Breaking Even

The Mainebiz Book of Lists: Maine By Money

when my father was alive he used to love getting the annual Mainebiz Book of Lists, which usually comes out around this time of the year.

What this magazine does it rounds up a lot of Maine's financial figures and puts them in list form. Here's some interesting stuff:

Largest nonprofit organization: Bowdoin college at $895,629,000

Highest-paid nonprofit professional: Director of the Jackson lab $452,390

Highest-paid public company executive: Pres. of TD Banknorth $2,050,410

Highest-paid healthcare professional: Pres. of Maine Medical Center (Portland) $1,151,520

Largest employer: L.L. Bean (8000 to 9500 employees—I'm guessing there's some seasonal employees)

Largest farm subsidy: farm in Clinton $89,220

Largest Maine-based brewer: Shipyard Brewing Company, producing 69,700 barrels of beer

Largest hotel: Bar Harbor Regency Hotel with 278 rooms

There's obviously tons more information in this magazine. It's interesting to see not just who is on top but the other people and businesses that make the list. (Like the fact that a few professors at my old college made the list). The other thing to keep in mind is that these numbers are a couple of years behind. It'll be interesting to read this Book of Lists a few years from now to see how the economy really affected Maine.

It's easy to see that the nonprofit economy is central to the state of Maine (though sometimes I have a hard time seeing how multimillion dollar organization can be seen as a nonprofit but that's just me). As someone from Aroostook County, it's also interesting to see the information on farm subsidies. I just see how the center of commerce and industry is in southern Maine only and I wonder if it really has to be like that.

Even considering the southern part of the state, Maine doesn't have a lot of large businesses but in this economy, maybe it pays to be small and diversified.

If you want to get your own copy, the magazine costs about $20 but there's also lots of information on the Mainebiz website if you're interested in reading further. I'm actually wondering if other states have this kind of information available... I hope so because if your numbers person, this is a fun afternoon read!

Mainebiz's Lists on their website...(you can also buy the whole book at this link)

Locked Out, or Things I'm Thankful For

I wasn't sure if I'd ever blog about this because it's a slightly unflattering incident but it illustrates well how I'm feeling this Thanksgiving Day. Here goes.

Picture this: Monday morning, the beginning of a crisp day in a small town in Maine...

Sadie's outside lead had got caught on something (the stairs, her foot, something) and she was barking because she was stuck. (When you have a dog, you can just tell why they're barking, kind of odd...) Anyway, I went outside to go free her when, what must've been the difference in air temperature outside and inside, the door slammed shut. I was locked out, for the first time since college.

It was 7 AM, I was in my pajamas, and it was less than 20° outside. I walked (thank God I had slippers on) to the nearby open gas station and asked to use the phone. Since I've just moved here recently I know about 10 people who live here and of course, I saw most of them that morning. But they were perfectly friendly and talked to me like I wasn't wearing my pajamas and my crazy, post-sleep hairdo.

"How are you Nicole?"
"I could be better. I just got locked out my apartment."
"Oh no! Is Paul coming down?" (Everyone also knows my landlord.)

Paul said he be along as soon as he could. I called work to let them know I was going to be a little late. "I thought you were telling me that it's impossible to lock yourself out of your apartment?" Said my coworker. I had told her that earlier in the week, I remembered. But not the time to remind me.

I saw a pick-up pull into the parking lot that shares my driveway and I walked really fast from the gas station. (Apparently embarrassment is a great warmer up the soul because throughout this whole thing, I do not remember being cold.) It turns out it wasn't my landlord but one of my neighbors. At first he probably thought I was having a cigarette outside but when he saw how cranky I probably looked at how desperately my dog wanted to go inside, he figured it out and offered me to come in and warm-up. I grabbed Sadie's leash and we stood in his doorway.

And that's how I met my neighbors. It turns out really nice and interesting and they like Sadie too, which is always a plus.

My landlord arrived twenty minutes later, a big smile on his face. "I hope you weren't waiting too long!" He said as he opened my door. While he was there, he showed me how to work my fireplace. Turns out it was open, causing me to lose heat. Good to know!

I quickly got dressed and headed to work, where everyone I had heard about my ordeal. The same thing the same morning (the pajama lock-out due to a dog) had even happened to one of the managers!

I was thinking about not writing for my lockout because it makes me look kind of stupid. But when I realize on this Thanksgiving day is that everyone that was involved that day from the cashier at the gas station to my boss at work was very understanding and compassionate. It made me realize how nice people are, which is probably kind of silly thing to realize that one that all of us need to remember about a little bit more often. The way hope you don't have to get locked outside to do it.

This very morning, I was taking out the trash when the door slammed behind me. That's right, locked out again. (I haven't had time to spare key made up yet.) The same girl was working at the gas station. "Oh, you need the phone, don't you?" She said, not all annoyed but definitely noticing the pajamas again. And everyone involved was great about the whole thing, again. I guess sometimes you have to learn a lesson twice.

So Happy Thanksgiving to you, and yes, I'm getting a spare key first thing tomorrow morning.

Shameless Promotion: The Cute Things Edition

So like many cubicle types, I have Thanksgiving proper off but I'm working the day after. I was going to do a slightly snarky post but have decided to improve my mood but rounding up some links to cute things, thereby improving my mood. I've bookmarked over 300 great articles since my lack of internet and her are just a few cute ones.

My newest favorite blog that I like to check on my afternoon break is Holy Cuteness. Some links are from this wonderful animal blog which you should totally check out. Here are some things to make you (and me) smile.

http://holy-cuteness.blogspot.com/2008/11/kittens-discover-toilet-paper.html
Kittens Discover Toilet Paper (need I say more?)

http://frugalupstate.blogspot.com/2008/11/best-of-refrigerator-bread.html
Refrigerator Bread from Frugal Upstate. Mmmmm...bread!

http://getting-ahead.blogspot.com/2008/11/little-snipets-of-time.html
Little Snippets of Time from Getting Ahead. Sure you have only five minutes but there are plenty of fun, creative ways to use them!

http://getting-ahead.blogspot.com/2008/11/voting-for-dinner.html
Oh and Getting Ahead also had the cute idea of voting for dinner. Makes sense to me, though since it's just me, I guess I run a dictatorship over Sadie the dog!

