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Today's Photo Contest Entries

Zephie, A Calico Cat

This is my cat Zephie. She is usually very serious, kinda Garfieldish, but I happened to catch her at a very happy moment! Fortunately Jim had found her when she was a small kitten, she had been abandoned and she was very hungry and sick. That was 10 years ago, and shes a very happy cat now! - Kate

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Dinner and a Movie Gift Basket

I would like to suggest a theme basket that I did for Christmas this year that earned me many compliments. My theme was dinner and a movie.

I had a gift bag with ingredients to make a chili (tomato sauce, chop tomatoes and pinto beans) I decorated the front of the bag with the cooking instructions. I made up the spice mix and put it in the inexpensive spice jars that look like mini canning jars. I included a jar of corn muffin mix (either my own recipe or use Jiffy) Instructions were tied around the cap. I added honey sticks (not shown in picture), and beverages suitable for recipient. (I did wine and included plastic wine glasses that I did a quick bead deco on the stem.)

For dessert I had a tin of homemade fudge (could have been cookies - Not shown in picture) I included foam bowls, holiday napkins and plastic spoons. For the movie, I went to my local dollar store and was able to pick up classic movies at a very cheap price. I have noticed that Wal-Mart also has $1.00 DVDs. I used Alfred Hitchcock movies and Red Skelton shows.I also included microwave popcorn to enjoy with their movie. I made up a little booklet that had the dinner menu and a review of the movie and a biography of the director.

I put everything in a large reed laundry basket.(WalMart-$4.00) Cost of gift--under $20.00

- Cindy

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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a prize. You can enter the photo contest here:
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Today's Tips

Remembering the Oven is Preheating

Whenever I preheat the oven, I also turn on the light over the range. It serves as a safety reminder. If I get busy and lose track of time while waiting for it to reach the correct temperature, when I see the light on I'll remember the oven is also on.

By Cheryl from Missouri

Editor's Note: Another thing you can do is set the timer on the oven for about 5 minutes.

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Add Dehydrated Vegetables to Rice

When cooking rice either brown or white; I add a few tablespoons of the dehydrated vegetables (the kind used in soups ) to the dry rice. It cooks along with the rice and adds vitamins, as well as colour.

By Marian

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Using Styrofoam For Doll House Furniture

We have all these great styrofoam pieces left over from Christmas packages. We made some "blocky" doll house furniture from them. We carved out a couch and two "stuffed" chairs. covered them with some old quilts by cutting the pieces to size and gluing them into place. We covered raw edges with cording. We even made a refrigerator, with some buttons and cording.

By RoseS

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Chell's Jokes

Why can't you tell a joke to the ice?

It will crack up.

Did you hear the joke about the jump rope?

No, I skipped it!

What did the shark say when he bumped into the whale?

I didn't do it on porpoise.

Why doesn't the piano work?

Because it only knows how to play.

By Chell

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Tomato Stains On Fabric

Dealing with tomato soup stains can be difficult because tomatoes are so high in acid.

First treat the area with a stain stick or non-bleach detergent. Let soak for 1-hour.

Next soak item in a bucket of warm water and 2 cups of vinegar for a few hours.
Launder as usual. BEFORE drying, check for stain. If still there, repeat process.

Do not dry garment until stain has completely disappeared.

By Chell

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Organizing Your Upright Freezer

Ideas for organizing an upright freezer. Post your ideas.

It can be challenging to use all the space in an upright freezer. I use inexpensive rectangular plastic dishpans as bins in order to get more on each shelf. I label the dishpans vegetables, meats, etc. This also works well in refrigerator freezers. When I am looking for something, I can pull out the entire container and go through it without having bunches of frozen foods falling out and bouncing off my toes.

By Lynn

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Sell Refreshments At Your Garage Sale

To make more money at your next yard sale, sell refreshments, too! Watch the sales for a few weeks before your event, and stock up on canned sodas at bargain prices. The day of the sale, put them in a cooler with ice and put up a big sign "cold drinks, .50" or whatever price lets you make a little profit, but keeps the price appealing.

For early mornings, you could put coffee in a thermos or carafe and sell cups of coffee -- but then you would have to deal with cream & sugar, trash, etc. One year I went to the bread thrift store and bought two dozen donuts at $1 a dozen, then sold the donuts at my yard sale for .25 each!

By Becki in Indiana

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Organizing Sewing Notions

Keep ribbons, lace, ric rac, seambinding, etc. on a piece of cardboard and place in a snack bag to keep neat. I prefer to use the generic snack bags since they do not have a colored zip strip. I keep mine filed neatly in the bottom of my sewing box.

By C. A. McWilliams

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Fastweb.com - College Scholarship Opportunities

If you have a high school senior in your household, check out http://www.fastweb.com for lots and lots of scholarship opportunities. Many require writing an essay -- if your son or daughter is good at creative writing, they will have an edge! By Becki in Indiana

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Quick Microwave Moist Potatoes

Clean baking potatoes

Prick the potatoes with a fork twice (or the potatoes may burst)

Spray with cooking spray (like Pam it makes the skin tender)

Sprinkle the outside of the potatoes with garlic salt or seasoning to your preference

Space potatoes 1 inch apart around the edge of a paper towel covered turn-able (to absorb moisture)

Cook per your microwave directions

Enjoy your favorite toppings on your "moist micro-waved potatoes". In just minutes rather than 45 minutes to hour in a conventional oven.

