Daily Thrifty Tips - April 4, 2006

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You and children of any age can make these simple "igloos" with 1/2 of an apple (or orange), peanut butter (or marshmallow fluff) and mini marshmallows.

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ZoeyZen is a 5 year old Old English Sheepdog. We got Zoey when she was 10 weeks old in 2001.

Zoey likes to go for walks with dad (my husband) three times a day rain or shine and also does yard work and snow blows.

Zoey is very smart and anticipates everything.

By Diane from Malone, NY

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The French Quarter, New Orleans

By Laurie Bianchetti from Prairieville, LA

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Professionally decorated cakes always seem to have a molten, silky look. To achieve this look at home, frost as usual and then use a hair dryer to "blow-dry" the frosted surfaces (on low) until it looks right. The slight melting of the frosting gives it that smooth, lustrous appearance.

By Stacey from Orem, UT

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Real leather shoes and bags wear better in the long run, and can be polished and waxed. BUT in the rain (or the snow), PLASTIC or vinyl has the benefit of not being ruined by water. So I have a vinyl bag I am using in the rain, and have always had "rain shoes" made of faux leather to use in the impending rain to save my better shoes (clogs work really well, too.)

By pam from L.A., CA

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It's easy to grow shrubs and many other plants by simply planting a branch. Cut off a branch and bury it in decent soil leaving only 6-8 inches out of the ground. It may be small but it will grow. I have even grown two white pine trees from cuttings. It also works well to grow ivy and some perennials (no root necessary). It's fun and saves money too.

By Virginia from Cincinnati, OH

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On a visit to my urban apartment a friends commented that I had put "vistas" in every room - and, although it hadn't been conscious, I realize that I had positioned pictures in every room that looked as if they were artistic "windows" to an outside natural world. It really does make it easier to live in the city with them.

By Pam from L.A., CA

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On our boat we use a stretchy "bungee" cord to hang up our paper towel roll (you put the cord through the roll). You could do the same in your camper or RV - or anywhere else, for that matter!

By Pam from L.A., CA

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Q. What kind of fish do grizzlies catch?


A. Bear - acudas

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

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Tips for saving money on printer paper. Post your ideas below!

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You can prolong the life of your air cleaner filter by getting a non-allergic member of the family to remove and WASH the pellon filter to remove excess dust which clogs it. Then dry and use as usual. It may not be 100% effective as a new filter - but it does seem to work and filters are SO expensive.

By pam from L.A., CA

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If you break a ceramic and don't have cement type glue, you can use the white of an egg for glue. Crack the egg and dip a toothpick or maybe a Q-tip in the white thats left on the shell. It works the same as glue.

If its paper you're wanting to glue, use a paste made from flour and water. You'll get a white glue similar to the white glue that comes in a squeeze bottle.

By Carol Swanson from Wyoming, PA

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My 5-year-old microwave died shortly before Thanksgiving last year and my budget didn't allow for replacing it right away even though we had company coming for Thanksgiving. I mentally made a note to replace it after the first of the year; however in January, I thought I would wait for a good sale.

It is now more than four months sans microwave and I have found I don't really miss it because I was using it for defrosting and reheating purposes only. By consciously altering how I am defrosting foods, I have found I don't really need it and by using pots, pans and the oven, if necessary, I can reheat food just fine. I have realized that a microwave is not a "need" for me - just a "want" and right now, I am not willing to part with that kind of money for what I would get in return.

By Ronsan from southwest Missouri

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I have many pairs of used shoulder pads. What can I use them for?

Sharon from Illinois

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How do you all organize your DVDs? How do you convince your kids to put them back in their cases instead of stacking them up near the TV? And, how long to you keep DVDs? if they haven't been watched in a long time, do you just eBay them?

Thanks,
John from Kent, WA

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My husband put an aluminum foil pan in the microwave and there was a black burnt spot on the door. Can this be fixed? It is a new microwave/hood above the oven (3 months old) and I would really like to fix it instead of replacing the whole thing.

Ndassen from CA

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How do I keep birds out of my garden? I have tried fake owls, snakes, and wrapping wire around my tomato plants. The CD idea sounds good, as does the pie pan.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

JGUER53 from Texas

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I have a German Shepherd female pup that, as of today, is 3 months old. I have a few questions. She has learned some things pretty fast, but doesn't always listen or do as she is supposed to. She will sit when told and go into crate when told, and responds to, "do you want a treat" and "are you hungry, want to eat?".

I have a dog door at home that she goes in and out of while we are home. She learned to use it from seeing our 4 year old German Shepherd go in and out, And myself showing her. If we are home she will usually always go out herself to potty. But there are times I still find pee or poop inside and have to clean it up. She is in a crate while I'm at work for sometimes 5 to seven hours and she does fine and doesn't go in the crate. I still show her how to go out at night, that seems to be the bigger problem, not so much in day time when we are home. It's like she forgets she can go out of the dog door at night. Any suggestions?