http://almostfrugal.com/2008/11/18/holidays-by-hand-ribbons-and-thread/
If you want to get into the holiday spirit, do some crafts. Kelly at Almost Frugal and other bloggers have organized a "Holidays By Hand" series so if you just need some new ideas for holiday crafts, I guarentee you will find them here! (One of my Too Cute Tuesday crafts is almost on her post even!)

http://allthingsmaine.blogspot.com/2008/11/maines-bizarre-foods.html
Maine gets its time in the spotlight on the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods show.

http://dcgoodwillfashions.blogspot.com/2008/11/announcing-mrs-goodbee.html
An interactive doll house with a social conscience?

http://holy-cuteness.blogspot.com/2008/11/more-monifa-footage.html
Video of a pygmy (ie little)  hippo. So cute!

http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/10/cheap-healthy-sick-10-easy-nutritious.html
Cheap, Healthy, Sick: 10 Easy, Nutritious Foods for When You've Contracted the Plague is great because no doubt your immune system is running low like mine this time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Too Cute Tuesday: A Curtain Cache

A couple of days ago, I send out some photos of my new place to a few far-flung friends. "Dude, I'm totally get a tell the RA about your fireplace!" Said my friend S. I'll admit that having everything in one room does make my place feel a little dorm-y. Not a look I want to be going for at this point my life.

When I got this place, I made the choice that I wanted to have a bed in this room rather than doing the bed/futon thing. It's just really important for me to have a separate space where I sit and read magazines and a separate place where I sleep, even if they are a couple of feet apart. Of course, I'm not sure that I want everybody who visits my apartment to have to look at my bed either.

I've been trying to come up with a way to close off the area where I sleep from the rest of the living room. I could've bought a screen but that would have been much less fun than this curtain system I devised. And it just so happens to be Tuesday and it just so happens that I purchased myself some Crown Royal. Let the games begin!

Materials
Hooks with a screw in on one side ($2 at your local hardware store)
Curtain rod (by only the length you need...measure first! This rod was about $6.)
Drapery clips (I ordered mine at an online discount store, $5 for 10 clips)
An old sheet or fabric (to test drive your idea)

Cocktail of the day: Hot chocolate with whiskey

Pre-Too Cute Tuesday: Order drapery clips online. Do a search on your favorite shopping comparison website or try eBay. Whatever you do, don't order these things from JCPenney or another department store as they will charge you about four times the amount I bought my drapery clips for.

1. On a cold winter's night, fix yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate and drop a little whiskey in it for double the warming powers.

2. Survey the scene and figure out where in the ceiling is a logical place to put the screw hooks. My ceiling has the fake tile look and where the tiles meet is a conspicuous place to leave a small hole. Measure the distance between the hooks.

3. Buy curtain rod and the screw hooks at your favorite hardware store. (Lesson #1 from Nicole: wire will not work on this project as the material is too heavy not to mention the wire will never straighten. Do not waste $2 and an hour attempting to use wire! Lesson #2 from Nicole: Make sure the curtain rod will fit into the hooks you by or else make sure you have pliers on hand.)

4. Screw the hooks into the ceiling, making sure that the openings face the same direction.

5. Load the drapery clips onto the rod (I used 10). Place the rod on the hooks so it is secure.

6. Attach an old sheet or some leftover fabric to the clips. Before you invest in expensive material, it's best to figure out how much you'll need, the kind of fabric you want, etc. As you can see with this queen-size sheet, my fabric is about 5 inches too long.

Over the next few nights, I'll be able to tell if the fabric is thick enough to block light and thin enough to not overwhelm the room.

Future step: when you know exactly what kind of material and how much you want, pick some up at your local fabric store or order online at a place like www.reprodepot.com or www.IKEA.com (yay Almost Frugal for the idea), which are couple of my personal favorites. When your material comes in, you can easily get rid of your test fabric and clip on your new stuff.

A small space just gives you a little more excuses to be crafty!

Images: TCT Curtain trick through all it's stages, even an intermediate unsuccessful one.

How I Saved A Non-Profit $150 This Year (And You Can Too)

So I'm on this board for a regional domestic violence advocacy group. I often wonder why I'm on it, in part because I don't have a lot of fundraising clout/rich friends and in part because I don't have a lot of ideas about these sort of things. I figure the people who are in the thick of the programs are the experts who know way more then I do.

But I noticed a few months ago that I was getting a lot of mailings: copies of the minutes, financial statements, etc. in the mail. I noticed they were the same information that was sent out over email to the board members on a regular basis.

I emailed the director, asking her if she ever thought about having people opt into recieving notifications by email. I figured this would save some money. She's since put out the invitation to get information by email only.

I did a quick calculation at our monthly meeting tonight and if just ten of the board members opted to recieve information by email, the organization would save $150 in postage per year. Can you imagine if you let others like our donors or volunteers also did this?

My little idea was apparently useful. And yours are too!

Here's what I'm thinking: there is no doubt that a lot of us will not be able to be as generous this year financially as we'd like to be. Non-profits are onto this and expecting to see less financial giving this year as a result. A lose lose? Not quite.

In lieu of giving money, perhaps as a volunteer you can help your favorite nonprofit find ways that they can save money off their bottom line. It's worth a shot and if the organization is actually willing to make some changes, there is no reason why they shouldn't listen to you. There might be something really obvious that only you can see.

Other Ways To Find Fellow Commuters?

Update: Nicole will not have Internet at her house until December 6. She is still reading and loving a lot of websites but hopes her friends, family, and fellow bloggers understand her limited ability to comment, write e-mails, social network, and link to fabulous online articles/blogs they are writing. She will start that all back up just as soon as she can.

So I put that carpooling out on Craigslist but since I've never used Craigslist before I'm not sure how many other people in my area use the service. Not being a passive (or patient) person, I've not put all my eggs in one basket. Here are a few other places I've posted my carpool request:

www.iCarpool.com
I had to register only to find out that there was one person in my area. Set up like a dating or social networking website, I have a profile into my own inbox on the site. I hope I get some kind of a work on e-mail someone writes to me because I'm totally going to forget about this.

www.erideshare.com
while there seem to be more people on this website, there is no one going in my direction. The site does get points for being searchable without having to register. I of course did anyway.

www.dividetheride.com
Focused more on the movement of children, this would be a good website for parents and families. There is even an option for ridesharing for one-time events.

www.rideshare.com
This is a nonprofit website focused on getting more people to carpool. They have their own vans which are probably not in my area but I did sign up for some information from them. They have some good (if slightly biased) information about the environmental and economic benefits of carpooling.

www.paidride.com
I'm only putting this on the list because I think it's kind of hilarious. Apparently companies will pay to put advertisements on your car, essentially making your commute free. (This was one of those Google ads that came up in my search.) The catch is that you have to pay a $15 one-time fee to look at the directory of potential advertisers.

