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Vol. 8, Num. 89, May 6, 2009 (Read It Online) Mother's Day is this Sunday! If you are looking for some Mother's Day crafts, tips or ideas visit the Mother's Day section on ThriftyFun: http://www.thriftyfun.com/Mothers%20Day_658.html Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team
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If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
It's finally Spring and my Balcony Buddy is back after a long Winter away to visit and receive favorite food treats. Source: Love talking to and taking photos of this beautiful creature from my balcony :-) By Deeli from Richland, WA
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Rate It: Don't over feed your pet. I know we all love our babies, but to much food is not good for anyone. Show them your love by taking them for a walk or playing in the backyard with the little one's favorite toy. By inluvwithmypup from Texas
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Rate It: We all love those great children's photographs, but who can afford to go to the photographer? Dress your kids (or Grandkids) for that special photograph. My Granddaughter loves to "Play Dress Up", and take pictures. Use your imagination, the results will be great! By vguy from Earle, AR
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Rate It: I did the baby clothesline at my first grandchild's shower. It was too cute! I mostly hung duck related clothes on it (that was her theme) but also added a few other items for a break in the color. I got many compliments on this idea. By Tammy from Herrin, IL
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Rate It: Bubba is 4 1/2 years old. He is a Chow and Golden Retriever mix. I adopted him as a puppy from the Sonoma County Animal Shelter. He was found in a nearby town in shopping cart. He loves to run, cuddle with me on the bed, meet new people and other dogs. He is the sweetest dog I have ever owned. He is very good natured and wouldn't harm anyone or anything. He responds to all the love you can give him. By sftimt from San Francisco, CA
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These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!
We got a simple little alarm clock to put in the living room near the front door. Before either of my teenagers goes out in the evening, we make sure it's set to match the cell phone time, and that the alarm is set for the time I want them home. It's the teenager's responsibility to turn off the alarm before it sounds. This way, there's no confusion about whether a child was home on time or not, whether being on the porch "counts", etc. Either they're inside and turn the alarm off, or it makes a noise and they're late. If they were to call and need a legitimate time extension, then I could reset the clock for them. For the record, they've not been late even once with this in place. It's a charm! Source: A friend of mine told me his mother did this years ago, and he liked the simplicity as a teen. By sterghe from Pennsylvania Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54056456.tip.html
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Rate It: Stretch Bath Salts With Baking Soda Do you love your bath salt, but it is never enough, and it costs too much to continually replace? You can mix your current bath salts with equal amounts of baking soda to give you more and it also softens the water even more for you. After you mix your baking soda with your bath salt, let it sit for a week in an airtight container to absorb the fragrance. You can also mix it with equal parts of Epsom salts, but I prefer baking soda for the water softening. By Margo from Fort Polk, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35074393.tip.html
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Rate It: Add Alcohol to Baby Wipes for Sanitizing Wipes I was worried that hand sanitizer alone would not clean our hands well enough so I invented my own sanitizing wipes. I buy a container of baby wipes and open them and pour in 1/2 bottle of alcohol. I pour most on top and some in-between the wipes. I keep it in the car so every time we get in the car after shopping we can clean our hands very easily. Our hands feel very clean and germ free. By goodsoul00 from Oakland, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67498391.tip.html
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Rate It: Have a Laundry Basket for Each Person When taking dry clothes off the washing line have a basket for each person (either with their name written on the wash basket or a different colour). When you take the baskets in, each person is responsible for putting their clothes away. My two boys have done this since they were 6 years old. I still have their drawers labeled so not only they can put their things away but if I get someone in to help me they can do it easily too. By talkingbookworm from NSW, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29797735.tip.html
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Rate It: Black Accents to Add Drama to a Room If you have a room that is blah, but you don't want to spend the money to redecorate, you can give the room drama by adding black. Paint all picture frames, the ceiling fixture and wall decorations black. Paint a few knickknacks black. Be sure the black items are evenly distributed throughout the room. Then add a throw rug that has some black in it to tie it all together. You'll get lots of compliments on your room. By Amuck from Fairview Heights, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71226238.tip.html
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Rate It: Do you fish with worms but don't want to dig up the yard looking for them, and don't want to purchase them? Then get out your pitchfork, bury the tongs all the way in the ground by standing on the pitchfork. Then, with the flat of your hand, bring the handle of the pitchfork towards you, then pull your hand (still flat) back towards you, and off of the pitchfork. If the pitchfork continues to vibrate once your hand is off of it, you are doing it correctly, it isn't hard. Do this a few times and earthworms will wriggle out of the ground, simply pick them up and place in a can that has moist soil in it. Because the earth is vibrating, the earthworms will come up. For more earthworms, simply move to another spot. If you try this and no earthworms come up, that means there are none there. Move to a location that has fertile soil and try again. By Amuck from Fairview Heights, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf155604.tip.html
