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Hello,
This weekend's TF News will be about Christmas Gift Ideas. I know it may sound a little early to be talking about Christmas, Thanksgiving hasn't even come and gone, but one of the best ways to have a Christmas that is more joyful than stressful is to keep holiday related debt to a minimum. If you have any gift giving strategies, homemade gift ideas or inexpensive gift ideas, please send them in. Hopefully we can all work together and have a wonderful and debt free holiday season.
As far as Thanksgiving tips and recipes go, feel free to submit those as well. We will work hard to make sure that they are published well in advance of the holiday.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Tips
This is a great Christmas present for people that you don't want to spend much money on or just to include with your Christmas cards. Take a family photo. Wallet size works best. Trim the perimeter of the picture with lace, sequins, rope, beads, ribbon or just construction paper. Glue the trim to the front of the picture (like a frame). Loop a small piece of ribbon on the top center of the picture and hot glue it to the back of picture. Completed, this makes a beautiful unique ornament for your tree.
By Lora Lee
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Now is the time that you will be outside cleaning up the small pieces of wood that have fallen from the trees. Do not throw them away. Keep them to start your fireplace fire. Waste Not, Want Not.
By joesgirl
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To whiten fabric that is dingy, soak overnight in powdered automatic dish washer detergent. It works good on white clothes or linens.
By joann
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I attached a towel bar to the side of my husband's work bench in the garage. This saves him from wasting paper towels and it saves my "good" bathroom towels.
By Katie in NY
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The "fluff" in your dryer lint screen makes great fireplace tinder. You can ball it up and use to start fires quickly
By Doggy
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If I go out in the evening, I often take chamomile tea in my travel mug rather than coffee. I know my travel mug holds two cups of coffee yet the herbal tea tasted great even with the extra water. It got me thinking. Now when I have chamomile tea at home I either use my travel mug or another large mug and enjoy more tea without using a second bag. BTW, you can also refill your regular size mug at home, although this definitely tastes weaker than using a larger mug.
By Katie in NY
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Tips for saving money on tea. Post your ideas!
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Reusing Whole Chicken Deli Containers
I reuse the plastic container that hot whole chickens come in from the deli. I mix up all the ingredients for a big meatloaf, press into the plastic dome, then dump pressed meatloaf mixture onto a broiling pan; to drain grease when cooking.
Bake as directed in the recipe. Set aside to cool to room temperature. When it has cooled I repack it in the hot container and have a wonderful meal to deliver to a shut in or ill friend. Looks like a meatloaf football, great for tailgate parties too. No plate for them to return.
By Jill
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Alternative Uses for Elmer's Glue
'Elmer's Glue' is great for removing splinters and blackheads around your nose! Just put the glue on thick without diluting it. When it's dry, just peel it off. Out comes the splinter, and out comes the blackheads. Much cheaper than those 'Biore' strips!
By Jackie S.
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Want to have a large variety of cookies to give away for gifts for Christmas yet only have to make one batch of one kind of cookie?
Here's what to do:
Invite about 10 to 12 of your favorite people (or have one of your favorite people bring along a friend). Each of the guests must make a batch of cookies to bring to your house (make sure each person makes a different kind). Have them all bring their own containers for the cookies that they will be bringing home.
When they all arrive have coffee and tea available for chattering and make a coffee cake to share. Then take all of the cookies & divide them equally by the number of guests and place them in their containers that they will now bring home. Each and every guest will go home with a great variety of cookies to give as gifts (if they don't eat them first). Yet they only had to make one batch.
This also forces every one to have a much deserved break from the business of the shopping season and allows you to enjoy each others company.
By joesgirl
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Extra Storage Space for Out of Season Clothing
Use one of those storage boxes that can fit under your bed. I store out of season clothing there. Right now summer p.j.'s, shorts, short sleeve jerseys, bathing suits are stored in it. I'm sure you get the picture.
