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Today's Photos
Library Lamp Made of Books
By Shauna Smith Duty
Need a light? Have a bunch of old books laying around that you're not interested in reading? Make a library lamp! This unusual and functional work of art is sure to get great reviews from friends.
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Couch Potato
Fuzzball decided this was his couch. We bought it at Big Lots for porcelain dolls but as he was the boss of the house, it became his. He had a bed in every room so that he could be near us. He got hit by a car just after 9/11 and we miss him dearly. Our pets are wonderful to enjoy while we have them :)
By Maryanne
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Doxie "Delphine" saying "CHEESE"!
By Marnita
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Books as Gifts - Evan the Bookworm
Books can be a wonderful, inexpensive gift or activity for a child. This is my two year old son Evan, looking at one of his favorites. It cost me all of a dollar at our local dollar store, and I can't tell you how many times he's "read" it! We've definitely gotten our dollar's worth out of it! Evan also got quite a few books for his birthday last week, which was great--he has plenty of toys, and being a teacher, I'm happy to have friends and relatives encourage his love of books too!
By Lisa
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Today's Tips
Don't Stop For Unmarked Police Cars(?)
This was recently submitted, similar versions are making their way around the internet and have been for years. It's an urban legend but probably worthy of mention.
"Learn and teach others about using *677 on your cell phone while driving. With all kinds of nuts out there, if you are signaled by what looks like an unmarked police car or any car with a flashing light on top to pull over DO NOT PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and call *677 which will get you to a police dispatcher who can tell what is or is not going on and advise you accordingly.Do not stop for anyone until you know you will be safe. The dispatcher will check to find out if it is indeed an unmarked police car. If it is, it will be radioed to tell them you will not stop until it is a safe area. If it is not an unmarked police car, and a serial killer or rapist or whatever evil-minded person is trying to get a hold of you, your actions will keep you safer.
Drive to the closest and safest area preferable a police station. This actually happened to a young woman named Laura who heeded her parents advise to never stop for an unmarked car. It was only 1:30 in the afternoon. When the unmarked police car pulled alongside her car with their flashing light on their rooftop, and signaled for her to pull over, she kept going and immediately punched in *677, gave the info to the dispatcher who checked it out and called her back to tell her there were no unmarked police cars in that area.
She was told to keep driving, and backup was already on the way. In a short time 4 police cars surrounded Laura and the suspect car. One officer went to Laura's car to protect her. Every other police officer went to the unmarked police car and apprehended a convicted rapist wanted by the police for other crimes. Cell phone companies do not advertise this *677.
I want everyone to know about it, and I want everyone to email, call or tell everyone they know about it. If someone doesn't have a cell phone, just keep driving and go straight to an area with other people around. I'd drive to a police station if one were close enough. We all have to help one another."
Snopes has a great write up on this. You can read it here:
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/fakecop.asp
The #677 probably will not work. #77 will work in some states. The safest bet is to just call 911 if you think the person pulling you over is not a cop. You can dial 911 on any functioning cell phone (even a phone without a service plan should work).
Sent In By Joan in CT
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Disposing of Burnt Out Light Bulbs
Place blown-out light bulbs in a baggie before throwing them away. If it is accidentally crushed, the pieces won't tear the garbage bag.
By GrammySheila (Sheila Saey)
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A Birthday Calendar as a Wedding Gift
A good gift for a new bride in a family is a calendar. Go through the calendar and write in each member of the extended family's birthday and age if you think people would not mind it. You can even have calendars made with family pictures on them where you have film developed. Add a box of nice birthday cards and a book of stamps. On the blank inside of the back cover list family addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. This is information a new bride could use.
By Martha
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Tips for using oven mitts outside of the kitchen.
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Tips and information about painting bricks. Post your ideas.
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Keeping Grass Clippings from Sticking to Mower
To prevent grass clippings from clogging up your lawn mower, spray WD-40 on the underside of the mower housing and blade before using.
By Patricia
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Having Coupons for Dining Out Handy
Using dicount coupons for dining out and entertainment is a good way to save money. However, I often had unredeemed coupons because the coupon was home in the drawer instead of with me at the time of purchase. To remedy this, I purchased a plastic coupon organizer.
