Daily Thrifty Tips - June 13, 2006

Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

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Princess is my 9 month old cat. She's a little bit of everything good. We were walking in the neighborhood, seeing the destruction after Hurricane Katrina, when we heard a weak "meow" coming from under a porch which was hanging by only a few boards.

There we found the most frightened kitten we had ever seen. Someone had abandoned this poor little kitten and left her to fend for herself. This picture was taken when we got her home.

She likes to play with yarn and also plastic balls. I feel so lucky to have found Princess and given her a second chance at life as she has given us so much joy and happiness.

By Laura Emerson from Biloxi MS

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I have found feeding your flowers with a nice solution of plant food makes your blooms look wonderful!

By Wendy Moccabee from Highland Michigan

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Folly, the dog is a chihuahua and is 2 years old. Dos, is a Costa Rican kitten. Folly was bred in Kentucky and Dos was born in Costa Rica.

They play and wrestle together and steal each other's toys

By Linda from Vancouver BC

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I drink a great deal of black tea (hot), which leaves my ceramic teapots stained after multiple uses even after thorough washing with soap and water. They are nester teapots (tea for one that is), so the opening at the top is too small to get a sponge or normal scrubby brush inside to clean. The other day I decided to try an experiment. I put about a tablespoon and a half to 2 tablespoons of dishwashing detergent in the pot, filled it about 2/3rds full with very hot tap water, put on the top, plugged the spout with my finger and swished for about two minutes. When I dumped out the water the inside of the teapot was sparkling! I was so pleased I decided to try dishwashing detergent for a few other things.

My mother in law was ready to toss out their coffee pot and buy a new one due to the accumulation of normal oily buildup that had been resistant to regular vinegar cleaning, as well as a weird blue green build up in the tank (presumably chlorine). I took everything on the coffee maker apart that could be taken apart, put all the loose pieces in the dishwasher, and put the dishwashing detergent into the tank with very hot water and swished. After a few minutes of swishing and judicious scrubbing with an old toothbrush, the tank was clean. It did take quite a bit of squirting with the hose from the sink, holding the coffee maker upside down to get the last of the detergent out of the hole for water at the bottom, but I was ultimately able to get it entirely clean, then run everything through a regular vinegar cycle and several pots of clean water.

The last thing I tackled was the filter basket. It's one of those permanent ones and had years of build up that the vinegar never removed. I placed a couple of tablespoons of dishwashing detergent in a small pot, submersed the basket and boiled it for about ten minutes. Good as new! My in laws said their coffee after this thorough cleaning was as good as they'd had in years.

By Kathleen from Mississippi

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I use the plastic mesh bags that contain vegetables and fruit as a scrub pad. I put a folded up old facecloth or a old small hand towel in the bag and tie the open end with a elastic band and voila, a super scrubber for everything you need to clean. When done, take out the rag, wash and use again the next time.

By Marie Rose from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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I have found that using my salad spinner to distribute dressing evenly all over my salad means that I use less dressing. It works great.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

By Terri from NV

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Think of your puppy as you would a baby or toddler that you're trying to potty train and you won't go far wrong. Remember to always praise your puppy for doing his business outside and reward him with lots of attention and tickles. As soon as your puppy wakes up, the first thing he'll want to do is wee so take him outside and talk to him as you're doing so. Tell him what he's going outside for i.e. 'Outside for peepees'. Remember to talk in a higher pitch voice than usual, just as you would talk to a toddler. When he's done his business, again praise in a high pitch voice and reward with lots of attention.

It should on average take you about a week to train your puppy that he needs to go outside when he feels the need to relieve himself in order to get rewards. On the odd occasion that your puppy has an accident and does his business on your carpet, don't scream and shout as he won't understand what's going on. Instead, show him what he's done wrong and in a low pitch voice tell him no or bad or naughty. Ignore him for a while so that he knows he'll not get rewards for doing it indoors.

