Daily Thrifty Tips - March 8, 2007

Bunny Pencil

This craft is so easy you can make one for fun, or a batch for class party favors.

Crafting Time: 30 minutes plus glue drying time

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Changing the Baby After His Nap

I always change the baby before he goes in for a nap. Instead of changing him when he wakes I wait 10 or 15 minutes. Babies don't tend to wet very much when they are sleeping, he is often fairly dry! But upon wakening he wets a a lot in the first 15 minutes. I change him after this time period and save having to change him again so soon. It saves on diapers thus cutting costs a bit.

By Pattie from Bridgton, Maine

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Beautiful Pumpkin Welcome

Thought you might like to see the pumpkin I painted for myself this year. I just use acrylic paint and decorate the top with a bow and berries. She sat on our front porch to welcome our guests.

By Phyllis from Roseburg, Oregon

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Calvin and Riley (Golden Retriever/Yorkie)

Calvin is an 8 year old Golden Retriever and Riley is 7 year old Yorkshire Terrier with a little Shih Tzu for character. I got them both from breeders. Calvin was pick of the litter, but his new owners had to give him up because of an illness, so Calvin got an extra long time with his mom. I think that is why he is 90 lbs. now! I got Riley from a sign on the side of the road, leading me to two tiny tiny puppies, one just starred at me and Riley attacked my shoelaces! He still does that!

They like to groom each other. It is rather odd, but it's funny to watch Riley get soaked by Calvin! They keep me laughing for sure.

By Jenny Wiswell from North Bend, Washington

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Cleaning Baked On Food

Take enough cream of tartar to cover the area to be cleaned and/or to remove baked on food. Add enough vinegar to make a thin paste. Cover the area to be cleaned and apply extra thick on baked on areas. Leave on 12 hours. Wipe off and wash thoroughly. Use second application if necessary.

By Charley from West Henrietta, NY

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Easy to Clean Garden Tools

Spray your garden tools with a little cooking oil or WD-40 and they will be very easy to clean when you are done gardening.

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Lasagne Noodles For Toy Cars

Dry lasagne noodles work well as ramps for toy match cars! Also use glue them on cardboard for roads.

By Vickie from Canton, MI

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Easy At Home Pedicure

It is getting closer to sandal weather here in Texas and I will not spend the money for a pedicure, as it is $30.00 plus a tip. Here is what I do to give myself an inexpensive home pedicure. I hope these tips will inspire you to treat yourself to a little pampering, which will give you nice looking toes for those sandals.

First, fill a large pan or bowl with warm, soapy water and spread a clean soft towel beside it to dry your feet on. Next, I use a cosmetic square cotton pad, (not the round ones because they soak up to much polish remover ) to remove any old polish or any oils on my toenails. Then I file and clip any of my toenails that need TLC, do this gently and do not cut too short.

Now, I am ready to soak my feet for about five minutes. This is a good time for me to look at a magazine article or close my eyes and meditate on the good things in my life! When you are ready, take your feet out of the water and slough off any dry skin with an inexpensive foot brush or foot stone made for removing dry skin. All of these things can be bought at Wal-Mart or at your local dollar store. At this time, I also push back the cuticles GENTLY with an orange stick, also known as a cuticle stick.

Next, put on your polish. I apply one stroke of polish in the middle, then one sweep down each side. It gives me a good quick coverage. My toes don't take long to polish. Sometimes, I wait about 5 minutes and apply a second coat of polish. It takes about 15 minutes for polish to dry, so be careful. The last thing I do is apply a moisturizing lotion to my feet and I am good to go.

Oh, one other item you can apply before the moisturizing lotion is a quick dry top coat, which allows the polish to dry faster. There are several great brands available at your discount drugstore. I often have great coupons on Sally Hansen products and Revlon, too. Hope this inspires you to relax and give yourself a pedicure, or do this for a friend. My sister did this for me one time when I visited and I was grateful for the gift. In fact, she is the one I learned all these great tips from.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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Meals For One Or Two

Tips and recipes for cooking for one or two people from our ThriftyFun community.

