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Hello,
We have a 9 new requests today, if you have time, check them out. It's a long newsletter so I will keep the welcome message short.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Tips
Today's Family Tradition...
One of my family's favorite cookies is also the easiest for me to make this time of year. The recipe is called Santa's Buttons. All you do is take prepared sugar cookie dough (homemade or bought at the store), roll into 1 1/2" balls and then roll into red and green colored sugar. I do a dozen red and then a dozen green, continuing to alternate until the dough is gone. Bake according to recipe or package directions and you're done. Easy as that!
By Karen in NH
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Cooking Spaghetti With Less Energy
After the water boils put the spaghetti in the pot and, stirring constantly, wait for the water to boil again. At that time cover the pot tightly and turn off the heat. Set your timer for 19 to 21 minutes depending on how well cooked you like your pasta. Your pasta will be fully cooked with no boiling over and no wasted energy.
If you have an electric stove take the pot of the burner before you cover it.
By Anna
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Keeping Toys Handy for the Little Ones
Our children are pretty much grown, but occasionally we will have friends with little ones come for a visit. I try to keep a drawer or cabinet filled with some fun things to keep the children busy. You can use books, coloring books and crayons, small stuffed animals or dolls or even some games in there to keep them occupied.
By Robin
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When our children were small, one of the best ways we saved on money was to trade clothing with friends. When ours outgrew something, we passed it on to someone else and others did likewise for us. Children grow so fast and their clothes are so expensive. We saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars doing this! By Robin
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Healthy Snacks and Toys in the Car
When our children were small, we tried to keep a stash of some healthy snacks and water in the van on long trips. We also kept some mesh bags with toys in them so they had something to do to keep them occupied while on the road.
By Robin
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The other way that I remind myself of things is just simply to write myself a note and leave it on my computer desk. I spend a lot of time on my computer so if I leave myself a message there, I never miss it!
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Cook the maple syrup, cream, and butter for 9 minutes after the boiling point is reached. Remove from heat, add the nut meats and extract and stir for 5 minutes. Pour into buttered pans and when cool, cut into squares.
By Anna
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A Slice of Lemon for Deodorizing
If you have scorched or burned something that has left a nasty burned odor or if you just have a nasty smell in your house for whatever reason, just slice a lemon and put it in a small pot of water to boil for a while.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix milk, butter and 2 cups sugar in saucepan, heating to boiling point. Melt 1 cup sugar in saucepan stirring constantly. Cook to soft ball stage. Add vanilla and nuts; beat until very firm. Pour into buttered 9-inch square pan.
Yield: 40 pieces.
By Anna
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These are GREAT!!!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat broiler. In nonstick skillet over medium heat cook first 4 ingredients, stirring often, until browned and cooked through, 5 minutes. Drain, if necessary. Stir in tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, chili powder and salt; heat through, 4-5 minutes. On baking sheet broil cut sides of buns until toasted, 2 minutes. Top bun bottoms with meat mixture and cheese; broil until melted, 1-2 minutes. Cover with bun tops. Serves 4
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Melt butterscotch chips in top of double boiler. Remove from heat and immediately stir in chow mein noodles until all are coated then quickly stir in peanuts. Drop on wax paper with tablespoon.
Let cool until firm. Makes about 2 dozen.
By Anna
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in 3 quart microwave safe bowl. Cook on high for 12 minutes and 30 seconds. (Thin thread stage) Beat egg whites until stiff, slowly beat in syrup, beating until mixture loses shine. Stir in vanilla. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper.
I like these plain, but I know lots of people like chopped cherries or nuts stirred in.
By Anna
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Remembering Computer Passwords
I bought a blank book, and put all the different websites and addresses, passwords, user names in it - this way it can be on the book shelf and no one knows its there (except my husband who always forgets his passwords). I usually pay bills online but I needed to have something where he could go if he had to pay them some day.
By Mary
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Alternative to the Black & Decker Jar Openers
When you do not have strength in your hands: Take a nail and tap a hole in the lid. It's easy to turn when vacuum is released. Use the Food Saver tip, put a piece of tape over the hole!
Takes up less space and definitely cheaper than buying the jar opener!
By Syd
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Think Safety! Don't Be a Target When Christmas Shopping.
Don't carry a purse when you shop, wear jeans or pants with deep pockets and only carry your wallet and keys in your pockets.
You will find that you really don't need all that excess stuff you collect in your purse.
By Syd
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Tips and ideas for making crafts with wine corks. Post your ideas!
Decorator Wreath Idea
Wine corks and miniature wine bottles makes a nice decorator wreath.
By Syd
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Custom Fitted "Elasticized" Table Cloths for Every Season.
When on sale, buy the flannel backed plastic table cloths. Using sewing machine or sewing by hand, turn up a pocket to thread elastic through and pull elastic to the tightness you want and tie off.
