Bedroom Wall Paint Color Advice?
Go with your favorite color whatever it happens to be and enjoy it. Most people are afraid of colors and needlessly worry about what other people might think of their choice but who cares .... All colors fit together, even the ones that clash and make a bold...
Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies
Sounds good and Ill make some soon. Heres another way to move along the neglected cereals ... I like old fashioned Birds Eye custard, the kind you cook, and its especially good when served cold with a dollop of maple syrup or jam on top. After making it and...
Keep Cats Out of Outdoor Planters
I use pine cones. Theyre natural, look good, help a bit to hold in soil moisture and theyre free.
Save Scrap Paper for Notes
As a home based bookkeeper, I print a lot of client worksheets, etc as I crunch numbers. Instead of throwing them into the shredder when Im done with them, I cut them down into half, quarter or smaller pieces of paper and use them as scratch paper. My computer...
Pancakes with Jarred Baby Fruit
As an off the wall and fun thing to do with 2 - 1 oz little bottles of tequila rose liqueur that Id been given but didnt really care for, I tossed them into my homemade batter and the pancakes were splendid with a hint of strawberry taste. Im guessing that...
Split Large Drinks in Two Cups
Im not in the habit of buying cold drinks often but when I do I always ask that no ice is added. The drink is cold anyway and doesnt need added cooling. With ice added, the amount of juice or soda is reduced by half so that means youre paying premium price...
Suggestions for Serving Cold Sautéed Salmon?
Im not partial to fish either with the exception of smoked trout and deep fried really crispy smelts and even then Im particular. Neither of these smell fishy, taste fishy, give a fishy aftertaste and it dont have have the soft texture that fish usually has...
Laundry Detergent Drawer Sachets
I like to make pretty sachets that can be laid in a drawer or hung in the closet and I give some of them away as small thinking of you gifts. Instead of using a coffee filter or plastic bag to enclose the scented cotton balls, loose soap shavings or dried lavender...
Have a Frugal Mindset
Im of the opinion that being thrifty in all matters, not just financially, is being resourceful and in turn resilient in life.
Saving Money on Paper Towels
The surplus store in my area sells packs of 20 microfiber cloths for $5.99. In the pack, 10 are yellow and 10 are blue. I use the yellow ones in the kitchen and the blue ones for general household use. Theyre washed with my regular laundry and never seem to...
Baked Crispy Tofu
I used tapioca starch instead of cornflour and it turned out good. I did make too many though and used some as croutons in my salad. That was different but a nice change.
Clean Serrated Knives With Brush
I always have three new toothbrushes that I use in the kitchen. Theyre handy, dont take up a lot of room and I dont use them for anything else except what I intend them to be used for. The red one is for cleaning serrated knives, the grater and the sharp blades...
Storing a Toothbrush for Daily Use
I keep the toothbrushes under the sink in an old coffee mug. It happens that the mug was a favorite and when the handle broke off I was loathe to throw it out so I glued the handle back on and repurposed the mug. Its not trustworthy enough for drinking from...
Fluffy Raisin Bread
Im definitely going to give this a try. I love raisin bread but Im allergic to cinnamon and bakeries dont make the bread anymore without it unless its on special order, which Im not about to do. Since I was a kid, our traditional Easter morning breakfast has...
Quick Dry for Washed Lettuce
I carefully wash the lettuce leaves, spread them out on a clean dry tea towel then gently roll up the towel lengthways. Holding both ends of the towel firmly I swing it around for a minute, the towel absorbing most of the moisture. Then I change the lettuce...
Finding That Certain Recipe
My old fashioned recipe box has both white and blue cards. The white ones are for recipes that Ive created and dont want to forget how to make or theyre recipes given to me by friends and family. The blue cards are a quick and easy way to locate a particular...
Organizing Scarves
I bought a mans tie rack that hangs on the closet rod at a local thrift store and hang my neatly folded scarves on it. The design of the rack keeps them from sliding off.
Savory Bread Pudding
Wonderful recipe and Ill definitely make one soon. I did somewhat the same recently using leftover stuffing and meat from our Canadian Thanksgiving turkey. With a little ingenuity and time, I made three wonderful meat loaves that I baked for about 15 minutes...
