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Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney
~Doggy 2004
By Doggy
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A Sweet Gift - A Photo Calendar
The sweetest gift I got was from my brother and his wife. They had taken pictures of our family and had them made into a calendar. I checked at Wal*mart they are only $3.00 a piece and the family gets a great reminder of the past year and family if they don't live near by. It was truly a great gift. In fact I am giving one to my family this Christmas but it is my way of telling them I am pregnant. The month I am due I will put a picture of the positive pregnancy test. They will be totally surprised.
By Beth
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Cheap Gift Bags
Keep the kids busy and have great, cheap gift bags. Get a pack of brown lunch bags at the dollar store and let the kids decorate them with markers, stencils, glitter-glue, whatever is on hand. Punch 2 holes in the top and thread a ribbon, yarn, or raffia thru and tie a bow. Custom gift wrap! As elaborate or simple as you like AND it keeps the kids very busy having fun!
By Linda
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Kids Math Practice Game With Cards
Practice children's addition facts with 2 regular decks of cards shuffled together. Then, like in the game War, both kids flip up not one but 2 cards at a time. Highest sum wins both cards. All face cards are worth 10. Good game to play at grandma's where maybe no other toys are around, or on a plane trip or long car ride.
By Linda
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Jingle Bell Alarm for Pets
Place some bells on your Christmas tree around the bottom. You can then hear the jingle if the little one or the pet is into the tree.
By Linda
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Put Your Tree in a Playpen
Got a toddler who won't leave the Christmas tree alone? Put it in the playpen. (the tree, not the kid)!
By Linda
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Saving Money on Magazines
Tips for finding cheap magazines. Post your ideas.
Magazine Subscriptions
If you have friends or relatives that like various magazines, have each one subscribe to a different magazine and pass them among yourselves. Later they can be donated to a senior center or hospitals. It sure saves on everyone ordering the same magazine and pitching it!
By Syd
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Drinking the Tree Water
Don't let pets drink from the Christmas tree stand. Preservatives can be toxic, and so can pine sap.
By Linda
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Ad Matching Tips
If you do ad matching at Walmart, put all of your ad matching items on the bottom of your cart as you shop, then have them rung up first or last so you don't forget to keep them separate. Also when I write my weekly grocery list I write the item and then if it's going to be ad matched I write the sale price beside it circled with a star by it and the store I'm matching. Then there's less confusion at the check out.
By Melanie
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Keeping Useful Items Handy
I keep a pen and small pair of scissors in my back pocket, it always seems like I end up using them around the house at some point in the day. If I'm really on the ball I try to keep a bandaid in a pocket too, with 5 kids to raise at some point in the day it might be needed too :)
By Melanie
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Winter Sand Box
To extend the fun of summer put some sand into a small rubbermaid storage bucket with some shells and play toys then let your kids play in the bucket on a large piece of vinyl or a shower curtain when it's snowed outside. They'll think you're pretty cool. Although it can get messy this is pretty cheap Occupational Therapy if a child needs it.
By Melanie
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Storing Cake Mixes
My cousin Darlene says to buy cake mixes when they are on sale and store them in the freezer. When you need one just set it out to room temp. and bake as usual. Beats going to the store and paying top price.
By Great Granny Vi
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Printer Tip: Storing Color Cartridges
If you are using a black cartridge and trying to save the color cartridge, it can dry out... store it in a ziplock bag with a moist paper towel.
I got this tip from the company I buy my refill ink from. I was using two printers, using mostly the black and the color cartridge was drying up in the other printer!
Penny-wise and pound foolish! It really does work!
By Syd
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Shoe Dye Can Do Wonders for SALE Shoes.
Out of season shoes may be on sale super cheap, but not the color you want. Dye them another color! I bought several pairs of white shoes and dyed them!
By Syd
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Baking Soda for Icy Walks
We live in central Oregon and have lots of icy days. Put baking soda on your steps and walk ways. It gives you traction and is safe for the cement and steps as well as the grounds.
By Patricia
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Removing Water Spots on Chrome
To remove water spots on chrome, use car paste wax. Works great!
By Patricia
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Hawaiian Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 (9 inch) baked pie shell
- 1 small flat can pineapple bits (well drained)
- Layer in pie crust.
- Top with 1 sliced banana which has been dipped into pineapple juice.
Strawberry filling:
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 c. water
- 2 T cornstarch
Cook until thick and clear. Add 3 tablespoons strawberry (dry) Jelly. Cool. Mix in fresh strawberries. (approx. 2 cups) When berries are covered with glaze, pour into pie shell with pineapple and bananas. Garnish with Cool Whip.
By Robin
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New Requests:
Uses for Egg Yolks
A lot of my holiday baking recipes call for egg whites only. Does anybody have any ideas for using the yolks? I've heard that they're good for making a dog's coat shiny (the dog eats them), but I don't have a dog and the cat won't touch them. I hate to just throw them out.
Camilla
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Box Made from Christmas Cards and Yarn
When I was a kid, my aunt made boxes out of old christmas cards. She would punch holes along the sides and then crochet them together. The boxes even had a flap for a lid. I am looking for directions/pattern on how to make these.
Nancy from Pittsburgh
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Looking for Drain Board Solution
I have a sink with about a 1/2 inch lip on it that sits above the counter to I can't find a drain board that has a wedge or an incline that will direct the drain water into the sink. the drain board I have now just pools the water. Can anyone suggest a product that will help?
Bobby K
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My New Puppy Has Bugs
I have recently purchased a puppy. I am finding in the hair white bugs and the skin is flaking off the puppy. I have used the method of vinegar and water to spray this puppy with because he is only 5 weeks old. Is this fleas? I don't see any black spots or even black bugs of any sort. The bug is white with two little legs. Kind of like a white fly bug that you find on stems of carrots. The puppy has bumps all over its coat. Is this due to the bugs? I am wondering if I should take the dog back to were I bought it from to get my money back. He is a heathy dog otherwise. Can anyone help?
Snowstress, Wisconsin
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Tiny Red Bugs in Cupboards
I have seen these tiny red bugs in boxes of pasta, counter tops, cooking pots and pans, and even on top of the refrigerator. Where do they come from? How can I control them? My wife can't eat or sleep. (Arachnaphobia) What shall I do? - Patrick
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Color Bled on Karate Suits
Can you help me? I've washed two karate suits and there was a yellow sock mixed up with them now they have a yellow ting all over them. they're 100% cotton is there anything that will budge it? i've tryed colour remover and soda crystals. The only thing, I need to get something that won't ruin the coloured badges on it. - Lisa
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Rather Awkward Request - Solution for Gas
I am looking for input from others who have found a solution to this problem - intestinal gas. No matter what I eat, it turns to gas! Has anyone found a sure cure? I know there is Beano and other supposed helps, but is there any other ideas? Thanks for any and all input!
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Ruin My Credit
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I am not a financial whiz. Never was and never will be. Therefore, I respect the advice of those who seem to be knowledgeable about financial matters. However, when it comes to knowing what is in your credit report, I have one question -- who cares? I am 54 years old, have purchased several vehicles, two houses and can write checks anywhere in the town I live or the surrounding smaller towns without any hassle. I have never been turned down for credit. In fact, if I sign up for a new credit card for a minimum balance I can assure you that within three years my credit limit has increased considerably.
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