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Rate It: Save Cold-Pak Insulin Shipping Bags If you get your insulin shipped to you, it's kept cold during shipping with plastic bags filled with frozen gel. Save these gel-filled bags, and reuse them to keep lunch boxes and coolers cold. They are also helpful when buying frozen groceries in hot weather. Just put the frozen bags inside an insulated bag when you grocery shop. Then fill the insulated bag with your ice cream, etc. These bags should be stored in the freezer and are also great for power outages! They can be used over and over, and stay frozen much longer than blue ice. To top it off they're free! By JLS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60020296.tip.html
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Rate It: Store Your Celery In Aluminum Foil I read a tip about refreshing wilted celery. My tip is, don't let it wilt. You can buy one or two stalks of celery, use what you need at the time, wash all of it, chop some of the coarser parts up and freeze to add to soups and stews when needed, but cut the rest into about 4 in. pieces and wrap bunches of it tightly in aluminum foil. It will keep a long time in the fridge. I have had some last more than three weeks, and still be crisp enough to use in a salad. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58104801.tip.html
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Rate It: Bulk beans are so much cheaper than buying canned beans, it always takes a little planning though, and in the past I'd always forget. Not anymore, I have a big yogurt container boldly marked "BEANS" that I keep filled with soaking beans in the refrigerator all the time. When I make a pot of beans, I've made it a habit to clean the container, refill it with beans and water, then put it back in the fridge. In a few days when I want to make beans again, they are ready to cook. Now, I make beans at least once a week, so this works very well, and the beans don't go bad. It's healthier too. I know what I put in my beans and don't have to read a label to double check ingredients. I try to keep at least one cup of beans soaking, but usually two. Cover the beans with equally the same amount of water if not more. Sometimes after a couple days I will check them to make sure the beans haven't soaked up all the water and will add more. Here is my favorite easy bean recipe: Ingredients:
Directions
Serve with chips as a snack, with tortillas and taco fixings, or eat as a main dish. By Mara Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41297362.tip.html
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Rate It: Keep a Shopping List on Your Computer I keep a shopping list in my computer of my regularly purchased groceries, then I just erase the items don't need and print out the rest. This helps me remember items I might otherwise forget. I like to keep this list in my "waiting to send mail" so it's easy to find and access, but anywhere in you computer will work! By JLS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60998486.tip.html
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Has anyone ever heard of adding vinegar to pet's water to ward off fleas? I heard this on a PBS show, but their site is down for construction. Apparently the pets drink the vinegar water and by it coming through their pores, it keeps fleas away. There were different amounts of vinegar based on the pets' weight. Any input would be appreciated. By mom of towers from St. Louis, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf765565.tip.html
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Rate It: Ideas for Senior Class Activities I am running for senior class president next year and I was wondering if anyone has done any really fun or cool senior activities? Anything will work, even if it's not just for seniors. Thanks! By Volleychika144 from Valley Center, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43705360.tip.html
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Rate It: What is a good glue for crafting with clay? By Pinkpuppy from MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25250254.tip.html
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Rate It: Chickens Eating Tomato Plant Leaves Does anybody know if chickens like tomato leaves? I have free-range chickens and they roam without me watching them. The plants leaves got taken off but the stem is in perfect condition! It happened in a matter of two days. Thanks. By Miah from Minooka, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43549839.tip.html
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Rate It: Seasoning Mix for Hamburger Patties Does anybody know of a good hamburger seasoning? I raise beef cattle for a living and haven't found a good seasoning to mix in when I make my ground beef patties. Help is really appreciated! Thanks. By Miah from Minooka, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55613269.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone have a recipe for stuffed pepper soup where you don't precook the ground beef? You mix instant rice (and maybe other ingredients) into the ground beef, then drop that by hunks into the soup ingredients. My niece makes it this way but doesn't use a recipe and never measures. I sure would love to have a recipe for it. By Amuck from Fairview Heights, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47558217.tip.html
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Rate It: Pyracantha Shrubs Not Producing Berries Why are my Pyracantha shrubs not producing berries? We are not in a frost pocket and have mild springs. The shrubs are pruned every year and they are five years old. Help! By Dunno from Cradley, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94181775.tip.html
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Rate It: Lowering Soil PH With Grass Clippings Does using green grass clippings in your soil lower the pH of the soil? By Catz23 from Honolulu, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21392359.tip.html
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Rate It: I'm having trouble with my pea plants. They are about 5 to 8 inches high right now. A few plants have lost almost all color, without any wilting. They just shrivel up to nothing and die overnight. I'm wondering what this could be. I started with high pH (above 7.5), but lowered to about 6.5 before planting. By Cindyscotday from IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73024617.tip.html
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Rate It: My son put Sharpie on the inside ceiling in my van. Should I try alcohol? It is also on the headrest. By Bowersofwi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82511186.tip.html
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Rate It: Water Rings on Unfinished Table I have two water rings (from this morning) on my coffee table and they're many shades lighter than the color of the wood. The table has no varnish to begin with and is old. When I took a cloth to get rid of the water on the surface some color actually came off. Surprisingly the table is an expensive one and to add to my desperation isn't mine. So I'm wondering if the towel/iron or hair dryer method will work as well as it does with tables that actually have a protective coat of varnish? Also, some sites say to use steam and some say definitely no steam, so I'm totally confused. By Peanut1314 from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17820723.tip.html
