Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 233 September 29 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Margie Minard, who was one of the contest winners, has kindly had us donate her winnings to the Red Cross.
We are working on writing definitions for over 4,000 food terms that will make up a food glossary on the website. If any food fanatics have a little spare time and would be willing to help, feel free to contact us. We already have a few people on board helping us but it is a monumental project and we need all the help we can get.
The neat thing about making this glossary is when a glossary term shows up elsewhere on our site, it will automically link the glossary term. For example, when baking soda appears in a recipe, it will be linked to the definition for baking soda. It should make ThriftyFun a much more valuable resource. Especially for more obscure food terms... like capers. We are planning similar glossaries for crafts: sewing, quilting, beading, ceramics, metal work, etc. So if you have a specialty that you would be willing to help us create a glossary for, we could use all the help we can get.
So far, we have been sending 50 terms that need definitions to people who have expressed an interest. If you are interested in helping, send us a note on our contact form and let us know what glossary you would like to help with (ie: food, quilting, sewing, etc.).
Contact Form
http://www.thriftyfun.com/contact.ldml
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Mushrooms, Lily Pads and More
These are a few pics I took walking around the yard.
By Teresa
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Woobie the Cat
My cat's name is "Woobie" He is 8 years old and is a Domestic Medium Hair Orange & White. We got him from my brother-in law who had a barn cat that had kittens and he needed a home. I work for a Veterinarian, so I HAD to take him home with me. For fun "Woobie" likes to chase our Welsh Corgi "Tucker" out of his bed so he can take a nap. As you can see, it works everytime!
By Sherri
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Toby & Scooter
Toby & Scooter are best buddies. Toby is 1 1/2 yrs old and Scooter is 9 months old.
We had Toby first and bought Scooter as a playmate. They are like my children, spoiled.
By Jean
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Today's Tips
Easy Cinnamon Biscuits
I really loved the cinnamon biscuits that I use to find in my local grocery stores, but the company stopped making them. So I now make my own by taking a can of biscuits and rolling them in a mixture of cinnamon sugar before baking... They are out of this world and easy.
By Barbara Bratton
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Hypoallergenic Bubble Bath
My son loves bubble bath but has very sensitive skin. I have found that I can use the cheap store brand baby shampoo, which is hypoallergenic, and it works great and doesn't irritate his skin. Plus you get a lot more for less because it makes so many more bubbles!
By Erricka, NC
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Substitute for White Sauce
My talent for making a tasty white sauce is bad, no talent. Hollandaise sauce to the rescue! Perfect over potatoes, asparagus, chicken fingers or salmon.
By Linda Jonson
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Throwing a Dora the Explorer on a Budget
For a cartoon birthday party on a budget, Here's what I do. I make a DORA CAKE. I use a round layer cake for the face with another round layer cut and fitted around head to make the hair. It costs $3 as compared to about $15 for a bakery cake.
Make your own pinata. Take a balloon and cover it in paper mache and tissue paper to look like Dora's head for about $3 instead of the usual $15.
Make your own "Pin The Tail" game. Print a picture of Swiper and cut off the tail for about $2.
For musical chairs, put pictures on pieces of poster board. Put those on the floor instead of chairs. Whoever is sitting on a picture gets the "chair".
Makes a great child's party for about that costs $9.
By Randa Wagner
Editor's Note:
The Nick Jr. site has some Dora invitations you can print out for free. You can find them here:
<http://www.nickjr.com/party/party_packs/dora/index.jhtml>
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Losing a Phone Card
I lost a 200 minute phone card after only using 15 minutes. I was bummed. Now I write down the 800 number, the PIN number and the customer service number, so if I lose the card I can still use my minutes and they always tell you how much you have left.
By Janet Cobeo
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Homemade Cat Carrier
My cat stresses severely when placed into a cat carrier for a vet visit. Now she stresses hardly at all when I made my own cheap effective carrier. Two round laundry baskets, place the cat in the bottom, place the other one on to form a dome and tie yarn through the baskets on a few sides to secure. Also with the rounded shape a seat belt fits on perfectly. No more fighting a spread eagled cat to get it into a square box!
By Linda Jonson
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A Fluorescent Bulb for your Garage Door Opener
If you have to constantly replace the light bulbs in your garage door opener, use a fluorescent bulb(s) instead of an incandescent bulb(s). The vibration from the garage door opening and closing often causes the filament of incandescent bulbs to break.
Fluorescent bulbs are much more durable, but they are initially more expensive. However, they quickly pay for themselves in two ways: 1) they use fewer watts than incandescent bulbs, so they save you money on your electric bill. 2) They last incredibly longer than incandescent bulbs so you won't be buying them nearly as often.
By Ben Jacobs
Editor's Note: Great idea! I have been using one in my living room lamp for 4 years. I've only replaced the bulb once. I know I would have gone through a lot of incandescent bulbs in that amount of time.
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Homemade Spooky Halloween Sounds
Before they were on the market for sale, my family and I would make our own spooky sounding tapes to be played during Trick or Treat hours on Halloween. The spooky tapes at the store to buy aren't cheap. Make your own! Spooky footsteps (someone stomping in boots down a hallway or stairs), a creaky sounding door, haunting sounds, screams, etc.
We had a lot of fun creating these. Neighborhood kids and parents commented on the added Halloween excitement, when we'd open the door to the trick or treaters and they would hear the spooky sounds. These could be made into a school fundraiser or sold at your Fall yard sales.
