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Hello,
We have a great newsletter today. Lots of interesting tips and requests.
Tomorrow's TF News will be about Organizing Your Workshop. If you have any tips for organziing tools and keeping a clean work area, feel free to post them.
We published a tip with Cross Stitch Sayings in it yesterday. Some more humorous and heart warming ideas have been posted as feedback. To read them and post your own ideas, visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/Crafts/tf918195_cra.html
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
Today's Tips:
New Requests:
More Reading:
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Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
Today's Photo Contest Entries
This is my 6 month old Siberian Husky puppy, Ice. We got her as a 6-week-old puppy-the mother dog had run out of milk when the puppies were only 4-weeks-old. She loves to steal empty containers that she finds. If there is an empty 2-liter bottle or 1 gallon milk jug sitting by the trash, she will grab it and run off with it. She loves to attack them. She is a very good puppy and so entertaining!
By Tawnee
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The Best Two Hours A Day I've Ever Spent
New Moms Need Help too!! And who could resist two hours of cuddling a new Granddaughter to give Mom a break. Is this not a doll?
By Sharon Shearer
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Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Testing Dishes for Microwave Safety
To determine whether or not a dish is microwave safe, put 1 cup water into a glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in the microwave in the dish being tested. Then microwave at high for 1 minute. If the dish being tested is warm and the water cool, the dish is unsafe.
By Robin
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Great exercise, scroll slowly...
This is a wonderful exercise for older people. I just came across this exercise suggested for seniors, to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. It seems so easy, so I thought I'd pass it on to some of my friends and family. The article suggested doing it three days a week.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5 lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10 lb. potato sacks.
Then 50 lb. potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100 lb. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.
By Terri H.
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If you tend to overspend when shopping with a certain friend, you might want to either go alone next time. Also, "just browsing" tends to lead to overspending. Think to yourself if you really need this item? Do you have a certain or specific place for the item? Or will it get shoved back in a drawer or closet only to gather dust? Thinking this way, works for me.
By Terri H.
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Tips for gardening in the southwest. Post your ideas.
Provide afternoon shade for your tomato and pepper plants by planting under or next to sunflowers or tall corn! This works great for the southwest gardener!
By MARIANN
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Tips for growing cucumbers. Post your ideas.
Sweeter Cucumbers
Cucumbers are sweeter when you plant them with sunflowers!
By MARIANN
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Protect your grapes from birds by inserting the grapes into a small paper bag and stapling at the top until ripe.
By MARIANN
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Tips for getting rid of ants. Post your ideas.
How do you get rid of ants? Don't feed them of course. Keep cupboards and floors clean. Keep the crumbs off the counter tops and the carpets.
By ardis barnes
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Tips for using drapes and curtains as craft material for other projects. Post your ideas.
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Tips for using hair spray. Post your ideas.
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When putting on perfume/cologne, place on back of knees and wrist, as the scent drifts upward you can smell it. If you put it on your neck, no one can smell it.
By Dee
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When you car has leaked car fluids on the driveway, use cheap regular clay type cat litter to absorb the oil, etc. Leave over night and sweep away in the morning. If stain is still there, sprinkle with tide and scrub with a broom. Sweep up as much as possible, then hose down. Just try to keep the car fluids from entering the storm drains as much as possible.
By Dee
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When making a cracker or cookie type crust for desserts, try sliding your hand into a plastic storage type bag and pressing the crust into the pan. Makes a lot less mess.
By Robin
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Tips for freezing tortillas, post your ideas.
To freeze your leftover tortillas just stack them with a sheet of waxed paper between each one and then put the stack into a zip lock bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
By Robin
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Get a regular journal or spiral notebook, and make a medical journal out of it. Write down any of the past sicknesses in the family and bring it with you when going to doctors. Not only will you have the family history but you can also write down exactly what the doctor says, what medications you need to have, etc. Then if for some reason you can't give the information yourself, the book has all the information.
By Dee
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Take any liquid fabric softener and add about 1 cup to a 33 0z bottle of water. This works wonders on clothing, furniture, car, rugs, sheets, at a fraction of the price.