I made two round table cloths for my outside patio table. Put one on top of the other and when you want to eat off it, take the top cloth off and you have a clean table to eat off.
Good for a Christmas buffet table too.
I notice novelty magazines carry the 48" round cloths for $12.99 plus shipping! Wal-Mart generally has a sale of $2.50. Just run the elastic yourself.
Quite a savings and very useful!
By Syd
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Tips for saving money on eggs. Post your ideas.
Eggs in Recipes
I've noticed when baking something if the recipe calls for three eggs I can usually get away with just putting in 2. If it calls for 2 egg whites I usually just put one whole egg. Everything still turns out the same.
By Melanie
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Use for Old Thread Spools? Make an Elf Sitting on Spool
I made this several years ago at Christmas time. I'll try to describe it.
A Christmas elf sitting on the spool. Wind some knitting wool on the spool. Glue it at start of winding, wrap around and glue a tab at the end to hold it. Leave a little piece dangling down.
You need: a small wooden bead for the elf head, green chenille pipe cleaners, the bumpy kind, felt to make a pointed hat, a little fake fur (if you have some to glue on the hat.) A small ribbon bow glued to the neck area. Take the pipe cleaners and bend so it looks like an elf, stick the bead head on top and glue. Bend him so he looks like he's sitting on the top of the spool with feet dangling. Make a loop to hang the finished spool/elf on a tree. You can also make a few dots on the bead for a face.
I hope you can get an idea of what I'm talking about!
By Syd
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To keep snow off of your porch that isn't wet or packed down use your leaf blower.
By Melanie
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Before throwing anything out make sure you've removed everything that could be saved for something else. Examples: buttons, zippers etc. from clothes also hinges off of picture frames, batteries out of things, you get the idea. It's amazing what I almost throw away sometimes. I keep different peanut butter jars full of like items.
By Melanie
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Preserving Workbooks for the Next Child
If your children have workbooks that you'll want them to re-do or pass on to siblings just tape the top edge of a sheet protector down to the table (we use duck tape) then lift the protector flap up and slide the workbook under, then with the sheet protector on top of the page have the youngster use a dry erase marker to do the work. This also works good for library loaned workbooks and is great for tracing pretty much anything.
By Melanie
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To remember to put out the mail I always get anything ready the night before. Then in the morning on my way out the door to get the paper I take the mail that's in plain sight to the box with me since the mail and paper are side by side.
By Melanie
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Remembering to Take Items With You
Whenever I need to remember to take anything with me I leave the item or items by the front door so that I will see them as I leave.
By Robin
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Remembering to Get Medication Refilled
When my husband needs medication refilled, he puts it on our computer desk right beside our phone where I will see it and remember to call it in and get it refilled for him.
By Robin
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Remembering Chores With a Chore List
My daughters are good at helping me clean, but so that they don't forget to do any of the specific chores, I write them down on a piece of paper and give to each of the girls. I detail exactly what jobs need to be done and they can check them off as they finish each of them.
By Robin
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Remembering Your Pet's Heartworm Medication
One very important thing you need to remember each month in regard to the health of your dogs is their monthly heartworm preventative. Most of those will come with stickers that you can put on your calendar on the exact day that the next dose is due the following month. Important for properly caring for your animals!
By Robin
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"In Memory Of" Cards for Cookbook Bookmarks
I never could figure out what to do with the "In Memory Of" cards I had collected from friends and relatives that have died.
I now use them in my cookbooks to mark my most used recipes. I think about and pray for that person when cooking.
My Aunt Winnie loved chocolate, so she marks my favorite hot fudge recipe!
By Diane Patyjewicz
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When we visit the dentist they offer sample tubes of toothpaste - I always have my family get the kids kind - that way I can portion control and not have the entire tube of full sized used! It really helps us not waste. This also works for kids shampoo, etc. I pour it into smaller bottles so if (when) it gets used as bubble bath or just dumped out it isn't an entire bottle!
By Mary
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I found cute snowman glass jars at the dollar store. I filled with home made hot cocoa & put mini-marshmallows into the lid (snowman's hat) I attached a card that was made from an old xmas card front that I cut with decorative scissors, tied with a ribbon & done. No large expense & they had a re-useable cute jar.
By Mary S
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Making Christmas Cards With Family
I love to involve my children in our homemade cards and gifts that we give away. Christmas cards are a family project. Last year we made the cover of the card like Eric Carle. My children painted on tissue paper using greens, white, gray and silver. My oldest taught the younger the art technique she learned at school. We then cut out tree shapes and glued them to the front of the cover. They turned out darling and received many compliments.
By Jennifer
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Baking Tips: Keeping Track of Dry Ingredients
When measuring dry ingredients, I use a toothpick for each cup added. Really helps me keep track.