Remove Nails with the Hammer Claw Facing Up
For those hard to pull out nails when leverage is needed, the small piece of wood in front of the nail prevents putting a divet into the wall or wood that the nail is coming out of.
Spooky Spider Pizza
It was Thanksgiving Day here in Canada yesterday and my son and family hosted the turkey dinner. I brought over several dishes to compliment the meal, including a platter of bbq roasted shepherd peppers drizzled lightly with olive oil and a hint of minced garlic...
Spooky Spider Pizza
Yeah, this one at least turned out pleasing to the eye. Not like the time I presented an oven baked whole rabbit to the table with bandaids over the eyeball sockets. Id covered them because I didnt like looking at them when it was roasting and I forgot to take...
Spooky Spider Pizza
Yeah, a photo would be hilarious to have. Maybe Ill roast a rabbit one of these days soon and put bandaids on just for the fun of it so I can get a picture. Check your inbox. I sent you a p.m. with another funny.
Use Towels to Keep Handbags in Shape
I too use hand towels for stuffing in my seasonal purses. I also put in a leftover sliver of bath soap to make it smell nice when I open it again for everyday use.
Homemade Panko Breadcrumbs
I make my own breadcrumbs too using the WalMart French stick bread plus any leftover bread thats in the house and needs to be moved along. I like to give my breadcrumbs a bit of attitude so when the crumbs are ready and in a big bowl, I stir in 1/2 - 1 tsp...
Bath Tissue Holder to Store Crochet Thread
I saw your post about using a tp holder for your yarn and Im reminded of what Ive done with paper towel holders. I use them for storing my mason jar rings, one holder each of the two sizes I use.
Southern Fried Cornbread
I like cornbread but have never had fried cabbage. Never heard of it either ... maybe its not a traditional Canadian dish ... but Im going to look it up and try my hand at making it. I do make fried green tomatoes though and the cornbread would likely go well...
Make Your Own Sachets
Hi Doug ... I came across this older posting of yours and was thrilled when you mentioned 4711. That was my Omas (grandmothers) signature scent and now its mine. I remember her rubbing it onto her forehead when she had a headache and she said that the alcohol...
Make Your Own Sachets
I like using sachets too filled with either dried rosemary or a cotton ball wet with a favorite cologne or even baby powder. Theyre all nice. What Ive done for the past several years is cut open one end of an unused tea bag. I keep the tea leaves in a small...
Reducing Grubs In Lawn And Garden
According to the internet, many types of grubs are edible by humans and are extremely nutritious. Personally, Im not inclined to eat them but Im sure there are some people who would like to know your address so they can fine dine. LOL
Shave For $10 Per Year
Good article J ... and Im glad that youve joined our Thrifty Fun group. Thrift and Fun is what this site is all about. And as an add-on to your article ... when hubbys blade isnt sharp enough for use on his tough facial hair, it gets passed down to me for use...
Look For Two Plants In One Pot
Youre absolutely right Doug that if you look around and with a little effort, you can spread the pleasure. I used to buy single pots of red geraniums to add a burst of color to lonely spots where the soil or light wasnt ideal for many other plants but where...
Earliglo (Early) Strawberry
Hey Doug, Im pleased that youve found a good use for soda bottles that would otherwise go to the dump and decompose in 50 or so years. Id take some of your strawberries if we lived closer.
Frosted Banana Bread Squares
Browned butter does indeed have a slight nutty flavor and I use it in different recipes. One of my favorites is to drizzle it over bite sized pieces of par boiled cauliflower. Surprisingly, its pretty good on popcorn too.
Dehydrating Apples
I make apple chips in my dehydrator too and theyre a hit with the grandchildren. I use my adjustable slicing knife for consistent thickness apple slices and the job gets done more quickly too. I bought mine at WalMart about 10 years ago and use it for everything...
Donating Hotel Soaps?
