Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Three, Number 107, August 17, 2004
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Julia Child (1912-2004)
For those of us who enjoyed watching Julia Child on PBS over the years, I wanted to pay tribute to the woman who brought gourmet cooking to normal everyday folks. I can remember my mother trying new recipes thanks to Julia and being the good cook that my mom was, my family benefited from it.
Julia did not take a cooking lesson until she was in her 30s. And she was in her 50s when her first television series began in 1963 which can serve as an inspiration to all of us who wonder if we are to old to start something new. She lived a long life and died at the ripe old age of 91 and only missed her 92 birthday by 2 days.
If the meat fell on the floor, Child picked it up, brushed it off and continued. Her mishaps weren't edited out of her programs. In fact, many of the early shows were live. "The only real stumbling block is the fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude," she said.
My favorite Julia Child quote is "Life itself is the proper binge."
Bon Appetit Julia
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Thanks for Reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips:
- The Bathroom Cleaning Kit
- Making Clothing for my 6 Year Old
- Frugal Manicure
- Grease Stain on Suede
- Freezing Extra Tomatoes
- Lemon Furniture Polish
- Rags from Receiving Blankets
- Homemade "Cotton Balls"
- Carpet Padding Uses:
- Removing Sticker Glue from Wood Furniture
- Feedback: Be Prepared With A Bride's Emergency Kit
- Feedback: How to Get Rid of Moles?
- Feedback: Fridge Clutter: Keeping Track of Leftovers in the Refrigerator
- Feedback: Keeping Crows out of the Garden
- Feedback: Throwing a Baby Shower
- Feedback: Lawn care
- Other Active Topics
- Today's Recipe: Zucchini/Tomato Bake
New Requests:
- Inexpensive Reception Ideas
- I have lots of crafting supplies, looking for ideas.
More Reading:
- Pine Furniture Care Guide
- Cool As A Cucumber
- Eating within your income.
- Healthy Snacks
- World's Largest Pink Ribbon
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Today's Tips
The Bathroom Cleaning Kit
Here's a way to keep your bathroom(s) clean. Put a Bathroom Cleaning Kit in the corner of each bathroom. Start with a small bucket or a cut-off plastic jug (laundry detergent jugs are excellent for this). Add: 5 rags, an old toothbrush, toilet cleaning brush, small plastic squirt bottles of each watered down dish liquid and watered down bleach, and a scrubbie sponge. This kit takes care of most all bathroom cleanup jobs and it's always there where you need it. It would be interesting to hear how other readers find ways to make cleanup quick & easy. Jayne
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Making Clothing for my 6 Year Old
For my 6 year old, I have found patterns on sale at fabric stores when special sales run for half price if not .99 cents. I have saved many of my old denim skirts, or can even buy at thrift stores, take apart at seams and use for making capris, shorts and skirts. I have also used same patterns to use on pretty ladies dresses and just sized it down with the girls patterns. Watch thrift store for special savings on certain days. You can make clothes even cheaper that just used kids clothes, plus, they're one of a kind!!! By EJHoppe
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Frugal Manicure
Do you like to receive a manicure and/or a pedicure but feel you can't afford the high prices? Have I got a deal for you. Check out your local high school and see if they have a beautifican class. I recently had a manicure by a senior student and she was supervised by the teacher several times during my manicure. I had called ahead of time and made an appointment that was agreeable to my time schedule. She was very professional and did a really good job. The $6 that the school policy charged was well worth it. I got to pick out the color nail polish and happily added a tip to the cost. A happy manicure and/or pedicure to you. By joesgirl
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Grease Stain on Suede
Sponge spot with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. Dry and restore nap by brushing with a suede brush. Source: MSU Extension
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Freezing Extra Tomatoes
When I have a few extra tomatoes either store bought or home grown, I cut them in half, and put in zip lock freezer bags for use with cooking. Most recipes will call for one or two, and this saves loss of tomatoes, and are easily cooked up in the recipe. By CarolynJ
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Lemon Furniture Polish
In a screw-top jar, mix equal parts:
- Denatured alcohol (from a hardware store)
- Strained fresh lemon juice (not canned or frozen)
- Olive oil
Shake well before each use. Apply polish with a clean, absorbent, lint-free cloth, gently rubbing cloth over furniture. Polish with a dry woolen cloth. Cover jar and safely store polish.