Dogs always respond much better to praise and rewards than they will hysterics and shouting so please make yourself aware of the tone of your voice when training your dog. If you take the time and effort in the early days you'll be rewarded over many years with a happy, healthy, loving loyal companion.

By JeanieMagic from South Wales, UK

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One simple way for a beginning gardener to see what works in the local micro-climate is to look around and see what plants are flourishing. In my area of S. California, for example, I see lots of geraniums, jade plants and birds of paradise which continue even in the face of outright neglect.

By Pam from L.A., CA

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I use the low odor oven cleaner on my shower doors to remove soap scum that won't come off with any other product that I have tried.

By Janette Henthorn from Parkersburg, WV

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I have a wooden nightstand that I like to put drinks on. I was always afraid if I spilled it, it would damage the wood. So, I had a thrifty idea, you can put a placemat on the nightstand. This also protects it from scratches! This is a easy, fun, decorative way to protect wood from any harm you could do to it. Placemats aren't just for the kitchen any more!

By Hannah from Cumming, GA

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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How to get red dye off of linolem floor. I shampoed the rug under my table and when I was moving out of my house and moved the rug the floor is red from the dye. I have tried every thing I can think of.

Toni from Cheyenne, WY

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Any ideas for a 25th wedding anniversary gift? I'm looking for something that is more interesting than silver candlesticks!

CJ from Boston, MA

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Does anyone know how to keep chipmunks and other small rodents out of patio pots and planters? I keep coming out to the patio to find my new plants and flowers strewn all over the deck and holes in the pots where some critter has been partying in my pots. I also have a ground hog who has taken up residence under my deck, and now has two babies. They're digging holes everywhere and eating my flowers. Does anyone have a noncommercial solution to this problem? Help!

Lori from Middleville, MI

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How do I remove black hair dye from my sink? Usually, I am able to remove hair dye from the sink after coloring my hair using ajax. This time (I don't know if it is the color, black, or what) I cannot get the stains out at all. Any ideas?

Thanks so much
Anjeena from New York

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I own a KIRBY G-5 carpet machine. It has the rotator brush on the roller that scrubs the carpet. I don't want to use the Kirby carpet cleaner solution anymore. I want to try the vinegar and water carpet cleaner technique. Can someone give me correct mix of the vinegar and water.

Thanks!

JOYPTW from Texas

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I am looking for ideas on how to decorate for a High School grad banquet. I thought maybe a garden Party but would love some decorating ideas if anyone has them.

Thanks,

Bruneyes from Nova Scotia

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How can I get a drop of dried blood out of a pink dress?

Jai from Chatsworth, GA

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When I click on feedback links I cannot read it, it is all garbled up in some kind of code that I cannot read. I have always enjoyed this site and I have used a lot of the information from it in the past but I can no longer read it and I would like to know how this can be fixed.

Barbara Bugg from La Porte, IN

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We are expecting our second child in a month and we are trying to think of a creative way to involve our 2 1/2 year old son in the birth announcement process. We would appreciate any ideas. Also, if anyone know of a website to find a candy wrapper template that we could edit and wrap around a chocolate candy bar to give out announcing the birth (date, name, weight, etc.)

Thank you!

Eva from Roscoe, IL

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My Brother is getting married in a few weeks and we don't have a lot of extra money for a gift but would like to do something that is sentimental but not too expensive. Does anyone have any different ideas? Thanks!

Mandi from Erie

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I have a 5 month old pitbull and her feet smell like corn chips. I tried putting powder on them but that didn't work. She also has a fishy smell, the fish smell comes and goes before she has to go to the bathroom and after.

Katrina from Albany, NY

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I LOVE to cook and bake and I enjoy trying new recipes. Unfortunately this leads to a lot of pages from magazines and newspapers, recipes scribbled on napkins and post it notes as well as recipe cards. Has anyone found a good way to organize mass amounts of recipes? I've tried file folders and a notebook (and obviously the box system isn't working).