By Faye Lewis
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When I make homemade pizza I put the leftover tomato sauce into ice cube trays and then when frozen put into snack size baggies in the freezer - I don't waste the sauce and I always have some on hand. It melts quickly in the microwave.
By Mary
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New Requests:
Planning Christmas for my Children without any Money
My husband lost his job and I am currently on an externship trying to finish school. Christmas isn't going to be so good for my children this year. We have no money to get them any gifts and I really don't know what to do. I would really hate for them to wake up Christmas morning with nothing to open up.
I am going to try to get them something from toys for tots but I really don't know how well that is going to work out. We are in the process of getting our car, so at the present time we have no car either which is why my husband doesn't have a job.
It is really hard for me to do anything during the day since I am at work, I really am stumped, I don't know what to do or where to go if anyone has any ideas for me they would be greatly appreciated, we really have no luck with this time of year, I don't want to be greedy, just want enough for the kids to open up on Christmas morning. The ages of my children are: 13, 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2.
Kim from Detroit
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My Dad loves Harley Davidson motorcycles. Does anyone have ideas what I can buy or make him?
Thanks.
Kristi
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This will probably sound like an odd request an I don't hold out much hope, but my cat urinated on some semi-important papers (Certificate of Authenticity) I am wondering if there is a way to remove the urine stain from the paper. Any tip is appreciated.
Michele from PA
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Cleaning SOS Pad Marks from a Tub
I decided to clean the bathtub the other day as there was an ugly ring. I thought that an SOS pad would do the trick... wrong! There are faint grey/black marks everywhere the pad touched the tub. Any ideas on how to get rid of this? I tried bleach, ammonia and comet without success.
Thanks!
Melnago
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Cleaning Stained White Artificial Christmas Tree
As I unpacked my tree, I noticed that there are brown stains on certain branches. Thought maybe it was from the box, also considered nicotine.
Anyone had this experience? How would I clean?
Thanks,
Lynn
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Removing In Stains From Old Doll
I bought an old Zippy the Monkey doll for a Christmas gift for my sister. She had one when she was younger, and it had been lost - and she will be delighted to see one some 20 years later. My cleaning request is there are a few stains on the plastic/rubber material of the Zippy doll. The rubber hands have what appears to be ball point pen marks on them put there many years ago from a young child. I have tried various ways to remove the stains before I gift the doll to my sister - do any of you have any ideas for removal of ink stains from a doll approximately 30 or more years old?
Thanks so much.
Cheryl from Seneca
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Baking Cookies in High Humidity
Every Christmas I like to bake an assortment of cookies for friends, but it is such a struggle. I live in Hawaii and am convinced the humidity is ruining my cookie baking but I don't know how to counteract the effects. Cookies are either burned, not baked enough, soft, too hard .... something! Can anyone give me a general idea of what I am up against? I see corrections in recipes for high altitudes but nothing for high humidity.
Mahalo,
Elaine
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A friend's daughter went to a party and made a really cute Christmas tree out of corks, painted it green and white on the top for snow and then put it in a painted clay pot. They used wire to hold it together. does anyone have instructions on how to make one?
LINNEA
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Cleaning a Hot Water Heat Tank
My mother has asked for me to see if anyone knows of a way to clean out your hot water heater tanks. She has used vinegar in her dishwasher, etc. for years and knows it works great on hard water build-up and she feels that if she could do this in her hot water tank it would extend it's life, etc. Anyone know of how to go about doing something like that?
Tawnda
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More Reading:
Pretty And Frugal Gift Wrap Ideas
By Abigail Beal
Sometimes gift wrapping can be so expensive -- once you've bought the paper, tissue and the card you've spent just as much as you did on the gift. Here are some pretty and frugal gift wrap ideas to help you save more so you can spend more on your gifts and your loved ones.
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Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Teen Girls
By Rachel Paxton
It's fun to buy stocking stuffers for teen girls. I always use this time of year as an opportunity to give them the little treats they want and/or need throughout the year but that I don't want to spend the extra money for. Here are some items our teenage daughters will find in their Christmas stockings this year:
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Five Tips To Help You Select The Best Reception Location
By Tim and Tammy
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to sell one location over another. Most Brides and Grooms know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so we have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue.
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Organized Travel
By Amy Allen Clark
Vacations - the very word bring tears to my eyes. All of the packing, getting to our destination, kids not sleeping in their beds, getting lost, having trouble finding a hotel to stay in- let's face it, vacations can evoke nightmares for mothers. I remember our first "vacation" as one of the most horrific times in our lives. We were traveling to Indiana from Massachusetts around the holidays. Getting to the airport is never an easy task, but with thick fog in sight and no planes taking off we waited for ten hours with a ten month old little baby at the airport waiting for a flight to leave. Our luggage, however, made it to our destination and we headed home without our belongings to take a morning flight the next day.
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