Some may think that the whole commuting thing isn't worth the money I could save but I would have to disagree. According to this handy little calculator, my yearly cost to commute is around $3,800 (!?!). Because if what's keeping me from $2000 is a 40 minute ride with a stranger then sign me up, though I reserve the right to be a little the picky (non-smoking and non-sketchy, please).

If you've had any success finding a commuting buddy online or off-line, let me know how you did it.

Figuring Out My Commute

I love my new apartment I love my new location but I'm only okay with the thirty minute commute. Half-an-hour isn't a big deal, especially when gas prices are relatively low but as I get into my routine I figuring out ways to cut down on my driving.

There is a commuter bus but taking it would require me leaving work 40 minutes early, something I don't think my employer will allow. I've also not found anyone at work that lives near me.

But I'm certainly not giving up. I see other cars headed in the same directions at the same time as me. There has to be a way.

I've put an ad on Craigslist to find other people my situation I am also going to talk to my boss next week about working in a different office closer to my house one day a week. I have some good reasons besides saving myself some money which would actually benefit the company.

Even if I would only save myself a trip or two a week, the savings will be substantial.

Until I figure it out, I am trying to stay put on the weekends since everything I “need” is within walking distance (grocery store, hardware store, laundromat, pub, restaurants). Well, except for this weekend where I will see normally far-flung friends and family who are staying half an hour away. Hmm...I'll have to start this next weekend.

Meanwhile, have you found an inventive way to save money in your commute? They haven't been other way that I can find buddies to commute with?

Three Reasons Not to "Bail Out" The Auto Industry

The more I hear about this automaker bailout stuff, the more ridiculous it seems. A quick look at where some of the money these companies make has went previously:
 
1. Ford CEO Gets $18.5M upfront, $2M salary and an immediate payout of $18.5 million for taking the job in September 2006.(Ford lost $1.4 billion in the first half of 2006.)
 
2. GM lifts CEO salary to $2.2 M, translating to a 33% raise (The stock has dropped 10 percent since the start of the year and about 64 percent since Wagoner became CEO in June 2000. GM reported a record loss of $39 billion for 2007, its third consecutive net loss.)
 
3. Chrysler's new CEO declines to detail salary package (Chrysler lost $680 M last year.)
 
If a typical worker makes $30,000 per year, one Ford CEO equals 68 regular workers. One GM CEO equals 75 regular workers. 
 
Why can't we ever fix the problem before throwing money at it? Even people who know something about money are agreeing with me here. Even some of the auto workers themselves aren't for bailing out these guys.
 
It must have been a sad private jet ride home for those CEOs when they were not granted bailout money by Capital Hill but as my coworker said, "I wish I could make $2 million for being a complete failure."

(Thanks to Mike for some of these links!)

Book Review: How To Read A French Fry

I received this book last summer as a gift and I really enjoy the premise. Written by Russ Parsons, Los Angeles Times' food editor, the science behind food preparation is explained in a lively narrative.

Okay, I know that sounds really boring but it isn't. Let me give you an example.

When you cut an onion, you cut through the onion's vacuoles and their contents combine to form sulfonic acids (as in sulfur). This is what makes you cry when you're chopping an onion. Sweet onions like the Vidalia onions contain the same amount of vacuoles as regular onions but much less of the sulfuric compounds. You can make onions further sweeter by soaking them in water or rinsing them in vinegar (as they do in Mexico) to get rid of even more sulfuric compounds. And that's just two paragraphs of this book.

Other topics tackled include (of course) frying (using a little "old" oil gives food that golden look), gluten (the differing factor in many bread products), ripening (that fruit you bought is definitely still alive long after it's picked), and marinades (oily marinades and water-filled meat do not mix).

Clearly you can't sit down and read to this whole book without your brain exploding but reading parts of it will no doubt improve your food preparation techniques. A college professor of mine always said that chemists were the best cooks, organic chemists in particular. I think there is certainly something to be said for that.

But this book isn't just for the nerdy people who want to know what's happening to their food on a microscopic level. At the end of each chapter is a bulleted list of things to keep in mind when preparing certain kinds of food. (The book is divided into chapters by food type and/or preparation technique.) One step further than the helpful hints are the recipes at the end of each chapter. The recipes reflect the ideas of combining certain foods/flavors and certain preparation techniques to showcase the best aspects of the food, which most people don't know about, myself included.

So whether you enjoy a good narrative, some science and history knowledge, practical techniques to use in your kitchen, or good recipe, you will get something out of this book. I've been reading bits of it while standing by the kitchen counter, preparing dinner. (Apparently there's a lot of standing around waiting in my kitchen!) I think this book would make a great gift, for the holidays or even just a "thanks for cooking me Thanksgiving dinner" hostess gift.

Bon appétit!

Image: If this book fits in my kitchen, It can fit anywhere!

Four Cheap Things (Under $5) That Save Me Tons Of Money

There are several objects that cost less than five dollars each that have become indispensable in my life lately.

Tide To Go Pen
Since I'm now a laundromat girl, I have to be a little bit more careful about how much laundry I'm generating. I keep my Tide To Go in my purse and now rather than washing something right away I give the pen a try. This has single-handedly kept me from having to wash it least five things this week. Bonus: I thought I ruined my sister's wedding dress two years ago but Tid To Go got the stain out. Thank goodness!

Sleep Mask
My apartment came with the essentials, among them vertical blinds. They do keep sketchy people from looking in on me but because of the sheer amount of windows in this place a(nd the fact that all the walls are whitewashed) there is a ridiculous amount of light in here at 5 AM. And while I feel like a Hollywood starlet I put on my little mask every night to cover my eyes, it's cheaper than blackout curtains and a definitely works for me.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
I thought I ruined my walls while hanging some pictures yesterday but apparently all it needed was a little Magic Eraser buffing. My mom always goes out and buys me one of these whenever I move somewhere and now I finally get why. Just for what it did in the shower alone I am eternally grateful.

