Daily Thrifty Tips - April 25, 2005

Hello,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. We had a lot of new requests posted over the weekend. Be sure to look them over.

We also encountered a bug with our "Send Me Responses" feature. It wasn't always sending the confirmation email. That feature is now fixed and working properly. For people not familar with this feature, it allows you to receive email notification when feedback is posted on a particular article. If there is is a request, tip or article that you would like to keep track of, just click the "Send Me Responses" link below the article title and we will notify you when feedback is posted.

We don't have a topic for this week's TF News yet. If there is a topic that you would like to see covered, please let us know.

Keep those photo contest entries coming in. For more information about what we are looking for visit:

Photo Contest!

http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml

Thanks for reading,

Susan

Enter The Photo Contest:
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Frugal solutions to everyday problems: Submit a request...
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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Photo Contest Entries:

• Murphy the Wonderdog (Miniature Schnauzer)
• April Flowers

Today's Tips:

• Natural Food Colors for Icings
• GasBuddy.com - Finding Lowest Gas Prices
• Removing Mildew from Leather
• Keeping Animals from Chewing Electrical Cords
• Potpourri In The Ashtray
• Janitorial Supply Stores
• Disinfectant Cleaner
• Keeping Spiders Out Of Your Home
• Help for Dogs with Arthritis
• Family Member's Old Clothes Quilt
• Cleaning Artificial Flowers
• Removing Stains from Clothing
• Housecleaning Products I Swear By
• Using It All - Spray Cleaners
• Discontinued Wallpaper Books For Crafts
• Bathroom Tile Planter
• Feeding Toddlers in Restaurants
• Saving Money on Laundry
• Las Vegas Joke
• After Thanksgiving Shopping Fun
• Beef Goulash
• Sweet and Sour Green Beans
• Crispy Onion Rings
• Cheese Ham Casserole
• Pina Colada Crunch Cake

New Requests:

• Stripping and Painting a Table
• Rottweiler With Health Problems
• Need Imperial, John Wilmam, Small Prints, #702351B
• Removing a Label
• Getting Rid Of Dandelions
• Getting Rid Of Grubs
• Installing a Hand Held Shower Head
• Lawn Mower Not Sucking Grass Into Bag
• Cleaning Down Filled Pillows
• Home Remedy for Crabgrass
• Ice Breakers For a Mother's Day Banquet
• Ideas For 77th Birthday Party
• Mounting Baby's Mobile On The Wall
• Cheap Wedding Reception
• How Do you Calculate Nutritional Information?
• Handcrafted Gifts for Men
• Musty Old Sofa
• Need To Change The Top and Bottom of a Display Cabinet
• Suggestion For Helping a Shy Dog
• Funny Odor On Sponge Scrubber
• Bonfire Birthday Party Ideas
• Replacing a Bathtub Drain Cover
• Need Decorating Ideas - Navy Carpet and Tan Furniture

More Reading:

• The Big Thaw - Safe Defrosting Methods for Consumers
• Be Smart. Keep Foods Apart. Don't Cross-Contaminate.
• Your Most Important Appointment
• Hair Care Home Remedies
• Basics for Handling Food Safely
• Barbecue Food Safety

Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here

Today's Sponsors

11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse

Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html

Today's Photo Contest Entries

Murphy the Wonderdog (Miniature Schnauzer)

This is Murphy the Wonderdog, out 2 year old Miniature Schnauzer. We were lucky enough to have been given him as a 6 week old pup and have loved him ever since. He loves to do anything involving movement: run, jump, play, chase squirrels, fetch squeakies. He is a joy to be around - fun, lovable, playful.

By Dave

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April Flowers

Some of my April Flowers in Moorpark, CA.

By Great Grannie Vi

View Article: Click Here

Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml

Today's Tips

Natural Food Colors for Icings

Here are my improvisations for natural food colours as I don't like to use chemical colours. They work great in icings.

I recently made a green cake for my son's second birthday!

I have a juicer and I just use juices in my icings to colour them.

Beetroot juice for pink/red
Spinach juice for green
and Carrot juice for yellow.

They are brilliant!

Camilla Berry (Sussex, England)

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GasBuddy.com - Finding Lowest Gas Prices

Check out http://www.gasbuddy.com and http://www.gaspricewatch.com for some of the lowest gasoline prices in your area.