Source: Adapted from a recipe at the NMSU Extension
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Rags from Receiving Blankets
Those old receiving blankets that are to small for you growing baby make great all purpose rags when cut up. I use them to wipe noses, clean up messes, wipe messy faces, dry bottoms after cleaning, and much more. I always have them around and they cost me nothing (they were all gifts!).
By Deanna
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Homemade "Cotton Balls"
Don't you hate how cotton balls leave fuzz on your face or get so soppy it takes more than one to do the job?
Try this: Cut little squares of fabric and run them through your sewing machine, zig-zag the edges.
I find SOCKS make the best ones. The fabric is a little heavier, they are absorbent, and wash well.
To wash them, put them in a net bag and throw in with the towels.
This takes a little bit of time at the outset, but once you have a bunch of these made up, you will find them so much nicer to use.
Naturally, these aren't sterile, so use your own judgment on what you use them for. You wouldn't use them to dress a wound, but for uses like applying makeup or astringent they work really well.
I ripped up an old flannel shirt and didn't bother to hem the ones I use with nail polish remover, glue, etc. Then these can just be thrown away. Even though you toss these, it's still better than buying cotton balls because you can always find a scrap of old fabric to use.
By Jayne
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Carpet Padding Uses
Carpet stores will give you leftover pieces from installations for FREE if you ask.
They are good for making chair cushions, double for more thickness and cover.
For your dog's bed, use carpet pads in a zippered pillow slip cover, makes it easy to remove and wash.
By syd
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Removing Sticker Glue from Wood Furniture
Overtime, stickers can bond with the wood and they become very difficult to remove without leaving behind some of the paper and glue from the sticker. To remove the remaining sticker, dip a cloth in cooking oil and scrub the sticker. Repeat as necessary.
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Feedback: Be Prepared With A Bride's Emergency Kit
Hello,
This is one of the most important things I take with me on a wedding day.
I also add a couple of small bags of pretzels, and a ginger ale ( for upset tummies), and one of those little stop sticks that keeps you from bleeding. Inveritably the groom will cut himself shaving!!
I also carry extra pantyhose (3), a curling iron, a travel iron, a towel (to iron on), and a misting bottle. I also carry an extra pair of those ballet style house slippers (new) just in case the bride gets achy feet during the reception.
OH, and a roll of tape and a stapler.... a million last minute uses.
I carry all my stuff in a fishing tackle box (new of course). It keeps it all organized, and clean. I put it in the room where the bride will be getting ready and another one where the groom is dressing. That way no one is running around crazy like looking for band-aids or tylenol 20 minutes before the ceremony.
Hugs, Kristean
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Feedback: How to Get Rid of Moles?
Buy a cheap transistor radio, tune in to any station playing music 24/7, switch it on, (loudly!) wrap it in a plastic bag, and bury it. The radio will play as long as the batteries last, but by then the moles will all have left home!
By Veronica
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Feedback: Fridge Clutter: Keeping Track of Leftovers in the Refrigerator
This is a church idea that works at home too. Keep a roll/pkg of small labels in the fridge, and put a dated label on every package, jar, container etc that you put in. Little extra work, but no food poisoning!
By Deb
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Feedback: Keeping Crows out of the Garden
Regarding the crows eating the tomatoes. Drive a few wooden stakes among your plants. Attach some of those unsolicited ISP CDs you get in your mailbox. Just tie a string on them and tack them to to top of the stakes so they can swing. The shiny reflection will scare the birds away. (If you don't have any CDs, go to the Post Office and pick up a few...they have AOL ones all the time)
Harlean from Arkansas
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Feedback: Throwing a Baby Shower
I always shop at the dollar store for prizes for the games. Prizes can be things like a fancy candle, a picture frame, a coffee mug, a set of kitchen towels. We always play a word scramble game with baby item words (pacifier, bottle, high chair, etc) scrambled up; another word scramble with words associated with pregnancy (stretch marks, sonogram, maternity clothes, etc). Set a timer and whoever unscrambles the most in the allotted time -- or whoever gets them all first -- wins.