By joesgirl
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Have a "Paint My Toenails" Party
On a cold winter weekend pick a day that is good for your girlfriends, your mom, aunties, cousins, daughters, sisters, etc. and invite them to your home for a get together. If you have a fireplace get a nice fire going prior to their arrival. Heat up some cocoa (they now make great instant if you don't want to do made from scratch cocoa.) Cider is also nice. Add a few dips with veggies and crackers and a big bowl of popcorn. (You'll find most of your guests will offer to bring some thing so designate some of the food to them). Then with some old towels, cotton balls & fingernail polish treat each other to painted toenails. Have fun.
By joesgirl
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Preheat oven to 375 F
Using baking apples (I use Cortland) core them and peel a thin slice off of the top edge with a veggie peeler and discard it. Make about 4 indentations in the apple with a knife around the fat part of the apple. Inside each apple fill the hole with 1/4 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon sugar, a glob of raisins and pieces of walnuts. If you have any granola kicking around this adds a nice flavor. Also you can use maple syrup or honey instead of the regular sugar.
Place in a casserole dish and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Then take 4 Tablespoons of flour with 1 Tablespoon of water and about 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar. Mix together well in a separate bowl and then in equal portions drizzle this mixture over the apples and bake for about 10 more minutes.
This is great for breakfast or you can make it for dessert and plop a glob of either whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top.
Happy eating.
By joesgirl
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"Catch The Cold" Season - Consume Lots of Fluids
Now that we are approaching what I call the Catch The Cold Season, it is important to make sure that you consume lots and lots of fluids for coughs. Water, fruit juices, popsicles and chicken soup may work better for your cough than an expectorant. Expectorants are supposed to increase the watery excretions produced by cells in the upper respiratory tract. Theoretically, those secretions loosen mucous and phlegm, making them easier to cough up and out of the lungs. But expectorants often don't work as advertised. What your system really needs is fluids to moisten the mucous membranes and loosen the mucous.
By joesgirl
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Washing Machine Tip - Add an Extra Spin
Set your washing machine for one extra spin when doing heavier articles. It'll save loads of drying time. : )
By Doggy
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I have a suggestion for eradicating the red or gold ladybugs, which works for me. I scatter bay leaves around, on window sills, any where they can sit. I do this yearly around this time and am not bothered by the pesky bugs. I don't know if they don't like the smell or what.
By Grammamare
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Sample Sizes for Stocking Stuffers
Sample sizes and travel sizes of shampoo, lotion and the like are good stocking stuffers for little ones. They love the little sizes!
By Linda
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When my avocado tree surprised me with a bumper crop, everyone received custom "fiestas in a bag" gift. In each gift bag I put several avocados, a packet of guacamole seasoning, a large bag of chips and a bottle of margarita mix! You could put in the tequila, too, if appropriate.
By Linda
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See's candy gift certificates can be bought from some charitable groups, in the stores, or online. These are nice to have on hand and to give as gifts because they don't have any expiration date! Even if the See's price per pound goes up, the gift certificate is still good for 1 pound or so. I sometimes will go into See's with a gift certificate and pick out 2 half-pound boxes of just my favorites when I need a lift.
By Linda
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Alternative to a Christmas Tree - Decorate House Plants
I'm not going to buy a tree for just myself this year. Instead, I am going to put all my twinkle lights in every houseplant (and that's a lot) I have. I may hang a few favorite ornaments with fishing line here and there or in the ficus.
By Linda
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If you are using bar soap in your bathroom and hate the goo that accumulates in the soap dish, put a small sponge under the soap.
By Linda
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I keep a funnel under the bathroom sink and in the laundry room for filling small bottles from large ones. Funnels can be found for 3 for a $1. Having them handy saves the time of looking for a funnel and then putting it away.
