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Hello,
If you read yesterday's newsletter you know that we are donating to UNICEF's fund to help the starving children in Niger. Some readers asked us for more information about how they could help. You can visit Unicef at the link below:
We also have compiled (borrowed from CNN) a list of charities that are working on this problem, you can view that list of links here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf582964.tip.html
Also, some people have said it would be difficult to get a Photo Entry in before the weekend so we will donate $2 for any Photo Contest Entry that is submitted by Sunday at midnight. We already have received a lot of entries. Thank you to everyone that has submitted one. For more information about the photo contest visit the link below:
Photo Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Tip Contest!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photos:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
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Today's Photos
A Visitor to the Butterfly Bush
With all the craziness in the world there is still some beauty to be found. Instead of chasing this guy around the yard with a net, I caught him with my camera. Not only is the Butterfly Bush as flashy as a fireworks display, but it is also sweetly fragrant and attracts the nicest characters.
By Dineen
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Planning A Kitchen Shower
By Sharon Shearer
A very useful shower for a Bride-to-be is a Kitchen shower. This will help her stock her kitchen with small appliances, utensils, kitchen towels and recipes as well. It is helpful to know if she will decorate with a certain theme so you can make note of it on invitations.
As for invitations, to save money you can print them with your computer and printer, using a catchy little phrase like "WHAT'S COOKIN'?" It's a kitchen shower for ___ you finish the rest.
When I hosted a kitchen shower for a niece I sent a nice embossed recipe card along with the invitation asking that they return it to help her begin her recipe collection. Most guests brought them to the shower attached to their gift. As a gift I gave her a nice recipe box to hold them.
For decorations a simple cluster of grapes and fruit with a candle can be used. No real expensive decorating for a kitchen shower. And with the end of the summer markdowns, gingham tablecloths would be cute. On the Grape theme I love using Sage green and Cranberry for a more formal look.
As favors, a little bottle of spice with a tiny bow tied around it is nice. I even put together a little book of kitchen tips and substitutions. On the cover the Kitchen prayer, "Bless this little kitchen, (there's more to it) and put the couple's name and wedding date. Not really expensive at all. Just a little homework, looking up the contents you want in the booklet.
A nice centerpiece, which can be YOUR gift to the Bride-to-be is a small basket filled with small utensils, kitchen towels and pot holders. Be creative, and include a recipe box to go with the recipe theme.
For games, how about a kitchen utensil word scramble,a "memory" game with a tray of small utensils, etc. that is passed around and then taken away and the guest lists what they saw. Another cute game is a FAVORITE CAKE GAME. Example: Santa's favorite--Red Velvet. Bride's favorite--Groom's Cake. Mickey Mouse's--Cheesecake. Chocolate Lover's--Fudge cake. Brainstorm to think of others.
As for food, ask a few of the close family or friends to help you with a favorite snack ALONG with the recipe for the Bride-to-be. They could even include an ingredient or utensil needed to make the recipe as a small gift. Kitchen showers are a fun alternative to traditional shower and can be kept small and simple for family and close friends or done as elaborately as you would like. I hope these tips will be helpful in planning your next shower.
By Sharon Shearer
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I recommend the Dollar Store for your wedding candles. While they do not carry unity candles, they do carry other types very inexpensively. For my daughter's wedding we bought all the taper style candles from our local Dollar General Store for 3/$1.00. An added extra is that they had some that were vanilla scented and it made the church smell just wonderful!
By Robin
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Today's Tips
Put vanilla extract and a little cinnamon in a pan and bring to a simmer on the stove to have a nice smell in the home. I have even added a couple of peppermints to this. Try lemon,orange,and apples peels also.
Relatively inexpensive and also non-toxic.
By Sandi G (s222)
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I've been reading all these comments about freezing cucumbers. I have been freezing cucumbers for years. Of course, I make a lot of German potato salad and they are very good. No problems with them.
All I do is peel them, slice them and lay them nicely in a ziplock bag. When I close the zipper, I leave a little on the end open and squeeze the air out. Bingo, close the zipper and freeze.
By Gentiana
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For absolutely great steaks, get a thick slice of sirloin steak, put it in a zip lock bag with Italian dressing (any kind) and leave it sit at a minimum of 2 hours. It can stay as long as a day. Take it out of the bag and sprinkle some all seasoning, steak seasoning or if you want simple, salt and pepper will do.
Put them over direct flame, but sear one side for approximately 5 minutes and then sear on the other side for 5 minutes. It's best to let them sear in the middle of the pit where it is the hottest, then let them cook for about 15 minutes to finish cooking. For this part, put them on the outer edge in the pit so they cook slower. Voila! Our family likes them so much we NEVER go out for steaks anymore!
Enjoy and Blessing!
By PeggyGV
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We like to marinate meats for the grill and really all year long inside as well, but usually forget to thaw and marinate ahead. So now when I shop and buy steak tips or what ever type of meat I am going to marinate, I will buy three or four meals worth and then freeze the meats right in the zipper bag with marinade. All I have to do now is remember to thaw it. I only use this with my homemade marinades, I am not sure how this would work with pre-mixed store bought types.
By Gardencraft
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Using A Mail Order Pharmacy
By Sandra Roberts
I talk to people every day who are amazed at how much they can save by using the mail order pharmacy that is available through their benefits package from their employer. It is nice to be able to use your local pharmacy for those medications that you need immediately, like an antibotic or a pain medication. But if you are taking medication to treat a chronic condition, you need to find out if your health plan has a mail order pharmacy benefit.
