Daily Thrifty Tips - April 7, 2006

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Pugsley Marie is 9 years old and is a Pug. I bought Pugsley 3 years ago from a girl I work from that didn't want her anymore.

She like to dress up, play silly and nap on her favorite chair.

By Amy from Pittsfield, IL

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You and children of any age can make these simple "paintings" with just some bubble solution, bubble wands, food coloring, disposable cups and white paper.

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Here is the garden girl with bunny our granddaughter gave me for the yard. Notice the strawberries that are growing in the decorator blocks. I stacked 3 together and put dirt in the holes for the strawberries. They lasted 4-5 years and gave us strawberries every year, a few at a time. There was room for four plants. Happy Easter everyone!

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark,Ca.

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Readers share so many useful tips but often I don't need to save the entire article. Finding these tips when I need them is essential. I solved this by buying a small 4x5 spiral notebook with the rip out pages. When tips comes along that I want to keep, I write them in the notebook. I keep the notebook right by my computer for easy access. It's a handy little reference book and doesn't take up much space! If I decide later to keep the tip in another room, I can easily rip out the small page. Now, all the tips are together!

By Lady Claire from Buffalo, NY

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Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest can be pretty pricey most of the year, but I eliminate this consideration by freezing the juice and zest when lemons are on sale. Roll the lemons briefly on a hard surface to release all the juice, and then use a zester tool to harvest the zest. Next, cut the lemons in half and juice into a strainer to remove the pulp and seeds. Pour the juice into a plastic ice cube tray, freeze hard and then release the individual cubes into a plastic freezer bag for long-term storage. (Hint: if you will take the time to use a measuring spoon and water to know exactly how much your ice cube tray holds in one of the partitions, you won't have to guess if you have enough for a recipe.) Freeze the zest in a recycled yogurt container. Then, throughout the year when you need fresh lemon juice or lemon zest in a recipe, you already have it.

By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri

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Take a sheet of plastic canvas that you use for crafting and put in your sink, It is like a screen when you are washing dishes. You can catch all your food from going down and clogging up your drain.

By career from WV

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My Fiance and I love to go fishing, and I usually use night crawlers as bait. But instead of buying them several times throughout the year, we catch them.

My Mom has been doing this for years! They are sensitive to the sound, light and movement and if you aren't careful they will crawl into their holes and you will get frustrated.

First, get a flash light and a styrofoam container. I use a cooler, because we get so many, and some might want gloves because you get dirty.

Now, after it rains is the best time to get them, but they do come out after dark. Go out into your yard and slowly walk and shine the light down...you will see them everywhere!! They will be all stretched out.

Now, this is the tricky part...slowly reach down and once near the night crawler, grab it quickly and firmly (remember they are quick!)...the are slimy and squiggly...now slowly finish pulling it out of the hole. Put him in your container and you're good to go.

Store them in a cool dark place and make sure they have air holes. You can keep them in dirt or soil, and be sure there is enough in there for them to crawl around through and cover them.

What you don't use for fishing, throw into your garden.

By Katie from PA

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I put my left over Christmas wrapping paper inside the legs of the pantyhose and hang in the closet until next year,

By Patricia from Alabama

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You can make nice gifts from bargains if you put your own stamp on them - I just found a bunch of Aveeno samples (which I know appeal to my friend), and put them into a nice travel kit which I got on sale at a beauty supply store for 2 for $2 -(I took out the accompanying store literature). Put that together with a well-chosen book and you have a nice gift for a much-travelled friend for very little. (The markup on these things already done up is TREMENDOUS.)

By pamphyila from L.A., CA

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Because my purse size address book is small, I use different colored ink for entries. Black for family, red for doctors or anything medical, green for friends. That makes it easier to locate a name without having to look at all of them under one letter.

By Knitter from Bloomington, Illinois

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I have enamel drip pans or trays under my burners on my gas stove and occasionally normal cleaning methods don't remove all the burned-on gunk if I have been careless while cooking. Not even running them through the dishwasher gets rid of it so I rely on my burned-on gunk cleaner. Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar with 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar in a small dish (double "recipe" if you have numerous items to de-gunk). Next, use a cotton ball to apply to affected areas (such as with Corning Ware casseroles or lids) ~ in the case of my drip pans, I just pour it on and tilt to spread.

Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes without touching or messing with it. Scrub with a scouring pad and then follow with a wash in hot, soapy water. Generally speaking, this cleaning formulation will soften, if not dissolve, the burnt-on gunk so it can be removed in one application. Repeat several times, if necessary, for extremely heavily soiled burner pans or casserole dishes. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I tried this in that I still had to scrub a bit, but my effort was handsomely rewarded with a clean and gunk-free burner pan.

By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri

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To add more "zing" to a simple fruit salad, substitute regular whipped topping with the flavored kinds like strawberry or french vanilla. And to add more nutrition, use flavored fruit yogurts instead of whipped topping. You would be surprised at how luscious an addition this is.

By Patricia from Holyoke, CO

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How can I keep a spring load shower curtain rod from falling down?

Robin from Utica, NY

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I am wondering if anyone else has a Shih Tzu in this color?

CHEWIE from New Brunswick, Canada

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Can I put 2 large pieces of velvet fabric, that have gotten wet and now smell like mildew, in the washing machine? I figure they're ruined "as is" so what's the difference if I wet them? Any one have any experience with this dilemma?

Thanks,
Juanita from Homewood, IL

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Does anyone have a good Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette recipe or know of a good brand to buy at the store?

Thanks!
Peggygv from San Antonio, TX

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Is There a paint or something to resilver a mirror? I have an OLD beautiful frame but the miror needs help.

Thanks,
Anne from Lewiston Maine

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Can you tell me the best way to get a large water stain out of my oak table?

Katie from Vancouver, WA

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Breed Description: The Newfoundland is a large breed of dog that is almost similar in appearance to a bear cub. This breed has a thick, strong coat, is a superb swimmer and is know for personifying loyalty and devotion. Despite the Newfoundland's imposing size, his docile, friendly nature makes him an ideal companion.

More Information: Newfoundland Club of America, Inc.

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If you have been thinking about adding a second dog or cat to the family, you may be surprised to hear that it can be a lot easier than you think! The resident pet will teach the new kid all the rules of the land -- where and how to go to the bathroom, what furniture and rooms are off limits, what to do to earn treats, and more. I've heard lots of tales from friends about the ease of teaching a new pet new tricks.

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Living in an apartment or condominium in the city doesn't mean you can't enjoy the pleasures of gardening. As long as you have a small balcony or patio and access to an adequate amount of light, you can easily create a modest-sized garden. Even if you only have a few square feet of space, if you use it efficiently you can double-even triple-the amount of room you have available for gardening.

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Breed Description: The Siberian Husky is a quick and athletic dog with a moderately compact build and a smooth, effortless gait. This intelligent breed is friendly and gentle and usually bonds more deeply with one person in the family. This breed is an independent thinker and can be a bit stubborn at a time. Still, if properly trained the Siberian Husky makes a great companion for the whole family and has a natural affinity for children.

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