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Storing BananasThis is a page about storing bananas. Bananas are a good snack for your body and muscles. Storing bananas properly will allow them to ripen and prevent bruising.
Organizing DVDsThis is a page about organizing your DVDs. Organizing your DVDs will keep your collection looking tidy and make it easier to find the movie you want.
Alternatives to Having a LawnThis is a page about alternatives to having a lawn. For some of us the uniform expanse of a green lawn is not the look we desire. There are any number of landscaping alternatives to having a lawn.
Choosing the Right GroundcoverThis is a page about choosing the right groundcover. Planting an area with a ground cover can be a good solution to weeds and problem garden locations. Once you have decided to add ground covers to your landscape the next step is to choose the right one for each area.
Saving Money on ScrapbookingThis is a page about saving money on scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a fun hobby and a great way to preserve photos. With all of the different papers and embellishments it can be quite expensive.
Freezing ApplesThis is a page about freezing apples. If you have a large crop of apples or have bought them in bulk, freezing them will allow you to use them later.
Removing Wallpaper That Has Been PaintedThis is a page about removing wallpaper that has been painted. Whether you did the deed yourself or inherited wallpaper that has been painted over, you have a chore before you.
Removing Red Wine Stains from ClothingThis is a page about removing red wine stains from clothing. You just spilled red wine on your favorite outfit. There is no need to panic. There are some easy methods for removing wine stains; many of the needed products may already be in your kitchen.
Removing Permanent MarkerPermanent marker stains are a common household mini disaster. Despite the name, permanent marker stains may sometimes be removed quite effectively. This is a page about removing permanent marker stains.
Cleaning an Above Ground PoolThis is a page about cleaning an above ground pool. Above ground pools do not always have all of the filters that in-ground pools do, so they can get quite dirty. It is important to clean your pool properly so that you don't damage the liner.
Keeping Ants Out of the Hummingbird FeederThis is a page about keeping ants out of the hummingbird feeder. The sweet liquid in your hummingbird feeder attracts more visitors than just your intended guests. Ants also love the sweet nectar and often invade the feeders. Keeping them out can be a real hassle.
Saving Money on PuddingThis is a page about saving money on pudding. Pudding is a yummy snack for both kids and adults. Whether you buy it at the store or make your own, there are ways to save money on it.
Removing Hard Water Stains Inside DishwasherThis is a page about removing hard water stains inside the dishwasher. The hard white chalky buildup in your dishwasher can be difficult to remove. There are a number of ways to clean this off.
Homemade Birdcage Cleaner Recipes?This page contains recipes for homemade birdcage cleaner. Keeping your birdcage clean can be tough. Birds are very sensitive, so it is important to use a cleaner that is safe for them.
Freezing AvocadosThis is a page about freezing avocados. Avocados are a delicious fruit with a smooth creamy texture. They are excellent eaten fresh, but they can be frozen for later use. Freezing is a good way to keep them when you find a bargain at the market.
Saving Money on Diet SnacksThis is a page about saving money on diet snacks. Eating diet snacks can help with your weight loss. However, snacks marketed for dieting can be quite expensive.
Peanut Butter Ice Cream PieChill chocolate pie crust. Place ice cream in a mixing bowl, and stir just to soften. Carefully fold in peanut butter and whipped cream. Spoon ice cream mixture into chilled chocolate pie crust.
Skillet Chicken ParmigianaThis is chicken parmigiana made in a skillet. I actually like to use brown eggs instead of white ones, since they are healthier when I can.
Fruit MuffinsDelicious! I find this simple to make and delicious to eat.
Macaroni CreoleI have no idea why this is called "creole", since it is very mild. It's good, plain home cooking, which I consider some of the best. It's all in one pan, too.
Deeli's Grilled TomatoesI've checked out oodles of grilled tomato recipe ingredients online and here are the combinations and amounts that have ended up suiting my taste.
Advertising TipsI am team captain for a Relay for Life Team and we have an annual yard sale. We always place an ad in the local newspaper, post flyers at local businesses, and post a notice on our company's website.
Using Cold Aloe Vera GelI keep a bottle of aloe vera in the fridge. It is very soothing.
