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Hello,
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Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
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Today's Photo Contest Entries
This is picture of our dog, Megan. She is approximately 2 years old. She is a Doberman that we rescued from http://www.Petfinders.org. She just loves to run and play (especially in the snow).
She loves (or really, my husband and I love) to sneak up in the middle of the night and jump in bed with us. When she is under the covers, it feels like we have a little organic heater in bed.
She's is great!
By krischicki
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Bandit (Poodle, German Bearded Collie X)
This is my dear old dog Bandit. He is 15 now. We rescued him from a shelter, just sat up in the corner saying "Pick me! pick me!" and we are so glad we did. He is smart and does tricks like waving Bye bye, plays dead and gets up on the count of 3, high 5's, etc. When I take him in the car, I say "Guard the car." and nobody dare to get in! He still likes to go for walks, just a bit shorter ones and not too many hills. We don't know what he is, but some poodle, German Bearded Collie, and ?? He doesn't shed and has such lovely soft long hair.
By Betty Reese
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Today's Tips
Gathering with the Sewing Machine
I use an easy way to gather fabric without the gathering thread breaking. Pull out both the bobbin and the top threads to a length longer than the piece to be gathered, and pull them to the right of the needle. Set the machine to a ziz-zag stitch. Put the fabric under the pressure foot and make 2 or 3 stitches. Pull the two threads to the front of the pressure foot and start sewing. The zig-zag stitch will cover the threads almost automatically. Pull the threads to gather as full as needed. If I have several widths of fabric to gather, I divide it into quarters or half and gather each section separately.
By Bettie
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Ideas for using junk mail in a productive way. Post your ideas!
Here's Some Things I Do With My Junk Mail
Any stickers that come with the mail such as the ones that want you to choose a credit card photo, I put in a stack for my grandson to play with. He loves stickers. The envelope I write grocery lists or to do lists or things to check out on the internet. I keep them in a stack next to where I sit. Any of the other regular paper that is non slick goes into our fireplace. All the rest into the trash. Unless there is a photo of something I can use for making cards or decorating packages. Really saves on the trash.
By RoseMary
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When on vacation a tripod is unwieldy, but necessary for good time exposures and low light levels. Fill a small velvet bag with dried lentils and settle your camera on top. Use the self timer when possible. Weight: six ounces.
By Kenneth Hoffman
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I am a diabetic and love to drink Kool Aid. I make Kool Aid with sugar twin. It's delicious and I can drink as much as I want.
By Diane Dubberley
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My husband makes a mess when using gel toothpaste. There always seems to be a big "glob" around the opening after he uses it. I wipe all of the old toothpaste off around the opening and use a Q-tip to apply baby oil around the cap and rim of the tube. It works very well and no more discussions with my otherwise "perfect" husband!
By bsteph1956
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Cut gallon milk jugs along the shoulder, leaving the handle intact, for a great carry-all, hold -all, etc. I use them for trash in the car, car-sick kids, toilet brush holders, counter-top trash collectors, you name it. Our local school busses now carry them, too. Just throw them away when a child is sick or they are full of trash, etc.
If you cut off the handle, they are great for starting seeds or a little paint for a touch up.
By Carolyn
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When using coupons, find out if the store you shop at has a double coupon day. I went shopping a couple weeks ago on a double coupon day when it was also a 2 for 1 sale. Instead of paying $3.30 for 1 item, I paid $1.30 for 2 items. (One of the best deals yet.) I have also picked up a sale item on a double coupon day once and only had to pay the tax.
By Marlene
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Clean Your Teeth With Baking Soda
Cut down on dentist teeth cleaning costs. Clean your teeth with Baking Soda. Works really well with a rotary toothbrush.
Go gently at the gumline as baking soda is abrasive.
I just used it again a couple of days ago and there is no longer any tartar build up!
I only do this at most 3 times a year. I have only had to have my teeth cleaned by a dentist once ever!
By Theresa
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Removing Coconut Meat - Fresh Coconut Driving You Nuts?
After cracking a coconut open and draining the liquid, bake the two halves in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The fresh coconut meat will come out very easy with a little help from a soup spoon. And your kitchen will have a tropical scent!
By Annette in NC
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Using Small Fabric Scraps For Quilt Tops
Everyone who sews has lots of small scraps. I use mine to make quilt tops. Cut muslin or light color fabric into strips 4" wide and as long as you want the quilt (maybe 3 yards). Or you can cut squares about 10"-12". Use the sew and flip method to sew the scraps onto the muslin, not trying to match colors. If using squares you probably want to sew the first scrap diagonally across the center. Turn the muslin side up and trim the scrap edges to match. Sew the strips together. Scraps that are too small for this quilt go to a friend who paper-pieces.
By Bettie
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Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar
Use equal amounts of granulated sugar for the amount of powdered sugar you want to make. Place the granulated sugar in a blender container and blend till fine. It's ready to use immediately.
There is no need to rush to the grocery just because you have no powdered sugar at home, for your recipe, just make it yourself!
By Terri H.
