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Volume Six, Number 68, April 6, 2007 (Read It Online) Happy Good Friday. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing Easter weekend. There have been two new dog food recalls, you can find them in the More Reading section of this newsletter. As I was putting up a My Frugal Life essay today, I was thinking to myself "I wonder why we haven't had more Essays submitted". Then I remembered that we still hadn't announced the winners to the last contest (which ran from September to end of December of last year)! I don't know how that slipped through the cracks, but it did, so a belated congratulations to the following winners... My Frugal Life - A Notebook for Gifts
My Frugal Life - My Favorite Birthday
My Frugal Life - Getting My Frugal Life - Lessons From The Amish
My Frugal Life - Frugal Living on Five Acres
My Frugal Life - My Frugal Garden
There are always more deserving entries than prizes, so we decided to give out 6 prizes instead of five. Thank you to everyone that submitted an essay. They are a wonderful addition to this newsletter and website. We'll announce the winners in a much more timely manner when the currently running My Frugal Life Essay Contest ends on May 31st. For more information about the contest visit:
For an archive of all the essays we have published so far visit:
Thanks for reading, Susan
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Eggs and Clay Pot Easter Decorations I like to Easter decorations that are simple and beautiful. I bought these three solid decorative eggs at an after-Easter sale; the pots were very inexpensive at a craft store. By Carrie from Yakima, WA
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Rate It: Here is a frugal but elegant way to decorate using plastic Easter eggs -- place them in a glass jar and weave a ribbon through. I already had these items in my house and didn't have to spend any money to make a cute centerpiece. By Carrie from Yakima, WA
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Rate It: Festus lived almost 6 years, he was a Dwarf Hotot. We got him at an event called "Rabbit Fest" in Copperas Cove, Tx. He loved to run and jump and eat fresh spinach from my Mom and Dad's Garden. He also liked to chew on things he wasn't suppose to. (:-) He was a very special Bunny that we all loved. He's went to Bunny Heaven about 10 yrs ago but his memory is always in our hearts. He brought so much joy to our lives! By Darla from Grand Prairie, Tx
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Rate It: My Easter Bonnet (Spring Decor) This craft makes a lovely Easter and spring decoration for your front door.
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Rate It: Just glue on the things you have then tie ribbon around and hang as a decoration. Just use your imagination.
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These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!
Pompoms Instead Of Easter Grass To avoid the mess and the waste of Easter grass, use cheerleader pom-poms in the Easter Basket instead. There's no mess and they serve as an extra surprise! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57224111.tip.html
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Rate It: Product Review: Zep Shower, Tub And Tile Cleaner Product: Zep Shower Tub and Tile Cleaner Manufacturer: www.zepcommercial.com (Home Depot product) Cost: $2.99 At last, I have found an amazing shower door cleaner that truly removes the hard water residue from my glass shower doors. I have tried everything to no avail, until I tried this Home Depot product! I just sprayed it on the doors and on the tiles, and left it on, for about an hour. Then I carefully entered the shower (floor will be very slippery) and used an old mesh bath scrubber and cleaned the doors and tile. Then I rinsed everything off and was astounded at the difference. No kidding, it is the only thing that has worked for me. Also, the fumes are very minimal, sort of "soapy smelling". Hope this helps you too. By Pat from Ajax Ontario Canada Do you have feedback about Zep Shower Tub and Tile Cleaner? Post it below. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28225659.tip.html
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Rate It: Everyone is either on a strict diet or allergic to various edibles these days! If you're having a buffet meal, indoors or out, you can avoid answering the question,"Can you tell me what's in this?" over and over again. Year round, save those plastic pick things that a florist puts into a bouquet of flowers (to hold a card) and get them out at party time. Print on an index or fancier card what the sandwiches are filled with, or just identify a casserole as "Mom's Potato Salad" and prop these identifying cards into the proper offerings! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24557401.tip.html
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Rate It: Buy Toiletries At The Dollar Store Shop at your local dollar/99 Cent/discount stores for shampoo, bath gel, soap, lotion and other personal care items and you will save a lot. I wait and get dental floss swords there and the difference in price is 99 cents vs. $3-4 in the drug store. I buy multiples of items like that and eye cream when I see them at those prices, and don't have to buy any for months, saving loads! You will be surprised to see major brands there on the shelves. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69657261.tip.html
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Rate It: Desk Organizers For The Medicine Cabinet After being very frustrated with things falling over in my medicine cabinet, I finally came up with a solution! While looking at the desk organizing items, it seemed like this would be the best idea for the three mirrored narrow cabinet. Now I can store lipsticks, nail files, small tubes, swabs, etc in a very neat and pretty holder. I purchased two that would fit in the narrow space. One was even magnetic, which was perfect! Now when I'm getting ready, I'm not spending half my time picking up things that fell out or over! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78278719.tip.html
