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Zawardi Olympia (Bengal)

Zawardi Olympia is a 4 month old Bengal. I got her November 8th of 2008. She is always in the sink playing with water or trying to get into the bath. She came 2nd in her first show and was the youngest kitten at the show.

By Emma from England

Zawardi Olympia (Bengal)

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Craft Project: Crocheted Heart Pin
By Debra Frick

These cute little heart pins are a perfect gift for your co-workers or any one you would like to say "Be my Valentine" too. They are quick and easy and could easily be made up for a party gift or be made for the residents of a nursing home for Valentine's Day. These are made on the same principal as a granny square. You are forming a shell stitch with the triple crochets at the top and forming the point at the bottom with the 2 chain stitches.

Super Easy Crocheted Heart Pin

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Craft: Pasta Snowflakes

This is a very easy, inexpensive craft that is fun to do with children of all ages!

All you need is dried pasta, glue, and wax paper.

Glue the pasta together in any snowflake shape you want on top of the wax paper. I found that using a lot of glue helped hold it together better.

Allow the glue to dry. Once it is dry, peel the wax paper off and you have a beautiful snowflake to display!

You can hang it with fishing line, string, ribbon, etc. if you want.

By Jayme from Harrisonburg, VA

Pasta Snowflakes

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Craft: Red Heel Sock Mermaid

This is Elsy she is made from Red Heel Socks, the kind used for sock monkeys. I used one sock for her body and sewed it into a fish shape. Then I cut her arms and mouth from the other sock. Hand stitch the fins. Her hair is that twisty yarn used for scarves.

By Mamie K. from Beech Grove, IN.

Elsy, a Red Heel Sock Mermaid

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Tonka (Pitbull Mix)

Tonka is an 8 year old Pitbull mix. Tonka came to us from Newark NJ ASPCA. She was found tied to a tree so my family and I took pity and rescued her.

Tonka LOVES to play ball all the time! Tonka is very comical. She's a head tilter. She is so cute. She loves to jump on our trampoline with us. She is so strong that she can hold on to one end of a large ball that has a rope attached on both sides of it as my son holds the other end of the ball. He spins her around in circles as her whole body actually rotates in the air. She NEVER lets go of the rope. My son gets physically exhausted and that's when this game ends. It's quite a sight to see. LOL

By Mary Lou from Flanders, NJ

Tonka (Pitbull Mix)

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Keep Track of Underwear Sizes With Dots

When you have 3, 4 or more children all the same sex and close in age it can be difficult to keep underwear and socks sorted and in the correct drawers. We all know about "Hand-me-Downs". Dealing with them can be helpful if you use a permanent marker and put 1 dot it in the waistband or tag of the underwear for the oldest child.

When they pass it down to the second child, you add another dot. Add a third dot for the third child, and if they are still not worn out you can keep passing it down just adding a dot to indicate which child's pile and drawer each item would go to. Socks can be marked on the bottom. Makes life in the laundry room much easier!

Source: My mom. Learned this as she raised six children born in 10 years.

By K. Kahn from Ft. Collins, CO

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Sideburn Trimmers for Dog Grooming

If you have a small dog or puppy with very fine soft fur, you know how hard it is to groom them with a big noisy (and expensive) electric corded pet groomer. I've struggled with it for the last 9 years because my wiggly Pekingese would try to get away as soon as she heard the noise.

Last night, it occurred to me that the cordless rechargeable Wahl sideburns trimmer that I'd recently given my husband was small and quiet, and might work to get a hard hopelessly knotted fur clump cut off my dog's tummy. She actually stayed still and let me trim it! Then she let me trim her paw fur neatly on all four paws, and all the hard to reach delicate areas that scissors are way too dangerous for.

My husband was so happy that we'd FINALLY found the secret to do this without stress, that he tactfully ignored that we were using his new trimmer. Luckily, they are less than $20 at Walmart, lol... I promise honey, I'll get you a new one!

