Breaking Even

Too Cute Tuesday: Needle Felted Animals

Here at Craft Central, we've been meaning to needle felt for awhile. Unfortunately, this requires felting needles, which is a special kind of needle that I ended up driving the next town over to get.

No matter, with the proper equiptment in hand (and some fiddleheads à la Nicole in our stomachs) we enjoyed stabbing fiber and creating cute creatures!

Materials Needed
Fiber (this is cool terminology for wool/fur that hasn't yet become yarn, you can apparently buy this in craft stores by the bag though if you have friends who are "into" fiber, they just have some lying around)
Felting needles (I got the variety pack of 4 needles for $6)
Styrofoam (stolen from workplaces)

Cocktail of the Day: Margaritas! (Note: Make sure you can handle sharp needles and alcohol before proceeding with the cocktail)

1. Make fiddleheads (you can look up a recipe or get my super-easy good one tomorrow on the blog!). Tis the season!

2. Pour cocktail. Have friends take out their bags of fiber and compare their wares.

3. Make a vague shape of what you want with the fiber. (ie My ant head was a small roundish ball and the ant abdomen was a slightly larger variation of that). Stab using the styrofoam to protect yourself, cutting board style. Stab evenly around the fiber, which will keep your shape round. The more you stab, the tighter it'll be.

4. Despite warnings of sharp needles, stab yourself and draw blood. Continue with the craft because one has to work through the pain.

 

5. You can use the felting needles to also "stab" the multiple pieces together. Eventually you will have an animal, promise. Dorrie had a dragonfly, Sarah a mouse, Sue a fish, and Nicole an ant.

6. Embarass your unembarassable dog by sticking your new animal on top of her head.

Aren't you crafty? And really isn't it fun to stab things?

Want a heads up on what crafts are coming up? Just want to see our goofy outtakes? Be a fan of Too Cute Tuesday on Facebook!

Plenty Of Fish: Works For Me

You may remember a while back, I interviewed my friend D. who had jumped into online dating. Using both paid and unpaid services, she was getting dates and meeting people. I've been watching from the sidelines, admiring her courage but myself a little hesitant.

It could be that spring is in the air but I thought I'd finally give online dating yet another shot.

I wrote my online profile on PlentyOfFish, uploaded a photo, and waited. (As a side note, turn off the photo rating option on your profile if your self-esteem is at all shaky. People apparently expect a lot these days!)

The initial response was lukewarm. I got two e-mails, one asking if I design websites (aww, using me already?) and one simply saying "yer cute" and that's it. Not quite what I was hoping for.

I looked at my profile again a week or so later with a more critical eye and realized that while I sounded really nice, I also sounded kind of boring. I tapped into my slightly wacky side and rewrote. I then got 7 responses in 24 hours. Plenty of fish indeed!

A few dates into my great social experiment, I met a nice young man that I am now dating. For the moment we'll call him John, since that is his name and he's ok with me using it.

A few words of caution from my most recent stint in the trenches:

1) There are some weird people out there, on free and paid services. While most correspondence has been nice (if gramatically incorrect), I got an email that would make most men apologize for their entire gender about two weeks ago. (It was quite graphic and inappropriate.) Just hit "block" because just like in real life, you don't have to correspond to anyone you don't want to.  

2) You shouldn't have to convince anyone to be with you. No chemistry? It's fine. I feel like I have a lot to offer and not a lot of time or energy to chase people who don't agree. Keep putting yourself out there and eventually you'll get chemistry on both ends.

3) Don't be too nice. Ok this sounds counterintuitive but everyone out there is "a nice girl looking for a great guy who likes to be outdoors and cuddle while watching movies" or "a great guy who's tired of girls who play games" (plus that last one makes it sound like you have issues with the ladyfolk i.e. is a big red flag to me).

Under interests, I put such things as "avocados", "social media", and "dogs with short legs". Yes, it's great to be nice but if you are selling yourself on these sites, you need to stand out from the crowd. Just like your high school English teacher taught you, show don't tell. "On the weekends, you'll catch me biking around Acadia National Park because I do love those hills!" says a lot more to me then "I like biking." That said, don't go on and on. A couple paragraphs should get people interested; let them ask you the follow up questions.

4) Just try it. Did you know one out of every eight married couples met online? Trust me, the stigma against this is almost completely gone. There are so many people on these sites, why shouldn't you be one of them?

Oh and if you have some good online dating stories that went bad, at least you can contribute them to this fine website that my friend Mel and I are trying to start. One way or the other, you'll get something out of online dating! 

Too Cute Tuesday: Easter Eggs

So both Sarah and I forgot it was Easter this Sunday and had a total other craft planned. Thank goodness Sue remembered and said something to the effect of "Um, what about Easter eggs?" Fabulous!

Materials
Eggs (white will take the dye better)
Food coloring or one of those little egg decorating kits (Sarah got it at the grocery store for seventy three cents)
White vinegar
Bowls and spoons
Paper towels
Plastic on the table, if I am crafting with you especially
Thumb tack
Needle (for poking in the egg to break the yolk)
Elastics, stickers, crayons (for decorating purposes)

Cocktail of the Week: Diet Cola (the generic stuff is fantastic), put in your favorite mixer

1. Poke a hole in each end of your egg. Use the thumbtack to start it and use a needle to make the hold a little bigger. Note: Do this slowly or you may have some breakage!