By Terri
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 17 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit:
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Photo Contest!
To enter, visit:
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Contest ends October 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests
Teacher of the Year Gift
Any suggestions for a novel, very special gift for a Teacher of the Year who is also a niece?
Patti from Illinois
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Paint Color to go with Bright Red Furniture
I need help! I own a bright red living room suite (couch and chair) and I do not know what color to paint my living room walls. Does any one have any suggestions?
Denise
from Kentucky
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Morning Sickness Remedies
Does anyone have a remedy for morning sickness? The kind of morning sickness I have thinks the morning is from 2am until about 8pm. Please, any suggestions?
Shannon in NC
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My Daughter's 11th Birthday Advice
My daughters birthday is November 21st. She will be 11. I need ideas on a party! Last year we did the Night at the Awards Ceremony. I want to do something differen't but not BORING! She wants to invite 8 people, possible sleepover?
Cari from California.
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Matching Cabinets With Knotty Pine Walls
I am currently putting knotty pine on my walls. My kitchen and dining room are one room. I have (med color) oak kitchen cabinets and I would like to know what can I do to the cabinets to make them match the knotty pine (amber shellac color). If you have any ideas, please sumbit them.
Thanks,
Terri From Michigan
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Where to find a Wringer Washer in Toronto?
Does anyone know where I can find a good wringer washer in Toronto that I won't cost an arm and a leg? I see them on ebay, but they are all in the US and the thought of shipping something that heavy makes my wallet sad!
Thanks
Terry Lynn
Toronto, Ontario
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We have a mouse!
Last night my husband woke me up to tell me that we had a mouse. Now, I don't leave food out, and I consider my house to be clean but some how we have a mouse. So we put out several mouse traps with cheese on them and much to our suprise this morning the cheese was gone but we had no mouse. Now what do we do? Any one have any suggestions?
Shannon in NC
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Cat Peeing on My Bed
I have a big problem. I have a 1 1/2 years old female cat, she is spayed (when she was 6 months old) and about 3 weeks ago she started to urinate in a love sit and in my bed. It's starting to driving me crazy. My apartment is starting to smell like cat urine I don't know what else can I do. I am almost thinking of taking her to the SPCA if this continues (it breaks my hearth but I running out of choices). Any tips on what may help this kitty-problem?
Help please!
Alphonse from Montreal
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"Fruit" Growing on a Jasmine Plant
I have a Jasmine plant that I have had for two years. Last summer it bloomed beautiful little white flowers that were waxy to the touch - almost felt artificial. I brought it in during the winter and it lost quite a few leaves on the lower half.
This summer it did very well out on the deck and it bloomed like before, however, the flowers fell off shortly after they bloomed. Then a few weeks later, I noticed some fruit looking things growing on the plant (there are 4 of them). They keep getting larger and larger and I have no idea what they are. They started out green and now they have changed to a deep purple - almost black.
Can you please tell me what they are?
Deb from Iowa
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Old Dog Peeing in House
My dog is now 12 years old. In dog years she's 84. On the the outside she still seems fit, jumping off the couch or onto it, climbing the steps. Even though she's just a little slow with it, she can still do it. We let her outside to potty, and usually when she had to go, she would scratch by the door and wait for someone to open it.
For the past year she hasn't been scratching by the door, she's been using the potty everywhere in our house. It stayed mainly in our dining room, but now it's wherever she's at. It's even to the point where I catch her in the act and she doesn't care. She finishes and she's on her way. I know she is old and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but its very frustrating. Any tips?
Ann
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Dealing With Pigeons and Their Droppings
I live in an apartment complex where there is a bunch of pigeons and no nest but lots of droppings. I noticed there is an owl statue on the roof and the pigeons must have realized its fake because they are still coming back. What can I do? Also, I've read that their droppings can cause diseases and it has collected in the dirt by my front door. How do I safely rid the soil of their droppings so I can plant things?
Shell from CA
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Wood Stove Draft Inducers
I am looking for a draft inducer for a wood stove, homemade or other.
Ivan Brown
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Surprise Birthday Party for My Daughter
My daughter never had a Sweet 16, so I thought I would make her 17th birthday special by possibly surprising her. I have no idea what to plan... or what theme. We could do it outside and or inside... I want it to be fun but not over-done! Any ideas would be awesome!
Cari from California.
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Heart Tile Cleaner
I am looking for a cleaner to shine hearth tile around a fireplace.
Mickey2 from PA
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Problems With Sweating
I have a real problem with sweating and it is really embarrasing. I take dance lessons and within the first 2 minutes my clothes are wet and sweat is running down my face, it seems like anything I do causes this. Has anyone else had this problem and what can be done about it?
Thanks so much,
Helen
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
Get "The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer" Free
When you subscribe to my newsletter "The Budget Stretcher"
you will receive this easy guide to effectively organizing and
managing your money absolutely free. Get all of the Budget
Forms and Worksheets you need to make it work for you. Click
the below link to learn more:
http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/confirmsubs.html
More Reading:
Flower/Snowflake Motif Bed Cover
By Connie Decker Brown I used this motif because it can be used year-round. In the spring, summer and fall I call them flowers and in the winter I call them snowflakes! The instructions are the same for any size bed. The only difference is - the bigger the bed, the more pieces you need. This is not a project you'll finish overnight, but it's well worth it.
Read More: Click Here
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