By truerblue

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Removing Mildew from Leather

To remove mildew on leather items, rub the area with either white vinegar or an antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine.

By truerblue

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Keeping Animals from Chewing Electrical Cords

To keep your dog or cat from chewing on electrical cords, rub the cord with a bar of soap.

By truerblue

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Potpourri In The Ashtray

To keep your car interior smelling sweet, place potpourri in the ashtrays. It can last longer than some air fresheners.

By truerblue

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Janitorial Supply Stores

There really is a product out now to remove magic marker and other permanent markers. Look for it at any janitorial supply. Most towns have a janitorial supply that can help you solve those really impossible problems, like koolaid on the carpet. Quick window cleaning, and SAFETY ISSUES.

By Ardis Barnes

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Disinfectant Cleaner

Make your own disinfectant general cleaner. Here's the recipe.

Ingredients:

• one part 91% rubbing alcohol
• one part lemon ammonia
• one part white vinegar
• two parts water, (boiled and cooled)

Directions:

Use in spray bottles. makes about a gallon and can be diluted by half.

By ardis barnes

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Keeping Spiders Out Of Your Home

Tips to help you keep spiders out of your home. Post your ideas.

To keep down the spiders inside your home, spray down the outside of your house every two weeks with a good spray nozzle that has a small hole. Start at the top by the siding, do window frames, and don't forget the bottom of the siding at the basement edge underneath.

By Ardis Barnes

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Help for Dogs with Arthritis

Our dog, Bandit has always been pretty active for an older dog. A couple of months ago he stopped his normal activities (he usually tries to beat me to my side of the bed) and would litterally cry out when we'd put a leash on him. I really thought there was no hope.

My Daughter picked up a bottle of HARTZ advanced care JOINT MAINTENANCE at Walmart and in DAYS there was a noticible difference. Now he's back to his old self and we're back to racing to see who gets the bed first. I guess Dogs can suffer as much from Arthritis as a human.

By Sharon,Ky

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Family Member's Old Clothes Quilt

Ask one of the elder family members to let you take their old shirts or dresses. Cut them up into strips or squares and make a quilt for the persons child or grandchild. It doesn't have to be fancy. What a treasure this was for my stepdaughter to get a quilt made out of her daddy's old shirts.

There are books in the library to show you how to do a very simple quilt for those who don't sew.

By Ardis Barnes

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Cleaning Artificial Flowers

To clean artificial flowers, spray on a foaming bathroom cleaner like Scrubbing Bubbles and let the flowers sit until you can see the dirt has loosened. Rinse well with water and air dry. This method gets them really clean!

By truerblue

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Removing Stains from Clothing

To remove stains off of your clothes. I use Dawn dish soap. I apply it to the spot, rub it in and wash as normal.

Check the spot when you take the garment out of washer, if there is still a spot APPLY Dawn and wash again.

DO NOT put it in dryer until the spot it GONE because dryers set the stains so they cannot be removed.

It was worked for me for YEARS.

By Marie DeNovi

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Housecleaning Products I Swear By

I've cleaned many houses in my time and these are just a few cleaning products that, in my opinion, there's not a product on the market to compare to them.

(1) ORECK vaccuum cleaners. I clean a large church and no other gets OVER and underneath pews without wearing me out. The one there is probably 5 years old and so far only 2 broken belts and a handle replaced.

(2) LYSOL bath Tub and Tile cleaner (also comes in a Spring Fresh scent). No other product cleans or smells better.Don't waste money on cheap stuff.

(3) Tylex Soap Scum cleans the WORST scum with VERY LITTLE scrubbing. WINDEX-- Don't waste money on off brand that streaks--BUT--when you buy Windex make sure its the ORIGIONAL with ammonia.

(4) MR.Clean--cheap cleaners can't compare to its cleaning and shine and the smell lasts. I don't know about you but when I've worked my fanny off I want to SEE and SMELL the results. Just some friendly advice!

By MamawKC

What are some cleaning products that you swear by?

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Using It All - Spray Cleaners

To ensure you get to use all the product in a nearly empty spray bottle, drop a couple of marbles, like the flat glass kind for decorating, into the spray bottle. This will raise the level of the liquid inside to meet the tube attached to the sprayer.