2. Blow interior contents of egg into a bowl. Put aside for omelets sometime in the near future.

3. Rinse egg if you have egg guts on the outside.

4. Fill bowls with vinegar, water, and food coloring. We got really excited about putting in the tablets! (see left)

5.Put eggs in the dye. You may want to use spoons to manipulate the egg. If you use your fingers, they will get dyed!

5a. Get fancy with rubber bands, drawing on eggs with crayons, or using stickers. You can also double dip the eggs in different colors to get a blended effect.

6. Let eggs dry. Hang them on your egg tree. (Sue and Sarah have heard of this, I haven't. Have you heard of this?)

Happy Easter, and stay cute!

Love Too Cute Tuesday? Be our Facebook friends!

The Great Henna Experiment Of '09

Many people in my life (myself included) often forget I was a science major in college. That's right, if you want to talk asymmetric boudinage or magma mixing, I'm your gal. Of course, I don't talk geology much in my daily life but my course of study is has maybe appreciate the scientific method.

I posted a couple weeks ago over my battle with grey hair and a lot of people recommended henna. And who says I don't listen to commenters! Initially I was a bit nervous about potentially making myself look bad (everyone's chemistry is different), but I found myself more excited in thinking of this whole thing as an experiment.

I know, how exciting are my Friday nights!

Materials
Henna
Coffee (apparently it helps the brown develop better then plain old water. You can also add things like lemon (to play up blonde) or olive oil (to make hair soft)
Plastic bag
Hair elastic
Towel
Paintbrush (optional but it does help get those harder to reach places)
Two short movies or one long one

Procedure

1. Make coffee. (Oh and know that you've got to start with clean hair so do that if you need to.)

2. Mix coffee with henna according to package directions. Notice the weird green color. Decide the "test portion" will be your entire head.

3. Put green gunk all over your head. Note: Make sure you are wearing an old dark T-shirt when you're doing this, or of course, you can go topless. Take your time and apply the gunk carefully with the paintbrush or your hands. Don't splatter henna all over your white bathroom. Secure whole situation with hair elastic. Cover head with plastic bag.

4. Watch a really long movie, in my case "The Women". The color needs to set for at least an hour. Tip: Might as well do all that other stuff you always mean to do like dishes or giving yourself a facial.

5. Once color is set (I waited an hour and a half) rinse in the sink, first with hot-water followed by cold water. Towel dry.

Results: Hair looks darker and grey is covered, feels gritty though (I am supposed to shower after but I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning). Smells like I've been in a pond all day.

At six dollars for a little pot of this henna stuff (I only used half of it), this is a pretty good bargain and it's all natural. But it does take a freaking long time.

Conclusion: Henna is a good way to cover gray hair if you have a lot of time and inclination to sit around your apartment with a plastic bag on your head. You may want to do some pre-color smell prevention though. Clearly though the most important conclusion is that the commenters on this blog know what they are talking about!

Why Cross Country Skiing Is Not An Expensive Hobby

I spent last weekend cross-country skiing with some buddies of mine in northern Maine. We were talking about how fun skiing is that how it can be cost prohibitive for a lot of people. And then I got to thinking if that was really true.

I've been skiing for a little over 10 years and my equipment is at least that old. I decided to break down my initial investments and continued costs and see how much skiing really has cost me. (Note: Two pairs of skis: one for classical and one for skating)

Initial Costs:
Boots (Alpina combination): $150
Skating skis (bought at a ski sale bindings included): $40
Classic skis (top-of-the-line 10 years ago): $350
Bindings for classic skis: $50
Polls for classic skiing: $80
Polls for skate skiing: $80
Wax to maintain skis (kick and glide wax, cork, scraper, cheap iron): $150
Cross-country ski gloves (I'm quite particular on the gloves): $50
Silk long underwear: $80
(All other winter gear is stuff I already own and use in other parts of my life.)

Total Initial Cost= $1030

Recurring costs:
Memberships at small local places are cheap. 10th Mountain, a world class ski facility in my hometown, charges $25 a year for membership.

So far, my equiptment has cost about $100 to own and maintain a year and it's showing no signs of wearing out in the next ten years. Not so bad when you look at it as an investment you can take care of. Of course there are some ways to cut on costs.

1) Consider how you'll use your skis before you buy them. Doing a lot of backcountry? Fishscales are fine. Groomed trails? Get a pair of racing skis.

2) Hit up ski sales. I scored a newish pair of skating skis eight years ago when my high school team was getting rid of some "old" equiptment. Call around and ask if/when your local teams hold their sales. The skis are often not even that old (a few seasons), and the money goes to a good cause. Plus if you're nice they may even change the bindings for you for free to make sure they work with your boots.

A complete side note, I get "nice skis" comments as much about my cheap-o skis as my expensive ones. Seriously, only the hardcore people can even tell the difference.

3) When in doubt go shorter. Longer skis are tougher to handle. If you need to make a choice between two not so ideal pairs, get the slightly too short ones.

4) Get a pair of combination boots. Think you may get into skate skiing? Have weak ankles? That extra detachable cuff on the combination boot is so helpful. I got my boots almost 14 years ago and they're still working for me. Oh and invest so they fit like a glove. Like any good pair of footwear, they'll pay you back.