By Mary from Mountain Pine, AR

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Baby Shower Clothesline

I was at a baby shower this past weekend and saw the cutest thing done. I never saw anything like this being done before. Someone took a 25 foot clothes line and clothes pinned baby clothes all across the clothes line for the new Mother-to-be. I thought it was very cute. She's got all kinds of clothes and when the weather turns warm she can wash the clothes and she has a clothes line with clothes pins to hang the baby's clothes on. I thought it was a very thoughtful gift. Hope you think so too.

By Chris

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Teaching My Grandson About Money

I am trying to teach my grandson about money and how to be savvy with it. For Thanksgiving, I gave him 3 one dollar bills. His father took him to the dollar store and let him buy a gift for his mother for Christmas. He decided to get her a tool that cuts fruit like apples into sections. He also bought himself some little soldiers.

Since this turned out well, I've mailed him another set of 3 one dollar bills for Valentine's Day. I wrote a note that he should decide what to do with them. I suggested he might want to shop for a birthday gift for his mother. Then, he should decide if he wants to save the others or buy something for himself.

He is only six years old, but I think good money management is something that should be taught. Today many people, like myself, pay for everything with a plastic card (to get the rewards) and children don't get to see money or learn its worth. Money has power. Its up to us to teach our children about that power and how to manage it.

By Carol from PA

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Warning About Dead Car Batteries

Warning! Do not reinstall a car battery without full knowledge of its proper placement!

In the world of electronics, red means positive, and black means negative. Don't assume this with car batteries.

We just had negative 38 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, we thought we were fine because we've heard that when it comes to cars, only the temperature matters. It was negative 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The next morning, our vehicle wouldn't start. My husband decided it was the battery, and possibly a frozen gas line. He bought a battery charger, but was too anxious for it.

It may take up to 5 hours for a battery to charge, plus a couple of hours for the battery to thaw out.

After many tries that failed, I felt sorry for my husband. The battery was finally charged, so I decided to install it myself and let the car run, so when my husband got up in the morning, he would be happy.

What a mistake!

First of all, red means a positive charge, and black means a negative charge. It sounds fine to me, except that when I put the battery back in the car, their was one black cover for the battery, so I assumed it meant a negative charge, and that is where things went wrong!

Just because you see a black cover for the battery terminal does not mean it is a negative charge. I know in electronics/electrical that this does not make any sense, but this is what happened to me.

Because I saw a black negative cover, I thought it meant a negative charge for the battery. So I connected the battery that way. What I didn't know was that I was connecting the battery the other way--even though the black cap was black, I was connecting it to positive. It was ugly. I did see a spark that happened, in less than a second, and then I got worried. I started dropping all of the sockets.

It turns out that battery covers may be black even when they should be red.

The man that sold my husband the brand new fuse told my husband that I was lucky I didn't blow myself up.

I am begging you people, don't blow yourselves up!

I want all of you to be patient, and make certain you can get through a winter, even a harsh winter. God Bless You All!

By Carol L. from South Bend, IN

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Unplug It And Save On Electric Bills

In Florida, electric bills run high, particularly in the summer. I save on my electric bill in two ways:

First, I hang my clothes to dry, only using my dryer to de-wrinkle the clothes. In this way, the dryer is on for only 20 minutes vs. over an hour.

Second, I unplug everything that is not being used: the microwave, the toasters, the hair dryer, the cell phone chargers, the computers, the washer and dryer.

Although it is minimal, these items still use electricity even when dormant. We probably save around $20 or more a month just by unplugging everything.

By combining these two methods, along with having cooler weather and being able to turn off our A/C, last month we had our lowest electric bill since moving into our house (which has vaulted ceilings) from an apartment. Contact your local electric company for more ideas on how to use less and save more--they are glad to help.

Source: ezine article

By Lynne from Orlando, FL

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Mix Jams Together to Get Every Bit

I buy the name brand of sugar free jams and preserves. I usually keep at least three flavors in the fridge so the grandkids have a variety to choose from. Of course, eventually the jars are going to become almost empty. To make room for new jars, I will scrape the contents of two jars into the third and stir them together, thus making a new jar of mixed fruit preserves. As the newer jars become almost empty I add them to the original mixed fruit one again. Always a variety of flavors and very little, if any, is wasted, thus saving money. Every little bit helps.

