Daily Thrifty Tips - June 14, 2006

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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Photos:

• Father's Day Gift Idea - I'm Nuts About You
• Dolphin Following a Boat
• Kokoa Girl (American Pit Bull Terrier)

Today's Tips:

• Getting Old Joke
• Cleaning Other Than Items in the Dishwasher
• Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags
• Slicing Strawberries
• Using Rocks and Shells for Decorations
• Sleeping Cool

New Requests:

• Turning Pants Into Cargo Shorts
• Weed Killer That Is Safe for Horses
• Dark Rings Around Your Eyes
• Tin Can Bird Feeder
• Himalayan Peeing Everywhere
• Cleveland's Superb Fabric & Leather Cleaner
• Buying Mulch Bins
• Sharpie on a Green Hollister Shirt
• Preventing Basil From Flowering
• Bugs Feeding on My Hibiscus
• Recipes for a George Foreman GV5 Contact Cooker
• Sharpening a Paper Cutter
• Removing Hair From Legs and Arms
• Chess Cake and Request
• Keeping Roses Safe From Diseases
• What are these plants?
• Freezing Tomato Soup

More Reading:

• Breed Information: Great Pyrenees
• Meatloaf
• Freezing & Storing Artichokes (Globe)
• Your Cat's Body Language

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Today's Photos

Father's Day Gift Idea - I'm Nuts About You Here's an easy and inexpensive gift for Father's Day. You need: An Empty Peanut Butter Jar White construction paper or cardstock Ribbon Address Labels (for the lid) Stickers Marker Hot Glue Gun and Glue Unshelled Peanuts (5 oz.) Start by cutting the white paper or cardstock to fit the size you want on the front. Make it big enough to cover where the glue for the label was. Write "I'M NUTS ABOUT YOU!" on the cardstock and put stickers on each corner. I used red star stickers. Hot glue the cardstock on the front of your jar making sure you are covering up the glue. This works a lot better than using goo gone and it's cheaper. Then fill your jar with unshelled peanuts. Tie the ribbon around the top of the lid and stick on the address label on the top of the lid where it says "JIF". I wrote #1 DAD on my label but the kids could write anything. These jars could be used for anyone and for any occasion. We are going to be making these in church for Father's Day and some of the kids don't have dads so they can make a jar for a grandpap or uncle, whoever they want to. Some may even give them to their moms. Father's Day is hard for some of the kids but I remind them that we all have a Father in heaven that loves us. By luv2craft from Normalville, Pennsylvania Post Feedback: Click Here

Dolphin Following a Boat Dolphin following the boat in Costa Rica. By Linda from Vancouver BC Post Feedback: Click Here

Kokoa Girl (American Pit Bull Terrier) Kokoa Girl is my 3 year old American Pit Bull Terrier. When Kokoa Girl was 8 weeks old, her owner went into the hospital and needed someone to care for her. After having her for a week, it was tough giving her back. A couple of months went by and we received a call that the owner of Kokoa Girl had to give her up because she was detroying the apartment. Landlord said she had to go. Knowing that the dog had been out of control, she did not come into our home with open arms. With some obedience classes and a lot of attention she became a well behaved little girl. She likes to play, play, play. Kokoa Girl is the most lovable, energetic spoiled little girl we've ever had. People are very intimidated by our little bully girl when they come to our house but after seconds, she's already given them sloppy kisses and showed them where all the toys are to play with. She loves to play rough but when it's nappy time she's ready to lay on mommy's lap. I don't have the heart to tell her she's not a lap dog. So what if she's 70 pounds. Her unconditional love is worth it!! To see more pictures of her go to: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10012104.tip.html and http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf747350.tip.html By Diana from Newark, NY Post Feedback: Click Here

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Today's Tips

Getting Old Joke I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees; fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driver's license! By Terri from NV Post Feedback: Click Here

