Daily Thrifty Tips - February 13, 2007

Volume Six, Number 30, February 13, 2007 Hello, If you are receiving our newsletters in HTML format, you now have more options following each tip or request. The following options are now available: Email - Recommend a post to a friend. Get Responses - Receive email notifcation when feedback is posted. Bookmark - Add to your ThriftyFun bookmarks. Link - Link to a post. Rate - Give a post a thumbs up or thumbs down. Print - Printer friendly version. If you have any problems using these new features please let us know. Here's today's featured request... St. Patrick's Day Table Decorations I am looking for St. Patrick's Day table decor ideas for a company breakfast. Melonee from Milwaukee, WI Post Feedback Here Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! 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Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Dealing with a Garden on a Steep Slope Prince (Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher) Today's Tips: Ask The Deli To Slice Precooked Meat Barbie's Crocheted Kitchen Furniture and Appliances Window Frames for Displaying Pictures Book Learning Valentine Mailbox Reindeer Basket For Christmas Dissolve Powdered Detergent Prior To Using Pink Milk On Valentine's Day Bring A Rubber Bathmat When Travelling Shopping Stores that are Closing Display Photos Under Glass Homemade Baby Wipes New Requests: Steam Cleaning Leather Bowling Banquet Decorations Digital Video Camera Reviews Stains From a Mat In a Bathtub Name Ideas for Disabled Children's Organization Candle Wax on Material Microfiber Pillows St. Patrick's Day Table Decorations Removing Plastic from the Top of a Stove Clothing Patterns for a Miniature Poodle Stevia Plant Information Glue for Cuts in Hair Discolored Aluminum Steamer Flies With White Wings Dye Stain on Leather Furniture Stain Around a Bathtub Drain Pioneer Shirt Pattern Glitter Nail Polish Stains Spanish Moss and Cats Shoe Polish Stains on Clothing Today's Photos: Dealing with a Garden on a Steep Slope On this steep slope leading up to the lawn, I used natural rocks found around our property to make tiers. On the bottom tier, I planted sweet alyssum and sedum. On the second tier is rainbow swiss chard. The third tier has compact sunflowers. By Kate from Lebanon, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26998747.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Prince (Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher) Prince is a 1 year old Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher man. An elder friend of ours was seeking for a loving home for him and she offered him to us. He likes chewing on his bone, walking in the park, keeping mommy company while she is doing her classwork and assisting daddy in the kitchen. He is by far the cutest Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher Man mix we know! People we encounter him and fall in love with him and always ask if we have any puppies. We apologize but say no ... so we absolutely love him for his uniqueness, cuteness and friendlness! By Shimon and Rosine from Snellville, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88309808.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Ask The Deli To Slice Precooked Meat I buy the precooked (smoked, honey glazed, oven baked, etc.) turkey or ham in the meat department when they are on sale. Then,I bring them to the butcher department or the deli department (You may have to purchase it first, just bring them the receipt.) Have them use their big slicers to slice the meat into thin sandwich slices. It saves me a lot of time and it is far cheaper than buying the sliced meat from the deli. You can also divide it up into smaller bags and freeze them for later. By Cathy from Kihei, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11220747.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Barbie's Crocheted Kitchen Furniture and Appliances By Debra Frick Look what's cooking! Barbie is in the Kitchen This is the second in the series of Barbie or other small doll crocheted furniture. Please feel free to change colors to fit more with what your little interior decorator would like. I have tried to use materials that anyone would have or would be easy to obtain. There are a lot more pieces to the kitchen so I would say for an average Crocheter working while watching TV it will probably take a week to complete. I have also tried to make sure that there are no little pieces that can be choked on so instead of buttons I have used embroidery for handles. Buttons could be used if for a child that choking is not a hazard. I did use chop stick pieces for handles on the refrigerator, stove and sink but made sure they were whip stitched on very tightly. But you could just embroider some handles on for younger children. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20691310.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Window Frames for Displaying Pictures You can go to a salvage yard and get some old window frames and use them. we are taking one and using the top section on one side of our cuckoo clock and the bottom on the other side, putting family pictures in each individual frame section. It looks great and only two holders per frame. By Gail Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43067102.