5) Maintain your skis. It's cheaper then getting new ones. If you don't want to wax them, pay a local sports store or some kid to do it for you. Last I checked it costs around $50. They even make wax for fishscale skis. Oh and do things like store them nicely and wipe the ice off them. You know, common sense stuff!

6) Ski little. If you don't want to pay for big resort passes, look for little places that groom their own trails. Ask around. Maybe a farmer likes to maintain the perimeter of this fields or the big resort has a cheap ski day. A little research and asking around (try outdoorsy groups on Facebook if you're desperate!) will yeild much.

7) If you really love something, it's not expensive. I love to ski and I love having the option to do so whenever I want. For me, the investment in my entertainment and health is worth it.

(It's so funny because I noticed that Give Me Back My Five Bucks had a post about this same subject while I was working on this one!)

Adventures In (Free) Online Dating

A friend asked me last week about being ready to date again and to be honest, I don't think I really am. I do know someone, however, who's really putting herself out there in an admirable way on free online dating sites.

Because I want her to be candid with her answers, I'm interviewing her anonymously.

Which dating sites are you using?
Match, Yahoo Personal, PlentyofFish, OKCupid, DowntoEarth

Which one is working out best for you?
PlentyofFish has been good, but once I was on that it seemed that Match started to work too.

Have you ever used any of the pay sites before (like Match, eHarmony, etc.)?
I am on both Yahoo Personals and Match, mostly because i was unaware of the newer free sites. A few years back when I was last single I used Match so that's what I knew about. There is also LavaLife but that site is not a good for this part of the country.

How do the free sites compare?
I like them, I actually think that I like them better. But when I was online earlier today I found out that PlentyofFish has a paid aspect too.... called a Certified Member. Paying to have your membership prominently displayed can help get people's attention (it works like any featured listing).

What are some "green lights" that you're looking for when you see a profile? Green Lights include people who state that they have what I am looking for. Some big things are people who I find attractive, age, location, family, wants children, non-smoker, and people with the similar interests.

What about "red flags"?
Smokers, people with partial nudity in photos, people who don't want kids, people with no photos.

What advice would you give to someone who's considering online dating?
Do IT! its a good way to get to meet people. Be open to meeting people. If someone asks you out and you are somewhat interested.... GO! If you are uncomfortable meeting someone go to a place you are comfortable, like your favorite restaurant or coffee shop where you know people and meet for lunch during a work day. This way you can keep it short and simple, and if you click then make plans to meet again.

Ah, technology, making our lives more interesting everyday!

Homemade Sushi: It's Kind Of Easy

This weekend, I started having a massive craving for sushi. Now I can't control myself in a sushi restaurant... well that and there isn't one nearby. So what's a money saving gal to do? Make my own!

And make my own I did, and it was easy! (Adapted from the book "Easy Sushi" by Emi Kazuko)

Materials
Toasted nori sheets ($25 for 50 sheets— you can buy them in smaller packages but I couldn't find any in my tiny health food store)
Sesame seeds ($3 get in the spice aisle, not imported foods...they just put the same thing in fancier packaging)
Rice vinegar ($3 a bottle)
Sugar ($2 a bag, you only need 2 teaspoons for this recipe)
Sea salt (I've been working on my $3 oackage for about six months and I love salt)
Sushi rice ($5 for a pretty big bag, one cup of rice will make about three rolls)

Wasabi in a tube (for us lazy people, plus it's only $3 and keeps forever)
Soy sauce ($6 get the good stuff, totally worth the investment)

Various fillings (carrots, scallions, cream cheese, smoked salmon, fake crab, mushrooms, cucumers, avocados, mango... you name it!)

1. Make rice in the pot according to directions. In the meantime, chop carrots and other fillings.
2. Cool rice. In the meantime, mix 3 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt in a little bowl. Toast seasame seeds on stove for a couple minutes (as many as you like).
3. Combine vinegar mixture, rice, and seasame seeds gently. Let sit.
4. Using a mat (you can even use a flexible cutting board or placemat in a pinch), put a toasted nori sheet and spread rice mixture on it lightly. Lay ingredients inside and roll.
5. Cut into little rounds. Serve with wasabi and soy sauce.

So for less then the price of sushi for two at even a cheaper restaurant, you can have sushi for a small party and leftovers to spare!

Too Cute Tuesday: Thirteen Craft Essentials

I have a friend who loves the idea of Too Cute Tuesday but she said to me the other day, “Nicole, I’d love to do that stuff but I can’t afford it.”

If you look closely at the TCT crafts, you’ll see many of them cost under $10 assuming you have a few basic and equally inexpensive tools at your disposal. But you know what happens when you assume…

I thought pre-Tuesday I could go over some of my favorite crafting tools that you can use for multiple projects and not break the bank. If you want to do a craft, here are all the Too Cute Tuesday posts ever…take your pick!

Glue Gun- Cost $10
Sometimes you need the good stuff. You can use this on many surfaces and for its staying power, the price is right.

Stapler- Cost $10-20
Handy for attaching things like reciepts to statements, you can also "sew" in a pinch.

Duct Tape- $5 for a huge roll
Do I really have to say more?