Spare Key
There are times where even the most self-reliant person needs a little help. For example, sometimes I'm running late but the dog needs to be let out. And I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Ieventually get locked out. A spare key left with trusted friends is peace of mind, not to mention less embarrassing than calling the police to break into my house.

What costs less then $5 that saves your butt every time?

Image: The sleep mask makes me  look high maintenance but really it's just cheaper then window treatments.

Too Cute Tuesday: Themed Wall Art

Moving into a new apartment, you find yourself doing all kinds of little things to customize your new location. Well, at least I do.

I have had this great set of square black frames for about a year now but finally putting them on a wall has may be more motivated to actually fill them. I don't longer have a printer at my disposal and the photographs I have are a little too small for the opening in the frame. I decided to do a temporary collage to make them pretty enough until I can get some photographs enlarged.

I took out my folder called "Stuff I Like" for some inspiration. A set of Jack Vettriano prints (from an old planner) and an Yves Saint Laurent quote (from a magazine) seem to go well together. A bottle of Polka Dot riesling and the party was officially underway.

Materials:
Pictures/quotes you like (if you don't have a file like this, start one. These come in handy for projects and inspiration in general)
A frame (A small frame will be less intimidating then a larger one, plus they're cheaper. My square frame cost around $12.)
Scissors
Poster putty

Cocktail of the day: a sweet Riesling from the grocery store called Polka Dot

1. Look through a pile of stuff you like and search for common theme. In my case, the Yves Saint Laurent quote "Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it." went perfectly with the vintage prints of women in dresses. No doubt some the things you like will lie along some theme usable to you.

2. Arrange the pictures face down in the opening of your frame. Hold them in place with some poster putty so they don't move around. (Poster party is that gum like substance that you can use to stick up posters, which you can buy at most craft stores. Heady stuff.).

3. Now hold up your frame and look at it. Are the photos straight? Does anything need to be trimmed? Put the frame down and make the adjustments necessary.

4. Now that you are done needing to cut straight, have some wine.

5. Repeat steps two and three as many times as necessary until you are happy with the results. For me, the third time was a charm.

6. Admire your work, knowing that you can wait a little bit longer to pony up for the photo reprints. And using putty makes your arrangement stay but not so permenantly.

Aren't you crafty!

A Container Shortage That Effects Us All

I heard a really interesting story on NPR on Friday night (I know, you were probably doing something more interesting, right?). There was a great story about how a shortage of containers is effecting the flow of everything in the economy. We're buying less which means less containers (as in containers on container ships) are coming into American ports. And the less containers coming in means the less containers coming out.

This is a really excellent piece of journalism with good facts and storytelling. It's probably the best I've heard since This American Life tackled the housing crisis a few months ago. Oh, and the whole thing is only six minutes and forty one seconds long and made me sound smart in a meeting today.

Listen to "A Strange Shortage Illustrates the Global Economy" here...

Moving Update: On my end, I'm actually dealing with an abundance of containers as I unpack. I'll post pictures soon but it's still looking too messy for me to show the world.

Yours, Mine, and Ours

I'm knee deep into my big move, and if you've ever moved, you probably have an idea what state of mind I'm in.

Everyone talks about what a pain in the butt moving is but since I've done it about 20 something times in my adult life, packing stuff in boxes is not a really a big deal to me. The part that's very difficult about this particular move is a little game I've come to call "yours, mine, and ours".

Sean tried to make this easier by leaving for the weekend which I actually really appreciate but the task is to me to go through our belongings and figure out what belongs to me. Some of it is pretty easy: stuff he had before and stuff I had before for example. But there's definitely a lot of gray area.

I don't want to have to go out and buy new stuff but I don't want Sean to have to either. I also am well aware that contents of a 3 bedroom house are not good fit at 220 ft.² apartment. Also, if I do move again I cannot afford to replace everything that I have now.

So this weekend it's about compromise. My mother is coming today to bring to her house the things I want to keep (for now) but can't fit in my new home. I am taking the opportunity to get rid of posessions I'm not using. And I'm going to be fair to a person I love and respecxt and leave him with the things he needs and loves.

I'm so nervous about not leaving enough or leaving too much. I hope I can do this right.

Stranger Stuff: Danger or Savior?

I spent a good part of today moving into my new apartment. And by moving into my new apartment, I mean moving just enough stuff here to live for a few days comfortably until my big move Sunday. One aspect of moving I had completely forgotten about is stranger stuff.

Stranger stuff is an item or items that the previous tenant has left behind for you, seemingly on purpose.

It would make logical sense to use some of these items. First of all, they are free to you. Second, it allows you to not waste as many resources when you use a product completely. It's a frugal thing to do.

On the other hand, there is a sort of creepy factor in using stranger stuff. Sure an extra roll of toilet paper is just common courtesy but there seems to be a line where it becomes weird to use other people's stuff.
 
I was unsure what to make of the gallon of chocolate syrup underneath the sink, Lysol adjacent. The tray table looks perfectly useful but the used sponge is gone.

So I'm curious to know, how do you feel about stranger stuff? Do you use it? Or do you start off on a clean slate? Bonus points if you tell me what is the weirdest stranger stuff you've ever found. For me, it's definitely the chocolate syrup, hands down.

Blogher Affiliate Advertising

Welcome to my week-long women's series. It's no secret that one issue that I'm passionate about is female empowerment. I used to answer a domestic violence hotline, coach cheerleading, lead a girls technology club in my local middle school, and met with a monthly girls book club. I'm currently on the board of our county's domestic violence program and doing some writing for the Maine Women's Fund. My point is it's certainly been a common thread in my life no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

So this week, it's about the ladies, and of course money (as usual). Enjoy!

You often hear people talking about making money while blogging. It's interesting because when I tell people that I make money off my blog, they are confused as to how I do it. When I say that one way to make money off of a blog is advertising, they half expect to go home, set up a blog, and begin making money immediately. Like many professions, blogging doesn't start to pay off until after you do it awhile.

I have found a way to jump start the money making process a little: affiliate advertising.

Blogher is a community of female bloggers (or bloggers who write for a female audience). They not only offer a forum for female bloggers to interact but also have found a way to have their members generate advertising revenue on their websites without any work on their part (well, besides writing a blog anyway).