Vegetables and Fruit for Dog TreatsA healthy alternative to expensive dog treats are vegetable and fruit. Dogs love chewing on fresh carrots. Canned green beans or canned carrots are also healthy and good for them with no fillers.
Lavender Bath for SunburnsFirst, take a cool bath to cool the burn. I add lavender which helps take the sting feeling out of the burn. Soak 15-20 minutes. Pat dry.
Wicker Basket For RemotesDeposit all the remotes in an attractive wicker basket that fits next to your husband's recliner. Your problem is solved instantly.
Good Garage Sale SignsMake sure your signs are easy to read. A very, clear arrow in the direction the driver needs to go is essential. An address on the sign is nice as well.
Wildlife: Lady BugWe had a tree in our yard where, every spring, hundreds of ladybugs lived. The grand kids loved those ladybugs. Sadly, the tree is gone, but I have plenty of pics.
Keep Lettuce in a Plastic BagI have found that lettuce will keep up to 2 weeks if I start with a head of lettuce. I pull off the amount of leaves I need from the outside of the head and leave the hard center intact.
My Frugal Life: Is the Season Beginning or Ending?Oh, but it's getting ugly around here. I am speaking of my garden of course. For one thing, about this time I lose interest in it. The magic of watching the plants grow and the tasty garden treasures for is long past.
Photo: In Time of Need (Haiti)My sister who is a RN was sent out to help in Haiti when the earthquake happened. In this picture, she had just helped deliver twins.
Aloe Vera Sunburn RemedyI live in Florida where we see a lot of sunburn cases. The most effective and natural remedy is the Aloe Vera plant. They grow wild here in Florida. Remove one leaf of the aloe plant and keep it in your refrigerator crisper drawer.
Ellee (Sheltie)Ellee is a 2 year old Sheltie. I got her in February of 2009. She likes to bark and tackle the kids to the ground. Ellee thinks I need to be out of bed at 6:30 AM every day. She comes in my room, circling the bed whining.
Walking for ExerciseWalking is one of the best all around exercises that a person can do. It doesn't require any special equipment, other than a good pair of walking shoes. You can walk almost anywhere at any time, even in inclement weather if you have the appropriate attire.
Alphabetize Your Spice RackMy brother gave me a spice rack which holds nearly all my spices. I used a label maker and labeled the top of each jar. This particular rack hangs on the wall with the jars at an angle, so I can read the labels.
Pretty Vase as a Fruit Fly TrapI choose a pretty small vase that I can leave on the counter. Place a piece of banana or apple inside the vase, and wrap the top with plastic wrap. Poke a couple of small holes in the top, and leave beside the fruit basket.
Making Newspaper Cat LitterShred some newspaper and soak it in a Tbsp. of dish soap and water. Allow it to soak until the water gets dirty. Drain it off in a colander and re-soak it in plain water. Drain it again and mix in some baking soda.
Store Remotes In Plastic Makeup BagMy husband recently asked me to purchase a couple of clear plastic makeup bags with zippers to place his various remote controls. This works perfect for him.
Wrap Lettuce in FoilI keep lettuce and celery in aluminum foil. That works for me.
Garden: What Is This Plant? (Giant Ragweed)Not long ago, I asked the ThriftyFun community to help me identify this strange, rapidly-growing plant that mysteriously appeared in my perennial garden. I received replies ranging from wild lettuce to hog weed, but none were correct.
Dealing with Frizzy HairFrizzy hair is a challenge but shouldn't be the decision maker of what kind of day you are going to have. A good hair trim is where to start. Every 6 - 8 weeks the ends need to be trimmed.
Cleaning Vinyl RecordsI wash each vinyl record with Dawn and a soft sponge, then let it dry in the dish rack. After they have dried, I apply a thin coating of fabric softener and let it dry. This reduces the static a lot.
Skillet Pillsbury Rolls and BiscuitsIf your sweet tooth is giving you fits and you don't have anything on hand to calm it, pop open a can of rolls or biscuits. Roll out as flat as possible, and add to low to medium heat in a skillet with a little butter or margarine.
Kerr/Ball Guide For Canning QuestionsSo many people are asking about canning foods or freezing them. I have an old Kerr Canning guide that is so old the pages are falling out, but I love it.