Needle And Thread- $2
You can also steal the sewing kit from a hotel you stay at. Great for quick repairs. Get some embroidery floss and you've got all kinds of possibilities!

Fabric Scraps- Free
Reuse what you've got.  I made a pillow out of a skirt last year!

Modge Podge- $5 for a big container
Essentially it's a big pot of Elmer's glue and the cheapest way to "waterproof" something I can think of.

Scrap Paper- Free
Paper is a pretty versatile substance...why let it go to waste?

Paint- $5+
Spray paint or discounted leftovers at your favorite hardware store can give anything a new life.

Good scissors - $5
My tip: Hide your favorite scissors and don't ever let them into a kitchen. Cause then it's over.

Ruler- $1
A straight edge will save you a lot of heartache. Even better if it's a yard stick.

Cardstock or index cards- $5
A stiff kind of paper has all kinds of possibilities, and gives your scrap paper some super powers.

Computer- A lot of money
Don't have an item? Look up the substitution online. There is certainly more then one way to do a craft and having the ginormous library at your fingertips that is the internet will make you unstoppable. Having a printer will make you even more powerful, you know, if that's possible.

Small repair kit- $20
A small hammer, some nails, and a screwdriver will get you out of (and into) some fun messes.

Things you can borrow: cordless drill, belt sander, sewing machine...Some places have a tool lending library but also you can borrow from friends and neighbors. Bring the item back with some brownies and I doubt anyone would mind!

Another great post along these lines was by Frugal Hacks about things you should have in your at-home repair kit. It actually inspired me to write this up finally.

These are the things that I use regularly. Fellow crafters: am I forgetting anything?

Too Cute Tuesday: Homemade Kahlua

Would you believe that in last week's installment of Too Cute Tuesday, I forgot to make a cocktail? I know, amazing huh? So when Dorrie thought we should make kahlua this week, I thought it was perfect!

Sam, Emily, and Sarah joined the usual crowd for a craft that turned out to be quite easy. Sure it was $40 of supplies but we all took a jar or two home and there was vodka (and most everything else) to spare. Directions were inspired by this fine blog, Chickens In The Road.

Materials

1 handle vodka (depends on how much you want to make, in this case we made a double batch using a 1.75 L bottle)- $25
9 teaspoons vanilla extract (we went pure instead of imitation for $9)
coffee (make six cups)
6 c. sugar
Mason jars or old wine bottles (probably screw cap bottles are best)

Cocktail of the Day: Um, kahlua! Though a bottle of Gnarly Head red wine can be drunk while waiting...

1. Buy handle of vodka at grocery store on your lunch break. Feel slightly ashamed. Later give a ride home to a coworker and feel a need to explain the vodka again. Realize you are probably overrationalizing.

2. Have cool friends that make you dinner and bring wine and veggies to share.

3. Make six cups of coffee while socializing in the kitchen.

4. Stir coffee and sugar in a large pot and let simmer one hour. Take turns stirring the pot while everyone (including the four dogs present) hang out in the kitchen. Drink wine and talk. Have discussions such as whether we like celery or just eat it because it seems nutritous... among other things.

5. Stir in 6 cups of vodka and 6 tablespoons of vanilla.

6. Pour into mason jars.

7. Once finished, realize you actually want to try it now and not wait for it to age. Pour a glass and pass it around. Heck with needing to age, this stuff is good!

We've already let success go to are heads and are discussing attempting other alcoholic beverages in the future. Aren't we crafty?

Can't get enough TCT? Check out the Facebook page with even more pictures and information.

Fashion Forward Friday: Fondue Makes For Cheap Easy Entertainment

Every Friday, I tackle an affordable idea of fashion or style in a fun segment I call Fashion Forward Friday.

My buddy Ally got me a present a few years ago for Christmas: a teeny fondue pot heated by one of those tea lights. It probably cost under $15 but it was really thoughtful and an awesome thing to bring to any winter potluck situation.

1. Great way to clean out the cupboards of randomness. Some chocolate or cheese and you’re in business. Here are a few things you can put on a platter and call your appetizer made!

For the chocolate: Any kind of berries, graham crackers, marshmallows (or my fave stale Peeps!), oranges, bananas, cookies, cheese cubes… anything that tastes good with chocolate. And here's a recipe

For the cheese: Bread (even overly crispy works), crackers, ham, vegetables … anything that tastes good with cheese. And here's a recipe

2. Novelty: One great thing about fondue is the odds are no one else is going to bring it. And what’s not to love about fire, melted cheese or chocolate, and eating things with weird long forks?
   
3. Easy: If you can cut stuff up and arrange it on a plate, you can fondue. Five minutes and you've got an appetizer ready to go!

There's some kind of French (maybe it's Quebecois?) tradition of having fondue for New Year's Eve but I think we should enjoy this seemingly chic but really frugal tradition more often.

(A quick look through my photo archives does not find a fondue pot in action but if any one of my friends has a picture of my pot in action, email it to me and I'll stick it in the post.)

Last Week's FFF: Finding Workable Vintage

Too Cute Tuesday: Bubble Earrings

My mother and I coined our infamous "Pff! I can make that!" expression when we saw these earrings. We had seen them together then I had went back to college. A few weeks later, in with the care package my mom had sent little magnets with cute little tiny pictures inspired by the earrings. (She thought they may be too big for earrings.)