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Book Learning There's an old story in my family how my father got his first job after WWII by cramming the weekend before from a book he got from the public library! (He went to classes later, but that weekend of cramming got him in -) It was a good lesson to us about how you could get vital knowledge from a book somewhere if you looked hard enough for the right one. And nowadays, finding that book is easier than ever with internet resources. You have access to the best specialists in the world in any given field through their books and books about them. Take advantage of that knowledge, free if you get it from a library, to bone up on important issues in your life, from medical to legal. The time spent pays off in the long run. It did for my Dad. By pamphyila from Los Angeles Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60971949.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Valentine Mailbox Instead of using the standard shoe box for your kids Valentine's mailbox, decorate an empty cereal box instead. It fits better in their backpacks. By Loretta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf641517.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Reindeer Basket For Christmas You will need: a 3 inch high stuffed reindeer head and approx. 3 inch long stuffed reindeer legs (available at craft stores) a basket (I use a basket that meaures 5 inches wide x 7 inches long x 4 1/2 inches high) 3/4 inch and 1 1/4 inch ribbon 2 silk holly sprigs with berries hot glue gun and glue sticks Measure around rim of basket; add 1/2 inch. Cut a length of 1 1/4 inch ribbon to the determined mesurement. Glue ribbon around the basket rim, overlapping ends back. Glue reindeer head to back of basket at rim. Glue 1 reindeer front leg to each side of basket at rim. Glue reindeer hind legs to front of basket, near the lower part of basket. Tie a 12 inch length of 3/4 inch wide ribbon into a bow; trim ends. Glue bow to neck of reindeer head. Tie a 25 inch length of the 1 1/4 inch ribbon into a 4 1/2 inch bow; trim ends. Glue bow to font of basket; glue streamers of bow to reindeer front legs. Glue 1 holly sprig to reindeer head and 1 to large bow. By Jan from Suring, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64396761.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dissolve Powdered Detergent Prior To Using I dissolve my powder detergent in 2 cups of water before I put it in the washer. This way the powder is completely dissolved and there isn't any powder residue left on my clothes. Dixie from Alabama Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85174353.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pink Milk On Valentine's Day When my kids were little I'd buy mix the Nestle's Quik Strawberry mix into the milk for their cereal then put it in a little pitcher. It would make the milk a nice pink color and be a nice surprise for Valentine's Day morning. A dab of red food coloring would also work. Susan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf852375.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bring A Rubber Bathmat When Travelling A few years ago, I was at a hotel in Assisi, Italy and I slipped in the tub (which had no bathmat, no rubber grids nor any grab bars) while taking a shower and broke my arm in two areas. Needless to say, my vacation ended and I returned home, cutting my 25 day European vacation to 14. By joesgirl from Beverly, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90913954.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shopping Stores that are Closing It's always sad to see a store close, I feel for the employees and their families. On the brighter side, you find some great deals. My local Albertsons is closing and everything is on clearance. They are also still taking coupons. The best deals right now are on party supplies and health and beauty products. I saved $105.08 on my shopping trip with the 30-60% off and my coupons. (the discount comes off of the lowest price. Some were already on clearance) Look for store closing sales and really stock up. I found everything for my son's next birthday party and the savings was 80%! By Lisa from Lakewood Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91133492.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Display Photos Under Glass Instead of leaving your favourite pictures stuck in an album, try this: You will need a piece of glass to fit any end table or coffee table, or bedroom dresser table. Take pictures and display over the area of table space, then get some flowers (dried with some baby's breath) and place near the pictures. Then place the glass over the display. This can be quite a conversation piece, especially when this is done in a living room. By Janet from Toronto, Ontario, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96873900.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Baby Wipes Try this if you find that you're close to running out of baby wipes and won't have enough to last until payday. Using the empty wipe container, put in a small amount of warm water in the bottom, about 1/2 inch, add a few drops of baby oil, and a few drops of mild baby bath wash. Now, take enough paper towels to fill container and cut each one in half, then put them into the water, oil, bath wash solution. Now flip the stack over to be sure they all get saturated. Whaa-la! You have instant baby wipes. The bath wash cleanses the skin, the oil moisturizes and seals the skin. Use a dry paper towel or wash cloth to pat skin dry before diapering baby. I recommend using the better quality paper towels. The ones that feel more like material, because they're softer and don't fall apart so easily. Also, use the products that you normally use on baby, so you know they won't be allergic. I used these on my three children, now grown, when money was tight and found they worked better then the store bought ones. By Josie from Homer, AK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf976518.