December 13, 2011 | ThriftyFun

Less Trash on Christmas DayHere's a good way to take some of the excess stress (and trash) out of Christmas Day; especially if you have kids. Before wrapping toys, remove all the excess packaging and put the toys back in the box.

Tips For Smooth FudgeBefore putting ingredients in pan, butter the sides of pan or spray with Pam. When your fudge starts to boil, cover pan with lid for a couple of minutes and then remove. I also wash sugar from the spoon you first stirred with.

Keep Cut Apples From Turning Brown Before LunchWhen you want to send a cut up apple in a child's lunch, cut the apple in square pieces, leaving it together as you cut, then wrap a rubber band around it to hold it together. This keeps it from turning brown.

Leather Jacket Stained with House Paint DustHow should I clean a sheep skin leather jacket? My black leather jacket (sheep skin) has been stained by house paint dust and 1 small drop of paint. I don't know how to take it out without a mark left behind. Please help. Thank you.

Using Lamp Oil in an Electric Oil LampI have an electric oil lamp which has not been used in years, as it was my mother's. There was a special kind of oil she used to purchase at the same lighting store where she purchased the lamp, but it has since closed.

Christmas Gift Ideas for BoyfriendMy boyfriend and I haven't been together long, but we have been really good friends since we met. We are both 14 years young. I actually have money and I want to try to get him something for Christmas, but I have no clue what.

Living Room Wall Paint Color AdviceMy walls are blue, the drapes are cream with a hint of blue and sage and I wanted to purchase a sage sofa. Do blue gray walls go with a sage sofa?

Homemade Christmas DecorationsHow do I make memorable homemade crafts for creating a winter wonderland's props, decorations, and centerpieces within my budget of $300.00?

Reviving Hardwood FloorsI have older light/medium hardwood floors. Over the years they have become dull with some minor scratches in a couple rooms. Two of the rooms have tape marks which I have tried to remove with various products to no avail.

1960s Bow Making TemplateDoes anyone have a template like the one used to make gift bows in the 60s? It was held together by what would looks like a push pin?

Troubleshooting Electrical ProblemsTwo of my bedroom's lights went out, but did not trip a breaker. The plug is in one bedroom that still had working lights. The next day everything magically started working. Also, my lamp in the living room dims and brightens and my dryer won't work. Any ideas?

Substitute for a Flour SifterWhat can you use for a homemade sifter for baking?

Neon Poster Board For Yard SalesAlways use bright signs, such as on neon poster board, because they are so noticeable. You need to make the letters (addresses and such) black and as large as you can and still be read.

Saint Genevieve, Montana Crumb Cake RecipeI used to visit my grandma in Saint Genevieve, Montana and she always made sure she had a crumb cake from the bakery for breakfast. They were awesome, but the bakery went out of business. Does anyone know how to make this cake?

My Cat Pees on StuffWhat can I do to stop my cat who once in a while pees on stuff? The smell is so hard to get rid of. The sprays don't really work. We now have to close all our rooms because if he isn't being watched he might just pee on something else! Help what can I do?

Removing Ceiling PaintI'm trying to remove my bathroom ceiling paint. Most of it scrapped off easily, but the rest is very stubborn. Is there an easy way to remove it?

Growing BeetsGardeners love to grow beets because they mature quickly and they can be grown in almost any climate. They are rich in anti-oxidants, and although grown primarily for their sweet-tasting roots, they also produce a cap of delicious, edible greens.

Recycled T-shirt ScarfBefore discarding t-shirts you no longer wear, consider making a lightweight scarf out of them. This scarf is light enough to wear year-round and would make a great, inexpensive Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for teen on your list!

Nutmeg (Cat)Nutmeg is a 4 year old cat, he is one of Callie's kittens. Well, he isn't a kitten anymore, he is much bigger than his momma! Nutmeg likes to play outside. In the summer, he thinks he can catch my hummingbirds, but he never does.