I do agree that if you have a hoard of hotel toiletries, donating them to a shelter, church or rescue mission is the charitable thing to do. I wonder though how many people actually do donate the items to the needy. And I wonder how it is that the average person...
Healthy Breakfast Burritos
I agree; this wrap would make a wonderful meal. Thanks for sharing. Tortillas and Rotis are so very versatile. Ive made tuna salad wraps, topped with shredded lettuce or arugula and a little seafood sauce. Theyre good too.
Name Ideas for a Stationery Shop?
Paper Plus, the Plus assuming that youre also selling associated items such as pens, wallboards, etc.
Repurposing or Reusing Socks?
If they are still serviceable, you can donate them to a homeless shelter in your area. Im sure they would be appreciated.
Dealing with A Broken Shoulder
Thanks ladies for the feedback. Im still dealing with the aftermath of the broken shoulder as I developed a frozen shoulder. Im told that it will take quite some time to get the range of motion back to normal. Between cortisone shots, physio, shoulder manipulation...
Dealing with A Broken Shoulder
I too had difficulty getting into and out of bed on my own. A toddler bed rail, the kind that fits between the mattress and box spring, installed on my right side (good side) gave me something to grab onto when I had to get into or out of the bed. I should...
Dealing with A Broken Shoulder
Ive just now seen your reply to my article about dealing with a broken shoulder. Its 2 1/2 years now since I had my accident and I rarely think about it because Im as good as new. It took almost a year to feel unrestricted in any way, a year of tedious exercises...
Dealing with A Broken Shoulder
On the misc side of things here ... I forgot to mention that having cash on hand at all times in small bills is a good idea. Over the months, whenever a neighbor offered to pick up milk or something for me when she went out, I paid her right away. We both appreciated...
Dealing with A Broken Shoulder
Regarding difficulty putting your bra on .... me too, I had difficulty with that but I finally figured it out. Ill try to explain, though seeing it done would be better, but Im not inclined to send pictures. lol My left shoulder was broken so I cut the left...
Is My Husky Purebred?
Does it really matter if he is purebred or not? Hes your fur baby and hes gorgeous. I hope that you love and respect one another for many years to come.
Curtain Color Advice?
Personally, I like bold colors so plum may look very nice. It would depend I think on several things though ... the size of the room, lighting both natural and artificial, size and style of windows, type and color of floor, area rug color if you have one, style...
Curtain Color Advice?
Going by the wall, floor and cushion covers, I think a rich wine color might look nice.
Bedroom Curtain and Throw Rug Color Advice?
I really like the bed style, bed cover and the room as it is except for the curtains and throw rugs. The furniture makes a statement in itself and is vibrant. I think Id be tempted to forego curtains altogether and go with simple louvered white blinds and change...
Decorating Old Windows?
I found some at The Dollar Store, the vinyl peel and stick type without glue that doesnt leave residue on your window or wall.
Kitchen and Dining Room Paint Color...
The color youre most comfortable with is the one to go with, irregardless of what others might suggest. If you like the gray green color, go for it !!! Its only paint and if you dont like it, you can always change to something else. I suggest that you only...
Kitchen and Dining Room Paint Color...
Being as green will tie in with both the curtains and the sunroom, I think Id go with a bold shade of green on whats now the red wall, making it an accent wall, and leave the other walls creamy yellow. You may find a small wall in the sunroom to paint with...
Kitchen and Dining Room Paint Color...
Im curious ... what color did you go with? Most people hate painting but I love it, especially when I can let my imagination loose. The basement in my last home was dingy looking when we bought it. The artificial lighting and taupe color all over reminded me...
Kitchen and Living Room Color Scheme...
I think black and antique white would look nice for both the kitchen and the livingroom. You already have white baseboards throughout as well as a white lamp. Black and white goes with everything and can be as modern or retro looking as you choose.
Clothing for Shoulder Surgery and Other Tips
Im sorry to hear that you needed surgery and hope that youre recuperating well. I didnt need surgery for my broken shoulder but I was in an immobilization sling for 9 weeks and I learned to adapt albeit the hard way through experience. I recently posted an...
Curtain Color Advice?