We have not turned back since and we have often bought something only to take it home and see if we can make it. I remembered these earrings last week and thought it was a sweet little idea for Too Cute Tuesday. It was just Sarah and I tonight but it was safe to say a good time was had by all!

Materials
Clear aquarium rocks (get ones that are flat on one side)- $2 for a bag of 100 or so
Earring posts- $2 for a bag of 20 pairs
Modge Podge or Elmer's Glue
Magazines (to cut up for artwork)
Scissors or exacto knife
*Any strong glue to attach the metal earring posts to plastic...Modge Podge can work too (see procedure)

Cocktail of the day: Cranberry juice and vodka. I do feel like I'm coming down with a cold and this seems healthy!

1. Look through magazines and find cool artwork that looks nice behind the clear rock. I went for small magazine icons and letters (in my case "n" and "o") and Sarah used some vintage book artwork for a more antique-y look. Classy!

2. Cut out with scissors or an exacto knife the circle around the design.

3. Fix juice cocktail to help combat the virus you may be catching.

4. Use Modge Podge to adhere the cutout to the flat part of the aquarium rock. Let dry. Find out the Real Housewives of Orange County are on television.

5. Once dry, set the earring posts on the back of the earring towards the top of where the earring will attach. (If you put the post in the middle of the circle, there can be a bit of a dangling off your ear situation.) Hint: Glue gun glue is not suitable for this (it comes right off the earring post after it dries) but if you squeeze on a layer of Modge Podge on top of the post and let it dry a really long time that seems to work. You can also use glue suitable for metals, like crazy glue.

6. While waiting for Modge Podge to dry, sip cocktail and get engrossed in bad reality television and hanging out with your friend. Realize it's almost betime and the Modge Podge is still drying on the post. Decide to let the glue for the posts finish drying overnight so you can come back to pick up the craft.

Earrings not your thing? You can make these into magnets by sticking some magnetic tape behind them! Wow! What a fun and versatile craft... we're so crafty!

 

Too Cute Tuesday: Felted Mittens

What a special Tuesday it is! Barack Obama is now president and I raise my TCT cocktail to his successful presidency. I'm so glad I took an early lunch to watch the whole thing live.

Tonight is a craft involves both 1) less work then it looks and 2) recycling of things you may have lying around. Both things I love!

Materials:
Felted sweaters (You can do this with an old sweater, a wool one you don't like or one you've accidentally shrunk. See instructions on how to felt below.)
Scissors and/or fabric cutter and board
Thread and needle (or sewing machine)

Cocktail of the Day: Mango Margaritas (I love both food and drink leftovers from Mexican-food themed potluck parties!)

1. Get an old sweater and felt it by the following process:

Agitation + Heat = Felted

I've accidentally done this to multiple sweaters but washing in hot, drying on high, and washing/drying with stiff articles of clothing (you know to pound the fibers) all apparently work well. You can even agitate by hand to get the desired consistency. In my case, the sweaters had been preshrunk.

2. Once your sweater is dry and felted, cut out a mitten shaped half on the sweater using a template made of cardboard. Depending on the size of the hands you're making them for, you should be able to make at least one mitten (two sides remember) from each sleeve and a pair from the body of the sweater. That's two pairs minimum. Tip: Make the template way big for your hand; you'll be sewing the edges and lose some of that extra material.

3. Cut four equivalent mitten shapes from other parts of the felted sweater as suggested in step 2. Using the same template for each will make sure the mittens look uniform.

4. Make mango margarita with some mix, tequila, and ice. Yum. Raise your glass to change, and cute mittens.

5. Line up two mitten halves and stitch (except for the opening of course).  Watch bad television or Wii while waiting for your turn to sew at the machine. You can also hand stitch while watching bad television. Realize how much you love things like infomercials and CW sitcoms and feel slightly ashamed. Tip: Sew carefully to avoid the dreaded claw and other weird lumps in your design.

As you can see, we had an additional crafter S join us tonight. (I forgot to ask her permission to use her on the web so I cropped her. Next time, I'll ask and maybe you'll get to see her!) S made a matching hat to go with her mittens with the leftover part of the sweater.

*Remember how I talked about shrunken sweaters during my Fashion Friday post? Maybe you can pick up a nice cashmere shrunken sweater on your next trip to the used clothing store and make your loved ones cashmere mittens!

All in all, quite a cute and historic Tuesday. Happy crafting!

CBC Radio 3: Rocking Free Independent Music

During my long drive northward on Christmas, I was listening to the CBC, which is pretty much the only radio station I can pick up for a couple of hours while I'm driving in the woods of Maine.

I happened upon a program with a guest from CBC Radio 3. The program was rounding up some good songs of 2008: Songs in the Key of Ahhhhh, sigh-worthy songs as judged by the program host. Normally, I flip around between radio stations but this selection of music held my attention.

I finally checked out the CBC Radio 3 website, looking for a particular song I had heard. Sadly, I couldn't find it but what I did find was that I could register free and make my own playlists right on the website. Today, I rocked out to a varied soundtrack (English and French) and did lots of writing, which I found to be a great combination.

So if you're looking for new and free music, check out CBC Radio 3!

