Daily Thrifty Tips - November 15, 2006

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Snow White is 1 1/2 years old and is a white kitty. I adopted her from our local animal shelter. Once I held her, I knew she was mine.

She loves to play peek a boo. she loves it when I make her kitty pillows to play with. I put catnip in them.

Snow loves to talk to me. She is always talking to me. In kitty talk of course! She loves to lay up on my bed on her special blanket I made for her.

By Judy from Iowa

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Are you too busy to help them play?

Too busy to hear them what they say?

Are you too busy to watch them swing?

Too busy to hear the songs they sing?

If you're too busy except to scold,

They may be too busy when you grow old.


By Robin from Washington, IA

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Over time, the edges of plastic spatulas get dull and rough. Sharpen the rough edge by sanding them with an emery board or scraping them with the edge of a sharp knife.

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I just love to have tea parties. They can be a lot of fun and give you a time to honor the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Here I am going to give you some ideas for a tea for mothers and daughters.

First, make a list of the mothers and daughters you would like to invite. I would not invite a whole lot of people, teas are more fun when they are intimate. After you make your list, it is time to make your invitations. There are all kinds of programs that will help you make your invites or you can make them at free sites on the internet. Just fill in the blanks and print. Once you have your invites done, plan on sending them out at least a month ahead of time. Be sure to include an RSVP as this will help you plan on the amount of food you will need.

Next you need to pick a color scheme and a location. Teas can be held in outdoor settings if you don't want to have it indoors, just make sure you do this at time when every one will be comfortable. Many parks have demonstration gardens or gazebos that you can use and decorate. Just make sure that you clean up and leave your location as in good shape or better than how you find it. Once you have decided that, you have made all the big decisions.

Now plan out your table settings. Are you going to seat everyone at one big table or are you going to cluster some round tables around? Now let's get to setting the table. Each place should have a tea cup and saucer, a small plate, a napkin, a teaspoon and a small butter knife. You will only need the butter knife if you will be serving sweet breads that will need buttering or cream cheese. Depending on your location, it might be easier to have just one big table. But a cluster of tables make a more intimate setting.

Now go to your local dollar store and get some plastic tablecloths that match your color scheme. While you're there pick up some silk flowers and baskets for centerpieces. Now on to the thrift store. You will need to find some lace curtains to put over your tablecloths. Look around and find some pretty tea cups. If you don't want to buy the teacups, on your invitations you can ask your guest to bring their favorite along with them. Look around in the silverware bin and see if you can find some silver or silver plate teaspoons. They don't have to match. That's the fun of this. Look around and see if maybe you can find some old fashioned butter knifes. They are smaller and shorter than dinner knifes. Get some silver polish and polish them up. Now go over to the linens rack and see if you can find some napkins that match your color scheme. If not, Walmart sells fabric for $2.00 a yard. Get 2 yards and cut and hem your napkins.

It's real easy. The idea is to do luxury on a budget. You will need some glass trays or silver plated trays for your food. You can get these also at the thrift store. You're halfway there. Now you need to think about your food. The food for a tea party is finger sandwiches, small deserts, and of course, tea. You will want to serve lemon, sugar cubes and milk with your tea. Walk down the aisle at any local grocery and you will see many different types of teas. I would suggest using tea bags as they are more convenient and you can get such great flavors in tea bags. I would suggest have at least 3 different types of tea to serve. You should have a least 3 different kinds of finger sandwiches. These can be as easy as chicken salad, ham salad and tuna or egg salad. For the dessert side of things, you can serve cookies, assorted sweet breads or the small cupcakes that lots of the bakery now sell.

To make your centerpieces, fill the basket with foam and arrange your flowers. You do not want the arrangements to be to tall as this would make conversation difficult between your guests. Fill your teapot with hot water and serve each guest. Allow them to choose the type of tea they would like. Set out your snacks and let them serve these themselves, Relax and enjoy.

By Debra from Colorado Springs, CO

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Find pans/baking dishes that fit into your oven somewhat like a puzzle, allowing for air flow. Now create your menu to make ALL of these "casseroles" to bake at the same time.

Your turkey can be baked the night before reserving some broth. Cover it well, refrigerate then add the broth the next day before microwaving as all those "casseroles" come out of the oven at once.

Mashed potatoes can be reheated as a "casserole", just add cream cheese while mashing. Everything done all at once...just like Mom could do SO easily!

By Leigh Ann from Farmington IL

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Run out of push pins? I always do. So I make use of all those little scatter pins they give away at conventions and the like for tacks in my bulletin board, etc. by taking the backs off. Decorative, too.

By pam from Los Angeles

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When making turkey (chicken) soup, simmer the broken up carcass. tiny bits of meat left on the carving board, the wing tips and tail, in enough water to cover. Add a little celery, carrot, onion and a clove of garlic to the pot. Add a little salt and pepper.

Remember the stock will reduce and it's easy to over salt at this point. If the carcass has a little bit of stuffing in the nooks and crannies, so much the better. Once the stock has simmered for an hour or two, strain and cool. Discard the vegetables and pick any useable meat from the bones.