Share With A Neighbor

I'm used to eating out but my new husband is used to cooking for his large family (no longer living with him). It's almost impossible to learn to cook for one or two when you're used to cooking for a crowd. It's just the two of us and because of his health, he has to eat 3 square meals a day and snack a lot. We live too far out in the country to eat out. For the past several years, we've overcooked and thrown away a lot of food weekly. He won't eat leftovers and I have to watch my weight.

For the past few months, we have been sharing a plate daily with our single next door neighbor. He can barely afford to eat, so it's been a thrill for him and us sharing our food with him. In return, he helps us with our yardwork. I know this may not sound too frugal to some people but it sure works for us.

Only problem now is he just moved away and now we need to find someone else to share with. Surely there's a single person, or struggling single mom, or elderly person in your area you could share with.

By Darween

Freeze Portions For Future Meals

Make any dish or casserole for 4-6 people and freeze the remainder in separate containers for separate meals.

By Cougar

Check At Library For Cookbooks And Other Ideas

There are numerous cookbooks available for one/two cooking that you can check out of the library and peruse. But some of the simplest things to do are taking something like meatloaf and making them into 1/4 pound football shapes. Bake them up and you have 2 meals for you and hubby. Also chicken breast are great, boneless/skinless can be breaded and then baked at 400 degrees F for about 18 minutes. Two pork chops fried up and then covered with a can of cream of mushroom soup and simmered for about 15 minutes is another great entree.

By Mari

Websites

• http://www.thriftyfun.com/Recipes_833.html
• http://www.allrecipes.com
• http://www.mealsforyou.com
• http://www.savingdinner.com
• http://www.meals.com

Do you have any more tips for cooking for one or two? Post them below.

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Use Mapquest For Planning Garage Sale Routes

When making a shopping route for garage sales, enter all the addresses you are interested into http://www.mapquest.com They have a multi-stop route builder, you just type in all the addresses and then put them in the correct order. They will show a map so you will know how to put them in order. It gives you driving directions and street names to turn on. It makes it really easy for someone to read them to you while you drive.

By TexasDarling from East Texas

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Egg Slicer For Olives

I always use my egg slicer to slice black olives. It works like a charm!! Very quick and convenient for getting evenly sliced olives.

By glowgirl from Watertown, WI

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Dressing Up a Photo Album

I came up with a great way to spruce up old photo albums! I took the photo album and used old tissue paper and regular craft glue and applied glue with my finger and put tissue paper over it in different designs. I did one side at a time and allowed to dry overnight and then did the back and binding. After it was all done, I added gemstones and trinkets and it turned out great! So now I'm going to make some as gifts to give, because you can pick up an album at the dollar store for a buck and it makes an elegant gift!

By Denise from McRae, GA

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Holloway House Quick Shine Products Reviews

I am looking for opinions on Holloway House Quick Shine Products?

Amy from Nashville, TN

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Sugar Free Easter Egg Filling

Does anyone have a recipe and/or recipes for Sugar Free/Diabetic Easter Eggs, the kind churches make at Easter time for fund raising. I can buy the Sugar Free dipping wafers here in Charleston, but can't find a recipe for the filling inside anywhere, any flavor will do. Thanks, not only from me but my customers.

Tim from Charleston, WV

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Making a Scarf with a Knifty Knitter

I am looking for instruction on the long loom for making a scarf.
This is my first time knitting.

Sheila

Editor's Note: I believe the long loom is a Knifty Knitter.

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Creating a Family Website

Does anybody know of a good user friendly website that is free to create a family website?

Amy

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Getting Rid of Mice

I am a chemical engineering student from rural Swaziland. We have always had a house mice infestation and we are tired of them. I am currently involved in a project to develop a "new and innovative" method or way to get rid of mice. I would like any kind of suggestions from you guys that can help me come up with a good product.

I would also like to know whether you know of any allergies that house mice have? Something or a chemical that is toxic only to them and not other animals or humans?

Thanks,
Fiona

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Improving My Front Yard

My front yard planting area has a western exposure and has to handle the hot Florida sun from about noon until sunset. Besides that, one side gets loads of rain and the other side stays dry as a bone. I HATE to garden. Can anyone give me some suggestions that will make it look acceptable?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Thank you so much!
Mitzi from Deland, FL

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Fabric Wallpaper Technique

A few years ago I watched a demonstration of using fabric like wallpaper on a painted wall. I can't remember what was used as the "paste." I do remember that when the fabric was removed, there was no mess--you could just wash off the wall and it was fine. Does anyone know of this type of decorating technique?