By Linda
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I love to cook, so for Christmas I will buy ground beef and potatoes when they are on sale and make up meat loaf ahead and freeze it. Then the day before Christmas I make up my favorite mashed potato recipe and put them in a pyrex casserole dish and present the meat loaf and mashed potatoes as a gift. Most of my family work outside of their home and appreciate having a meal already cooked. All they have to do is warm it up, add a salad, and/or a vegetable and they have a great meal.
By Clara
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Wrap pictures on your wall with wrapping paper and hang them back up! It looks Beautiful!
By Trish from Az.
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Don't wash your hair everyday. Try every other day or every 2 days, your natural oils will make your hair shinier. If you need to wet your hair down in the morning, you could use a small amount of conditioner on the ends. I alternate days of shampoo and conditioner and it really makes both go a long way.
By Shan
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Another way not to have lost socks. Teach everyone in the house that when they take off their socks, flip one of the edges over the other sock to keep them together.
By Lisa Trudeau
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New Requests:
Recipe for Soup Can Nut Breads
I am looking for a recipe for nut breads that cook in a soup can.
Thank you.
Carol Garvin
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Getting Rotten Meat Smell out of the Car?
My husband accidently forgot chicken breasts in the car after coming back from the grocery store. We realized that when the car started smelling real bad. We used car freshners, and also left the car open a couple of times, but it didn't work. Now every time we sit in the car, it smells horribly bad. Any ideas to get rid of the smell will be appreciated. - Gina
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Does anyone have the recipe for an easy pie crust known as "Pat in Pan"? It uses oil instead of butter. - Norma
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We now have an abundance of ladybugs covering the outside of our house and unfortunately, they come inside when we do. I think I counted 20 on our kitchen ceiling alone. I don't think lady bugs harm anything, but I do not want them in my house. Any ideas on how to get rid of them. I know they will disappear once it freezes, but who knows how long that will be?
Thanks!
Donna in Kansas
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I see from Joanne from San Diego that she is looking for Lee Wards company. I also have been looking for them as they really had the best crafts. I am looking for a doll form they had and cannot find elsewhere. If anyone knows about it, help... vegaspat
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Build Your Own Kiln and Potter's Wheel
I am looking for several ideas. I would like plans to build my own potters wheel, either kick or electric. I would also like to build my own kiln. And finally, I would like a recipe for homemade potters clay and glazes. Connie from Oklahoma
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Ink, Sharpie and Dry Erase Stains
I need some help with a ink/sharpie/dry-erase stain. My husband is in the Navy and I take care of his uniforms. He has managed to get an ink stain, a sharpie stain, and a dry erase stain on his uniforms. Does anyone know how I can remove them quickly?
thanx, chompers_41
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Recipes for Leftover Swordfish
Does anyone have any recipes for leftover swordfish? Thanks
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You are all so helpful that I thought I would ask you all if you know of any sites with free downloads of miniature books to print out. I am making a library in my dolls house and want to fill it with "proper" books. I really look forward to receiving my emails everyday and always find a clever tip or idea to copy. - Ann from England (UK)
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More Reading:
How to Host Thanksgiving Dinner and Enjoy it Anyway
By Skip Lombardi
You've been nominated; or perhaps your family has issued a decree; or perhaps it's simply your turn. No matter what the reason, you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. This need not be a burden. In fact is can be a pleasure, given the right planning and organization.
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"Tips for the Thanksgiving Pre-Game Jitters,"
By Susan Dunn, MA, Personal Life & EQ Coach
No, I'm not talking about the football game, I'm talking about everyone's coming to your house this year for Thanksgiving and you're getting the pregame jitters.
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Unique and Imaginative Wall Storage Ideas
By Pamela Cole Harris
Everyone can use more organization in their lives (except those misguided souls who alphabetize their spices, canned goods and color-coordinate their laundry supplies!). Additional wall storage can help bring that organization into your home. And original and unusual wall storage ideas can help organization become décor pizzazz! Here are some ideas to get you started:
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