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Rate It: Water Rings on Unfinished Table I have two water rings (from this morning) on my coffee table and they're many shades lighter than the color of the wood. The table has no varnish to begin with and is old. When I took a cloth to get rid of the water on the surface some color actually came off. Surprisingly the table is an expensive one and to add to my desperation isn't mine. So I'm wondering if the towel/iron or hair dryer method will work as well as it does with tables that actually have a protective coat of varnish? Also, some sites say to use steam and some say definitely no steam, so I'm totally confused. By Peanut1314 from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45404030.tip.html
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Rate It: Any comments about Shell gasoline with nitrogen? Does anyone get better mileage? By Doug from Florence, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62932272.tip.html
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Rate It: I got sharpie on a nylon Sun mountain jacket. How do I get it out? By Lewis22 from Spokane. WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27700493.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone know where to get a pattern for the body of Cabbage Patch Kids? By Kantuckee from KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58447803.tip.html
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Rate It: How do you get dents out of lampshades? By elyag from Rochester,NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19180323.tip.html
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Rate It: How do you get rid of brownish spots on your skin under your armpits and on your arms? Thanks for your help. By Jamneu from Lethbridge, AB Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20941126.tip.html
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Rate It: A close friend of mine is graduating from IT college. But, he's been living on his own for several years so he doesn't need any household items. He is moving a month after his graduation, so I don't want to clutter him with more stuff to move! Any ideas on gifts I can give him that won't take up space in his moving van but will be useful or appreciated? Thanks! By Freya1970 from Halifax, NS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf540070.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a small half bath with a white vanity and top and white commode. The floor is white tile with soft gray grout. It does not have a window and gets no light. What paint color should I paint the walls? By Wazzupnanny from MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73763156.tip.html
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Rate It: I have tried many so called "free sample sites" but you either have to fill out a bunch of stuff or you don't receive anything. I am on a fixed income and would love to know of some real, free sites that send real samples. Thanks very much. God Bless you! By Deb816 from TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85334713.tip.html
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Rate It: Weight Watchers Diet Exchange Plan Does someone have a copy of the Weight Watchers Exchange Diet Plan? By zbarbathome from Pleasureville, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44375652.tip.html
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Rate It: We have a Rainier cherry tree, and we would like to get fruit, what steps must we take? By Richnkay from Paris, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57547512.tip.html
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Rate It: My son will turn 11 soon and he wants to have a party at home with a few of his friends. What are some activities we can do that aren't boring and will keep them interested? By Lilvic717 from Spokane, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf617742.tip.html
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Rate It: Maintaining Your Air Conditioner How do I maintain my new air conditioner? Do I need to flush the drain pan on my Trane air handlers? By Rosepeddel from Port Isabel, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37402614.tip.html
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Rate It: How do you get super glue off of Formica? By Violetbear4 from Bay City, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36701520.tip.html
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Rate It: When should I expect my 11 week Yorkshire's ears to come up? I've seen other yorkies with their ears up at 9 weeks but mines aren't up yet. I've seen the parents and their ears are up and the breeder also said his ears would go up, but when? By Judyx3 from Fresno, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48226666.tip.html
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Rate It: How do you clean suede/leather sneakers? By Farmerkevin from West Covina, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf549416.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a medium-light tan couch with almost the same color tan carpeting, a black entertainment unit, cherry bookshelf, black, cherry, and dark brown picture frames, a chrome lamp, and white walls. I need help redecorating. I want to do an accent wall but have no clue as to what color. I am thinking about new pillows (currently I have black and a burgundy red). Everything is "so neutral" and I feel like I need color. Help please. By kwright22 from Dundee, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60425070.tip.html
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Rate It: The S springs in my couch are broken at the ends. Where do I find those parts to repair the sagging in the couch? By Mac5267 from Raleigh, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21830177.tip.html
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Rate It: Removing Paint and Grout From Bathtub Several years ago after painting a room in my house, I used the fiberglass bathtub in my guest bath to wash everything out. We won't get into how completely dumb that was, believe me I learned my lesson. But anyway, since then I have used turpentine and everything else I could think of to get the paint off the bottom of the tub where it's got the non-skid pattern. Can anyone tell me how I can get it up? By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf386018.tip.html
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If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
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