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Hello,
We have a lot of new requests today. If you are feeling helpful, check them out.
We are working on two TF News, the topic for this Friday will be parenting. Next Friday's will be about Easter. Feel free to post your favorite parenting and/or Easter tips on the contest form.
A recent post praising the Dodge Caravan has recieved a lot of postive feedback. We welcome reviews of any other cars that readers own or like. Be sure to include the make/model/year and why you think it is a good vehicle for people to consider.
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
Another use for FlexHair conditioner. When my Long haired Doxie, Ginger was alive, I used to bathe her with fancy expensive dog shampoos.Then I tried Flex Shampoo and Conditioner. She smelled so good & her coat was very soft and shiny. And she was 16- 1/2 when she went to rainbow bridge.
By Great Granny Vi
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This is a fleece blanket made from 2 different patterns put together (right side out.) 1-1/2 yds each.
Cut all around edges 4-5 inches deep, 1-2 inches wide.
Tie together (I double tied this one)
By Alma Venditti
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Today's Tips
Tips for finding and using coupons. Post your ideas.
Coupons at Company Sites
Go directly to company sites and you can often get a coupon or discount on a new product.
By Colleen Goldrick
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Rubbing Alcohol for Carpet Stains
Always keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol (very cheap). When you get a stain or spot on your carpet, dip a toothbrush in the alcohol and rub it out. Not only does it take out just about everything, because it is alcohol, it dries immediately.
By sandis3
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In the frozen foods department. of a grocery store, a man and his son were shopping. As the man checked something off his shopping list, he was overheard to whisper to his son, "If we mess this up, your mother won't ever ask us to do it again."
By Terri H.
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Ammonia straight from the bottle makes a fast, economical oven cleaner.
By Robin
Editor's Note: Ammonia also has fumes. Make sure you use ammonia in a well ventilated area. Here's a link to an Ammonia based oven cleaner recipe.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf982309.tip.html
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A little vinegar added to milk will sour it when the recipe you have calls for sour milk.
By Robin
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Gifts for Babysitters, Mailmen, etc.
When giving gifts to babysitters, mailmen, people, please only give gifts you know the person will like. I got 5 gifts for Christmas and was only able to use 1. The rest I regifted or are still in my regifting shelf. Food is always well appreciated, especially to a single person. Even a gift certificate to a grocery store.
By Sandy S
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Cleaning Water Out of Your Ears
To clean out water from your ears combine 1 cup alcohol to 1 cup vinegar. 1 to 1. With an ear dropper put in 3 or 4 drops. It is amazing how this dries up the water. It made an infection go away too.
By Sandy
Editor's Note: I've never heard this one before. It is always best to check with your medical practitioner before trying something in your ears.
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Just cut up an uncooked potato into strips that look like fries. Toss them in olive oil and flavor with salt and pepper.
Put them on cookie sheet to bake for about 6 minutes and check. It may take a total of 10 to 15 minutes but you have good and cheap fries.
By Sandy
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Got A Slight Fever? Hot Flashes From Menopause?
Recently I a slight fever. And I really didn't want to be chucking down a lot of aspirin through out the night. I found I had some frozen cherry flavored ice popsicles in the freezer. I ate about 2 or 3 of the pops, and I could really feel myself cooling and feeling relief. Don't do this if your temperature is too high, but it helps a lot. Especially with hot flashes from menopause.
By Pat Jackson
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Think of Cheese as a Condiment
Learn to think of cheese as a condiment, not a main ingredient. Not only is it healthier but certainly more cost effective if you do. If a recipe only calls for 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese as a topper for the casserole, don't automatically grab an extra handful because it doesn't look like it might be enough for your taste. Try it first as the recipe calls for and then make alterations to the ingredient amount only if absolutely necessary for the overall taste of the finished product.
Many times, cheese as a topper for a casserole, is only window dressing - such as the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the sundae sauce on top of the ice cream.
By Ronsan
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Caring for Rubber Backed Throw Rugs
The way in which you dry throw rugs after laundering is vital to its longevity and usefulness. If you throw a rubber non-skid backed rug into the dryer, you will shorten its lifespan. Instead, plan on washing and air drying.
If the weather outside won't cooperate for line drying or "back deck bannister" drying, then shake the rug once or twice, turn the rubberized backing side up and place on the top of your dryer or washer to dry. The fabric portion of the rug will dry much faster than the rubberized portion, but if the rubberized side is down, it's not going to dry until air can get to it.
Do NOT place a rug on top of your dryer when in operation. I now have two matching rugs that are rubber backed and in excess of 10 years old, and there is no sign of deterioration yet because of the way I dry them.
By Ronsan
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I need a fairly good supply of sturdy cardboard boxes for mailing in my business, but I was often inundated with the wrong sizes plus too many of them until I began saving boxes by nesting them.
If a box will fit inside snugly of another or will house another box I already have, then I will save it. If not, I recycle by giving to someone else. I try to keep a range of box sizes "nested" within each other that only requires the space of the largest size box. I now have 8 boxes ranging from quite small up to slightly larger than what I think I might normally need.