Put the stock in the refrigerator over night. All the turkey (chicken) fat will rise to the top and congeal. Carefully remove this fat and use sparingly to saute vegetables (celery, carrots, onions, plus whatever you like in your soup) until they are translucent. Heat the stock and add the sautéed vegetables and any leftover turkey (chicken) to the soup. Simmer until everything is tender and then season to taste.

By using this method your soup isn't greasy, and by using the turkey (chicken) fat to saute the veggies rather than oil or butter, has even more turkey (chicken) flavor, and you're using something that would have been thrown away.

By ShellyE from Las Vegas, Nevada

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Cut old metal window screens into 1x1 foot squares. Then cut a hole in the center of the square and put it on the ground around the plant. Slugs don't like to slither across window screens.

Post your ideas below.

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Here's a tip for an outstanding Thanksgiving Turkey. Cook it with the breast side down. Yep, turn that bird upside down and insert a stick of butter in the cavity, put in a roasting bag and cook that baby. You will have the juiciest turkey you've ever had because all the juice stays in the bird. A friend of mine gave me this tip, he has a catering business. I always put mine on the night before we eat on about 250 degrees and let it cook all night.

There is no need to watch or baste. Just take it out the next morning and go ahead and pick it all of the bone and put in a covered container in the fridge. When you get ready to eat, take out as much or as little as you need and warm it up in the microwave and serve. Your oven will be free the day you eat to get your other items prepared (much easier). I get LOTS of compliments on the meat and I have a hassle free meal and enjoy being with my company which is what it's about anyway. Many Blessings!

By Ginger

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Turkeys are so cheap right now. If you have a small family or even if you are going out for T-giving dinner, do buy a turkey anyway. The butcher can saw the frozen bird in half for you, thaw half to cook now, and wrap and stick the other half in the freezer to use a couple of months later. Turkey is so good and good for you-take advantage of this inexpensive bargain!

By Linda L from Vista, CA

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When buying shoes, always try on both shoes and walk around in them to make sure you get the right fit. Sizing can be inconsistent from different shoe manufacturers so be sure to try on different sizes. Your feet swell as the day goes on, so trying on shoes in the afternoon will give you a better idea of how they will fit after wearing them for a while.

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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/

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I recently painted a bookcase for my daughters bedroom. I allowed plenty of time for the paint to dry but I'm finding that items seem to be "sticking" to the surface. Any suggestions?

bwaite64 from Laurel, MS

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I have one of those one-cup coffee makers, which is great as that's all I drink, but those coffee pods can get expensive and it's hard to find flavors I like. Does anyone know how to make homemade coffee pods, or have any other ideas? Thanks so much!

Tricia from Tucson

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How can I clean the "old smell" out of an old cabinet and its drawers please?

Sally from Arkansas

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I need recipe for Weight Watchers taco soup.

Trisha from Alabama

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I have sharpie in my hair. How do I get it out?

Alisha from Elma, WA

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Where can I find ideas on making a reindeer costume for a child's "tap class"?

Tilly from Lost Creek, WV

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My toddler wet on my microsuede sofa. What's the best way to clean this?

Jennifer from Janesville, WI

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Hello Frugal Friends,

My daughter is looking for quick and easy Christmas crafts for her and her daughter to do to share with her first grade class. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Teresa from VA

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I am looking for candy recipes (including caramel corn) that can be made in the microwave. Thanks!

Maryeileen from Brooklyn, OH

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If you are out of tomato sauce, how much tomato paste can be used in a recipe? Or should it?

Arsonhorse from Hammond, LA

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How can I get ball point ink from my faux leather couch and handbag?

Lee-Anne from Cape Town, Za

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I was cooking and a bag of cheese fell on to my stovetop. Now I have a lovely, rather large, spot of melted plastic on the flattop. What can I do to get it off? The manufacturer won't give me any suggestions because of liability. So, I would be so grateful for any from you guys! Thanks!

Tori

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I wore a new pair of jeans and the denim dye transferred to my metallic leather coach handbag. How can I clean it?

Jeannie from Cincinnati

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How do I get ink off a flat computer screen?

David from Brampton

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Why does silk smell like fish to some people?

Thanks,
Dan

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Does anyone know how to make sand art pictures with clear self-adhesive paper? BTW: Thanks to everyone who helped out with the Scented Jars, my elder care clients loved making them.

BQ from Front Royal, VA

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I am looking for a cabbage soup recipe.

Thanks,
Susan from Clinton Twp, MI

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How do I remove marker from the inside of dryer?

Bellafonte420 From Long Beach, CA

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I have a fish smell that I can't get out of a black sweat shirt. Does vinegar ruin the color? It is black with a blue and white motif.

Bob from Canada

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I live in Indonesia. Any tips for growing roses in a tropical climate?

Thank you,
Joice from Palembang, Indonesia

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Does anyone have a recipe for homemade soap for windshield washers? Mami from Pensacola, FL

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What should I name my dog?

Mikayla from Houston, US

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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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This was a prizewinning entry for a recent Chili Cook-off at my husband's work. As I had to make two separate batches, I had to keep track of the amounts of ingredients I used. Here it is!

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