Cleaning Other Than Items in the Dishwasher Your automatic dishwasher can make your household chores much easier. There are many things besides dishes that can be washed in the dishwasher, such as glass light globes. The ones that are on many bathroom or dining room light fixtures wash very nicely in the dishwasher. Just place them in the top rack along with your usual dishes and run the usual cycle. The globes come out sparkling clean - free of any dust or buildup. By Laura from Elberta, AL Post Feedback: Click Here

Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags Store empty grocery sacks, rolled into empty cardboard paper towel rolls. Great for the car. We always keep a couple of rolls in the trunk. Great disposable trash bags. By Sean C So many of us have an over-abundance of plastic grocery bags. Not only do I use them to line all of my small waste baskets in my home, but I also use them when I cook. I always get a bag and lay it flat on my counter to catch peelings from fruits and veggies. Then, when I am finished, I just bring the bag up around the peelings and throw them away, bag and all. No mess and so easy! By Robin from Washington, IA What are your tips for reusing plastic grocery bags? Post Feedback: Click Here

Slicing Strawberries The fastest, easiest way to slice strawberries is to use an egg slicer. Wash, drain, take the cap off the strawberry, position the berry in the egg slicer and depress. Upend the slicer contents into a bowl. You're done! No more juice running down your arm! Best of all, the berry slices are all uniform and release their juice so much more quickly. The results are beautiful. And it's a good way to let the younger kids help without handling a sharp knife. By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri Post Feedback: Click Here

Using Rocks and Shells for Decorations Remember that natural objects can be a part of your decoration. You can have clusters of rocks you have gathered in a container - Or, in the summer, sea shells. I live by the beach now and have filled glass jars from the thrift shop with shells for lovely accents. Very Martha Stewart! By pam from L.A., CA Post Feedback: Click Here

Sleeping Cool To help keep cool on sticky summer nights, we use flannel sheets and sprinkle with cornstarch. By BlissMama from Charlotte NC Post Feedback: Click Here

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Syndication Spotlight Dear Webby's Humor Letter Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. More Information: http://webby.com/humor

New Requests

Turning Pants Into Cargo Shorts If I get a pair of pants and convert them into cutoff shorts, can I use the extra material that I cut off to make cargo pockets? Jordan Wasatch from Utah Post Feedback: Click Here

Weed Killer That Is Safe for Horses I need to kill many types of weeds growing in my horse pasture. I want to find something that is effective and safe for the horses. We are at an of altitude of 8500'. Hardiness Zone: 5b Molly from Boulder, Colorado Post Feedback: Click Here

Dark Rings Around Your Eyes I want to know how can you get rid of dark circles around and underneath your eyes. I have tried potato and cucumber didn't make a difference. Fiza Post Feedback: Click Here

Tin Can Bird Feeder I am looking for directions for making a bird feeder from tin cans. Nancyeb1 from Rabun Gap, GA Post Feedback: Click Here

Himalayan Peeing Everywhere I have two himalayan cats, both mature, one male, one female--neither "fixed." the idea is that we want kittens. We have multiple cats and multiple litter boxes. The male cat pees everywhere. I don't think its just spray, as there is generally a huge puddle of it somewhere. I know this is normal if an un-neutered kitty is sexually frustrated, but he shouldn't be--so what's up? WHITLOSA from GRAYSON, KY Post Feedback: Click Here

Cleveland's Superb Fabric & Leather Cleaner I am looking to purchase a large supply of "Cleveland's Superb Fabric & Leather Cleaner". It is used to remove stains from leather products without damaging the leather itself. In the past, I have been able to purchase it at my local cobbler, but they no longer stock the item I need to locate this item. Shavonda Wilson from Baltimore, Maryland Post Feedback: Click Here

Buying Mulch Bins I heard that the county extension or county agriculture sells mulch bins to the public. Does anyone know about this are can they tell me who it is that does and how do I get ahold of them? I would appreciate any help. Thanks Angelheart from Clyde, Texas Post Feedback: Click Here