Your blog must meet certain criteria to be considered: blog content, posting frequency, potential audience, age of the blog, and other factors determine your acceptance. After your blog meets the criteria, there is a contract agreement to be signed. (The reason I'm saying this is that you're entering into a contract with the company when you set up something like this, so it's important to know what you're signing.)

How does Blogher work? What happens is your blog is packaged with other blogs and sold to potential advertisers. In Blogher's case, they have a lot of big name advertisers, many national brands you would recognize. Point is, these companies are not interested in the relatively small amount of traffic I generate on my blog but are interested in the amount of traffic thousands of bloggers collectively generate. Power in numbers.

Blogher does the legwork out of finding the advertisers and keeping them current and Blogher members provide a sort of bulletin board space for them to use on their blogs. They take a large cut for this work but my reasoning is that the space wasn't making any money for me anyway so I have nothing to lose. Plus it makes me look a little bit legitimate to have advertising on my site.

To be honest I haven't talked about this before because I wasn't sure how legitimate this was. Then last month came a check in the mail for $35. $35 in four months is not a lot of money but it does pay for my hosting and then some. As my blog gets more traffic, I have the potential to earn more money.

The important thing to mention about Blogher is you can say what kind of advertisements you do not want on your site. I find Google Adwords and programs like it can generate some pretty random advertising that you may not necessarily agree with on your blog. But with Blogher, you can rule out types of companies or specific companies that you don't want to be associated with and to me that's pretty cool. And the other bloggers I have connected with thorough BlogHer have been a great resource to me.

Networking and making money? Now that's what I call a win-win.

While Blogher is not accepting new affiliates right now, they say on their site to stay tuned.

www.blogher.com

Don't You Hate It When...

So I wrote a blog last night (and by wrote, I mean dictated to my new voice recognition software...amazing!) and was ready to post. My first post from my new apartment, which I was quite excited about.

The town I now live in (Bar Harbor) apparently has a free Wi-Fi network and since I'm right in the middle of it all, I figured it would work. As I went to connect to the internet, I saw no evidence of this network. Oh come on!

At 10 pm (and about 30 degrees outside), I didn't have the energy to put on warm clothes and drive around looking for a signal.

Just had to vent my frustration, and my annoyance of probably having to pony up for internet services.

Look for the post later tonight, when I'll probably go to my friend's house to mooch of her internet while I figure out the local hotspots. Have a good day!

Too Cute Tuesday: Flower Arranging

Today I got some flowers from a wonderful person in an attempt to cheer me up. I had another craft planned for TCT but decided that arranging these flowers may be what I was up for this evening.

I got them wrapped in paper, beauty pagent style so I needed to style them. Here's what I did.

Materials:
Bouquet of flowers, from a nice person or from yourself
Scissors
Vase or vaselike container
Water

Cocktail: Another one of Jen's good red wines, Don Ramon

1. Have your nice coworker put the flowers in water while you have a quick cry in the bathroom.

2. Realize the niceness of the gesture. Realize the flowers in the vase look like a bad haircut but smell lovely.

3. Send thank you email. Get through rest of workday.

4. Drive home and get a smaller vase ready.

5. Pour a glass of wine. It has been a long day.

6. Take the flowers out of the vase and seperate the flowers from the greenery. Taunt your small dog with the greenery before throwing it out.

7. Cut leaves off the bottom part of the flowers that'll be sticking in the water. The will get moldy and gross so you might as well prevent the problem before it happens.

8. Cut the flower stem short enough to fit in the vase, sticking out by a few inches. Start by cutting a little, because you can always cut more. Place the flowers one by one in the vase. (Tip: Cut and place the bigger flowers first; you can always fit the smaller ones around them)

9. Trim more green if you have to. Trust your stylizing instincts.

10. Enjoy your handiwork and think briefly you've got enough talent to work at a florist.

Photos: Before, the mullet like flowers are short in the front and a party in the back
After, a more polished cut is prettier

One Year Later

I was sad to see on the news this morning that a boat capsized on Maine lake this past weekend, killing two of four men who were in it. It seems like a bizarre parallel coincidence but it was upon hearing this that I realized how far I've come this year. The families involved are in my thoughts. It has become less about my grief, and for that I am relieved.

Today is the one year anniversary of my father's death. He drowned when a boat he was in with three of his friends capsized on Maine lake. He was 51 years old and I miss him every day. This experience has dramatically shaped my life and made me more aware of the human condition and the suffering of other people.

I think it might be easier today if I continue with my normal routine rather than take the day off, in part because the there is a lot to do this week but also because that's what he would've wanted me to do.

So expect Too Cute Tuesday post later today. My crafts often drove my father crazy, and I don't see the point of stopping now.

It's An Entrepreneurial Thing

Welcome to my week-long women's series. It's no secret that one issue that I'm passionate about is female empowerment. I used to answer a domestic violence hotline, coach cheerleading, lead a girls technology club in my local middle school, and met with a monthly girls book club. I'm currently on the board of our county's domestic violence program and doing some writing for the Maine Women's Fund. My point is it's certainly been a common thread in my life no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

So this week, it's about the ladies, and of course money (as usual). Enjoy!

Leslie Harlow is a local business owner in Ellsworth Maine. She not only owns the coffee shop The Maine Grind but also has a thriving website and blog called It's A Maine Thing. As a businesswoman and great person, I asked her a few questions.

Full disclosure: Leslie is one of my Internet PR clients.

  Please summarize the idea of your online business in a few sentences.
I have lived in Maine my entire life where I have been captivated by it’s mystique, people and the landscape. Recognizing that many other people who either live here or live outside of the state have the same feelings I thought that an ecommerce web site, my services and keeping my audience in touch through my blog would be a good business idea. I did not model after anyone else’s site as this type of lifestyle marketing is fairly new.
 
What or who inspired you to start your own business?
I have always been self-employed and run my own businesses here in Maine since 1976. For 16 years (1990-2006) I was involved in the start-up and eventual success of Sullivan Harbor Farm Smokehouse in Sullivan where I ran the enterprise, along with a B&B, with my live-in male partner. After building a new building for the business in 2005 I ended my relationship with him. I attempted to work with him, but the situation fell apart over time. Do to the technical nature our financial relationship I was forced out of the business by him. Maine does not have Common Law in regards to protecting partners in longterm relationships so after I left I had to figure out what I was going to do. A crummy settlement was not going to provide me with the financial foundation that I expected to have by this point in my life (I am 54). Family and friends were very supportive and encouraged me to act on my creative side, but also recognized that my entrepreneurial spirit was still intact. Hence the hatching of my web site.
 