By truerblue

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Discontinued Wallpaper Books For Crafts

Old discontinued wallpaper books are usually given away by the wallpaper/painting stores once they have "expired". Some stores give them away to anyone once every 6 months and some stores only to daycares to use for crafts... I will ask for them for a girlfriend who has a daycare but before the kids get it I will go through the books and remove a page here and there and whatever I do not like or think I will use then goes to the kids.

The wallpaper books have samples of the different wallpapers with sets of paper that match. These sets are great when making homemade cards. Then you use 2 or 3 different patterns on the front of the card you are wanting to use colors and patterns that look good together. You get lots of different textures and patterns in each book. The wallpaper books also come in different themes...for example...I use the baby book for making baby cards.

The wallpaper books also have thick high glossy pages in them with wonderful color pictures showing rooms that have used wallpaper somewhere in them. The pictures of baby rooms, I have cut out, and used that picture as the front of the homemade card to go along with a baby gift. Pictures taken in kitchens or bathrooms are great for the fronts of cards that will be bridal or wedding shower gift cards or housewarming gift cards.

Wallpaper books for guys? Use for birthday cards, paper with cars, tools, nautical, brown tones, etc. can all be used.

I usually go through the book, rip out the pages that I like the patterns of and then "file" them in a large box by the color and in some cases the theme, baby or guys patterns. This way I have paper available at my fingertips, in the right color or theme, when I need to make a card NOW. Plus why store all those books?

I think that the paper from the old books is wonderful to use, comes in lots of textures and colors, is easy to obtain and usually free. Some stores do charge a couple bucks for the book but when you compare that to buying only a few pieces of paper at Michael's or your local craft store, the textured paper is soooo much more expensive . You are "crazy" not to try old wallpaper books.

Valleyrimgirl

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Bathroom Tile Planter

For an unusual looking planter, take 5 bathroom or floor tiles and glue together with epoxy (4 sides and 1 bottom).

By truerblue

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Feeding Toddlers in Restaurants

Dining out with hungry toddlers can be challenging. My tip is to order the Chef Salad for myself and have a small plate for my child. The lunch comes from the kitchen pretty quickly and is the perfect meal to share - it's big, and has child-size pieces of ham, egg, turkey and cheese. Much healthier than chicken nuggets and fries!

By breedam

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Saving Money on Laundry

Tips for saving money on laundry. Post your ideas!

3 easy ways to save money on laundry

1. wash in cold water

2. use less soap

3. hang or line dry

If your towels are too stiff, just tumble them in the dryer for 5 or 10 minutes. :) By Aeromama

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Las Vegas Joke

During a training program for new employees, I joined several dozen co-workers on a tour of several sites in the Southwest. Our itinerary included an overnight stop in Las Vegas. As our bus pulled out of the hotel parking lot early the next morning, the instructor stood up in the front and greeted us over the vehicle's P.A. system reminding us that this trip was to be an educational experience, he asked us what we had learned overnight in Las Vegas.

After a brief silence, a wistful voice from the back of the bus replied. "Never play a game you don't understand."

~author unknown~

By Terri H.

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After Thanksgiving Shopping Fun

Last year at 11:00 pm. my sister, daughter and two nieces loaded up in her big vehicle and went on an ALL NIGHT shopping Spree. We had our list all prepared with what stores had the BIG SALES and we made our battle plan. We left two at Walmart for the special sale items and my niece and I stood in line at 5am to be one of the first 250 to get a $10 off cupon. By George it paid off! I got a vaccuum cleaner for $18. We got just about everything we wanted and had a blast just doing it together. Next year we'll have to rent a U-HAUL. We hope to keep this an annual thing.

By Sharon,Ky

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Beef Goulash

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. extra broad egg noodles
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 carrots, diagonally sliced
• 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
• 1 green pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/4 cup low sodium beef broth
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
• Sour cream, optional

Directions:

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Transfer to serving plate. Heat skillet over medium high heat. Crumble in beef; stir in onion and garlic. Cook until beef is no longer pink, 5 minutes. Drain and discard fat. Stir in next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in 1 cup broth and tomato paste. Cover; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer until vegetables are tender, 5 minutes. Whisk flour into remaining broth. Stir into beef mixture; cook until thickened, 1 minute. Pour over noodles. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

By Robin

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Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 1 or 2 lbs. fresh green beans (rinsed)
• 1 medium chopped onion
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons margarine
• Equal amounts of sugar and lemon juice

Directions:

Cook green beans, onion, salt and pepper in water till tender. In a separate pan, melt butter; add flour to make a paste. Add 2 cups water from the green beans; stir well and continue to heat. Add lemon juice and sugar to your liking. After this starts to thicken, add drained green beans. Can serve hot or cold.