By Linda from Bloomington

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Try Something Different With Your Spaghetti Sauce

I made the mistake of deviating from my regular brand of spaghetti and was sorely disappointed. I was tired and wanted to spare myself an extra trip to another store so bought the pasta at a day old bread shop.

After cooking it awhile, I noticed it had mushed down to a pulp! EW! So to remedy my situation, it being late in the evening, I salvaged my meal by putting my meat sauce on a piece of bread and topping it with shredded mozzarella.

I decided since my meal had already flubbed up so badly that I would try something a little different and added about a teaspoon of powered mocha (available at a popular coffee shop). This was in addition to the normal sprinkling of extra Oregano flakes to the jar sauce (cheater sauce but a good quality one)

IT WAS EXCELLENT!

By Melody_yesterday from Otterville MO

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Evaporated Milk for Cereal

With the cost of milk so high, you can save a little by using evaporated milk for cereal and cooking and saving jug milk for drinking. Also once the can is opened you can keep the rest fresh and ready by pouring into an ice tray and freezing into cubes. One or two cubes tossed in a bowl in the fridge overnight will be melted and ready for your breakfast cereal by the morning.

By Trace from Wartburg

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

A teenager was sitting in church, and when the collection plate was passed around, he quickly pulled a dollar bill from his pocket and dropped it in. Just then, the person behind him tapped him on his shoulder and handed him a $20 bill. The boy smiled, placed the $20 in the plate and passed it on, admiring that the man was being generous. Then the boy felt another tap from behind and heard a whisper:

"Son," the man said, "that was your $20 bill that had fallen out of your pocket."

Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor

Raised Beds Made With Rocks

I would like to use all the rocks that seem to grow here to good use. Instead of buying wood to make raised beds in the garden I would like to try building it with the stones. The previous owner left three bags of quick-crete, so I was hoping to use that. Will I have to wash all the rocks first? Do I have to put down a layer of sand before I even start? How long will it have to 'set' before I put in the dirt?
Has anyone tried this before, and what worked and what didn't.

Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Cynthia from Alabama

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Removing Popcorn Ceilings

I live in a manufactured (double-wide) home. I want to remove the popcorn ceilings and paint them. I've seen remodel projects on HGTV, etc., but they never seem to explain the process. Do any of you have the directions?

Polly

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Finding Leaks in an Air Mattress

How to find a leak in a air mattress with tissue paper?

Anna from Florida

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Roses Have Witch's Broom Disease

Has anyone ever heard of Witch's Broom Disease? My rose bushes have this, and I don't know how to get rid of it or how to prevent it. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Chris from Clinton, MO

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Midnight Moon Game

I am looking for the directions to the child's game Midnight Moon. Any suggestions on where to get them? Thanks!

Mindy

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Loose Arm on a Rocking Chair

How do I tighten a loose arm on my rocking chair?

Yvonne from Central MA

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Cleaning Between Wood Floor Slats

I am looking for advice about cleaning between slats of hardwood floors.

Mickey

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Plastic Window Covering

I am looking for plastic covering applied with a blow dryer for windows.

Denise from Oklahoma City, OK

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Making 3D Fabric Glue

Does anyone know how to make colored 3 dimensional fabric glue? I tried putting acrylic paint into some PVA but this does not give me the 3D effect.

Isobel from Scotland

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Orange Juice Stains on Wood

Any tips for removing orange juice stains from wood surfaces?

R.S. from Norwich, England

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Adhering Clip Art to Fabric

My daughter loves Betty Boop and I was wondering if there is a way that I can cut out clip art of Betty and adhere it to fabric. There is a chair in her room that I had planned to recover the seat on. Then it hit me, what a cute valentine's day gift if I could cover the fabric with different Betty Boop pictures. If any of you guys can help me it would be greatly appreciated. I love this site, because we receive and give great ideas and advice. Thanks and take good care.

Linda from NYC

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What is a "Mother of the Earth"?

Has anyone but me heard of or ever seen a "mother of the earth"? Mainly I have heard my grandmother talk about them when she lived in Monahans, Texas. I would love to hear anyone who has actually seen one of them. They might be a form of spider or maybe not. They have legs and a body like a spider, but they have a yellow back on them that looks as if they are carrying a poached egg on their backs. I have heard them referred to as "baby of the earth" also.