Thank you in advance.

Glowgirl from Watertown

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Killing a Sweet Gum Tree

How can I kill a sweet gum tree to let it gradually die because it is too tall to cut in my yard?

Karen from Arkansas

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Preventing Parvo

My boyfriend and I have a husky puppy who is the sweetest guy alive! we also have a 10 month border collie. The husky is 13 weeks. On Saturday, the husky wasn't eating and seemed calmer than usual. He wasn't drinking anything so we force fed him water and then he ate quite a bit. Come Sunday, he was tired but great. We went hiking and swimming and he was tired but no more than normal. Sunday night, he wouldn't eat again but he was drinking fine. All the while, playing and chasing with his best friend, our border collie.

Monday morning, he was sick again and we took him in to a vet, where he tested positive for Parvo. Now, it's costing us 1000 bucks for 4 days in the vet, and we have drenched our house with bleach and Lucy, our border collie, is stuck at a friend's house on careful watch for the parvo virus. Is there anyway to prevent her from getting sick, and an easier way to clean our house. What are the realistic chances of my puppy dying?

By Claire from Atlanta, GA

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Squirrels in My Attic

How can I get rid of the squirrels that have invaded my itty bitty attic. I hear them chewing on the wood and they bump and thump at all hours. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Sharon from Ottawa, Kansas

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Pitbull Puppy That Bites

I have just recently adopted a pitbull puppy from our local rescue facility. I was not informed that it was a pitbull but a boxer mix. She is very playful and I would say could be a good dog. It is hard to explain her behavior. When we get home from work she licks and plays. Then we may sit down and pet her and she starts to bite. She's being playful but it goes on all day and all night. When we try to sleep she jumps at us and try to bite our face. I know she's being playful, but no punishment is helping. She is about three months old. I'm starting to take her on long walks to see if it will help with her energy. I am very patient with her and have trained her to sit. I know if someone else adopted her she would be on the streets or back at A.W.O.L. Please help.

Thank you,
David Craig from Independence, KS

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Buying Chenille Bumps

Where can you buy chenille bumps?

Betty from Coal Township, PA

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Cats Knocking Down Knick Knacks

I have recently gotten 2 kittens - both are about 7 months old. We have a ledge with knickknacks on it they can jump up to and they keep knocking things off. We have tried putting tacky stuff on the bottom of the items to keep them secure, also have tried green apple spray. Any suggestions?

April from Bismarck, ND

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Gluten Free Soy Amish Friendship Bread

Does anyone know the recipes for Soy milk vs dairy milk in Amish Friendship bread? And gluten free flour?

Lolakay1 from Woodland, Wa

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Moldy Fudge

Why is my fudge moldy after one month?

Ani

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Using Shredded Paper as Mulch

Can I use shredded office paper as beneficial mulch?

Hardiness Zone: 3a

Dorothy from Bemidji, MN

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Fundraiser Craft Ideas

Does anyone have any quick and inexpensive craft projects for Mother's Day and Father's Day. We are doing a fundraiser and need something that will sell well for about $5-$10 each. Thanks in advance for your help.

Angela from Wilkesboro, NC

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Liquid Sugar for Tea

I went to a restaurant recently that served unsweet tea with a syrup pitcher of "liquid sugar" on the table so that each guest could sweeten to taste. I have heard that the best recipe is equal parts sugar to water for the syrup, but don't know about storage of the syrup or how long it can be kept. Any help?

Dee Burgess from Brentwood, TN

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Keeping Dogs Out Of Garbage Cans

How do you keep dogs out of outside garbage cans without spending a lot of money? And without harming the dog.

Jason from Leitchfield, KY

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Spot-X Glass Restorer Reviews

Has anyone out there tried the spot-x glass restorer for removing very stubborn calcium build up on shower doors?

Happydane from Honolulu, HI

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Recipes for Making Bath Salts

How do you make bath salts?

WarriorPride from Lenoir, NC

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Uses for Coffee Mugs

It seems easy to collect a lot of coffee mugs without even trying. What are some creative uses for coffee mugs? Here are ideas from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.

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