How did you bring the idea of It's A Maine Thing from business plan to thriving enterprise? Perseverance. Reached out to smart, experienced people. Understood from the get go that mistakes will be made. Parked my ego at the door.

In what way(s) has your business turned out differently then what you are expecting?
Building a web site and management of an e commerce site takes a lot of time which I was not expecting. Initially  I figured that it would take a few weeks, maybe a month, to build a site. Boy, was I mistaken! I am a hands-on person who was used to instant results so the tedium and detail work that e commerce requires has been a challenge for me. Frankly, I do not enjoy that aspect to my business.
 
What was one unexpected challenge you had, and how did you overcome it?
Fear. A year ago I developed an idea to begin a blog that would keep my audience up to date with happenings, musings and personal escapes that I encountered around the State of Maine.. I was certain that I could not write, but as time has marched on I have discovered that I can write well, I have fun doing it and am rewarded because people actually read my blogs.

What have been the most popular online items? Sea Bag Sail Bags, Klean Kanteen water bottles, art work
 
If someone was interested in starting their own business like yours, what advice would you give them?Breath deep. Eat well. Accept that you will be sitting on your seat for hours on end working through problems. Recognize that you will spend A LOT more money than you expect getting it started. Sign up with a reputable outfit to handle your credit cards. Hire a pro…not friends who “can create a web site”. Hire an experienced web site builder, preferably someone young who has had FORMAL training. Take good pictures or hire someone who can do it for you. Be friendly to your customers. Don’t be afraid of your own ideas, not matter how outlandish they may seem. Personalize your site. Wear lipstick when having one on one meetings. It’s all in the details. (I am finally at a juncture with my site where I have to begin listening to my own advice…). 
 
What question do you wish I would have asked? Feel free to write it down and answer it!
Do you have employees? I did have a part-time staff person for 5 months who helped manage my site, but she left for a full time job. I did not hire a replacement which forced me to learn new skills…a good thing. Currently I have a person who helps me on occasion with my blogs and I use the services of my web master from time to time. I could use a very part time person to help me handle the technical details of my site like changing pictures, adding products, etc.

Photos: Leslie, the "Maine Girl" at the helm, and the best selling sail bag

The California Women's Conference: It's On Video

Welcome to my week-long women's series. It's no secret that one issue that I'm passionate about is female empowerment. I used to answer a domestic violence hotline, coach cheerleading, lead a girls technology club in my local middle school, and met with a monthly girls book club. I'm currently on the board of our county's domestic violence program and doing some writing for the Maine Women's Fund. My point is it's certainly been a common thread in my life no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

So this week, it's about the ladies, and of course money (as usual). Enjoy!

Last week, 14,000 women gathered for California's Women's Conference which was organized by Maria Shriver, first woman of California.

There were some great speakers on hand discussing their views on women's issues (which are really everyone issues but you understand what I'm saying) as well as the role of women in the future of America and the world. It was a pretty inspiring lineup which included Bono (keynote), Warrent Buffet (talking the economy as well as putting a sexistly pandering Chris Matthews politely in his place), Jennifer Lopez (talking with young girls about body image), Oprah (duh) and lots of other gifted speakers and accomplished women.

While it certainly would have been cool to be there, the great news is they have a great online presence.

Click here to get streaming video of the different speaker sessions (and not just two minute clips from Youtube here, actual hours of video).

You can also get more involved by keeping up with their blog and discussion board at the California Women's Conference's official website.

I'm thinking of this time listening as a combination motivational pep talk and professional development session. Hope you do too!

Women's Week: The Boss of You Book Review

Welcome to my week-long women's series. It's no secret that one issue that I'm passionate about is female empowerment. I used to answer a domestic violence hotline, coach cheerleading, lead a girls technology club in my local middle school, and meet with a monthly girls book club. I'm currently on the board of our county's domestic violence program and doing some writing for the Maine Women's Fund. My point is it's certainly been a common thread in my life no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

So this week, it's about the ladies, and of course money (as usual). Enjoy!

I was drawn to this book at my local library while looking for something new to read. "The Boss of You: What Every Woman Needs To Know To Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business" definitely caught my eye with it's fun, sensible cover and complete title. As a woman trying to run my own part-time business, I thought this might me some great professional development information.

I find books like this tend to be one of two things: 1) a little scatterbrained with lots of tips and tricks but a lack of cohesiveness or 2) dense with information and a little on the boring side.

This book was a good balance of case studies of other female run businesses (tips and tricks) but was also well outlined with cohesion throughout.

Sure you can get lots of books about how to write a business plan but there is lots of information in here that works whether you are before or after the BP stage. I enjoyed the exercises where you figure out what you're good at and how that translates to your business as well as the you-can't-do-everything-and-that's-ok attitude.

Emira and Lauren (the authors) are the kind of smart women you want to be friends with and their advice is clearly from the trenches. I know most business people who'd write a book like this would use it to talk about everything they did right but it's more helpful (not to mention realistic) to hear the not-so-ideal parts too. And if I had a business for years, I could still see myself getting something out of the book.

Since the librarians won't speak to me if I renew this one more time, I guess I'll have to surrender this copy next week and ask for my own copy for Christmas to keep as a reference. Oh and if you're more the abbreviated info type, check out the back index full of useable resources (with websites, yay for authors who get the 21st century).

Anyway if you're a woman wanting to start your own business who refuses to buy a book that implies that she's a "dummy" (a little personal bias there), this one is fabulous. I even took it on vacation which means it was worth lugging on a plane in my carry-on.

So learn and enjoy! I continue to myself.

Check out Lauren and Emira's blog here, where you can also order the book.
A good article about self employment taxes from Moolanomy.
Some helpful links for women starting their own businesses via USA Today 

Of Good Things (And Breakfasts) To Come

My arm is sore from a long week of work and stress and last night, I was so excited about my new place that I slept about four hours. Needless to say, I'm beat. Sadie and I just ate dinner and it's going to be a relaxing early night before a busy weekend. I'll probably pass out in the next hour or so.