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Rate It: Marinades: A Secret Weapon When Cooking I've found this to be very helpful when I've forgotten to add a needed item to my grocery list. Vinaigrettes are a secret weapon for fast flavor. Use them as a marinade for chicken or drizzle spoonfuls over simply baked fish and salads. Whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and a 1/2 tsp. ground mustard. Then add herbs, say tarragon or dill, or spices like cumin and a pinch of red pepper, plus salt and pepper. Stir in a bit of honey for a sweet touch. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88424190.tip.html
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Rate It: A Coaster For Your Shaving Cream Can I save the plastic lids from yogurt containers and use them as "coasters" for shaving cream in my bathroom shower. No rust rings! They also make handy, disposable holders for steel wool pads in the kitchen. Larger plastic lids make great disposable spoon rests if the utensil isn't too hot (both in the kitchen and when barbecuing). Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39410676.tip.html
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Rate It: If you have nasty odors in your picnic coolers, just rub them down with a good dose of vanilla. For extra tough odors, leave the rag in the cooler and shut the lid overnight. This also works well for tupperware container odors. Then wash the container out. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45974996.tip.html
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Rate It: When emptying the trash in my cans, I always sprinkle carpet deodorizer in my new trash bags and in the bottom of my cans to help keep them smelling fresh. Make the whole room smell great. I also do this to my ashtrays and not only does it keep the smoke odors down but also helps keep the nicotine from sticking to the bottoms of the ashtrays. I also place small containers with small amounts of the freshener in places that are not visible to help keep the house smelling fresh. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59547042.tip.html
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Rate It: Add A Ribbon Marker To Your Planner My planner book was nice, but didn't come with a marking ribbon for the date, as my old one did. So I found a bit of ribbon and taped it inside the back cover, and now I have a ribbon marker which makes the day so much easier to find! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75162492.tip.html
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Rate It: The tubes of after-color conditioning treatment that comes in at-home hair coloring makes a great 'shave lotion' for your legs and underarms. Be sure you aren't allergic first! And watch out, the tub/shower could be slippery. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf210774.tip.html
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Does anyone know of a website that I could go to that has coupons that will be delivered to my door? In my area, they do not allow on-line printed coupons. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54256221.tip.html
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Rate It: Girl Scout Samoa Cookie Recipe Does anyone have a recipe for making Girl Scout Samoa Cookies for when they are not for sale? They are the best! I would love to try making them. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94123301.tip.html
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Rate It: Do you have the recipe for Peulo's Grill slaw? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33987605.tip.html
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Rate It: Decorating My Entrance With Planters I would like to decorate my front door entrance on the outside. I live in a small rental house and I was thinking about buying a large planter/pot and putting a few flowers i.e. geraniums in them. I might put a planter on each side of the door. How do I keep the planter from falling over if the wind blows? I have never done any type of gardening and would like simple advise. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23962067.tip.html
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Rate It: How can I easily hold up my Gladiolus? How can I easily hold up my Gladiolus? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19700784.tip.html
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Rate It: Sunless Tanning Lotion and Shaving If I use Jergen's self tanning lotion that has been so popular in the last few years, won't it be a waste of time b/c when you shave won't it come off? I want a little color but don't want the damage from the sun. BUT, I also don't want to waste my time putting it on only to shave it off. How have products like this worked for you and your shaving? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85141440.tip.html
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Rate It: Pinata Paste Stains on Clothing We were making a Pinata for my nephews birthday and he got a little happy with the paste and it got on my sweater. The paste was made of flour, elmers glue and water. Can you help me get this mess out of my sweater? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63788787.tip.html
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Rate It: I collect mid-century antiques. I go to garage sales, estate sales, and thrift stores. I have decided that I want to do this for profit by selling. I looked into ebay but I am pretty sure that I would rather do it through an antique co-op in my area. To do this I need to get a resale number. I don't know anything about how to do that. Do I need to get a small business license? Does anyone have any ideas or alternative ways to start a business by selling collectibles? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50708584.tip.html
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Rate It: Any birthday party themes for someone in their teens? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23898825.tip.html
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Rate It: Is Garlic Good or Bad for Dogs? From time to time on ThriftyFun, the community debates whether garlic is beneficial or harmful to dogs and cats. With the pet food recalls, an increased interest has been created with homemade pet foods and pet health. A quick survey of the internet shows many sites that talk about onions and garlic and being poisonous, even deadly to cats and dogs. On the same page, you will see ads for "Natural Garlic Supplements For Dogs" and sites that recommend garlics for flea prevention and general well-being. It is hard to know what to think. Here is a pet health site from the American Animal Hospital Association that discusses poisons.
