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Hello,
We have not completely hammered out our holiday publishing schedule this week but we will be publishing the daily on Thanksgiving morning before we leave for our feast and probably will publish the day after Thanksgiving as well, although it may be an shorter version than normal on Friday. If you have any Thanksgiving leftover tips, please send them in.
This weekends TF News will be about Gift Giving Strategies and traditions. We are especially looking for ways that families can plan ahead and make gift giving both less expensive and more meaningful. If you have any tips or strategies that have worked well for you family, please send them in.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Tips
Make Your Own Etched Glass Bottles
Use these to fill with homemade lotions, body washes, or even decorate canning jars for xmas salts or homemade food items. Make your own etched candle votives too!
You will need:
Instructions:
Lay newspaper down on flat surface where you will be working.
Place your stencil on the jar and center the stenciled image where you want it, and tape it there tightly. Make sure it is even and flat with no gaps between the stencil and the jar. This is key.
Shake your etching medium, and paint on a thin layer in the stencil area, but make sure you don't go out side the stencil and etch that area around it.
A thin to medium layer of etching medium is best. Don't go too crazy.
Let dry and remove stencil.
Tada! A pretty etched glass bottle or jar.
By Xerophyia
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Tips for conserving water. Post your ideas.
Timed Showers
Set a timer for 5 minutes and take a 5 minute shower. This can save up to 1000 gallons per month. It saves on utility bills also.
Don't Wash Dishes Under Running Water
Always soak pots and pans. Never scrub under running water. I always dip them in dish pan water. Take them out and set aside, and let them soak while doing the other dishes. The food inside them will be easy to remove. Saves elbow grease and water.
By Gladys Hill
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Did you know that there is a very quick and simple way to achieve permanent creases in your ironing. Simply mix 1/3rd of a cup of vinegar to 2/3rds of a cup of water. Using a spray bottle dampen the fabric in the area that you require the permanent crease. Cover with some brown paper or similar and iron.
By Gary S
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One of the best gifts that I've given to every new mother I know over the past 4 years is a small mesh laundry bag with a zippered top. These are great for keeping little baby socks together in the washer and dryer without losing them. I use separate ones for my 2 little boys so their socks can pretty much mate themselves!
These little mesh laundry/lingerie bags are also great for keeping together mittens or booties and such so they don't get lost from one another. I use several of the bags in the laundry room and next to the hamper. Even my 4 year old son knows to take his socks off and zip them in HIS bag. I mark the bags separately with an old string from gym shorts woven through one of them.
By Danielle
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Remove Garlic and Onion Odors from Hands
Pour some baking soda into the palm of you hands and rub your hands together with water. This also works well for really grimy hands.
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You use extra energy if you use too large a pot to cook on stove top. Always choose the pot nearest the size of what your cooking. The larger the pot the more metal that needs to be heated. Also, you can often bring food to the boiling point, reduce to simmer, cover with a lid and let the trapped heat do the remaining cooking.
By Gladys Hill
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In order to limit my frustration in matching socks, I ONLY buy the same brand over and over again. I have it written down in my wallet so I have the name and style with me when I shop. The same thing goes for my husband who is only allowed the same style white socks and black socks. We allow a few special socks to go with suits and slacks, but these are also of the same brand and can be easily matched by color.
No more problems with having 7 different types of white socks or black socks that mix with blue... and if one gets lost, there is always another to replace it!
By Danielle
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I had some frozen chicken patties that weren't getting eaten. I put on my thinking cap and made QUICK CHICKEN PATTY PIZZA, by topping slightly thawed patties with leftover sauce, mozzarella cheese, chopped onions, and pepperoni. My group loved it! Great idea to use following a day of heavy Christmas shopping!
By Cindy Bailey in Greene County PA
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After painting, pour some leftover paint in an empty jar, (such as a baby food jar) and label it for an easy way to walk around doing easy touch up jobs on walls. You can carry it around easier and may actually be tempted to touch up the spot quicker than if you had to haul out the big can of paint.
By Gary S
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To make these cute Christmas tree ornaments, an adult should cut across the bottom of an empty juice box to open it up. Rinse well and dry. Tape the slit back up. For a Bible, have your child cover the box with black construction or tissue paper. Wrap it like a little gift. Add a yellow trip along the edges to make it look like pages. Write "Holy Bible" with a white or yellow crayon. Other books like "The Night Before Christmas" can be made by covering the box with Santa Claus gift wrap and finishing as above. Glue on ribbon loop to hang. Possibilities are endless!
By Cindy Bailey in Greene County PA
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True Blue Benefits - Blueberries n' Cheese Squares
Blueberries - a good source of antioxidants - also may help break down cholesterol and fat, as studies on rat cells at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's laboratories in Oxford, Mississippi, found. Pterostilbene, a compound in the berries, may prove to be a potent weapon in the battle against heart disease.
Blueberries n' Cheese Squares
Yields 1 - 7x11 inch pan
In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and butter. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping, and press the rest of the crumbs into the bottom of a 7x11 inch baking pan. Set aside to chill in the refrigerator.
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and milk until smooth. Spread evenly over the chilled crumb layer. Spread the pie filling over the cream cheese layer, and chill while preparing the whipped cream. In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff, spread over the top of the blueberry layer. Sprinkle the top with the remaining graham cracker crumb mixture and keep chilled until serving time.
By Kathy
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24 Days Before Christmas Gifts
During garage sale season, I buy small items for my grandchildren for 25 cents or less. I wrap 24 for each child and put them in a tote bag for them to open on the first 24 days of December. It makes looking forward to Christmas even more exciting.