By Terri

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Crispy Onion Rings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup enriched corn meal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 1/2 cup milk*
• 1 lb. large onions (sliced and separated into rings)
• Vegetable Oil

Directions:

Sift flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder. Add oil, eggs, and milk, mixing thoroughly. Dip onion rings into batter. Fry in hot deep vegetable oil for 2-3 mins. on each side (watch closely), till golden brown. Drain on paper towel lined platter and salt lightly.

*Can use beer instead of milk, if preferred.

This batter is also good when frying fish.

By Terri

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Cheese Ham Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. oil, preferably olive
• 1 onion, chopped, 1 cup
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 lb. zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes, 3 cups
• 1 lb. ham steak, cut into 1/2 inch cubes, 3 cups
• 3 cup cooked rice
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded, 1 cup
• 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat shallow 2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray. In large skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano and pepper; cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 3 minutes. Add zucchini; cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in ham and rice. In large bowl beat eggs with milk; stir in ham mixture. Spoon into baking dish; sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until center is set 35-40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

By Robin

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Pina Colada Crunch Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 6 Tbsp. butter or margarine, at room temp
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 pkg. pineapple cake mix, preferably Duncan Hines
• 1/2 cup sweetened, flaked coconut, chopped
• 1 can crushed pineapple, well drained
• 3 cans vanilla frosting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 2 (9 inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of each pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. In bowl combine sugar, butter and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Divide mixture in half. Press each half over bottom of each pan to within 2 inches of edge. Refrigerate until ready to use. Prepare cake mix according to package directions; stir in coconut. Spoon batter evenly over sugar layer in each pan. Bake 24-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Cool on racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans. Remove parchment paper. Cool layers, sugar side up, on racks. Stir remaining cinnamon into frosting. Place on cake layer, sugar side up, on plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with crushed pineapple to within 1/2 inch of edge of frosting. Top with remaining cake layer, sugar side down. Spread top and side of cake with remaining frosting.

By Robin

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Other Active Topics

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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html

Tip Contest

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New Contest Prize! Now a 2 $25.00 Gift Cards
In our contest we are giving away two $25.00 Gift Cards (we will select to winners at random) 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! This contest ends on April 30th, 2005.

Enter the contest!

Syndication Spotlight:

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
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New Requests:

Stripping and Painting a Table

I just picked up an old wood table which has some sort of shiny finish and a bunch of scratches. I plan to sand it down so I can paint it. I'd like to paint the top in some sort of pattern or design. Does anyone have any good ideas? I was thinking about using painters tape - but haven't gotten farther than that thought. Any suggestions or ideas are much appreciated.

El Gee

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Rottweiler With Health Problems

My rott is having problems with bloody stools and I cannot afford a vet. I have checked the internet for symptoms of hookworm and she does not show any of them for hookworm. Could it be a change in diet or the type of dog food we buy her that can cause this. Please help me and any advice will be useful.

Thanks,

Teresa

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Need Imperial, John Wilmam, Small Prints, #702351B

I need just one wallpaper border: Imperial, John Wilmam, Small Prints, #702351B. It was discontinued by the manufacturer. I need seven feet to aviod having to redo the entire room.

Gemma

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Removing a Label

How do I remove the glue label on the shelving I bought? I tried a razor but it scratches the paint.

Phil

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Getting Rid Of Dandelions

Does anyone have any ideas on getting rid of dandelions in your yard. We bought some type of spray to use on them in Walmart, but they have come back.

Tammy from Virginia

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Getting Rid Of Grubs

We just moved into our house last August and now have discovered grubs in our back lawn. My husband isn't concerned, but I don't like the holes that the racoons leave in our yard. Does anyone know of a way to get rid of them without pesticides?