By Tracy Lynch
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Tips for keeping ice cream fresh and preventing freezer burn. Post your ideas.
To keep your ice cream fresh longer, store it toward the back of the freezer, instead of toward the front close to where the door is being opened and closed all the time.
By Robin
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Before I bought the spice Ginger, I wanted to try it. It costs $3.59 for the small jar! The produce manager suggested to break off a piece of the "root" and try that! I bought a piece about the size of a finger for 12 cents! Twice the amount I needed for my recipe!
By Rene'
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Cell Phone Numbers Being Released
Cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you may start to receive sales calls. Call this number from your cell phone 888-382-2220 or register on line at http://www.donotcall.gov. It is the Federal Trade Commission nation Do Not Call list. It only takes a minute and it blocks your number for 5 years.
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Tips to help you at the grocery store. Post your ideas.
Never shop when depressed, hungry or tired, you'll end up spending way more money at the checkout than you had previously planned to.
By Terri H.
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When you have used ink on rolodex cards and the infomation is outdated, you can use a label sticker to cover the old information.
This gives you a new card to write on.
Jenn in Shelton, WA
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Thoughtful "Thinking of You" Gift Basket
I once saw a gift basket that made a lasting impression. Included in it were small inexpensive gifts thoughtfully put together. With each gift it had a tag saying "If you're feeling happy open me" or "If you're feeling depressed open me". Depending on what the gift said it would be a happy gift or an encouraging gift. It takes some real thought but lets them know how much you are there for them. Just wanted to share this so that others can pass it along.
By Sharon,Ky
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When I was a child our family lived away from our Grandmother. She would occasionally visit and to tell the truth, I really don't have many good memories of her. She really wasn't very loving. All my other Grandparents were deceased. So I missed the love and security most children take for granted.
I determined in my heart that I would not ever be the "pain in the neck" Grandma that I had. My oldest son met the girl who is now his wife when her son was 2, and I try in every way I can to let him know how much he is loved. Not just in the things I can buy him but in the quality time I can give him. My life is now free of the stresses of raising my children and I try to give him undivided attention- That's what kids want from Grandmas!
After all -- life's not just about today -- we are making memories!
By Sharon ,Ky
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Cook rice according to pkg. mix all the ingredients well. Pour into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or till heated thoroughly.
*You can use turkey (I used ground turkey).
** I used Miracle Whip.
By Terri
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Knead all ingredients together and form in patties. Fry patties in a hot greased pan. Before frying, can dredge your patties in all purpose flour, if desired.
*can also use 1 tablespoon of dry, minced onion bits, in place of raw onions.
By Terri
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Thinly slice the celery and mix with the chicken in a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl, mix the mayo, sour cream and rosemary, mixing well. Pour dressing over chicken mix. Stir till all ingredients are well coated. Can serve immediately or chill for a later use.
This can be served any number of ways: on crackers, or on lettuce, or as sandwich spread. Serves 4 on bread or lettuce.
By Terri
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Heat bacon drippings in a large skillet. Add rest of ingredients; cover and cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, or till zucchini is tender crisp. Stirring occasionally. Serves: 8-10
By Terri H.
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Ingredients:
Directions:
In a small pan, saute 1/3 stick margarine with the bell pepper, onions and celery, till onions are translucent. While hot, add velveeta and mayo, mix well.
In a 9"x 13" greased baking dish, add the canned veggies, stirring to mix well. On top of these veggies, place canned chicken pieces. Sprinkle dried lemon peel on top of chicken/veggies. Spread velveeta mixture evenly on top of casserole.
In a small bowl, mix 1/3 stick margarine, melted with crushed Ritz crackers. Sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake casserole 35-45 minutes covered with tin foil and 10 minutes w/o tin foil or till golden brown.
By Terri
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Combine yeast mixture, eggs, mashed potatoes, shortening, sugar, and salt. Beat with electric mixer until smooth. Add flour to make a soft dough and knead until smooth. Place in greased bowl.. Let rise until double in size. Punch down and put in icebox or make into rolls. Let rise and bake at about 375 degrees for about 20-30 minutes. (This makes good light rolls, cinnamon rolls, or buns.)