Look at your health care card, ask your benefits office and call the provider to find out exactly how it works. Have a list of the medications you take, the strength and the directions. The customer service representative at the mail order pharmacy should be able to give you co-payment information and instruct you on how to submit your prescriptions for filling.
Please remember that all plans are different and each prescription benefit manager (your prescription insurer) may have different procedures. Most plans that I see allow a 90 day supply of a medication for either a flat co-payment or a percent of the gross amount that the drug costs.
Questions to ask the customer service representative are what is the turn around time for prescriptions, what methods of payment can you use, how do you get order forms, how do you order your refills and who do you contact if there is a concern about the medications you received. These are the questions I hear most asked.
I would also recommend getting a copy of your pharmacy plan and read through it. There may be important information on limitations to your plan that you need to know about your mail order pharmacy plan. Knowing your plan and how it works are key to maximizing your savings and your satisfaction.
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Anybody know what will get out red kool-aid from kids bedroom carpet?
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Your Own Single Serve Crystal Light
For years I've put one quarter of a teaspoon of any flavor Crystal Light into 8 oz of water and shook it up instead of making a whole batch as required on the instructions. Now I see in the grocery stores Crystal Light has come out with single serve packets at 10 packets for about $4! I can't believe that! Make your own! For $4, I get a lot more out of my canister then 10 single servings. I wish I'd been the one that marketed this instead of that company. :)
Melissa W. Charlotte, NC
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Joke - Raising Boys - 24 Key Points to Ponder
a) For those with no children - this is totally hysterical!
b) For those who already have children past this age, this is hilarious.
c) For those who have children this age, this is not funny. (AMEN!)
d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq.ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with Roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all Four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh," it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB and J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in La Mesa, CA has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
By April
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Contest ends August 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests
I was wondering if anyone can help me. I was filling in a hole in the roof and I got sealer/tar on my clothes and I didn't notice it until after it was washed. Can anyone please help me on how too remove tar from your clothes after it was washed?
Thanks,
Joyce Wis
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Our dishwasher always keeps water in it and when it is done running it smells. Its connected to the garbage disposal. So it seems when I drain the garbage disposal it fills the dishwasher up with smelly water and when I run the dishwasher and it goes to drain it fills the garbage disposal with water. Any advice?
garrisonsmom
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We are moving into a studio type apartment. There are no closets and rather than build one in the existing space I was just going to have everything open. I need ideas and how to hang clothes. Some type of clothes racks?
Janice
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Can anyone help me get a marred area out of my pine kitchen table? It looks like a gouge. Any suggestions?
flower
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How do you clean vertical fabric blinds?
I have fabric blinds on my sliding door in my kitchen which is strategically placed right by the table! After 2 kids, these custom blinds are in need of some serious cleaning. The worst of the stains are from spaghetti sauce.
I've tried washing them with dish detergent to no avail. I don't have the money to replace them because they are a custom size but this door would look better with no blinds than the way they look now. Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated!
chima0692
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Cleaning a Crocheted Tablecloth
How does one wash and block a large, hand crocheted tablecloth? It is 100% cotton, #10 bedspread weight. Also, is starching appropriate for this item?
thistleneedle
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My persian has just started spraying on the furniture, the fridge and occasionally a sofa. What can I do to stop this? He is ten years old and has never done this sort of thing before.
Ginty From Scotland
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Cleaning Grease off a Deep Fryer
I have been given an old but reliable deep fryer that has years of baked on grease all over the pan. Can anyone tell me how to remove the grease and clean it up?
JW from Melbourne Australia
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Can I freeze zucchini? If I can, how would I prepare it to freeze?
Thank you,
Lisa from Michigan
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Looking for as many rolls as possible of Seabrook Designs #CTC253B. Is straight edged border 10.2" wide of grape clusters/vines. Predominant coloring of sage. Grape clusters are green, white/lt. green and light purple. Called Seabrook Designs directly and was told pattern was discontinued 5years ago. Any information would truly be appreciated. Need this border to complete a renovation project in my church's social hall foyer.
Nannette
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The Cat Who, by Lilian Jackson Braun
I am interested in starting to read "The Cat Who" books, by Lilian Jackson Braun, but I am not sure if I need to read them in a certain order or not? Could someone please let me know, who has read them. If there is an order to read them, please post the order!
Thanks!
Josie
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I was painting my nails in my bedroom and I dropped the nail polish brush on the comforter on my bed. I dabbed it with nail polish remover, but it didn't work. Does anyone know how to remove it? The tag says it's 100% polyester.
Thanks!
Deb from Arkansas
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We have purchased a home with small acreage and orchard, and I wanted to make my own Apple Butter. I have herd there is a way to make it in a crock-pot and freeze it for use later. I would also like to can of freeze Applesauce. If anyone has a recipe for anything you could make, freeze or can with apples, I would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance,
Robin in Indiana
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I am about to repaint old aluminum siding. What should I use and what kind of paint would give me the best results? Would TSP be useful?
cdhill
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Today's Sponsors
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More Reading:
Famine in Niger and Links for Donations
ThriftyFun is donating $2 for every photo entry sent in through Sunday, August 7th to UNICEF. Urgent appeals have been made for help for famine-stricken Niger where more than one million people are at risk from starvation after a locust invasion worsened an already poor harvest. Since we posted our proposed donation, some of you have written asking how to help. If you want to help, here is a list of organizations gathering aid:
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