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!)

Too Cute Tuesday: The Money Painting

The following guest craft was done by J. at Budgets Are Sexy. You can subscribe to this fantabulous blog here (I do!) or you can obsessively check out his blog here.

So I may have been on the road but I was still doing some blog reading on the vacation. When I saw J's painting, I immediately thought it would be fun for a Too Cute Tuesday project. J emailed me back right away, even with his favorite cocktail recipe.

What I like the most about this project is the fact J attempts and does something fun that most adults don't think of doing. (In his words, "Finishing your first painting since second grade: Priceless") As adults we (myself included here) are doing things to fix something or improve functionality or even just to turn around and sell it. Why not make something cause it's fun? And why not this money painting? Have fun why don't you!

(I kept J's words from here on out because his writing style is part of what makes it fun.)

Materials needed:
- 1 canvas (i think mine was 30" by 24")
- 3 acrylic paint colors
- 3 paint brushes
- 3 bowls
- 48 $1 bills (depending on canvas size)
- 2 things of elmer's glue (you can also use Modge Podge)

Favorite cocktail?  i suuuuuure do :)  Baileys on ice...mmmm....i can go for one right now!

 

Steps: 

1) Glue all of the $1 bills on!  This was the most time consuming - i think it took me an average of 20 mins per row, and there was something like 11 or 12 rows on this bad boy ;)  i'd divide it up a bit so you don't shoot yourself.  I went with a "brick-like" pattern, trying to align the edges in a way that they all don't match up exactly (so like the opposite of a grid-like pattern...if that makes sense). i zig-zagged plain ol' white glue on the back of the bills, and then aligned them nicely, one at a time, on the canvas.  once placed, i went over it a few times with my fingers to make sure the glue would spread out and not leave any bumps and all....most of the time the glue covered the entire back, and front, of the bills when i finished ;) 

2) Splatter all the colors of paint on it! Go outside, get something to hold up the canvas, and dip a medium-sized brush into the acrylic paint (straight up with no water added), and then "fling" the paint on it a la Jackson Pollock!

3)Then, while the paint splatters are still wet, grab a larger brush and dip it into the main color you want (in this case, it's blue).  Start painting whatever object you'd like! I did the dollar sign cuz it's one of my favorite symbols out there :)  the beauty of all this is that while it'll start out mainly blue, as you paint the object it'll hit all the other colors and swirl them into the blue!  Thus, leaving you with both texture AND a wonderful new colorful!

4)Then add any borders you'd like, using the same fashion - pour the color in a bowl, dip the brush in, and start painting - again picking up colors from the "splatters" as you move along.
 
And that's basically it!  If you're  perfectionist like me, you may have to go back and touch it up a bit (like adding your signature and all), but it's all a matter of your liking.  If you go down this route, you'll have to pour the main color in a bowl, and then drip a cple other colors in to give it that "swirly/mixture" concoction since the painting will be dried by then.

So even if you're not nervy enough to pick up a big canvas, making a painting is a fun way to personalize your space and get in touch with your inner creative self. Happy Crafting and thanks J!

Going Halfsies On Season Tickets

Why It Pays To Split

Sometimes I feel that where I live is 20 minutes away from everything. I would like to live in a city or other compact area with everything close. Having to get in car and drive can be kind of lame.

The other part (the good part) about being a short drive from a lot of things is that there are lots of possibilities for entertainment. Seeing the University Of Maine Black Bears Hockey team is one such possibility for us. I think Mainers get particularly excited about having something to do on a winter night besides trying to stay warm or snowblow their driveways (though that is exciting in its own way!). It doesn't hurt that UMaine is nationally ranked and really good either.

Sean has been splitting season tickets for a couple seasons now. This year, his seats are particularly good (though it's not evident from the slightly fuzzy photos I took). A coworker and Sean split a pair of season tickets. Each get two seats for ten games and each paid $350.

I initially thought this was kind of insane. But then I looked up ticket prices tonight for fun and they can run $30-$100 apiece depending on the game. Holy crap! With a little math I figure that our ticket price is $17.50, no matter who's playing.

A few other compelling reasons to split season tickets with a friend:
1) Price is right. Sean and I would have probably paid close to $17.50 each to see a movie or a play tonight.
2) Who wants to go to 20 games? I sure don't. A few in the season is fine with me. Sharing means not having to feel like you have to be Superfan.
3) Great activity to do with visitors or friends. When Sean's buddies come to town, a game is something fun and novel for them to do together. (And an excuse for me to do my own thing!)
4) They make great gifts!
5) It's a fun and novel thing to do. We could do most anything else most months of the year but the Zamboni only happens a few times. (How psyched is the kid riding that?)

Splitting tickets doesn't necessarily have to be sports. It could be theater tickets or any other recurring event. Maybe that guy I live with isn't so nuts after all. GO BIG BLUE! 

Shameless Promotion: Cheap Entertainment Edition

So what are you doing this weekend? It's a question casually asked during the Office Mass Exodus Friday afternoons. I always want to have something interesting to say. This weekend, I see some apple picking, a diner breakfast with Sean, and lunch with a friend in my future.