I think Id go with the light tan color thats in your floor and that would tie in with the background color of your wall picture too.
Curtain Color Advice?
I agree, the curtains with the rod are overpowering the lovely French doors you had. Simple is always best. The color is fine though.
Lounge Paint Color Advice?
I think Veranda Yellow by Behr for the walls would look smart, accented with wine color drapes.
Enjoy Your Coffee More
I only drink one or two cups of coffee a day but they have to be good or down the sink they go. My coffee starts with the smell ... it needs to smell fresh and strong. Then comes the taste ... same thing, fresh and strong. I keep my coffee beans in the fridge...
Use Pantyhose to Catch Washing Machine Lint
I laughed when I read about using pantyhose as a lint catch. I did that once but I guess I cut it too long because it ended up plugging the sink drain hole & I contended with water all over the floor. If youre going to use pantyhose, I suggest that you keep...
Store Desk Supplies in Vintage Suitcase
I do this too using a small hump back decorative trunk with a handle that I found at Value Village. Its small enough that I suppose it could be used as an overnight tote but I use it beside the phone and keep my address book with phone numbers in it along with...
Experimenting With Salad Ingredients
My back acreage here in southwestern Ontario, has lots of Lactuca Serriola (prickly lettuce) that grows alongside the wild garlic under the trees. Ive made salad from the wild lettuce many, many times and enjoyed it. Young dandelion leaves make a nice salad...
Hymenocallis Festalis (Peruvian Daffodils)
Thanks for sharing this photo and introducing me to a new plant Ive not seen before. I did some research on it and see that its also called Spider Lily and that it will grow in my 6B climate zone. For sure Ill be planting some in the fall.
Simple Edible Bouquet
Thanks for the vote Doug. I agree with you that not many people are familiar with lovage, a perennial herb that I grew up with and still use year round in much of my cooking. I dont know what Id do without it; its a must-have in my kitchen. It truly is an herb...
Nature's Beauty (Dandelions)
I grew up in the country and as the seasons changed, so too did the flowering weeds. Weeds are natures flowers and fields of dandelions, wild daisies, creeping charlie, snapdragon, buttercups, etc are a soothing delight to the eye and spirit. A walk in the...
Daycare Name Ideas?
Keep it simple would be my suggestion ... Today & Tomorrow. It would be in keeping with your terrific slogan.
Glam up Gray Hair
Ive done this for the past few years and love it. I started doing it after I developed an allergy to hair color and suffered weeks of scalp irritation. Now I have the salt & pepper look that I like and is fitting for my age, but without the horrible, horrible...
Storage Box Keeps Produce Fresher Longer
As much as possible, I dont like using plastic for anything, especially food. I use my old faded or stained tea towels in the fridge for veggies. I wash the lettuce, celery, kale, broccoli, etc, shake them dry, roll them in a tea towel, then store them in the...
Christmas Morning Sweet Thing?
Homemade crepes filled with chestnut puree, a bit of strawberry jam and real whipping cream, drizzled with maple syrup. Decadent and Delicious !! Hard boiled eggs on the side to sop up the gooey maple syrup left on the plate is wonderful too. We didnt have...
Cleaning Water Out of a Broken Freezer?
Yuck, what a horrible task you have in front of you. If it was me I think Id open all the windows and use the wet/dry shop vac to suck up the mess as quickly as possible, remembering to breathe through my mouth & not my nose. Then Id immediately get both the...
Plastic Dishes Flip Over in Dishwasher?
I always invert the plastic bowls on top of the glasses and mugs, saving space and they dont flip over. Hope this helps.
Cleaning a Fabric Softener Dispenser?
Mine was gooped up and gross too. I used a butter knife to scrape off the worst of it then wiped out the basket and machine with pieces of a dry towel until it was reasonably clean. Dont use a wet cloth to wipe because everything becomes slimy. I finished the...
Small Wedding or Elopement?
This was exactly what hubby and I wanted 20 years ago. We were married at the Wedding Chapel in Hamilton, ON and had two of our best friends with their spouses share the special day with us. After the ceremony, the six of us went to Shakespeares Steak House...