By Ronsan
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Cleaning philodendron leaves with a cotton ball saturated with milk will remove the dust and let them shine, shine, shine! After wiping off each leaf gently, let air dry. During the process, check the tips for any accumulated milk drop and dispose of with a Q-tip or paper towel. My plants look like they have been treated to whatever a florist uses to make plant leaves shine, but doesn't cost me a penny if I use the milk leftover from a grandchild's milk glass.
By Ronsan
Editor's Note: Use this on live plants only, not the silk or plastic ones.
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Making a New Candle With a Birthday Candle
If you love to burn scented expensive candles, but aren't fond of wasting what's left when the wick is gone, you can "recycle" the candle wax to make a new candle utilizing a used child's birthday cake candle as your new wick.
Put the leftover wax into a clean small metal coffee can inside a small pan of boiling water. The wax will melt quickly and you MUST use caution when handling because you can get burned. With the help of grip tongs or a good pot holder, pour a small puddle of the melted wax into a clean candle holder and wait a minute or two for the wax to harden to the point where you can insert the used birthday candle.
When firm enough to hold the candle straight, pour the remaining wax in and let sit several hours to fully harden. I have even "layered' the remnants of several other candles with the same scent in this manner and eventually I get another candle to burn with my favorite scent.
By Ronsan
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Decorating Tips for College Students (or those with small budgets)
Being a college student for the past couple of years, I've had to figure out ways to decorate my apartments I've lived in to not only represent my style, but do it cheaply. And the answer is very clear, especially for those living in "college towns": dumpsters. Yes, those big ugly green monsters that hold our least-wanted items. But I've found dumpsters hold a plethora of great decorating items.
For instance, in the past few months alone, I've found and incorporated the following items: a compact entertainment stand for my bedroom TV, a 50's style barstool (metal and red leather), another short entertainment center with glass doors (which I converted into a dish-holding caddy), a nice dinner table with a great pattern painted on the top (I cut the legs down and now have it as a coffee table), and several appliances that I've taken the "guts" out of and made into a type of industrial-art.
I have also noticed the best time is around mid-June/early July when college kids start moving out of apartments/dorms/wherever for the summer. Last year I was fortunate enough to get a couch that someone had gotten from our university's surplus sale, and now it's sitting on my balcony as an outside entertainment area. So next time you walk by a dumpster, take a peek inside/next to, because you might just find a cheap alternative to a decorating dilemma.
By SVRunningMan
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine marshmallow creme, peanut butter and butter; mix until well blended. Add noodles and plain M&M's or chocolate chips. Mix well. Drop by 1/3 cupfuls onto greased cookie sheet; shape with greased fingers to form nests. Let stand until firm. Dust bottom of nests lightly with confectioners' sugar, if desired. Fill with peanut M&M's chocolate before serving. Makes 10 to 12 nests.
By Marn
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Blend all together.
By Robin
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Blend ingredients in blender. Cook until thick in microwave. Cool. Pour over fresh fruit and the pineapple chunks.
By Robin
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Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest! $30.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $30.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on March 15th.
Syndication Spotlight:
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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests:
Parts For a 48 Ford Two Door Sedan
Does anyone have anything for a 48 ford two door sedan? Does anyone know where I can find any parts for one?
Thanks,
Handyman Jack.
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Painting a Church's Children's Room With Multiple Colors
I want to update a small room at our church that we use as our children's room. Currently it has brown paneling everywhere and just looks boring.
I want to make the room look bigger and more like a room for children. I have seen rooms using a multicolor design and I thought this may work in this space. I just wanted to get some feedback on that.
Should I even try this, should I stick to one or maybe two colors, what should those colors be? We are on somewhat on a tight budget for this project, so we want to make sure to complete this project wisely.
Thanks,
Fisherek
The Sunday School Teachers
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I purchased a small loaf angel food cake that was in the day old bakery rack at the store. Unfortunately, when cut, it turned out to be very rubbery and tough. It took my electric knife to cut it! Any ideas on using this in combination with other ingredients so I won't have to just throw it away?
Thanks,
Sandie
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My throat has been sore for days. I cannot swallow without a very sharp pain occurring in the throat. I've been researching strept and I think I may have it. On the sites I have seen, warm tea and honey was reccomended. Does it really work? If so, how much tea and how much honey should you add? Please help... it hurts really badly!
Thanks a bundle,
Rachel
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I'm hoping one of you can help me with these dishwasher problems I'm having lately. First, the circular "door" for the detergent compartment no longer clicks shut into place. It stays open, so the detergent falls out as soon as I close the dishwasher door. Is there anyway to fix this myself?
Also, there is an odor that I can't get rid of when the dishes are washing.
Maybe there is a trap somewhere that catches the food particles, that needs to be cleaned?
I don't have a book for this dishwasher, as it came in the house I bought. I can't find a way to take the sprayer arm off to see if there is any problem there either. Can anybody offer any pointers to this clueless dishwasher user?
Thanks a million to all who send in such terrific ideas and helpful hints, and also the awesome pictures!
QueenBee
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White Heat Marks on Wood Table
Does anyone know how to get white heat marks off a wood table? I've tried mayonnaise- let it sit and rubbed it in a bit. My Grandmother told me to try a product called liquid gold, but I can 't find it anywhere.