Robyn from Bristol, TN

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Oatmeal and Nut Bread Recipe for Bread Machine

Does anyone have the recipe for Oatmeal and Nut bread that came with the Black and Decker bread maker?

Zipper from Cornwall, Ontario

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Homemade Remedy for Termites

Does anyone have a homemade remedy for getting rid of termites?

Raymond from Shreveport, LA

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Swiffer WetJet Not Spraying Well

I refilled my WetJet and now when I use it, it doesn't spray well. The solution only shoots out weakly a few inches. Did I do something wrong and is there any way to fix this?

Mary from Hummelstown, PA

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Crafts Using Old Wedding Dress

I have my mother's wedding dress (it is about 50yrs old) and want to make something for my children out of it. Does anyone have any ideas?

Mary from Hollywood, FL

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Easter Ornament Ideas

Does anyone have ornament ideas for Easter and Valentine's to hang on tree?

Jan from Mosinee, WI

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Picking Rose Hips

I want to try and grow some roses from seed, but I have read some articles that say to pick the hips before they wrinkle. It is February, so are the hips still good? There are some still left on my plants, can I use them? Any feedback would be very helpful. Thanks!

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Chris from Clinton, MO

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Wedding Wishing Well

How do you make a wishing well for wedding cards?

Casey from Port Angeles, WA

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20th Wedding Anniversary Party On a Tight Budget

How can I plan a surprise 20th anniversary party on a very tight budget?

Tonya7853 from WI

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2nd Birthday Party Ideas

My son will be two years old in August. I have quite a few questions. Please help in any way you can. Is a pool party acceptable for this age group? If not, what are some other ideas that don't cost a lot. Our house is too small for any type of party. Also, themes, my son LOVES Barney, but I can't find anything to do with Barney anywhere. He's not into Dora, Diego, Elmo, The Backyardigans, or really, anything else popular.

Also, one of his cousins is allergic to milk, and one of his friends is allergic to everything, including: dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, rice, corn, etc. What can we serve that can fit everyone, and not go way over budget? How many kids are too many, and is there a polite way to tell people no if we're asked if someone else can come? If you have any ideas, please help! Thank you!

Julia from Indianapolis, IN

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Stripping and Re-staining a Table

I am needing directions on how to strip the old stain off a table and then re-stain it. Thank you.

Pam from Allen, TX

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Book Light Alternatives

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could use in place of a book light. I like reading at night with a book night light that attaches to the book so I won't disturb my hubby. However, the replacement bulbs are hard to find and I always end up buying another book light. I have bought so many book lights because I can never find the replacement bulbs. Can you offer any advice?

Onesummer

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Braided Clothes Hanger Covers

Does anyone have a pattern for braided clothes hanger covers made out of wool and/or material? Thanks.

Linda

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Uses for a CD Stand

I recently bought a CD stand at a yard sale thinking my DVD movies would fit, but they didn't. What are some other uses I can use it for?

Clara711 from Whittier, CA

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Homemade Nestle Quik

Does anyone know the proportion of cocoa to sugar in products such as Nestle Quik? Many recipes call for Nestle Quik as an ingredient and I won't buy it premixed. Thanks for your help.

Susan from Omaha, NE

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Tankless Water Heat Advice

Anyone have an opinion about getting a tankless water heater as opposed to using an oil burner tank for all hot water?

Marie from MA

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Creosote Stains on Carpet

How do you get creosote out of carpets?

Vicky

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Removing Fireplace Odors From a House

I have a wood burning fireplace. When its not burning there is a smell of old burning wood in my living room. How do I get rid of the smell?

Janet from Spanaway

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Shop Wise
By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

As grocery prices rise, we wait and hope for this economic trend to reverse itself. However, in the meantime there are ways to shop wise and save money at the grocery store. It takes a little planning and bit of motivation, but you too can shop wisely without sacrificing the promise of a full pantry.

Shop Wise

Saving Money on Gardening

Spring is right around the corner. Here are some tips for saving money on gardening. Post your own ideas here.

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Daily Thrifty Tips - February 9, 2009

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