There are lots of bloggers out there who have great ideas about cheap entertainment. I may have my Too Cute Tuesdays for crafting but here are some other great ideas if you left work today not quite knowing what to say about your weekend plans:

Learn A Musical Instrument (from The Simple Dollar)
You too can learn an instrument for cheap (though like any hobby, it can get expensive if you let it). Trent has some great tips, and even learned a Coldplay song on his own.

Read That Classic Book You Never Got Around To Reading (from Counting My Pennies)
Megan has two great resources for reading books online: one where you can download the entire book and one where sections of the book are emailed to you every day. Neat! Maybe now I can stop pretending I've read The Godfather.

Read Your Favorite Magazine Online- Page Flipping Included! (from USAToday)
Zinio lets you read through issues of your favorite magazines online. Just create an account and peruse!

Tackle A Few Weekend Projects Around The House (from The Simple Dollar)
Weekends are a good time to tackle a project around the house. Whether you're solving a problem or just taking some time to DIY and save money, it's a good idea to do these things on the weekend when there's time of naps and several trips to the hardware store. Bonus is you can usually rope someone else into helping you because they have time on their hands too!

Make An Ambitious Recipe - Like Peach Gnocchi (from 101 Cookbooks)
I used to cook way more during my days on the V-have but it doesn't mean I'm not up for a good take-all-day-to-cook recipe. 101 Cookbooks is one of my favorite food blogs (if you don't cook just look at the photos!). Heidi always has amazing recipes and today's post about peach gnocchi started off "if you want a project, this is it". Sounds a lot like a challenge to me. Also on the list to attempt one of those days I have hours of time on my hands is paella, a recipe which I have from my France host mom.

And if you haven't been inspired by any of those, I don't know what to say, other then perhaps you'd enjoy a nap. Happy weekend! Speaking of which, what are you up to?

Community Gardens: More Then Just A Pretty Face

Whoa 1,000 miles, a huge party, and one wedding later, I needed to spend the day covering from my crazy weekend. A good part of the day was spent at the Asticou Thuya Garden in Northeast Harbor. We strolled around, visited the small historic house on the property, and spent a lot of time sitting in a spot with a prime view talking about life. I left completely relaxed but slightly sad I was unable to take photos due to the recent demise of my digital camera.

I've always enjoyed going to botanical gardens big and small. They are pretty reasonably priced (today's suggested donation was $3 a person) obviously in keeping with my standards. Here are a few other reasons to love a public garden:

1) They can give you great planting ideas as they usually feature local flora and are grouped with complimentary plants.
2) So peaceful you can do a variety of peaceful activities like read, nap, or sketch.
3) Even if you aren't the best photographer, you are guaranteed some classy photos for framing or for your computer desktop.
4) Gives people with a science degree a chance to show off their Latin by decoding the little plaques (which, thank goodness, have the common names for those of us not so in the know).
5) Nicer setting for walking then your local mall or the block you live on (unless you live in some ridiculously beautiful place- if so, good for you).
6) Your donations stay in the community and employ local people.
7) You learn something new, even if accidentally. I learned about orchard bees from the tiny bee houses built for them on the grounds. They can't borrow or build hives so they have to have their dwellings built for them.

So enjoy summer by taking the time to smell the flowers. I'm glad I finally did today.

Image from: http://picasaweb.google.com/adlazauski/NortheastHarborMEAsticouTerracesThuyaGardensAndEliotMountain

Cheap Entertainment On The Maine Coast

1. Get on a ferry. Bring snacks with you and take a ferry out to a Maine island. A cheap way to get out on the water, most ferries will run you under $20 round trip (at least the ones I've taken). Plus, you can take something like a bird field guide with you and for under $5, give your own tour.

2. The LL Bean Summer Concert Series: A different reason to go to Freeport. The traditional Maine outdoor relater not only has outdoor sports demos but a free concert every weekend with big-ish acts. Last year, I saw Great Big Sea.

3. Go fishing. For $11 (resident or non-resident) you can get a 24 hour fishing licenses. It's $23 for three days. Sitting on a dock has never been more fun. (Plus you can use leftover food as bait. I've found the fishes love Rice Krispy Squares!)

4. Try a state park. Yes, I posted about state parks awhile ago but I would be leaving something out if I didn't mention enjoying the great outdoors in Maine: hiking, camping, biking, it's all fun. And while everyone's at Acadia National Park (which is totally worth a visit by the way), you could try out one of these gems for a road less traveled but also well maintained. Here are things to do in Acadia with your kids written by A New Yorker Talks To Herself About Maine.

5. Go to a bean supper, fish fry, or other community event. Even the smallest towns in coastal Maine have local get togethers like bean suppers or lobster feeds that are usually very inexpensive to get into and whose proceeds go to a good cause like a volunteer fire department. The town's little old ladies and their pie baking skills alone are worth the visit and you'll get an authentic Maine fare out of the deal like lobster or blueberry pie.

6. Go antiquing or used book-ing. Searsport seems to be the place to be for antiquing whether you are looking to buy something or just poke around. There are also big barns of used books for the more nerdy types. Your finds will spark interesting conversation and maybe even make you a new friend.

7. Have a nice meal. My two favorite places to eat are Cafe Miranda in Rockland and Cleonice in Ellsworth. Sure, you can order wine and dessert and appetizers and spend over $100 a person but if you order entrees, you will be well fed for under $25 a person. To go in the less fancy but still good food direction, you can eat cheap but yummily at Wasses in Rockland (hot dogs!) or Martha's Diner in Ellsworth.