Using Potatoes That Accidentally Froze?
This happened to me once too. I cut them in large pieces, microwave cooked them with the skins on, drained the excess water then peeled them. I pureed them and froze several bags, each one enough to use as the base for a creamed soup. Worked fine.
Underwear to Wear with a Leg Cast?
I had that problem once too and I bought simple cotton undies, opened the side seam and attached velcro with Stitch Witchery. Ironing on the velcro was faster than fooling around with sewing it on.
No More Soggy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
I dont like soggy sandwiches either so what I do is toast and butter the bread, add the cheese, then simply put the sandwich in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese.
Applying Antiperspirant to the Face
I use antiperspirant for summer chafing on my inner thighs, especially on those occasions when Im forced to wear pantihose. Works better than baby powder.
Use Empty Coffee Bags for Grease Disposal
Im on a septic tank and dont care to clog my pipes or system. I also recycle everything I can. I keep empty pickle & other no-need-for jars under the kitchen sink, washed of course, for the purpose of holding used cooking oil. When the kitchen jar is full I...
Put Twigs and Leaves in Plant Pots
Twigs and leaves at the bottom of the pot is a good idea. I use pine cones. Before using them, I rinse them in vinegar water to remove any bugs or bug eggs that might be in them.
Happy Founder's Day From ThriftyFun
I never had the pleasure of knowing Susan, personally or through this site, but I wish I had. I think she and I would have hit it off wonderfully. From the photo youve posted, I have to say what a friendly face and smile.
Use Pillowcase When Transporting Cat
We moved from Quebec to Ontario, a very long 10 hour road trip, and we brought our Minette with us. Rather than keep her locked in the carrier we put the open carrier in the back seat, secured with the seat belts to keep it from sliding around, and on top of...
Remedies for Acne on My Back?
This is perhaps a little gross for some but a natural way to get rid of acne is urotherapy. Look it up; ancient cultures used it even for minor cuts and wounds. Im a senior now but back in my teenage years I had severe acne, mostly on my forehead. It was my...
Less Expensive Treatment for Rosacea?
Just now I happened across this query and I hope that you see my reply. Im very much into using herbal remedies however and wherever I can. Some of the herbs (sometimes known as weeds) are right in your backyard. Plantain is one that I literally will not be...
Dollar General Clogs
Crocs are very, very comfortable and I used to wear them regularly until I had a bad fall while wearing them and broke my shoulder. It took a year to recover from that. Because theyre plastic they are dangerous to wear on a wet surface. Be very cautious of...
Masking Tape for Garage Sale Pricing
I use masking tape to label the top of plastic containers that go into the freezer. The label peels off easily without leaving a glue residue.
Church Fundraiser Ideas?
What about putting together and selling a congregation cookbook? Favorite recipes with a picture of the finished dish may be a fun way to get lively participation of the parishioners. This endeavor would take some time and effort but the rewarding results would...
Cooking Advice For Picky Husbands
Hiding an ingredient in a recipe brings my son to mind. Hes in his 40s now but when he was about 8 he got it into his head one day that he wouldnt eat eggs anymore. His reasoning was that it wasnt normal to eat something that came from a chickens bum. So I...
Freezing Cauliflower
Personally, I dont find that cauliflower freezes well so I dont do it. I keep mine in the fridge, unwashed, wrapped in an old tea towel that keeps it in the dark, and it keeps for up to 10 days without drying out or going brown.
Growing: Lovage
Im smiling as I write this because this is one of my kitchen must-haves and right now Ive got bunches of dried lovage hanging in my utility room ready for winter soups and stews. The room smells wonderful. In the early summer I often put it in a vase with flowering...
Old Chair for Container Gardening
Absolutely stunning. Wish I had a big tree that I could sit one under. The simplicity of it is what makes it so nice. Thanks for sharing.
What to do with Rags When They're Too Worn Out?
For the rags that were even too worn out to be used for washing the floor, I used them in the veggie garden. After planting the rows of seed or plants, I turned my attention to the in-between rows. With a hoe I scraped back a few inches of soil, laid the rags...