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Friends of ThriftyFun Dear Webby's Humor Letter Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/ More Information: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Steam Cleaning Leather Is it ok to steam clean leather or does it remove protective coating if there is one? John from Glasgow Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15356460.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bowling Banquet Decorations I am having a bowling banquet and need decoration ideas. Could anyone help? Thank You, rplaner from Moore, Oklahoma Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21696476.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Digital Video Camera Reviews Do you have any reviews of digital video cameras? Post your experiences below. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22071412.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stains From a Mat In a Bathtub How do you clean old stains from the mat in the bathtub? Tatyana from Sharon, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23122172.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Name Ideas for Disabled Children's Organization CCS, formerly Crippled Children's Society are looking for alternative meaning for the letters CCS. Something positive and upbeat which reflects that the organization provides professional support services to disabled people of all ages in the community. Any ideas please? Thank you. AngNZ from New Zealand Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24740492.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Candle Wax on Material How do you get candle wax out of material? Linda from Oak Hill, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25501000.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Microfiber Pillows How can I clean my microfiber pillows without leaving a mark from the cleaner? Valerie from Portland, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43299560.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print St. Patrick's Day Table Decorations I am looking for St. Patrick's Day table decor ideas for a company breakfast. Melonee from Milwaukee, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44060918.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Plastic from the Top of a Stove I have a melted plastic knob from a teapot on my white stove. Any idea how to remove the residue without ruining the surface of the stove? MaryEllen from Wallingfor, CT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47482373.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Clothing Patterns for a Miniature Poodle I need miniature poodle clothes patterns. Please help me provide clothes for my naked poodle! Emm from Scottsville, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50776928.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stevia Plant Information I am looking for Stevia plant growing and processing information. I'd like to have the chance to grow the stevia plant and make good use of it to replace sugar consumption. How can I go about doing that? Han Rrinh from San Jose Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64611408.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Glue for Cuts in Hair My son recently had a cut glued together at the hospital. They got a little glue happy and glued his hair to his scalp. How can I safely remove the excess glue? Eva from Golden City, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69679371.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Discolored Aluminum Steamer My aluminum steamer is thoroughly discolored through years of constant use. How do I get to clean out the very stubborn discoloration? Yeeton from London, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78227608.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Flies With White Wings How do you get rid of flies with white wings flying all over my plants? Alinka9 from Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79527731.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dye Stain on Leather Furniture How do I remove dye from a throw off a cream leather suite? John from Glasgow Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83559429.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stain Around a Bathtub Drain I clean my bathroom almost every week but i've noticed a bright green ring around the drain in my bathtub and sink. What could this be? Laci from MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90433987.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pioneer Shirt Pattern Does anyone have a pattern for a mens pioneer type shirt? I need to make one for my husband for a trek this summer. I also would like a pattern for a women's pioneer shirt and possibly some pantaloons. Please respond asap if you have any one of these items. Thank you in advance! Angie from Utah Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95887314.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Glitter Nail Polish Stains How do I remove orange glitter nail polish off my white cotton dress shirt? Charmaine from Oakville, Ontario Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96208283.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Spanish Moss and Cats Is Spanish moss toxic to cats? I love the way it looks growing in the live oak trees in our yard, but if it might harm my three little buddies, it will have to go. Thanks, Sharon from Bunnell, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96531293.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shoe Polish Stains on Clothing How can I remove black shoe polish from clothes? Anne from Ireland Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99439622.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.