January 30, 2005

Pick an Inexpensive Day for Your WeddingHave your wedding on a Sunday afternoon or even on a weeknight. The demand is way less for these days and you can get better rates and deals. I personally love Sunday weddings in the middle of the afternoons. It seems like there is always more attendance, too.

 

Chinese Take Out Container CenterpiecesAn inexpensive and cute centerpiece that I did for a birthday party was using the 32oz chinese take out containers! Since they are white, you can decorate it to your decor. I cut and taped clear party bags to one side and used stickers on the other side and filled it with candy (or cookies, or your idea.)

 

Storing MarshmallowsMarshmallows will keep for an indefinite time in the freezer. By Robin

 

Throw a Decorating PartyAnd instead of a wedding shower or bachelorette party ask your family and friends to help you with decorating the establishment you choose. The day before just plan a 'party' and lunch. And most the time family and friends are great at donating for the occasion without being asked! By Kat

 

Feed Corn for Slippery SidewalksTry using cracked feed corn on slippery sidewalks instead of salt. It doesn't damage your lawns and it provides food for the birds. It's very reasonably price, too, about seven dollars for fifty pounds at any feed store.

 

Joey (Akita/Retriever)Meet Joey. She will be 9 years young on March 13. We adopted her when she was 5 weeks old from the Animal Foundation through PetSmart. Her mom is an Akita and we believe, based on her personality, that her dad is some sort of retriever.

 

Cardboard Tube From A Fabric Bolt As A Curtain RodI used the round tube from a fabric bolt for a curtain rod once and it worked wonderfully! I had some contact paper in the wood-look pattern and covered the tube with it and on the ends I poofed up some fabric and covered the ends with it and rubberbands.

 

Cloves Instead of MothballsCloves work as well as mothballs on your stored garments. The smell is nice and fresh. Put them in cloth bags and put them in the pockets of garments and into bags holding garments while they are in storage.

 

Large Valentine's Day KissMelt chocolate in the microwave. Stir in nuts. Take a large brand new funnel and grease with butter. Cover end of funnel with a piece of tin foil.

 

Stain Remover For Tough Baby StainsTo remove tough baby stains, mix equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and liquid dishwashing detergent together in a squirt bottle. Apply directly to stain and wash as normal. Saves lots of baby clothes! By Jennifer Metz

 

Chili and Tortillas From Scratch, For Stretching A Food BudgetWe have always been on a food budget and 2 of our 5 kids were boys who had hollow legs, especially when they started playing football. I always buy dry beans to soak for chili, burritos, soup or whatever. I get twice as much for more than half the price. I also to find farmers who sell them at bulk amounts. Then I can store them for quite awhile. I put them in seal a meal type bags and vacuum seal them.

 

Faux Furs On A Leather Suite?I have two faux fur throws, the back of them is polyester, and i have a leather suite. How do i stop them slipping off the leather suite? Sharon Dawber

 

Wedding Decorations Using Ivy, White and Silver?I am getting married in April of this year. My colours are white and silver. I plan to create an ivy headress, and would like ideas of CHEAP ways to decorate the room, using ivy, white, and silver! Any ideas for wedding favours would also be gratefully received, and ways to use Ivy (and my colour scheme) that I haven't thought of. It is an intimate gathering with only four tables to decorate. Many many thanks! Julie (near London)

 

Decorating Rooms With Pink Carpet?Here's the thing, I am about to move into my dad's basement and it has two rooms: a medium sized den and a bedroom with a closet and bathroom. It will be great, but the entire area has light pink carpet (except a small area with pink and gray linoleum). I cannot change the carpet. I would like to do something to balance out the pink, especially since I am not real fond of it.

 

Washing Bathing Suits Without Soap?We have found that when people use our hot tub, we often get too many bubbles. We have solved this by only allowing bathing suits that have been washed without soap. However, I would like to wash our bathing suits and I need an alternative to laundry soap. Please help! Tori

 

Keeping Color From Bleeding When Washing Clothing?Does anyone know how to stop color bleeding from clothes when washing them. Is there any way to stabilize the colored fabric so it will no longer run? Hoping someone has answer for me and thanks in advance if you do. Dinnie from Tampa

 

Permanent Marker On Rubber?I have a pair of new shoes with rubber non-skid soles. Bought them onsale, price on bottom of sole in permanent black marker. Have tried alcohol, both rubbing and denatured, Dawn, little pad soaked in oxy-clean, fingernail polish remover, etc. Problem is, I sit with my leg crossed lots of time when wearing casual clothes and shoes such as this, don't want the price "glaring". LOL. Carol

 

Removing a Pee Stain From a Mattress?How do you remove pee stains from mattress? dgrubb36