Sharpie on a Green Hollister Shirt My favorite green hollister shirt got tealish blue sharpie on it somehow. I was wondering if you knew how to get it off with out damaging the color of the shirt? Thank you! Aimee from Marysville, WA Post Feedback: Click Here

Preventing Basil From Flowering My basil looks as though it is going to flower. Can this process be halted by cutting off the brackets or is this useless? Hardiness Zone: 8a Thanks, Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: Click Here

Bugs Feeding on My Hibiscus I have an old timey hibiscus that comes back every year and something is eating the leaves. What can I put on it to stop the bugs from eating holes in the leaves? Hardiness Zone: 7b Faith from Starkville, MS Post Feedback: Click Here

Recipes for a George Foreman GV5 Contact Cooker I bought a George Foreman GV5 Contact Cooker that had no instructions or a recipe book in it. It was the only one they had and I need help from anyone who can tell me how to work it and recipes for it. I tried to contact the company and all they will tell me is that it is no longer for sale. Help. I'm lost. Angelheart from Clyde, Texas Post Feedback: Click Here

Sharpening a Paper Cutter Can the blade on a paper cutter be sharpened and if so how? Mary Post Feedback: Click Here

Removing Hair From Legs and Arms I want to now what is the best way to remove hair from legs and arms. I have tried wax, shaving and hair removal cream. The problem is hair comes back within 2 weeks, it wont last a month. Fiza Post Feedback: Click Here

Chess Cake and Request I am submitting this recipe with a request - this is a delicious, very rich cake and my family loves it and requests it at every event. Literally every event - my son wants to have it as his groom's cake in October! I would be thrilled to do this for him, but I'm perplexed as to how I might "set it up" to look elegant enough and serve enough on a table. I would love for any and all to try this very easy and delicious recipe and then give me suggestions as to how I might accomplish this feat! Thank you all so much! I just love my thrifty friends and I tell everyone I know about this wonderful site! CHESS CAKE Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch casserole/Pyrex dish with nonstick cooking spray. Ingredients Step 1: 1 stick butter, melted 1 egg 1 box yellow cake mix, preferably pudding in the mix variety Mix above ingredients together to form a soft dough and press into glass pyrex dish. Ingredients Step 2: 1 box confectioner's sugar 1 8 oz cream cheese 3 eggs Mix above ingredients together and pour over dough. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 45 min. Watch it carefully - it likes to get too brown on bottom. The top will be a little gooey, so a toothpick will not come out cleanly. Cool and cut into squares. Some love the middle pieces, and others fight for the edges and corners - try them both! By Tripleb from Greenville, AL Post Feedback: Click Here

Keeping Roses Safe From Diseases What do I spray on my roses to keep them safe from diseases? Hardiness Zone: 7b Faith from Starkville, MS Post Feedback: Click Here

What are these plants? I have things growing in my garden and I am not sure of what they may be. Here's a picture. Hardiness Zone: 5a Loretta from Hagersville, Ontario Post Feedback: Click Here

Freezing Tomato Soup I have 2 questions. 1st, can i refreeze a tomato juice based homemade vegetable soup? And 2nd, how can i reduce the acidity in the soup? I thank you in advance for any and all suggestions. jmz2005 from Illinois Post Feedback: Click Here

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More Reading

Breed Information: Great Pyrenees By Ellen Brown Breed Description: The Great Pyrenees is a large dog with a solid, muscular body, a thick, water-resistant coat to withstand the elements and a kindly expression. Originally developed to guard sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains, this breed is strong and agile with an independent nature. Intelligent and loyal, the Great Pyrenees makes a good watch dog. Read More: Click Here

Meatloaf Read More: Click Here

Freezing & Storing Artichokes (Globe) By Ellen Brown Selecting High-Quality Artichokes: Select those with uniformly green color, compact globes and tightly adhering leaves. As artichokes age, their leaves start to unfold like petals. Read More: Click Here

Your Cat's Body Language By Catherine Forman Your cat can communicate in many different ways -- through vocalizations, touch, and body language. Read More: Click Here

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