I get inspired to try new things when I try to organize the bazillions of recipes I've accumulated - however, when I try a good one - and then want to cook it again - I can't find it. The piles of recipes are intimidating and overwhelming, but throwing them ALL out and starting over isn't an option! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks.
Lovinladyd from Prosperity, SC

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I have a 4 month old pitbull puppy. I read that I should use positive reinforcement when raising and disciplining. So when she pees on the carpet, I pick her up and bring her outside. I just got her about 2 weeks ago, so I am trying to train her. I never strike her or pop her nose. One of my challenges is... she gets excited and jumps and bites. I know she is a puppy and she is excited, but it hurts, I don't want her to continue biting. I have heard all the bad rumors about this breed, so I want to make sure I am doing this the right way. If anyone has suggestions about raising a pit... I am all ears.

shawnkd from Lafayette, LA

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Is anything wrong with your newsletter being sent out? I've not received one for 1-2 weeks and I really miss out.

Thank you,
Carol from Beverly, MA

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7 days ago my Pekingese dog got sick, I took her to the vet and she was positive for parvo. She died tuesday, the problem is I have 7 puppies and they all played together. So far one of my Chihuahuas passed away thursday. Now her sister is really bad, she is only a pound and doing really bad. We have her on IV, electrolytes, she's really weak and the vet won't do anything else. Does anyone have any other tips for me on getting my little girl better?

Thanks,

Kaitlyn from Saginaw, Michigan

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I'd like to save some glass jars that pickles, salsa, tomato sauces, etc. come in, but I can't get rid of the odor on the lids. I've tried soaking them in baking soda, bleach, etc., but I haven't come up with anything that will eliminate the smell. Any suggestions?

Carolb from Ontario, Canada

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I moved into a small apartment last summer. The problem is they do not have any screen doors. I only have 2 small windows in the apartment which provide no ventilation. The flies come in when I leave the doors open for ventilation and light (the apartment is dark and dreary and I have to have lights on during daylight hours).

I need help with making a temporary screen door or something to keep the flies out and not damage the doorway. The idiots that built this place put door bells on the back doors where there are no apartment numbers. I think they built this on a friday.

Thank you in advance,
kathleen48 from So. Portland, ME

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Could someone explain Laddering Certificates of Deposit (CDs)? I heard a little about it on talk radio but didn't catch the whole conversation.

Thanks,
Ellen from NY

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My Grandma is having trouble with Grubs eating her Marigolds does anyone have something that you can use from your kitchen(home remedy) that might help her with this problem? Thanks!

Mandi from Erie

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My daughter had a birthday party and it was pouring rain when a few guests arrived. The bags carrying the gifts were soaked. Some hot pink tissue paper dripped on my foyer rug, hardwoods and den carpet as the girl carried the gift in. When I took the gift from her, it got on my shorts and top. Even my hands are still stained.

We tried spot cleaning the rug right away with vinegar but no luck. It won't even come off the hardwoods. My clothes are soaking in oxyclean. Any suggestions? Thanks. By the way, I don't think the girl is even aware, she doesn't know about this since they all disappeared upstairs. I would never want a child to feel bad about something they can't help!

Ann from Mint Hill, NC

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Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 80 money-saving offers inside.

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Selecting High-Quality Fruit: If you're purchasing apples, fall is the best time to buy them if you want the greatest selection. Choose ripe apples that feel firm and crisp in hand and have a bright color. Avoid apples that feel soft and mealy or have cuts or punctures in the skin.

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Breed Description: Golden Retrievers are hardy, well-built dogs with a wavy golden coat and gentle loyal nature. This breed of highly-trainable sporting dogs is confident, alert and eager to please. Their scenting ability and responsiveness in the field makes them superior hunting dogs, while their gentle, loving nature make them good family dogs.

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Breed Description: The German Shorthaired Pointer is an all-purpose hunting dog with keen scenting abilities and is particularly suited for hunting grouse and pheasants. This breed is fast and agile and demonstrates power, endurance and eagerness in the field. He has a strong personality, but adapts well to family life.

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