While reading Jen's magazine Saveur this morning,I came across the following quote. Hope you like it too:

“"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”

In hopes of exciting things. For all of us. Happy Friday!

Adventures In Real Estate

In typical Nicole fashion, I'm all over this new apartment search. I've looked at five places in my acceptable price range and have called about many others.

I'm continually surprised at how many bad places there are out there. And since I'm not looking at the bottom of the bottom, I can't imagine how some people out there are living.

I think tonight, I found my new home. It's not what I expected and it's quite small, but I just had that really good feeling when I walked in. 

I've learned some things in my search these last couple of weeks:

1. The more you look at, the more you know. Nothing gives you a glimpse at the real estate market like looking at a lot of places. You get a feel for what is a good deal and what isn't.

2. Take a cue from the landlord. Are they snoopy? Can they not look you in the eye? Your landlord is someone you will deal with regularly. You will call this person when your pipes freeze or you get locked out. Your landlord doesn't have to be your best friend but liking them really helps. My potential landlord happens to be a long lost cousin of mine, and known as the nicest guy in town.

3. Know your dealbreakers, and deal makers. For example, I love a gas stove. I don't expect it but when I see one, I make a little mental check mark. And as the owner of an older dog, I need easy porch access. (I've walked down three flights of stairs at 3 am more then once this week to let Sadie do her thing. That can't happen on a regular basis!) Don't think some little aspect you'd like to have is trivial. It's the little things in life that are important.

4. Don't be afraid to bargain. If you have a well behaved dog, maybe you can talk your way out of a pet deposit. Maybe the lease can be made more flexible if you can't commit to a year. If you like a place, it's worth asking. It's like haggling in a retail store: delicate but it can be done.

5. Go with your gut. Like I said, the place I saw tonight definitely had some flaws, like being tiny. But the feeling I got when I walked in was one of calm. The place had a lot of windows, was well divided, had a nice kitchen, and it had something else I can't quite put my finger on. There's a lot to be said for that love-at-first-sight feeling.

Thanks to all of you for all your kind thoughts during my transition to this new life. Like with all major decisions, I'm going to sleep on this one but I'm pretty sure I have found my little place.

Lobster Becomes Affordable: How Being Aware of Food Prices Pays Off

I've had every intention of starting my own price book for when I go grocery shopping (to help keep track of the lowest prices on items I buy regularly). Truth is, I haven't really needed one because I have a mind to remember trivial things like that. (I still remember my 7th grade boyfriend's phone number for God's sake!) When I'm trotting down that grocery aisle, I know what to grab.

While most food prices are getting higher, that is not the case across the board. For the past few weeks, lobster prices have gone super low. Prices got to around $2.75 a pound wholesale about a month ago and are remaining low. Don't get me wrong, the grocery stores are still selling them for way more then this but the wholesale price is ridiculously low. And lobstermen are really feeling the effects.

Lots of possible solutions to this problem are being discussed, with some people already cutting out the middle man and buying direct. Grocery stores and other distributors are being pressured to lower prices so hopefully that'll happen soon. Otherwise though for just a little more hassle, I can get myself some good cheap lobster and help out a local industry at the same time!

Despite current low prices, there is still the prevailing idea that lobster is a luxury food that normal people can't afford on a regular basis. Also, people only know of one way to cook lobster (boil and dip in butter) and therefore don't see it as really versatile. So while prices are low, the culture keeps people (at least many people I know) from buying them.

Since I normally don't follow waterfront news very closely, it's the fact that I knew $3 a pound was a good price for lobster that made me reevaluate my buying habits. While we may be in a recession, it appears prices for some things (like lobster) are going down.

Have you noticed a lower price phenomenon yourself due to your awareness of what prices usually are?

How to freeze lobster (it can last over six months)...
Some more information about getting involved in this cause...
Some yummy lobster recipes...

Too Cute Tuesday: Embroidered Hats and Mittens

When Kelly at Almost Frugal asked if I wanted to participate in a homemade holiday gifts carnival, I said Darn right I do! I am all for homemade holiday gifts besides the typical ones most people think of.

Kelly's category is yarn, string, and ribbon which got me to thinking about a Martha Stewart project from a few years ago that is easy, fun, and cheap. Plus it doesn't require much supplies, which is perfect for my current somewhat transient lifestyle.

Now I consider myself a knitter but only of square or rectangle objects. I'd love to be able to make a pair of mittens but I'm lacking in skills. So can I buy a pair of mittens then embroider them with contrasting yarn to make them look homemade? I sure can. (Well, not for anyone who reads this blog but you can try to pull it off.) If it were me, I'd tie the mittens together with a piece of yarn because I think it'll make them seem more authentic. Ok, enough lying. :^)

Since I'm crafting with my friend Jen tonight, a fellow appreciator of wine, we'll drink some lovely red wine she brought home last night: Le Petit Mas. It's kind of nice having a "wife" for awhile! ;^)

Materials:
Store bought wool or acrylic mittens in a solid color (think they should look homemade)
Yarn in a contrasting color to the mittens
Big needle
Scissors
White pencil (optional)

Cocktail: Red, red wine....

1. Go to the store and buy your supplies. The mittens don't have to be the prettiest things ever because you are going to make them pretty! Mine happen to be pretty because I bought them at my favorite second hand store (and they came tied together...interesting.) If mittens aren't your thing, try a hat.

2. Pour a nice glass of wine. The wine and mittens will keep you warm as things get cold! In our case, red wine and red mittens match.

3. Pick a design you want to embroider on your mittens. Think something wintery and/or cute like a pine tree or a snowflake. You can also do the initials of the person who you are giving the mittens to. (Google Image search the words "embroidery pattern" and whatever you want and you'll have lots of choices.) You can also free sketch the design with a light pencil to help guide your stitching but that's optional.

4. I did an x like stitch to make my design look a little more knitted but a staight stitch a la Jen looks nice too. Follow a pattern (Jen needs to) or freestyle (Nicole did this and got a little frustrated).

5. Jen advises not to stitch when angry. Of course, being stressed out by an election can make your project come out a little messy.

I think I may have a Too Cute Tuesday convert on my hands. I'll post pictures of my hat when it's done. (Got to have something to do with my nervous hands while the election results roll in!)

Moving Out But Not On

I've been going through some changes these last few weeks (and no, I'm not talking puberty, that ship has sailed!).

