true to the traditions of the bistros in Paris neighborhoods. Certainly, each kitchen has its own preferences (and we will offer options as well), but each preparation requires following a few essential steps - slow and thorough browning of the onions, simmering the broth and onions sufficiently to allow full flavor to develop and, finally, time in the oven to intensify these flavors.
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