Tips for Making Blueberry MuffinsI have a couple of solutions that work well. I always spray my paper cups with cooking spray before putting in the batter. Before I add my blueberries to the batter, I coat them with a tablespoon or so of flour.
Newborn CalfThese photos are from my friend who lives in Illinois. This lady does it all. She "runs" a nice farm, spins her own animals' fleece into yarn, bakes all her own bread in a wood stove oven and generally lives a very simple, happy life.
Key Ring for Dog TagsThe spare key rings that don't have keys on them have a dual life in our household. When our pets' tags come off their collars due to those flimsy wire ones, I take an extra key ring to replace the flimsy one that broke.
Reusing Food PackagingWhile shopping for something small to abate my sweet tooth, I stumbled on a Great Value (Walmart brand) frozen snack. They are $.75 in the ice cream treat section. As I was washing the container, I thought of all the cool things I could do with it.
Mild Sunburn ReliefHaving fair skin and loving to swim, I have had sunburns since I was a child. For mild sunburns (reddened skin, mild heat), I suggest a cool water bath that has vinegar added.
Muffin Tin For CrayonsI've seen some people use muffin pans with mini metal plant pots inside to hold the crayons vertically and to separate colors. Accessible, colorful, functional.
Peeling a MangoI just cut on both sides of the pit of the mango and peel the pieces, as well as any parts that still cling to the pit. None of the fruit is wasted.
Buying a Generic Brand to Save MoneyShop around for a generic everyone likes. We discovered the Food City brand Dr. Wow in our area tasted just like Dr. Pepper (just a bit more carbonated). Dr. Pepper sells at $4.29 for a 12 pack of cans while the Dr. Wow sells for $4.89 for a 24 can pack.
Barter for MembershipBarter! I work 10 hours each month at our local fitness studio for free monthly membership.
Is the Season Beginning or Ending?Oh, but it's getting ugly around here. I am speaking of my garden of course. For one thing, about this time I lose interest in it. The magic of watching the plants grow, then blossom and put on their colorful array of tasty treasures for us to enjoy is long past.
Buy And Freeze Small Spice ContainersWhen spices go on sale, I buy extra and store them in the little shelves in my freezer. I have also discovered that the little jars/bottles of spices are the best buy, as the larger bottles of spices lose their strength.
Storing Multiple RemotesLike most households we have quite a few remotes. Here's my way of keeping them organized and not lost when not in use.
GasBuddy App For Cheaper GasMy favorite and most-used app is GasBuddy. I use it everytime before I buy gas. It gives you the gas prices of the stations near the place you enter so you can buy the cheapest gas available. Great money saver!
Inexpensive Cleaner for Pet Urine StainsTo remove pet urine smells and stains from my carpet, I have always used a mixture of 2 parts distilled white vinegar to 9 parts water.
Keeping Green and Red Leaf LettuceMy green and red leaf lettuce keeps for about two weeks. I wrap it in a paper towel, and then put in into a plastic grocery sack. I then store it in the crisper of my refrigerator.
Cleaning Very Dirty Records with SoapFor records that are in really bad shape, you can use dish soap and a cotton cloth. Pour some soap on the record and run the cloth around the record with the grooves.
Using Collectible Bowls for JewelryI have collected tiny, little shallow bowls for years. They are so cute. I put them out on my dresser in my bedroom and use them for my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Now I can enjoy both the little bowls and my displayed jewels!
Recycled Raggedy AngelMade from bits and pieces of old clothing, cloth, and a few craft supplies this angel could adorn your door or Christmas tree. She may have been made from recycled items, but she still has a sweet smile upon her face and an air of elegance about her.
Peroxide and Ammonia CleanerThis cleaner is cheap and works wonders. The recipe was given to me by my daughter years ago.
Using Raised Bed to Separate Different VegetablesI love my raised beds. It helps keep different gardens separated and makes it easier to keep weeds out. They can be watered separately, depending on what you are growing in them.
Tennis Ball ParkingMy garage has a work bench set up in it and all the extra doo-dads that one keeps stored. I can park my car inside when needed but there is not much space in front before the bumper meets the wall.
In Memory of Voldo (Mix Dog)Voldo was a 7 year old Shepard, Chow, and Wolf mix. I am resubmitting my picture of Voldo. He was in the pet photo contest a few months ago and has since passed away.