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If your home has fleas, put a shallow dish of water with a little dish soap under a night-lite at night. The fleas will jump into the water and drown. (Fleas can't swim!) :)
By aeromama
Editor's Note: I have never tried this tip but here is one variation I have heard of. Take a pie pan, fill it with some water and add a squirt of dish soap. Then put a tea light in the middle of the pan. You can set the candle on a prescription bottle lid so that the candle does not sit below the water line. Supposedly, these will work as flea traps. They will be attracted to the light and then drown in the water. Use them at night in any room that you believe has fleas.
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Winter Survival Emergency TP Heater
You're stranded in your car or truck in the middle of winter and you have no winter survival kit in your car. No relief in sight. This TP heater may save your life. This requires a empty coffee can with the plastic lid, at least two 16 ounce bottles of rubbing alcohol and one roll of unscented toilet paper. It's easy to make:
1. Knead the toilet paper roll in your hands to loosen the inner cardboard core. Remove the core,compress the roll and place inside the coffee can. I used a small roll of TP and put it in a 13 ounce metal coffee can.
2. Pour one bottle of rubbing alcohol into the can, let it soak in and -carefully-light the top of the paper. It should burn with a clean flame.
3. Set the can in an area free of flammable materials. The heater will produce deadly CO2 so crack the windows on both sides to provide ventilation. Fuel is running low when the edges of the toilet paper starts to brown. Blow out the flame. Add another bottle and relight. Each bottle will provide flame with intermittent use for 18 to 24 hours. Now....get your winter survival kit stashed in the trunk of your car along with the TP heater.
Laww
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Use large mixing bowl. Bring to a good boil: sugar, syrup, and margarine. Pour over dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until well coated. Spread mixture very thinly on 2 cookie sheets; very sticky. Bake in 325 degree oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool slightly and break up. Work rapidly so syrup does not harden on cookie sheet. Store in dry tightly sealed container.
By Robi
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Boil the potato till complete cooked. When done, while potato is hot, in a large bowl, peel it and mash it. Immediately, add the sugar and knead into dough. Roll it thin on wax paper, either into a circle or rectangle. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the entire potato dough. Roll it up as you would a jelly roll. Wrap in waxed paper & chill for 30 minutes. Slice and store in an air-tight container.
**This is quick & good. Mom used to make this. Great gift idea especially if you're short on funds.
By Terri H.
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix all together. Place on mound of muffin halves. Place under broiler until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully.
By Robin
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Tip Contest
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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 February 28th.
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:
Drainage Problem - Hill Slopes Towards My House
I have a yard that slopes toward the house and there is no drain. Is there anyway to fix my drainage problem without tearing out the entire yard and patio and putting in a drain? Thanks.
MP from Newport Beach
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Using Large Laundry Containers to Make a Bird Feeder or Bird House?
I have very large liquid laundry containers. I have heard that there are people who recycle them into bird feeders. I can imagine,if this is so, that they would be quite colorful and serve the purpose.
How do you go about it? Can the bird-lovers out there describe the process of conversion?
Thanks,
Laurie
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Getting Help with a Prescription
I filled out papers months ago for my mother to receive Fosamax from Merck. She is 84 has to take fosamax, and lives strictly on Social security. How can I get something done for her? Jan
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Cleaning Smudges off Family Pictures
How do you clean smudges off of family pictures?
-DogWhisperer
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I want to know where to purchase rice in its natural form as shown on Iron Chef cooking show. They showed stalks of rice, maybe freshly pulled in the rice fields then cleaned. The chef then deep fried the wheat, or hay looking rice, it was golden bunches of raw rice. When deep-fried it resembled popcorn on long grassy stalks and added to plates and served. Pussy willow appearance.
JoJo from DC
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Removing Candle Wax From Stove Top
I spilled candle wax on my stove top. I have used a teflon scraper but of course it didn't remove it all. Does anyone have any ideas how to remove the candle wax completely? I tried ice cubes but did not makes a difference. I was wondering about an iron. I am a clean freak and can't stand the mess. Please help me!
Gay Lynn
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Looking For New Meatball Recipe
Looking for a great recipe for meatballs to serve with pasta. My old tried and true recipe just isn't as good as it once was. Eventhough I think I'm using all the same ingredients, it just doesn't taste the same, so I need to try something new. Can anyone help? Thanks.
Bonnie from NJ
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More Reading:
Stop Procrastinating on Household Chores
By J Black
If you have been letting go some necessary chores around the house and yard for a while, then maybe it is time to decide to embark on a crusade to get all those tasks done.
View Article: Click Here
Stretching That Paycheck!
By Cyndi Roberts
It happens to all of us. There are still a few days left till payday and somehow that last paycheck just didn't last long enough! Or maybe there were some expenses this week that really were not expected--new tires, school expenses, medical emergencies.
View Article: Click Here
Things Of Value
By Steve Goodier
You've heard the question asked, "If your home were on fire, what you try to save?" Most people answer that they would rescue people and pets and as many photographs and memories as possible.
View Article: Click Here
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