By Marylin
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Photo Refrigerator Magnets - New Use for Advertising Magnets
I was doing a good cleaning on my refrigerator door and noticed most of my fridge magnets were advertisements. So, I went to my folder where I store pretty pictures, got out my glue stick, cut down a picture to slightly larger then magnet, and glued on a picture. I let it dry, then trimmed. Could be some great last minute gifts!
By Jeanne
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Here is a quick tip for hot sandwiches that you can cook in the slow cooker. It is kind of a take on Sloppy Joes.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Brown and drain the onion and hamburger put into crockpot. Add the dash of worcestershire and the rest of the ingredients. Serve on Onion rolls. Great warmer upper for winter.
By Debra in Colorado
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Drink to Your Health - Fire Side Coffee
"Two to four cups of coffee a day may lower the risk of liver disease, cancer, clogged arteries, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and diabetes, according to a report presented recently at the New York Academy of Sciences. Coffee experts say that each cup is actually a complex mixture of active compounds, including healthful antioxidants." Editor's Note: This was news to me. I believe the source of this claim isCoffeeScience.org.
Fire Side Coffee
Yields 80 servings
Sift together creamer, hot chocolate mix, instant coffee, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour into a jar and seal with a lid.
To prepare: Stir 3 teaspoons of mixture into 1 cup of hot water. Adjust to taste.
By Kathy
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When lighting candles on a birthday cake. Instead of lighting match after match, or using one of the candles and getting melted wax all over the cake, use a piece of uncooked spaghetti. Light one end and use it as a long match!
By Gary S
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If you have a window decal that won't come off and you're afraid of scratching the glass with a razor blade, soak the decal with vinegar. Either apply it with a cloth or paint it on with a paintbrush. Let it soak in for a few minutes and it should come off easily.
By Gary S
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Sleep Shirts Made From Old Shirts
My husband has several "banded collar" shirts that he no longer wears. They are still in good shape and I loved the style. However, they are way too big for me to wear w/jeans or anything else. I decided to take the white one and cut the sleeves off to about my wrist and then turn the edges under and make a cute sleep shirt for myself.
When I finished I just washed it and put some fabric softner on it and now I have a cute and comfy sleep shirt to wear. I think I will check his other old shirts like his flannel ones and do the same with the sleeves and possibly cut off the collars on those as well, they will make really good ones for me! Plus, I will save the scaps from the shirts to use for other projects!
Cookiepom
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Brushing the toilet bowl each morning as you finish using it keeps it sparkling for a long time.
By Daylee
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If powdered milk is considerably cheaper than fresh in your area, you can prepare it and mix it half-n-half with fresh milk. You will still get a savings without the dreaded powdered milk taste. In my area, powdered milk is $2 per prepared gallon, while fresh milk is over $3 per gallon.
By Leann D
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Syndication Spotlight:
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Dear Webby's Humor Letter
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New Requests:
How do I get ink out of jersey that's been there for a week. -DaRealKita
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Keeping Sparkle From Coming Off Clothing
How do I stop the sparkle from coming off clothing? It gets over everything, and I want to wear it with black pants.
Sandy
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Can you change the color of carpet by dying it a different color? does anyone have any suggestions? Need to change from Burgundy to a beige or brown on a budget!
Tammee from Kentucky
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Can't Find Matching Bedspread and Sheets
I am supposed to be moving and im getting my own room. When we move, I get to decorate it any way I want. This is the problem, I wanted to paint my walls lime green and hot pink but I cant find a bedspread, sheets, etc to match it. If you know any websites or stores that would help me please let me know. I really had my heart set on those two colors but i can't find any bedding to match, should i just give up or keep looking?
Brittany
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I have wallpaper in a bedroom that is very hard to remove. I have tried scaping, wetting it with water but only manage to remove 1 inch at a time. This will take forever. Any advice?
Charlene
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Your readers have been great in helping in the past and now I have another, but simple request. My g'daughter loves home made apple butter. What I need is a good recipe and also what type of apples to use. So readers, please help me to show my g'daughter that G'ma did it again.....coming through for her. LOL Carol
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Seam Repair On Loveseat Cushions
Our living room set is 6 years old, the cushions on the lovseat and chair is pulling apart at the seams. If I just try to hand sew them they will just pull apart. Can anyone please help on how I can repair them.
Thank You,
Dave from IL.
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Treadle Sewing Machines Information
I need the name of a company that sells treadle sewing machines.
Mary from Arkansas
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I am looking for directions on how to make a lifesaver candy person. My grandma made these in the 1960's for us grandkids for Christmas. I remember a styrofoam head, a roll of lifesavers for the body and yarn for the arms and legs. Does anyone know how to do this?
Deb from MI
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More Reading:
Right-Now Holiday Sanity Savers
By Kathy Gates
Getting through the holidays with your sanity intact doesn't have to be Mission Impossible. But it will take you being willing to do things a little differently than last year. Isn't that the definition of insanity anyway -- to keep doing the same old thing the same old way and expect a different result?
View Article: Click Here
Holiday Travel Tips with a Furry Friend
By James D. Kelly
Many of us will be traveling by car or air to celebrate the Holiday season with family and friends. If you are planning on taking along a furry friend, some advanced planning will help to make your travels safer, more enjoyable and fun.
View Article: Click Here
Shoppers Beware - `Tis The Season
By James H. Dimmitt
It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips to help you safeguard your identity and other valuables:
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