After-Sun Lotion Instead Of Aloe Or VinegarWhen I was younger and also many times over the years I have heard, read, and had people tell me to put vinegar on a sunburn. DO NOT do this! Sure, it may work on some people, but for those of us who it doesn't work on, it can cause a lot of pain!
Adding Molding to Laminate Cabinet Doors?Before painting laminate cabinet doors in a kitchen, I would really like to add trim to make the flat surfaces look more like real wood. Is this possible? And how do I do it?
Removing Tea Stains on Lace?I have several tea stains in the lace on my wedding dress, how can I remove them?
Canning Red Cabbage?I would like to know how to can red cabbage.
Stopping Dry Rot in Living Fruit Tree?We topped a couple 3 inch branches many years ago on our now 30 year old Santa Rosa plum. I saw some white on the bark and stuck a screwdriver into soft wood. I cut some more off this branch and it had dry rot (white). I kept cutting and am now to the trunk and the dry rot continues.
Treating a Dog's Ear Infection?Waldo has an ear infection and has been treated twice in one month by the vet. It is much better. There is some infection still there and some puss. What else can I do?
Using Sugar and Olive Oil Scrub?I use a loofah to scrub my dry skin off and then I start with a sugar and olive oil scrub. How many times may I do this?
Removing Chocolate Milk Stain on Tablecloth?How do I remove a two week old chocolate milk stain from my tablecloth? It was washed in warm water before I found it.
Keeping My Cats Off of Neighbor's Terrace?How can I keep my cats from entering my neighbor's terrace? We live on the seventh floor and we share one wall.
Ideas for Tolo?Would a girl serenading a guy be acceptable for tolo?
Getting the Best Buy on Toilet Paper?How do you determine the best buy on toilet paper? This is driving me crazy!
Yellow Spots on Laundry After Washing?My daughter said that after washing her white shorts she noticed that there were some kind of yellow "spots" along the hem line of each leg. It is more of a mustard color than yellow, but I noticed the same kind of marks on some of my husband's shirts I'd washed.
Tomatoes Rotting on the Vine?The plants are fine and so are the tomatoes when they are green. The problem is while they are ripening on the vine they begin to rot. It is not blossom end rot because that is not where the rotting is. They develop spots and begin to rot on the vine.
Using Ripe Peaches?I have too many peaches! I've thought of stewing them to freeze for other baked recipes or sauces. Any other ideas, or a recipe for tomato and peach salsa?
Adding Small Shelves to a School Locker?Any ideas on how to put small shelves in a school locker?
Pruning a Clematis?When and how much should a clematis be pruned in east Tennessee? The plant is 2 years old and has bloomed a lot, but not so much now!
Canning Fruit Without a Canning Rack?I want to can peaches. I do not have a canning rack, but do a have large pot that holds seven 1 qt. jars perfectly and is deep enough to cover the jars more than 1 inch over the tops. I'm afraid the jars will crack over my gas burner. How can I improvise a canner so that I can can some peaches?
Are There Green Plum Trees?Are there green plums or only greengages?
Treating a Dog's Dry Skin?Can I use sweet almond oil on my dog to help with dry skin?
What Kind of Snake is This?What kind of snake is solid black with white stripes about an inch apart? It was roughly about 3 to 4 feet in length and about an inch in diameter, fast, and very aggressive.
Shopping for a Belt for a Singer Treadle Sewing Machine?My grandmother used to have a Singer sewing machine. She used it a lot. Now that the rope was broken (the rope that connects the treadle to the machine itself), it does not operate. Where do I get a new rope or if possible, how do I make one?
Homemade Bird Cage Cleaner?What would be a safe homemade cleaning/disinfectant spray for a cockatiel cage?
Removing Ball Point Pen Ink on a Couch?How do I remove ball point pen ink from couch upholstery?
Growing Cucumbers?I have three cucumber plants with large yellow flowers on them. How long do they take to produce cucumbers? My grandson came home from school with four of them, but one died. I do not know if they should lie down, or put canes in to stand them up.
Growing a Cherry Tree from a Seed?It's already August, winter will be here soon. I want to plant a cherry seed, should I do it now or wait? If I wait what will I do to keep the seed fresh? Can you please help?