By Robin
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Caramels (A Christmas Favorite)
Ingredients:
Directions:
In heavy saucepan, melt butter. Add corn syrup and sugar. Boil for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cans Eagle Brand milk. Mix flour thoroughly with remaining milk; then add to corn syrup-sugar mixture. Boil until darkens and forms a medium -hard ball (240 degrees on candy thermometer). STIR CONSTANTLY or mixture will stick. Add vanilla and pour into buttered 10x13x2" pan. Allow to cool Cut into 1" pieces with a sharp knife or kitchen shears..which have been buttered. Wrap pieces in small squares of waxed paper. Makes about 5 dozen.
By Sharon,Ky
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Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine graham crackers and melted butter. Press mixture into bottom of a 9" square pan.Reserve some for top. Cream sugar, cheese, and whipped cream and spread over crust. Pour cherries over top of mixture. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Refrigerate.
By Sharon,Ky
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Ingredients:
Directions:
In saucepan gradually mix broth into flour, garlic powder and pepper till smooth. Over medium heat, cook till mixture boils and thickens stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in yogurt. Toss with pasta and 4 tbsp cheese. Sprinkle with parsley and remaining cheese.
By Sharon,Ky
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One night after dinner my kids wanted something sweet. I did not have much on hand but a package of tortillas and a plain chocolate bar. So I made this cheap dessert...
Ingredients:
1 tortilla
2 sections of a chocolate bar
Directions:
Heated the tortilla in a pan.
Add two sections of the chocolate bar.
Fold the tortilla in half.
The chocolate melts and spreads (so you don't need much) and boy was it good! I have also found that you can use chocolate chips (any that you have), marshmallows (with the chocolate makes a tortilla s'more). You can even use your favorite type of candy bar. Cheap and easy and they loved it.
Thanks,
Amy T from Yoakum, TX
P.S. Anyone that has a cheap desert, please post it!
View Article: Click Here
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest Prize! Now a 2 $25.00 Gift Cards
In our contest we are giving away two $25.00 Gift Cards (we will
select to winners at random) at one of the following stores: Home
Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you
get to choose which gift card! This contest ends on April 30th,
2005.
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests:
Passed Over For a Job, Need Ideas To Cheer Hubby Up
Hey everybody, my poor husband is so exhausted from working 2 jobs lately. He works full-time at Coca-Cola (5:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm) and then goes straight to work at Home Depot and works til' closing there. Well, a better paying position became available at Coke and he wanted it so badly (he is delivering cokes now and has been there 8 years AND he has a degree in Business Management!) It was a supervisor position.
Well, he called me this morning almost in tears and said he didn't get the job. They gave it to a young guy who has only been there 2 years! I need to think of something really nice to do for him today before he gets home... to cheer him up. He works his tail off and deserves a reward. My mind is blank.
He's really been wanting the new Elvis CD (the remix version) and WalMart told me it's not available til' Tuesday.
I need help today, any ideas?!
Josmith
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I buy bottled water due to the tap water not tasting too great but I am wondering about a cheaper way to have good tasting water, I have looked into filters and it just seems like no matter what way I look, it costs me money. I have been all over this site looking for ideas? Please help, with summer coming soon we will go through a lot of bottled water.
Shari
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I have black mold in my refrigerator. Its not a "normal frig", it's an industrial cooler like groceries stores have that hold the 20 oz pop. I have tried cleaning it with dish soap first and than bleach. I have tried vinegar. Today I see that the blower on top are all black. It smells horrible and I hate to store anything in there. Thank you for your help.
Lori
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Homemade Swimmers Shampoo and Eye Drops
My son (13) has started water-polo and needs to get the chemicals out of his hair and eyes. Any suggestions for homemade shampoo or eye drops?