We also play a "memory" game. Get a bunch of small baby items (again, at the dollar store)-- brush & comb, tiny nail clippers, pacifier, rattle, jar of food, baby bottle nipples, sample sizes of wipes, baby lotion, etc. Have at least a dozen items -- 20 is even better. Set them up on a tray, or arrange them in a shallow basket or box. Cover them up with a receiving blanket or cloth diaper. Have this all set up and covered before the guests arrive. Everyone gathers around and you remove the cover, and they all stare at it for exactly 30 seconds. Then you cover it back up and everybody tries to list everything that was on the tray. Whoever remembers the most is the winner. Then the guest of honor gets to keep all the stuff on the tray, plus the blanket, as part of your gift to her.
Be ready with a tiebreaker question (like what FLAVOR) was the baby food?) or be sure to have extra prizes on hand in case of a tie. I always pass out magazines for people to hold the paper on, and pencils or pens, as the guests arrive.
By Becki in Indiana
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Feedback: Lawn care
I have a self propelled lawn mower and enjoy the light exercise of mowing. Edging is difficult for me. Back problems make it difficult to support the weight of the weedeater. My neighbor, on the other hand, finds edging a snap, and hates to devote the time necessary for mowing. We've struck a deal. I mow him, he edges me : )) I get extra exercise, and he can edge my lawn in a matter of minutes. Perhaps this could work for someone else out there (?)
By Doggy
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Today's Recipe: Stir-Fried Pork And Vegetables With Rice
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New Requests:
Inexpensive Reception Ideas
I was hoping you guys could brainstorm some inexpensive reception ideas. We had a small wedding planned and the service will be quite small, but the guest list keeps growing for the reception. The church's rec room will not be big enough anymore (it's not a big rec room). Anyone have any frugal ways to about finding a cheap reception location, food, etc... Thanks! Heather
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I have lots of crafting supplies, looking for ideas.
I have so many craft products, but at this time I am lost to what to do with all of them. I'm looking for help! I have different...
- YARDAGE(S), some of holiday, some of seasons, some of colors and of course different textures.
- SOUP CANS covered in thin batting.
- RIBBON of all sizes from 1/8 th" to 5" wide, in all colors.
- SCRAPBOOKING SUPPLIES, papers of all sizes colors and weights, wire, punches, die cuts, and I dired flowers, markers and pencils.
- WOOD-I have pieces that are in shapes, nothing consistant, but I do have several pieces of pine that are not cut and are 4 to 5' by 10" wide.
- TILE in small pieces or in 1" to 4" pieces, colors vary
- MARBLES and glue to glue marbles to something.
- PAINT of all colors and of all kinds of paint for different projects.
- PAINT BRUSHES and ALL THAT I NEED.
- ROCKS yes rocks.
- QUILLING stuff.
- PLASTIC yogurt contianers.
- SEWING MACHINE that is only working once in awhile, at this time.
- TOOLS, I really enjoy tools too.
So what in the world do I do with all of my stuff? Can anyone help me? What should I make, what should I do? I would like to sell some of my crafts at a church function.
Thanks for your help!
Doreen1020 in Cranberry Twnshp, Pa.
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More Reading
Pine Furniture Care Guide
By Steve Hattrick
First, some background on PINE WOOD. Pine is a naturally soft wood which continues to "breathe", based upon changes in the local (home, office, store, etc.) humidity and temperature. On the individual furniture piece there may be slight defects, such as knots,and shakes(small cracks in the surface of the wood). Some minor shrinkage may sometimes occur. These natural irregularities in pine enhance its overall uniqueness.
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Cool As A Cucumber
By Arleen M. Kaptur
Cucumbers are easy and fun to grow and they are a very special ingredient in many salad dishes. They can be the star attraction as well. So plant some cucumbers and watch them change into tasty, delicious mealtime ingredients. You won't regret the experience of gardening with cucumbers and your taste buds will truly thank you.
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Eating within your income.
"How much should you spend for food? While there is no single best answer, there are guides to help you estimate what you should spend. Spend enough to give your family nutritious meals they enjoy eating."
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Healthy Snacks
"Snacking has become a way of life for both adults and children. A recent study reported that over 95 percent of the women and children in this country have at least one snack each day. Many common snack foods are high in fat, sugar and sodium. If these foods are used for snacks frequently, they can affect our health."
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World's Largest Pink Ribbon
3-M is donating $1 to breast cancer research for everyone who clicks on the link and submits their name and town. They are building a huge pink ribbon in NYC made from Post Its with all of the names.
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Thanks
Susan
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