Also, when do they usually begin to start to lose baby teeth? It looks like her baby teeth haven't hardly come in yet. I read they usually lose teeth then ears stand up around 4 to 6 months, but her ears are totally up in the air and stood up like that at about 2 or 2 1/2 months old.

Also, if she is play biting with me or our other dog and she gets a little rough I will pop her nose easy and say, NO, and she does not like to be told no. Sometimes she listens and other times she will bark back at me and chop her teeth loud. Sometimes it seems aggressive when she does it and other times it seems like she is just playing. Does that sound like she may have an aggression problem?

Thank you, I hope I didn't ask to much at one time. :o)

Nicky from North Carloina

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We have washed oak kitchen cabinets and are not sure what color to paint our walls. We are presently installing a back splash with mosaic tiles that are darker but still have the pink tinge with almost a grey and taupe mix (seems like a red in there too).

Can you suggest some colors to consider? We have some Benjamin Moore swatches and they have pink in them as well. Should we be going away from the pink so the kitchen doesn't end up looking all blended together? Not sure what other colors would match.

Pal from Canada

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I am in need of a transfer to hand embroider a robin. As young children, my siblings and I lost our mother and because she always woke us in the mornings with the "red robin" song. I thought it would be nice to give to my siblings a robin with the song framed. I do embroidery but am not very good at colors and therefore need a transfer and directions suggesting the colors to use.

Many thanks to any who respond,
Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

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My son is now 7 and we are having a hard time with the bed wetting. I will take his drinks away at 6 PM and wake him up to let him go to the restroom but he still happens wets his bed. He has been prescribed medicine and it isn't working either. I am just tired of doing laundry every morning before I go to work, and it is bothering his mental well being as well. Please help! shopping_addiction_woman from Nashville, IN

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I bought a chocolate brown Micro Suede Down Comforter. It looked so beautiful for a very short time, now the downs are coming through everywhere! Does anybody have any idea what I can do about it?

Thanks,
Gigi from Edgar Springs, MO

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I need to know how to remove ink for patent leather. I got some on me yellow pantent leather sneakers and don't know where to begin by removing it.

Yolonda from Fayetteville, NC

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I started a small grease fire in my oven recently. The smoke left a nasty stain on the white control knob panel at the top of the oven. How can I get this out?

dlw4him from Boston NY

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Silly me! I've put my wet suede slippers into my dryer to dry. Now, I've got black dye stains in my dryer. I've tried Goof Off to remove the stains and it didn't work. Can you help me?

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I am looking for a place that sells brown turkey fig seeds or other types of fig seeds (fruit bearing). I would also like to find a source for grancy grey beard tree seeds.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks!
kmcl59 from Pensacola, FL

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I am trying to think of ideas for a Dora birthday cake. I have the new Betty Crocker fill pan so I am really trying to base ideas using that particular pan. Any ideas would help.

Thanks!
Kelly from Hephzibah, GA

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I am looking for directions on how to make a shoe rack.

Thanks,
Jenn from Easthampton, MA

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I have a huge 100 year old sweet gum tree in my side yard and it endowes us with sweet gum balls all year. Is there a way to keep these balls from forming? I was told from a friend that there is a way to make this tree sterile and not form these balls. I called our local agricultural extension but they've never gotten back to me on their answer. If you could get this answer for me I would be most appreciative.

Thanks,
Pam from Georgetown, SC

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Breed Description: Fox Terriers are short, compact dogs with long, sloping shoulders, deep chests and long, tapering muzzles. These small dogs are lively and alert and carry their distinctive, short tails in a gay, upright fashion. Originally used for flushing foxes, these terriers are now popular as house pets due to their loyalty and devotion and their skills as watchdogs.

More Information: American Fox Terrier Club

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Breed Description: The Bombay is a jet-black cat with a shiny, glassy coat and eyes that range from gold to copper. They carry Burmese blood and are similar in confirmation, although their head tends to have a slightly more rounded shape. The Bombay is less popular in Europe than in the United States and not as widely bred as some of the other breeds.

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Regardless of what type of pet you've added to the family, you should plan a vet visit as soon as possible. But how do you pick the right veterinarian? You're looking for basically the same things you wanted in a family doctor.

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Breed Description: Dachshunds come in two sizes, standard and miniature, and three types of coats: smooth-haired, longhaired and wirehaired. The breed is easily distinguished by its low, long muscular body and disproportionately stubby legs-perfect for moving about in the tunnel or den of a badger. Despite their lapdog status, this breed has stamina and agility and displays great courage.

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