Kiwi Eema
Jewish Mom of Future Olympic Medallist
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Ok, all you thriftyfuners, I need your help. My daughters wedding is coming up in a month and a half and we do not have any ideas as to what to give the best man, groomsmen, ushers etc., as gifts. Any suggestions? Honestly I am all "idea-ed" out!
Thanks in advance for your help.
Amy
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Removing Paint and Grout From Porcelain Bathtub
We are moving and the bathroom of the new place has just been painted and tiled, the old porcelain bath has been left with paint and grout splattered all over it. It makes it look dirty. What can i do, it seems to scratch easily?
Bec from Australia
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Thick Scum Build Up Around Toilet
I recently purchased a block of flats from some people who didn't clean, I'm having some trouble with the toilet in one of them. The outside of the toilet is covered in some sort of caked on build up, including all the piping and floor around it!
Its really unbelievable. I just cant force myself to scrub it by hand my husband had a go and it seems to be really stuck. Ive tried spraying all sorts of cleaning products even hydrochloric acid on it hoping it will dissolve or eat it away.
It may have been building up for 7 years or more. Is there any hope? There has to be some sort of heavy duty scum eater!
Any help appreciated.
Bec from Australia
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I have a plastic cup stuck inside another plastic cup, and I have tried putting cold water as well as hot water in them, but cannot get them apart. I would appreciate and tps anyone has.
CarolynJ
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Craft Activities to Cure Boredom
I am trying to lose weight and I eat because well because I am bored. In order to lose weight I need to fill my day with activites, like crafts, so does anyone have fun crafts that will fill my time so i can lose some weight?
Katie
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Organizing My Closet and Drawers
I have alot of clothes and I can't seem to find the right shirt when I want it, then the next day i find it! It's so annoying, I wish there was some way to organize my closet and drawers. Any suggestions whould be greatly appreiciated! THANKS,
Katie
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"The Talented Mr. Ripley" Question
Does anyone know the name of the original french film that the movie" The Talented Mr. Ripley" was based on. I am getting married in a few weeks and want to give it to my bride as a gift as, it is the movie we went to see on our first date.
David
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I am trying to decide what to give my bride as a gift on our wedding day. I consider myself rather romantic and usually never have any trouble coming up with gifts, however, I am stumped.
I had considerred a ring with her birthstone, but she is already getting a wedding ring. Other thoughts I had were a copy of the French version of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" which we went to see on our first date, a photo album documenting our relationship from the beginning to the present, or a locket with some sort of picture inside.
She has expressed that I need not bother with a gift as our wedding is enough. But, i'd like to do something as it is her day and hopefully the only one she will ever have.
David
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I have a cocker spaniel who has been plagued by tapeworm infections lately. We go to the vet and get the medicine, but invariably, within the month, I am seeing worms in his stool again. I know that eating fleas is the cause, and we constantly battle them, but I was wondering if there are any home remedies to keep them from returning? Does the garlic really work? Powdered or fresh?
Thanks for your help.
Sue H
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Getting Nail Polish Off a Silk Skirt
I just got nail polish all over my new silk skirt. What should I do?
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make 11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
More Reading:
How to Make a Cajun Roux
By Janice Faulk Duplantis
The process of preparing Cajun food is in no way hurried and involves a layering of flavors which allows each ingredient to maintain its own identity.
View Article: Click Here
Crafty Country Decorating Style Ideas
By Kathy Burns-Millyard
If you've ever seen Frank's decorations on TLC's Trading Spaces, then you know all about the country style of design. From stenciled drawings to wooden cows to ruffled curtains, country design has all the frills you might expect from our dear friend, Frank. When I was a little girl, my grandparents sold woodwork at the flea markets all over Tennessee and Kentucky. We had wooden calendars with dolls or bears painted on them. We had quilt racks with hearts. We had every crafty country decoration imaginable. Although I thought at one time that you could just toss all these things into a room and have style, I've learned since that there are very definite ways to create crafty country rooms that men are still willing to enter.
View Article: Click Here
How to Transplant Irises
By LeAnn R. Ralph
In my experience, irises are among the easiest flowers to transplant.
View Article: Click Here
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