I labeled the compartments Dining out & fast food, entertainment, frequent buyer cards & reward cards, Home improvement, Dry Cleaners, etc. As coupons were received they were placed in the appropriate compartment. This organizer then went in my purse. Now I always have my coupons with me in the event I make an unscheduled stop.
If you are a person who subscribes to the "envelope system" for cash purposes, as we are, the money allocated for these expenditures goes right in the appropriately labeled compartment. I never exceed my budgeted entertainment allowence!
By Diana Maslowski
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Pipe glue from hot glue gun along the back of 1 candy cane (in wrapper) attach to the outside of the can so that the hook of the candy cane is at the top of the can and curves away from the can.
Repeat with remaining candy canes to cover side of can.
To give as a gift, add a 4 inch potted plant; a poinsetta, rosemary or Christmas cactus looks really good.
By imaqt1962
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Large trash cans on WHEELS are worth every penny when its time to take the cans to the curb.
By Linda
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Contest ends August 31, 2005
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New Requests
What works to remove pine sap that won't hurt the paint on your car?
magnoliatn
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My baby brother spilled eggs (uncooked) on our hardwood floor before we left on vacation and nobody noticed until we got back. I wanted to know if anybody had any cleaning tips to get them off the floor, especially since we have company coming soon.
Emily
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Cleaning a Stainless Steel Griddle
What can I use to clean a plain stainless steel stovetop griddle that is not covered with a nonstick material?
Thanks,
Jan
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I have a 2000 GMC Jimmy and the seats are a beige leather, they have some dark blue ink pen on them from my 3 yr old. The car is my sisters and is fairly new to them and I am in desperate need of advice! I tried a little soap and water and then I tried a little rubbing alcoho, but, it is not looking good for me. HELP!
Crystal
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I got new breaks on my car but now they are starting to squeak when I come to a stop. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what did you do?
D from michigan
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Tilex Stained My Porcelain Tub
Does anyone know how to remove stains from a bath tub? Last night, I sprayed Tilex on the shower wall to clean the show wall. I did not rinse them off the tiles. This morning, the entire bath tub has brown and yellow spots. I tried bleach, Tilex, soft scrub and none worked. Would someone help with this problem?
Arlene
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Work or Family? What's More Important?
I need some serious guidance please. My husband and I both have great jobs. I am a Kinder teacher in an awesome district in my state. We are thinking seriously of starting a family but have a dilemma. We do not have any family nearby, all our close family is about 4 hours away. We miss them terribly and are not sure we want to start a family without them around.
We both enjoy our jobs and finally bought our first home last year. Now that we are thinking of starting a family though that has really been on our minds... stay where we are with good jobs and nice home or move to be closer to family and start all over again (my job took forever to get).
Ultimately we want to be near family because we know that is more important then jobs... am I right? My hubby is nervous of starting a family if we might move. He wants to know we would have jobs and a home. Then I think "Gosh we both have jobs now and a home". HELP! I will listen to all.
TexasTeacher
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I am looking for a product that is called Expel. It's good for dog urine. I don't know where to find it online or in a store.
Melissa
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Making a Window More Private While Still Letting Light In
I have a window that I would like to have some light come through but I want some privacy as well. It is a garage window. It gets full sun so any curtains I hang up look bleached and awful after about a month. I'm thinking some kind of stained glass look or etched look. Any ideas to give privacy but lots of light? I love this website. So helpful!
Sandy
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Painting Advice for a House With Brown Trim
I have an open floor planned house and am in the process of painting the interior. Whatever color I choose, I have to paint the living room, kitchen and hallway. We have dark brown trim, medium brown cabinets and wood floor. Our furniture is a dark red. Besides a cream color, any ideas?
Thanks!
Darcy
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I am planning a Surprise Birthday party for my husband. I have decided to make it a Jimmy Buffett theme. I am wanting some help on ideas for decorations. Can anyone give me any ideas to use for decorations and invitations?
Lisa from Texas
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My daughter had a package of red jello in the bottom of her backpack and forgot about it. The books subsequently caused the package to rupture and the red jello is now all over the bottoms of her textbooks. Any suggestions?
Amy
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I have an old hamper that I'm not using anymore and can't figure out what to do with it now. It's just a regular sized hamper that's green. Any ideas would be great. Thank you!
Anna
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