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Hello,
We have 13 new requests today. Please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer. We also are donating $2 for every photo contest entry that is submitted before Sunday at midnight to the emergency relief for children of Niger. You can submit up to 5 Photo Contest Entries day.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
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Today's Photos
We have been cooking for a long time and baking for the longest time. Our spice rack was just too small for handling all our condiments. We replace them every 6 months, so hubby thought of a way to keep them all in a space that I could reach as I am 4'9" and had a hard time reaching for them in the pantry.
By granylou93
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This is my first and hopefully not last attempt at making a keepsake comforter for a new Granddaughter. It was made with 8" squares of pale pink, purple and yellow cotton with an off white backing and edge. The dimensions were 32 1/2" width and 45" length. The pink satin ruffle was purchased at Walmart and the butterflies were from a lace overlay hand sewn on. The ribbon was woven through flat lace and I added YOYOs made of the different colors. I hand quilted around each square. It's nothing really fancy but something that in years to come maybe she can drag around a comforter that MAMAW made.
By Sharon,Ky
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This is my baby boy Wayas. He is a two year old Golden. A real part of our family. He goes crazy over the light "spots" on the walls or ceiling. Like if you were to shine a flashlight in the dark...he would chase it : )
I would recommend this breed of dogs if someone has smaller/any children. My youngest can climb all over him and ride him like a pony. He is so patient with her. Such a loving dog.
By Tracey
Editor's Note: Wayas had an earlier picture with his buddy Bumpis. Here is the link: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf598327.tip.html
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Today's Tips
Homemade Swiffer Wet Mop Replacement Cloths
I like my Swiffer mop and duster, but not buying refills. Simply take washcloths or flannel cut to size to fit your Swiffer. Wash in a solution of 1 quart water to 1/2 cup fabric softener and line dry. Store in a ziplock bag. Use wet or dry. When soiled, simply wash in the washing machine and reuse again and again.
By Melissa
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We like the foaming hand soaps in each bathroom and kitchen: they require less product, wash and rinse more easily and quickly. However, I didn't like spending money every few weeks to buy the refill or new pump!
I found you can make your own refill. You cannot use straight liquid soap, however. But it couldn't be easier:
Buy a nice dishwashing soap. I like a lavender-ylang-ylang fragrance by Palmolive.
Rinse out your empty foaming container. Germ-X brand simply screws off. Rinse container with warm water.
Add about 1/8 dish soap or less to about 7/8 warm water. Don't shake. Tip it to mix. It should pump just great and foamy.
If you get air bubbles or no foam, your mixture is too thick. Simply empty and start again and experiment with what works for you.
Simple and cheap. I also keep a regular (no foaming) hand soap pump. I fill it 2/3 the way with the dish soap and 1/3 with warm water. You can wash your hands and do dishes with this, and it uses less product.
By Melissa
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For Swiffer dusters, which I really like. Simply swish the dirty duster in a sinkful of sudsy, warm water, rinse, and roll in a paper towel to blot out excess moisture. Reattach to handle, fluff, and allow to air dry. These are expensive refills to buy and you can use each one many times this way!
By Melissa
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Teaching A Child To Be Respectful
By Sharon Shearer
Before I start, let me clarify, I am not an expert at raising children by any means. However, I raised three children, now grown, on my own and since life teaches us a lot of lessons, I have a lot of them to share with others. My children all graduated from High School with clean discipline records and that's something a Mom can be proud of.
How do you teach a child to be respectful? Most importantly of all, by example. Helping them to realize that everyone is molded from a different pattern. And it IS okay to be different. My oldest liked standard blue jeans. When my second son came along he loved the baggies. He now likes longer hair while the other keeps a short cut. Many times I reminded them that we all must be OURSELVES and no two people will ever be alike.
Teach your child that any person of a different color or with a disability is as much a person as they are, with the same rights.
Teaching your child respect for other people's property begins at home also. I never owned a home, so I taught mine early on that this wasn't OUR property and my kids were not allowed to do destructive things to it. If a child destroys someone else's property, teach them that there are consequences for their behavior and make them follup on paying for damage they have done. Just paying their way out of a situation fails to teach the child respect for the property of others.
Sibling rivalries goes back as far as Bible Days. But parents have the responsibility to put violence between children in the home to a HALT. My boys were taught that they were NOT to fist fight or talk disrespectfully to one another or to their sister. Granted, little girls can be a pain in the neck to big brothers, and though girls can PUSH this rule to the limit, by NO MEANS were they allowed to hit a girl. I did the disciplining and she knew that she wouldn't walk away smelling like a rose. There were consequences for bad behavior.
Teachers, coaches and other people in positions of authority are not always right but they are to be respected nevertheless. If you have a problem, approach them with a level head and hear their side of the story before jumping to conclusions. Tell your child that whether they care for Mr. or Mrs. X they have the authority over them and they are to be treated with respect. CASE CLOSED! A child who is not taught this respect at home will learn it one way or the other. Whether it be by loving parents or Law Enforcement. I think most of us would choose to do the teaching ourselves. You can make a huge impact on the lives of your children, and it's YOUR CHOICE. Lessons learned early will follow them the rest of their days.
By Sharon Shearer
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Navajo Message For The Moon Joke
When NASA was preparing for the Apollo Project, it took the astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training. One day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space crew, who were walking among the rocks.
The elder, who spoke only Navajo, asked a question. His son translated for the NASA people:
"What are these guys in the big suits doing?"