Educate Yourself and OthersAs a mom of an autistic child and a grandma of two autistic children, I believe one solution is education. Educate yourself and educate others about autism.

Karma (Tabby)Karma is a two year old orange tabby. This is a photo of Karma in February of this year. We had recently gotten him from the Kitsap County Humane Society. I took this photo after his first bath, it was so very relaxing.

Longhorn Steakhouse's Stuffed Mushroom RecipeI am looking for a recipe for Longhorn Steakhouse's stuffed mushrooms or anything similar. Does anyone have a similar recipe?

Wood Cleaner RecipeThis is my favorite wood cleaner recipe:

Holiday: Christmas BouquetThis Christmas bouquet is made from excess Christmas decorations. I recycled them to create this; like flowers in a vase.

Holiday: Ethan's First ChristmasThis is baby Ethan he just had open heart surgery yesterday he is 4 months old he makes a beautiful Santa.

Thrift Shop Holiday ItemsI haven't bought new Christmas decorations in years, because I can find items nicer than the ones I could afford, in thrift shops. I add them to my collection of decorations, which I store every year until Christmas.

A Holiday Solution That Will Work All YearI found solar mini twinkle outdoor lights at my local Walgreen's. They are LEDs and didn't cost much. I bought clear so I can decorate for Christmas, and then use them in my garden or down my sidewalk all year, with no cost for electric or worrying about turning them on and off.

Keeping the Monsters Away with Vanilla SprayWhen my oldest son was little, he use to be scared to sleep in his room. He thought there were monsters under his bed, or in his closet.

Blue Marine butterfly landed on a geranium bud

Wildlife: A Blue Marine ButterflyThe Blue Marine is a small butterfly that flits about our back garden and enjoys landing on the geranium lavender plants. It is quite small, about the size of your thumbnail.

Olive Oil Versus Lamp OilI just purchased several inexpensive oil lamps and I placed them around the house in case of power outage. I decided to do a trial run; I went ahead and lit them, all burning a cheaper Walmart product, Medallion lamp oil.

Using Powder Chai Latte Mix in Froth MachineI recently bought myself a Capresso froth machine to make my chai latte, but I was wondering how can I mix the powder mixture in the milk so stays foamy? At some point it gets foamy, but once the machine turns off it goes down :-(

Styrofoam SantaI use to make a Santa Claus out of Styrofoam, but I forget how. I'm trying to help my grandkids do this. Can someone help me out?

Kitchen Paint Color AdviceWhat color should I paint my kitchen walls? We have a dark blue/gray counter top and light wood cabinets and flooring.

Freezing MangoesWhat is the best method to freeze mangoes?

Sesame SaladVery different, but good!

Skillet DinnerThis is a good, inexpensive, and hearty meal.

Mozzarella ChickenThis is a yummy, Italian style dish. Very good!

Pretzel Chip CookiesThis is one of those sweet and salty cookies that make such a good combo.

Postcard from 1960's showing Boehm's Candy Kitchen in Issaquah, Washington

Chocolate Almond BarkWhen I was a little girl in the 1960's, my parents would treat my brother and I once a month with a special trip to the original Boehm's Candy Kitchen that was at the base of Snoqualmie pass near Seattle. Boehm's candy is some of the finest in the world; I can attest to that.

Hotdog Mini PizzasThis is a quick meal that my kids love once in a while. It's great when you just don't have the energy to cook a big meal!

Getting the Most Out of Your SpicesAll cooks have their own secret ways to make the dish special. This time of the year, we are using spices that may have not been even thought of in 10-12 months.

Keeping Baked Potatoes HotI bake them in aluminum foil in our toaster oven. Most of the time I will need the toaster oven for something else so I have to remove the potatoes. I place the potatoes inside our insulated oven mitts, using a spring clothespin to keep the mitt closed.

Scenery: Red Roses Found on BeachA while back, after discovering a deserted little cove, my husband and I were exploring the small shoreline when we discovered 12, red, long-stemmed roses, which had been left behind.