I am moving out of my boyfriend's house. A big change, but something that has to happen.

I don't want to get deep into explaining this. It's between Sean and I and all I care about is that we understand each other, which we do. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Sean. As a matter of fact, I have even more good things to say about him after this weekend. We're maintaining a strong friendship in hopes of the best for each other's futures, whether it's with each other or not.

So here I am, moving for the twentieth time in my life into my own place. Besides being more expensive to live on my own, there is the added complication of moving with a dog (so many rents don't allow pets).

I found myself last week touring apartments and then coming back so discouraged to Sean's wonderful house I've helped fix up. I have to keep telling myself I haven't earned a three bedroom house yet, and that's ok. This idea still takes some getting used to.

I'm lucky to have the support of family and friends during this time. My mother has been particularly supportive. She's right, this is a big change and I need somewhere nice where I can go and be happy alone." She doesn't want me to get a crappy apartment, even if it means she helps me with rent awhile.

So I'm searching for a place to call my own (and staying with a very generous friend until then). Sean and I have dinner plans for Wednesday. And I'm feeling good about what I'm doing. 

It's said that with great love comes great risk. And I'm lucky to have such supportive people in my life to help me with the risky parts.

Sarah's Travel Special: Part 2

Jetsetter Sarah guest blogs about her most used travel tips. Missed the first part? Read Part One here.

Food: Here is where I tend to cut the most corners while traveling. I buy snacks at a local grocery store, and, if I have a place to store them, milk, cereal, bread, and coldcuts for breakfasts and lunches. I do splurge on restaurants, especially if they serve regional food: it’s part of the traveling experience. I love to share dishes with my traveling companions, mostly because we can order fewer dishes (lower cost), and we all get to taste something new. As with my other travel categories, I don’t cut corners so much that I eat unhealthily. I try to avoid fast food, and I will pay more for a meal if it includes fruits and vegetables (of which I never eat enough when I travel). There’s no sense in feeling tired and malnourished while you’re traveling.

Transportation: I already mentioned that an airport shuttle to the hotel is a great perk, so I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I say that I try to avoid renting a car. Rental car companies have learned how to milk you for all you’re worth, plus I don’t enjoy driving in unknown territory. I try to walk as much as possible and to take public transportation whenever necessary. You get to see more of the location, and it’s cheaper. That said, renting a car can be good if you happen to be visiting an area that is dangerous or where the public transportation is slow or not dependable. If I want to take day-trips, having the car can definitely be worthwhile, too. Renting a car is also much less expensive (usually) than purchasing another plane ticket for another trip, so combining destinations with a rental car can be financially worth it.

Activities: I often choose my destination based on the activities in the region, so I allow myself some flexibility if there is an activity that I just don’t want to miss. (Take Nicole’s and my splurge to see a show in Las Vegas… thanks Nicole’s mom!) I try to limit the costs as much as possible, however, by choosing free or less expensive activities. For example, I love exploring public parks or wandering around neighborhoods. Museums are usually less expensive than certain other activities (for example, amusement parks), and I wouldn’t be able to visit them somewhere else. Similarly, window-shopping can be a fun (free) way to get a feel for your destination (really, it’s no different from visiting a museum, at least in my book). Food is also included on my list of activities; I have to eat, so why not make it interesting? (Of course, see above for how I cut corners in this category.)

Have any more ideas? I’ve love to hear your feedback and suggestions, especially if it means I can see more for my money.

Sarah's Travel Special: Part 1

You may remember Sarah's life-changing guest post on tutoring for extra money (It remains one of my most popular posts to date).  I've been telling her she should blog and she emailed me this fabulous guest post. Enjoy (Part II to come tomorrow)!

Nicole’s post about how we “waste” money really got me thinking. I of course spend relatively small amounts of money on certain treats (dinner at a restaurant, knitting supplies, baking ingredients), but my biggest splurge is on travel. I don’t mean travel to visit my family (that’s pretty much required), but travel for fun: travel that involves an airplane and a hotel. Over the past few years, I’ve developed ways to cut corners and standards that I just won’t dip below. What better way to share these ideas than through Nicole’s blog! I’m always looking for new travel advice, however, so I’m hoping you’ll share some great ideas with me too. Here goes:

Flight: I start out with the assumption that any flight will be more than I would ideally spend, so I cut myself (and my budget) some slack when looking for a good flight. That said, I usually adjust my travel plans if I can’t find a roundtrip ticket for less than $400 (this used to be $300, but I had to adjust it with the soaring airline prices). Friends have introduced me to a couple great websites for finding the best prices: kayak.com and farecast.com.

Kayak.com is just like the other flight search engines, but it allows me to search for multiple cities at the same time. It also has several different ways to narrow or widen a search. I try to take into account travel costs to and from the airports, so I’ll often take a slightly more expensive flight at mid-day because it means I can take less expensive public transportation to the airport.

Once I find a good flight, I check farecast.com to get advice on when to purchase the ticket. Farecast.com predicts whether ticket prices (for a particular destination and date) will rise, fall, or stay the same in the next few days. When I’m ready, I always book through the airline itself (Kayak.com automatically directs me there, but I also prefer it in case I need to make changes to the flight). I cut additional corners by sitting in regular seats (no extra legroom for me) and by bringing my own food aboard the plane.

Hotel: My preferred site for looking up hotels (or motels) is expedia.com, but I can’t think of any good reasons why I choose this site over the others. (If you have better suggestions, I’d love to hear them.) I usually sort hotels by price and then narrow down my choices by the number of stars the hotel has earned, user reviews, and the location and amenities of the hotel.

My current standards mean I won’t stay in a hotel with less than 2 stars. If I’m not relatively comfortable in the room, then I won’t sleep well, and I won’t enjoy the rest of the trip. This doesn’t mean I’m looking for down comforters; I simply want something clean and safe. As for user reviews, the more reviews the better. They don’t have to be stellar reviews, but I want to know that the hotel is clean and safe (notice a theme here?). Location also plays a role in my decision because a hotel closer to things I want to see and do means I can spend less on transportation. A free airport shuttle is also a great perk. A fridge in the room means I can keep milk or sandwich ingredients in the room for breakfast and lunch. Bed & Breakfasts may be worth the splurge simply for saving time and effort on breakfast.

More travel tips tomorrow. Stay tuned!