One of the astronauts said they were practicing for a trip to the moon. When his son relayed this comment, the Navajo elder got all excited and asked if it would be possible to give the astronauts a message to deliver to the moon.
Recognizing a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a NASA official accompanying the astronauts said, "Why certainly!" and told an underling to get a tape recorder. The Navajo elder's comments into the microphone were brief. The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what his father had said. The son listened to the recording and laughed uproariously. But he refused to translate.
So the NASA people took the tape to a nearby Navajo village and played it for other members of the tribe. They too laughed long and loudly but also refused to translate the elder's message to the moon.
Finally, an official government translator was summoned. After he finally stopped laughing, the translator relayed the message:
"Watch out for these fellows! They have come to steal your land."
By Terri
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Tips for cleaning and maintaining a cat box. Post your ideas.
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I saw an interesting idea the other day for a planter. An old dresser was was painted white and the top drawers pull out and used to plant various flowers and some ivy. It looked beautiful!
By Krista Milford
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Craft uses for old clothing. Post your ideas.
Give the clothes you don't wear anymore to the good will. Or cut them into squares and sew them together to make a baby quilt, a couch or chair cover up or even a quilt for the bed or couch. You can even use these for windows coverings or for a window valance. Use your imagination and see what you come up with. Cover a toy box, a picture frame etc. Have fun with it. I also use buttons from the clothes I discard to decorate picture frames, small mirrors, etc.
By Sandi G
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Downy Wrinkle Releaser Reviews
This will come in handy for those of us who iron a lot. Instead of using starch to get the wrinkles out of clothes, use Downy (or less expensive brand) wrinkle releaser. Spray on the item you wish to iron and start ironing. It gets rid of the wrinkles faster than starch, and you will need less than the normal amount of starch you usually use. It works GREAT on jeans, khakis, and cotton shirts. You will save time and energy.
By 1bigmama
Post your reviews of Downy Wrinkle Releaser below.
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Contest ends August 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
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New Requests
I am being overrun by spiders on my patio and garden. I know they are good for the garden and all, but I would like to step out at night without fear of walking face-first through a web, and its owner!
Does anyone know of a natural recipe I could spray on my patio structures to deter them? I have cats and dogs, so it has to be something safe and gentle. I don't necessarily want to kill the spiders, only get them to set up house elsewhere.
Thanks,
Dana
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I am looking for the name of a good commercial rug shampoo. Anything I find in a regular store (that is, a national brand) does not do the job. I have white carpet (former owner, not my idea!) and a dog! It is a nightmare. I have a steam machine.
Thanks for any help,
Joanie from NY
P.S. There is a company called Holloway (or something like that), but I don't know if they make a rug shampoo, do you know?
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Sleepover Birthday Party Ideas for Boys
I have my 14th birthday coming up on september 3rd and I need some ideas for a really cool boy sleepover party. I able to use a pool with diving board if helps.
Kolby
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I am going to have my 12th birthday party at a fancy restaurant and I do not know what kind of cool looking cheap invitations to give out! I don't know what they are going to look like or anything! Please post ideas!
Butterfly
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How do you get the smell of paint thinner out of a canvas bag? I knocked about an ounce of paint thinner into a canvas bag my mother uses on her wheelchair. I have washed the bag 3 or 4 times and it still stinks. I would welcome any help with this.
Thanks,
Peggy
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I have an electric iron with an ironing surface that looks 'icky'. Does anyone know how to clean it?
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I'm looking for suggestions on how to clean some old jewelry worn by a smoker. Brown stains on white pearls. Smokey scent on pieces. What do I use?
Sandy in Vermont
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I have just recently move to a new apartment and I have a 2 year old cat. I have taken her with me to two other apartments. She is fixed and has always been exposed to other cats. My last two roommates both had cats and she got along fine with them.
Now I am in my own place and I didn't want her to be lonely so I went to the shelter and adopted a new kitten. I had only lived in my new place for 3 days when I got the kitten. They cannot seem to get along. I have separated them, punished them and still nothing.
At first the older cat was mean and hissed and scared the little one, now the little one (who is also fixed) growls and hisses and the big cat attacks him constantly. I called my vet and he suggested cat therapy, but I thought that there could be another option? Please help?
Amanda
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I was wondering if anyone knew what I could do with old belts. I have tons of belts that I dont want to get rid of. Can anyone help me turn them into something of use or something cool?
Thanks,
Mike
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I would appreciate recipes for a stuffed bread called stromboli. It's sort of like calzone, except its rolled jellyroll-style as opposed to simply folded over.
Thanks!
Joan from NY
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Peg's Aggression Cookies Recipe
I am looking for a recipe for Peg's Aggression Cookies. They are oatmeal cookies, from her "I Hate to... Cookbook"! My kids and I did these way back in the early 80's. The new "Aggression Cookies" have eggs in the batter, our recipe did not. Lots of butter, brown sugar, oatmeal certainly... then all you had to do was punch the batter with your fists! That's why everyone got into the act, we would just punch and punch. It was fun and they were very good cookies. Please help me find the recipe for the grandkids.
Thanks,
JoJo
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What colors do you think would be better for a March wedding in South Dakota? We have alot of snow in March and I was wondering if a dark blue and silver would be better than a red and silver? I want the theme to match a wintery wonderland.
Sheri
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I want to make my own wedding invitations for free. Does anyone have any advice?
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