Toward the bottom of that page, there is a specific list of poisonous materials. It lists garlic and onions as poisonous, even deadly, but only in a raw or spoiled form. So does that mean that cooked garlic is OK? What about garlic supplements that people are selling for pets? We'd like to know what you think! What have been your experiences with garlic? What has your vet told you? Has anyone lost a pet due to garlic poisoning? Please post your feedback below.
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Rate It: Activity Ideas for Visiting Parents I am in need of some ideas of what to do with my mom and her husband when they come to visit. My family loves the outdoors and they would rather sit and read the paper or watch TV. We have games but also a 2 year old so we are limited on things to do. Sitting around the house will drive me CRAZY and I simply can't do that with her. She does have some feet issues so walking really any distance is difficult for her. Suggestions? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54228090.tip.html
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Rate It: My son works in construction and wears skull caps to keep his hair out of his face and control the sweat a bit. They can be a bit expensive for the size of them. I want to make some for him in prints he would like, but I don't have a pattern. Is there anyone out there with a skull cap pattern they'd like to share with me, please? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18227400.tip.html
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Rate It: How can I get gum out of a pair of wool pants? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67170432.tip.html
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Rate It: My sewing machine keeps JAMMING, down in the bobbin area. It won't sew even an inch. I look and see extra thread jammed down there by the bobbin, and have to yank it all out and start over, but it KEEPS JAMMING. How can I fix this? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45666588.tip.html
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Rate It: We have two hydrangea plants that were given to us at same time. We planted them side by side at the same time. Both plants flourished, one had many blooms the other just green and healthy looking, no blooms - what can we do to make it bloom or should we just remove non-blooming plant? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17028438.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone know anything about drop shipping? I want to find a place that will allow me to dropship their products after selling them on ebay. My husband is having a hard time making the bills and I am disabled and would like to contribute as much as possible. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82892483.tip.html
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Rate It: Would anyone who is a knitter, have any suggestions for knitting socks; books, tips or patterns. I have recently started to get back into knitting, it has been a few years, and through several moves have lost most of my knitting patterns. I am most interested in Knitting a beginners socks. Years ago, I knitted my boys socks, over 20 years have since past. I would greatly appreciated if anyone had some good suggestions on books or even patterns that I could try. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14362417.tip.html
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Rate It: What is the best soap or hand sanitizer to get rid of the smell of onion off your hands?
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Autumn is my favorite time of the year. Funny how joyful everything looks bursting with color, fruits and vibrant leaves on the trees, sunshine orange pumpkins ready for the picking. Last autumn, I asked Gene if he'd like to take a ride up north to see more of it. It was a Saturday and neither of us had to be to work until Monday, then why not? So off we went with a little money (at least enough for gas) and a great weather day ahead of us. We were somewhere in NH, just wanted to do back roads, be relaxed and just go. If we ended up somewhere we didn't know when we're ready to head back, we'd just ask someone then. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72322539.tip.html
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Rate It: Recall Alert: Sunshine Mills, Inc. Recalls Several Types of Dog Biscuits As a precautionary measure, Sunshine Mills, Inc. ("Sunshine"), a branded and private-label pet food manufacturer based in Red Bay, Alabama, is voluntarily recalling a portion of its branded dog biscuits made at its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of March 2007. These brands include: Nurture Chicken & Rice, Nurture Lamb & Rice, Pet Life Large, Pet Life Extra Large, Pet Life Large Variety, Pet Life Large Peanut Butter, Lassie Lamb and Rice, and Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treats. Private label biscuits for six of Sunshine's customers were also affected. A complete list of affected biscuit brands, sizes, and codes is available below or at our website, www.sunshinemills.com. Sunshine's other biscuit brands and products that include small and medium sized biscuits were not affected. It is also important to note that dry dog and cat food and soft and chewy treats for dogs or cats manufactured by Sunshine are not affected and not included in this recall.
Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67129409.tip.html
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Rate It: Recall Alert: American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chew and Dog Chew The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers not to use American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chews and Dog Chews manufactured and distributed by T.W. Enterprises, Ferndale, WA, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Consumers who have the pet treats manufactured or distributed by T.W. Enterprises listed below should not feed them to their pets, but instead dispose of them in a safe manner (e.g., in a securely covered trash receptacle).
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Rate It: Saving Money on Shipping and Packing Material Tips and ideas for saving money on shipping and packing material.
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