Thanks,
Liz from Ontario

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Installing a Hand Held Shower Head

I've never been successful with plumbing fixtures. I installed a new Water Pik hand held shower head today. I used some pipe tape before tightening the shower head (which has a pivot ball). The shower works fine but there's water dripping from where I attached the shower head to the pipe. I'm afraid to overtighten the showerhead... Any suggestions?

Paul

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Lawn Mower Not Sucking Grass Into Bag

My lawn mower is not sucking the grass into the bag. Any ideas what could be wrong. Thanks,

Taxibabe

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Cleaning Down Filled Pillows

I have quite a few pillows with down pillows which need to be cleaned. No idea how to do that. Please give me some advice. And Thanks in advance.

AskLiz

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Home Remedy for Crabgrass

What is the mixture of vinegar and soap for killing crabgrass?

jimdigital

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Ice Breakers For a Mother's Day Banquet

I am planning a Mother's Day banquet at my church this year, I need all the advice you could give me. Expecilly Ice-Breakers.

Thanks,
Crystal

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Ideas For 77th Birthday Party

I am giving a 77th birthday party for a dear sweet goat farmer. I have picked '77' as the party theme. I am inviting 77 of his friends and family.

I need frugal ideas for '77' gifts. Like 77 pieces of candy/snack food; 77 cigarettes (he smokes); a poem listing 77 reasons why he'll go to Heaven (like things he's done for others); a picture collage of 77 small photo's of all his animals...

These are only some of the things that I've come up with but apparently I really need a lot of help coming up with more to suggest to his family and friends.

Thanks for your help : )

Darween from Ga.USA

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Mounting Baby's Mobile On The Wall

We'd like to adapt a crib mountable baby mobile onto the wall near the changing table so our son has something to distract him while he's being changed.

Unfortunately, most mobiles have very short arms and are only designed to be used with cribs - where the baby is much lower than the base of the mount and couldn't reach the mobile.

We'd love suggestions for adapting the mounting.

Rebya from Dublin

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Cheap Wedding Reception

Is there any way that I do a wedding reception for under $1,500.00, including hall, DJ, decorations and maybe fit in a caterer in that list? Please respond. I'm trying to do for the summer. Thanks

Erica

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How Do you Calculate Nutritional Information?

I'm an Aussie, trying very hard to lose some extra kilograms (pounds). I have had success with WW and am a lifetime member but my DH, who also wants to lose weight, doesn't want to go down that track. He wants me to monitor his weight and loss at home. He and I only want to lose a few more kilograms, so it's not as if we need to be drastic.

Add to that the fact that he disliked some of the WW meals, and you have another problem. He has a few favorites in some meals that have been handed down through generations, but aren't necessarily good for us, fat or nutritionally wise. DH wants hard facts in front of him whether or not these recipes are healthy. I would like to know how to analyze each recipe and work out the nutritional information for each recipe.

When I see some recipes in magazines in Australia I see nutritional information displayed after the recipe. You know the information I'm talking about I'm sure.

For example:
Fat: 2.8g
Fiber 6.8g
Protein 15.6g
Carbohydrates 41.0g
Kilojoules 1045
Calories 250g

I went online to see if I could find a nutritional calculator and although I saw a couple they were quite expensive. Does anyone know of a free calculator that I would be able to enter recipe in ingredients and find out all the nutritional information? Also one that does not take ages to work out the info for just one recipe.

Thanks in advance.

Bev

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Handcrafted Gifts for Men

I need some handcrafted gift ideas for men and boys. I've promised myself that I'll make ALL my gifts this year, using only items I have on hand.

I have a good stock of fabrics, yarn, paints, paper, scrapbooking supplies, pinecones, ribbons, and many other goodies.

It just seems that all my ideas are geared toward women and girls. What do guys like that can be handcrafted?

All ideas are appreciated. Thank you!