Any ideas?
emain
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We have a rather expensive and heavy cat post approximately 6 feet high. It is lined with carpeting. Our cat recently passed away and we are in the process of finding a new cat. We want to keep the cat post but want to replace the carpeting to remove the scent of our prior kittie. Does anyone know of a cat repair shop or source? We are located in the Los Angeles area.
Alley
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We have Berber carpet and have re-arranged furniture. We now have carpet dents in the carpet and cannot get them out. How do we remove carpet dents from berber carpet?
charlievon
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My daughter got black ink on my white window blinds, does anyone have any tips to get it out?
Edel
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Cleaning Smoke Stains Off Oil Paintings
How would I go about and what could I use to clean smoke stains from pictures painted with an oil based paint. I don't want to remove any paint.
Fay
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How do I grow bean sprouts from mung beans? One that is crisp and juicy like that purchased fresh from grocers. My own efforts, none-too-successful involving rinsing sprouted beans twice a day and keeping them in the dark in decent temperature until maturity inevitably produced stuff that were long, thin and chewy.
YT in London
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Does anyone have a recipe for making tofu like that commercially made from basic, raw ingredients and not from processed, instant powdered stuff which doesn't taste quite like the real thing.
Thanks,
YT in London
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Your responses to my cabinet problem were very helpful... Thanks Now I need your help with grease spots on my microwave. No matter how much I wash it and make the outside shine I can't get rid of those tiny little grease spots. My microwave is right above my stove so when ever I fry/cook the microwave gets spots constantly. Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks
Adele
S.I.,NY
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Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
My kitten has just recently started peeing on a patch around where her litter tray is. When I first got my kitten our older cat didn't like the smell of the new kitten and refused to go in the litter tray if she smelt the other cat in there. My parents then bought a small litter tray for my kitten and placed it in my room for the time being.
The litter tray soon became too small for the kitten and my parents were finding it hard to find a big sized litter tray, after a lot of arguements about the smell of urine coming from the small litter tray (even though it was cleaned every day) my parents took out the small litter tray and let the kitten use to big litter tray that was downstairs. Both cats were getting on well at this point and I was happy to not have a strong urine smell in my room.
But then my kitten started to poo and pee in the spot where her litter tray used to be. After cleaning that up and removing the bit of scrap carpet my Father was sure she would stop. She then began to pee even more in this spot and my parents then put it down to the fact that my kitten is brain damaged and can't figure out that her litter tray isn't there anymore. After taking so much of the smell we then moved the litter tray back up to my room and hoped that that would stop my kitten from peeing and pooing on my floor.
Low and behold it still has come to a dead end and she pees around the litter tray, my parents are constantly arguing with me about the smell and how if it isn't sorted out soon then they have no other motive but to sadly get rid of our kitten. It's the urine that is the problem.
I have tried using lemon juice/peel/half a lemon on the patch where she is urinating as suggested by my Gran but that doesn't work. Vinegar seems to work only for a little while. And the carpet is rather old and I fear that the smell of my old cat's urine is on that and is influencing my kitten to pee on it even more but at the moment my parents can't afford to by another new carpet due to the fact they just spent out on carpets for all of the downstairs rooms.
I'm just at a complete loss as to what to do and I don't fancy loosing my kitten. Is there anyway to kick my kittens habit once and for all?
Jennie
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Dealing With Foot Odor From Work Boots
I would like to know if anyone out there has any advice to get rid of foot odor. My son has a problem with excessive sweat when wearing his steel-toed boots to work. I would apperciate any help on this matter. Thank You.
Pat from Alberta
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Cleaning Concrete Floor Before Sealing
I want to know how to clean the garage floor of my home before I seal the concrete. It was painted over a couple times and has worn through in several places. Sure I could go to Home Depot and buy some expensive floor cleaner but where's the ThriftyFun in that?
Jim from Florida
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Removing Smell from Vinyl Sofa
I have a black vinyl sofa and ive had many of my friends stay over the past years (which is basically the only action the couch sees, I never sit on it). But recently I noticed that the couch had an odd odor that it didn't originally. It's kinda hard to describe but I would compare it to a dirty, sweaty smell (possibly from one of my friends sweating while sleeping?). Is there anything I can do to get the smell out? Thanks,
SVRunningMan
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How do I get candle wax out of my brand new carpet?
Melody
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More Reading:
Cherry Facts and Tips
By Angela Billings
Below are some helpful tips, facts and a recipe about those delicious cherries that will be ripe on the tree before you know it.
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Keeping The Motor Idling
By Steve Goodier
I relate well to the comment made by Barbara Johnson: "Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears." I know that if I can keep the motor idling, it will be ready to go when I need it.
View Article: Click Here
Corn History in American Cuisine
By Kori Puckett
If you could pick a single food that exemplifies the Americas, what would you pick? No food really screams American like corn. In the U.S., corn is really popular in Southern food. Some popular corn dishes in the South include cornbread (also known as hoecakes or johnny cakes among some Southerners), corn pudding, creamed corn, succotash, and old fashioned buttered corn on the cob.
View Article: Click Here
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