Victoria

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Great Potato Wedges

Seasoned potato wedges are always a hit. Scrub your favourite kind of potatoes and slice them into wedges. Roll them in 2 tsp of Olive Oil and your favourite seasoning (Greek, Cajun, Oregano, Parmesan, etc..... my fav is Italian with a sprinkle of Chili Pepper seeds). Bake them at 350 F until they are soft in the middle and crispy on the outside. The length of cooking time depends of the thickness of the potato, usually 30-45min.

Melnago

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Other Active Topics

Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.

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

Tip Contest

Submit a tip and you could win:

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 January 15th.

Enter the contest!

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.
http://webby.com/humor

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New Requests:

How to Starch a Doily with Huge Ruffles

I have a beautiful old doily. It is obviously a treasure but eventually it began to look grey and needed laundering. I did this very carefully. Now, the problem is that the edge, 3" deep is heavily ruffled. When finished correctly the lamp sits on the center of the doily and the edges stand up, starched, all around to a height of about 2-2.5 inches. I am making starch but maybe I need to spray it rather than submerge it? Any help would be appreciated. Laurie

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Recipe for Cheese Biscuits

I am looking for a recipe for the cheese biscuits like they serve at Red Lobster. They are so light and fluffy and have such a wonderful flavor. Tuey

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Crochet Coat Hangers

Anyone know how to crochet a pad for a wooden coat hanger so when your clothes hang they don't get the bump on the shoulder?

Thank you!

Rio Lady

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Homemade Moisturizers

I would like a recipe for homemade moisturizers. Thank you.

jolo

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Kool Aid Jammer Sandals

Hello busy crafters I am looking for a pattern or even a picture of the new Kool Aid Jammer sandals that people are making. I heard about them from a friend of mine and would like to see them. Can anyone help me find some information on them. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Edna from West Virginia

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Glass Mirror Stain With Cat Pee

I have a mirrored wall in my house and my pet (male) has urinated on my mirrored wall on one side of it and therefore it has turned grayish-black. Does anyone have any solutions or a tip on how to make it a mirror again on the side he urinated on?

Thanks in advance,

Ladyrider from Houston

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GTXpress101 Recipes

I need recipes using the gtxpress101. Thanks so much,

Brigid

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Finding The Right Coffee Measurements

I want to make a good pot of Coffee and I can't ever measure the amount of coffee to the amount of water. What does everyone else find works for them? I made the strongest "put the hair on your chest" coffee this morning and DH won't drink it. :-(

Casey

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Diesel Fuel Stain and Odor

My husband brought diesel home from the garage in a can and it spilt in the car. The result is the back seat is saturated and the car is absolutely stinking. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of odour and stain?

McConville

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Solanum Melanocerasum - Garden Huckleberry

I got a free packet of huckelberry seeds and neither I or my mom know what they are. The packet says solanum melanocerasum- garden huckelberry. Can someone tell me what they are and what it is good for?

pakjc

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Looking For Special and Thrifty Recipes That Are Suitable For Diabetic Diets

Once a month my craft group of about 20 senior citizens ladies has a buffet birthday lunch. I need some recipes that are a little special, thrifty, use common ingredients, and suitable for diabetic diets. Because we have a 2 hour class before the luncheon, the food must be prepared early in the morning or the night before. A refrigerator and microwave is available. If the recipe serves 6 to 8 it would be enough, as one spoonful from each dish soon fills a plate. I prefer veggie or salad recipes, but one using some meat would work for me also.

Bettie from Texas

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Cleaning Cat Spray Odor Off House

My cat is spraying on my front porch and along the side of the house. (I think to mark their territory) and the smell is making me sick. Does anyone have any suggestions to get rid of this smell? PLEASE SEND REPLIES FAST! :-)
Thank you!

Tracy

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Green Beans Tips and Recipes

Hello out there all you frugal friends, Thanks for all the Frugal Ideas I love them all.

I would like some ideas on how to spruce up the flavor of green beans. We are allowed them on our diet, they are unlimited and I am running out of ways to fix them. Any ideas you all can give me will be appreciated.

Thanks for everything,

Teresa From Va.

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Ideas For a Pig Themed Float

I work at a Nursing Home in canada... We are making a float for our town's parade. The theme is PIGS does anyone have any ideas for what to put on it, or what to use to make things? PLEASE HELP!

Ashley

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Stainless Steel Sink Stain

I was cleaning my stainless steel sink and now have a stain from the cleaner. Any ideas on how to remove it?
Nothing I've done has worked so far.

Thanks,

dustbunny

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Ideas For Asking a Guy To a Dance

Hey, the school turn around dance is coming up, and I know what guy I want to ask and everything, I just don't know a creative way of asking. Any ideas?

elementchic1303

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