By zballoongirl

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Musty Old Sofa

I have a lovely, old sofa that has been in storage, and now it reeks of mold or mildew. How can I clean it? I do not want to remove the slipcover and wash it because it might shrink. And the odor may come from the sofa itself. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Brenda from New York

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Need To Change The Top and Bottom of a Display Cabinet

I recently bought a beautiful all glass display cabinet unseen it was all crated up. I was told it had wood on the top and bottom. However, the top and the bottom are WHITE kinda like a heavy white acrylic high gloss finish. Does anyone have any ideas how I could re-do the top and bottom to a color where it would go with my Oak pieces of furniture. I really need help. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks to all in advance,

LilHoneyBrat

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Suggestion For Helping a Shy Dog

I adopted a shy dog on August 7, 2004. Unlike most shy dogs, her shyness happened, I am assuming, from being dumped. She began showing up at the church where I worked during the day and night. She slept at the church every night for almost six weeks.

I began leaving her food and water on a nightly basis when it became obivous that she was injured. Whenever anyone tried to approach her, she took off like a bullet. Her right rear hip was injured and she limped badly. Between our local shelter and the neighbors, she was "captured". She had surgery to replace her hip and had broken four of her vertebrate. Oh yes, whoever dumped her, cut her tags off.

She is very loving to those she knows. Once she leaves our home and yard she becomes very scared. She is going to "school" in August. She knows some commands in the home, but, not outside of the home. Through time and training, she no longer lunges at every car that passes her. She also is now pausing to "pea" when she is on her leash which by the way is at a mild run. Clickers scare her and she barks at anyone who walks by or near her.

I took her to park last week and just sat giving her treats. I reassured her constantly with love and treats. She was a shaking mess within ten minutes. I felt so bad for her that I brought her home. She clung to me all night and would not let me out of her sight.

Her name is Faith, she came to the church nightly. She sleeps with me nightly and curls up in my lap when I cross stitch. She is a Jack Russell Beagle mix and has a beautiful smile. Any suggestions you can give me would be helpful.

Betty from Ohio

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Funny Odor On Sponge Scrubber

I have a request. I would like to know if anyone can tell me why my sponge scrubber gets a funny odor on it when it has been laying on my stainless steel sink. It is not a mildewy or moldy smell. I have tried cleaning my sink with vinegar, Comet, brasso, and putting it in the dishwasher. The dishwasher will remove the smell for a little while, but the smell comes back. Any ideas?

Diane from Indiana

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Bonfire Birthday Party Ideas

I am having a 13th girl/boy birthday party at my house and i don't know what to do. I want to have a bonfire in my backyard but I don't know what else to do.

Thanks alot!

Janele

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Replacing a Bathtub Drain Cover

I am replacing my Bathtub drain cover and basket and the replacement I purchased will not fit. I asked the peple at Menard's, where I bought it, and they said there is only one size of drain. This house was built in 1983. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
David

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Need Decorating Ideas - Navy Carpet and Tan Furniture

I just have a question. We have a navy blue berber carpet in our living room and our furniture is a tanish color and we'd like to paint our walls.. They are white and they join our dining room which has the hard wood floor.

What would be a good color to go with the other colors? We can't afford to change anything except the paint, right now. Can you help? Thank you!
Betsy Albright

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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here

Today's Sponsors

11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse

Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html

More Reading:

The Big Thaw - Safe Defrosting Methods for Consumers

Uh, oh! You're home and forgot to defrost something for dinner. You grab a package of meat or chicken and use hot water to thaw it fast. But is this safe? What if you remembered to take food out of the freezer, but forgot and left the package on the counter all day while you were at work?

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Be Smart. Keep Foods Apart. Don't Cross-Contaminate.

Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria to food from other foods, cutting boards, utensils, etc., if they are not handled properly. This is especially true when handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood, so keep these foods and their juices away from already cooked or ready-to-eat foods and fresh produce. When handling foods, it is important to Be Smart, Keep Foods Apart -- Don't Cross-Contaminate. By following these simple steps, you can prevent cross-contamination and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

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Your Most Important Appointment
By Maria Gracia

An appointment is simply a mutual agreement to meet with someone at a specific time.

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Hair Care Home Remedies
By Elizabeth Kiely

Save money and give yourself a break from the chemicals found in most hair care products by using the following natural home remedies.

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Basics for Handling Food Safely

Safe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage are essential to prevent foodborne illness. You can't see, smell, or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness. In every step of food preparation, follow the four Fight BAC! guidelines to keep food safe:

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Barbecue Food Safety

Cooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. So whether the snow is blowing or the sun is shining brightly, it's important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness. Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely.

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