October 6, 2004

Mini MummiesThese easy appetizers will make a fun addition to any Halloween party. Try them with your favorite mustard, hot sauce or catsup.

 

Witches' HatsSqueeze a one inch circle of cheese in center of each cracker. Top with a corn snack. Makes as many as you like.

 

Germ Control in the CarKeep a can of disinfectant in your car to spray the shopping cart. You can even buy a sample size one for your purse. Helps to keep the little ones safe from germy germs while shopping!

 

Easy Chicken Soup AlternativeMy neighbor was in bed with a sick and I didn't have chicken to make her soup. So I opened a large can of chicken broth, put it on to heat, added 1/4 of an onion diced, 2 sliced carrots, and 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley.

 

Reuse Junk CD MailersEvery once in a while I will get in my mailer a really nice plastic CD box with a CD from one of the "other internet providers" I use these to mail Photo CD's to my family. Open the CD and lay the box flat and remove the paper from inside the plastic cover.

 

Precious Placemat Gift IdeaThis is especially nice for Grandparents. Have your children draw a picture of grandpa and grandma and then sign their names to this work of art. Cover with clear contact paper. If you have a baby you could coat one of their little hands and one little foot with paint and then press on the paper and then sign it for them.

 

Disposable Paint PanA lot of the stores around here have started putting their meat in big plastic pans. Washed out these make great disposable paint pans.

 

Warm Air CirculatorIf this winter, you are going to be using a wood burning stove or a free standing fireplace to heat all or part of your home, try this tip.

 

Homemade Hair Towel WrapI made a hair wrap like the "seen on TV" item. It required 1 hand towel. I sewed the right sides together and added an elastic loop near the top.

 

Keeping Those Buttons OnWhen my twin boys were in grade school, one of them always came home from school missing a button. It was very frustrating, but they were very good at keeping the button and bring it home. Then it hit me!

 

Cindy's Quick ChixServe with rice and green salad on the side. Yum!

 

Use for Cotton Baby BlanketsBuy cotton baby blankets whenever you see them at yard sales or wherever. Cut them into squares and use as lint free cleaning cloths. By Lisa

 

Eyebrow TrimmingI just stumbled upon a nifty idea at my house. I use my husband's mustache trimmer to trim my eyebrows. It's so much simpler than plucking and trimming with scissors. By Lisa T.

 

Keeping a "To Buy" List for GiftsEvery time you need or want to buy something, write it down on a To Buy List. Go through your calendar for the next few months and add any gifts you plan to give.

 

Halloween Costume Ideas for AdultsHere are a couple of grown up costume ideas that are fairly cheap. "Devil with a blue dress" (for you rock and rollers.) Last year I wore a blue dress I'd already had with devil horns and tail I picked up on sale for 1.99 and everyone loved it!

 

Carrying Case for SnacksParents, are you tired of those smashed up snacks in your diaper bag or kid's backpack? I have found that if I store my daughter's Nutrigrain bars in an old hard-sided glasses case inside my diaper bag, they don't get all crumbly anymore.

 

Soup Can Gift LoafA great tip for the holiday season. I am always having trouble finding small bread pans for gift loaves. My mother gave me the idea of using soup cans. Just wash good, remove the label, and spray with a bit of cooking spray. Fill can to 3/4 full and you have a great little loaf.

 

Searching for Contac Paper?I am having difficulty finding a place to purchase colored contac paper. I am looking for yellow, slate blue, kelly green, as well as the red. I have found some red and royal blue in packages of squares, but no rolls and no kelly green. Can anyone out there help me? I've found one website that has these colors, but they only sell it in CASES, I don't need that much. Thanks! Rainbowlady

 

Microwave Cooking?Could you start a section on microwave cooking? I am trying to conserve on my utilities, and I live alone, so I thought that cooking with my microwave would be a thrifty idea.

 

Baby Oil Stains on Jogging Pants?I got baby oil on my swooshy pants (like jogging pants) and have no idea how to get it out, I am pretty sure it will stain. I haven't washed them yet because I am not sure what to do. It happened today. Any tips please! I just bought them. Thanks, Sara from Ohio

 

Do Green Peppers Grow Back On the Same Tree?My husband has gotten to be quite the gardener. We have been growing our first batch of green peppers this year. We didn't even know they grew on a tree till now. Anyway, we were wondering if we should pull out the tree once all the peppers have grown for the season or should we keep the tree planted for next year's arrivals of green peppers?

 

Cheap Coffee Fixers and Creamer Recipes?I am looking for ways to make cheap coffees taste better and creamer recipes, anything you can share?