8. Check out a local Maine festival. Ellsworth promises live music every Friday night all summer in the town park. The Garlic Festival in Southwest Harbor is a month away and this weekend is Machias's Blueberry Festival. Poking around a local newspaper will no doubt unearth something interesting.

Any favorite Maine coastal attractions I'm forgetting?

And on the off chance you've decided not to come to Maine on this vacation, you can check out frugal things to do in many other places if you visit this Money Life Network site.

Image: Vinalhaven, worth an hour and fifteen minute ferry ride.

Rewards Gold... It Actually Works!

Money Saving Mom as part of one of her lists awhile back sent a link to recieve free issues of Elle Decor magazine. Since I am a sucker for getting stuff in the mail (and decorating), I went for it. It was a survey about my hair removal habits. After a string of questions that were a little bizarre (I had to have a 200ish character soliliquy at the end talking about the last hair removal product I used) though not more then a page, I pressed submit without another thought. I figured the whole thing was probably bogus...

Until Elle Decor came in the mail last week, followed by two issues of Metropolitan Home. Sean grumbled that I always got the good mail and when I told him I got the magazines for free, he was even more jealous.

"You are the best money saver." he said. I should sure hope I was at least a little bit good. I mean, I have a whole blog on the topic.

Both surveys were through the Rewards Gold program, but I've got links to the surveys by subscribing to Money Saving Mom's feed. (I went to the site a few minutes ago and realized I had no idea how to log in to the site, though I am clearly a member). So subscribe to Money Saving Mom or check out Rewards Gold if you'd like something for nothing, well, unless you count the effort of thinking of hair removal methods.

Just thought I'd share the fact that this actually worked... Happy mid-week!

Swaptree Update

I've been on a year-long quest to get rid of things I don't need in my life. I'm down from two closets of clothes to one, a garage sale got rid of some useable knick knacks, and all my jewel cases for my CDs have been replaced by those cloth album books and classified by genre. Yeah, sometimes I think I have a little too much time on my hands.

For the books and movies I don't want, I've also been using Swaptree. I've had an account for a couple of months and one successful trade which I was completely happy with.

So how Swaptree works is you enter in books, CDs, DVDS, and games you want to have as well as CDs, DVDs, etc. that you want to trade. The website matches you up with potential trades. All you do is approve the trade, pay the postage, and mail the thing.

I think one reason why I only had one trade so far is that I didn't have a lot of items in my have or want lists. The more items you put in both these lists, the more potential matches you can have.

Clearly, you can't count of Swaptree to have specific items, though I'm guessing that if you're looking for contemporary mainstream stuff (a best selling CD or paperback) that you are more likely to find it. All in all though, if you're willing to wait for the things you want and willing to trade something for them, this is a good website for you.

Tips For Successful Swaptree Use
1. A lot of wanted items and a lot of have items will increase your potential trades.
2. You need the ISBN numbers on items so you need to have them with you when you set up your account.
3. Accept or reject a trade right away. Keeping people waiting won't help your rating.
4. When you do accept, mail the item as quickly as possible (the website emails you a shipping label to print).
5. Provide feedback. You want people to do the same for you.

Twenty Things That'll Make You Happy... And Cost Less Than $1

1. Making sun tea on a lazy afternoon.
2. Growing a plant from a seed.
3. Ironing your sheets and pillowcases (makes them soft).
4. Drinking a Monaco on your back deck (to make a Monaco: a dollop of grenadine syrup in a glass, pour cold beer on top).
5. Sending an old fashioned letter (a real one that you mail) to a friend.
6. Swap a favorite summer read with someone... or get one from the library.
7. Paint your toenails. (Those mini bottles mean little commitment. Might as well go bright orange!)
8. Giving yourself a pore-cleansing mask. (You can make them yourself, or buy a little package at the drugstore).
9. Help a friend do a project.
10. Scan an old photograph (like you putting pink curlers in your grandfather's hair) and make it your desktop background.
11. Borrow a dance video from the library and learn some new moves.
12. Eat a corndog (as I found today, they are ridiculously cheap!).
13. Get one or two of those huge gumballs from a gumball machine and blow ginormous bubbles.
14. Going for a run (exercise endophins and healthy!).
15. Put a lemon in your water glass.
16. Call your grandmother, even if for a couple of minutes.
17. Write a thank you note to someone who helped you out... and send it!
18. Get $1 worth of penny candy and sit somewhere scenic to eat it.
19. Buy your local paper and get caught up on the local news and activities.
20. Pick some wildflowers.

Why I Love Life Without Television

This was originally my guest post on Bible Money Matters. I had quite a day (which I'll probably get into explaining tomorrow) so forgive me for reusing; I figured since it would be new to Breaking Even, Inc. readers that you wouldn't mind. Happy Friday!

 

“Did you watch American Idol?”

 

“Hey about that guy on the Today Show this morning?”

 

“When’s the game on tonight?”

 

When you start paying attention, it is amazing to find how many conversations rely on television. You only start noticing when you don’t have it.

 

I’ve only had cable television for two years of the last ten. I am now in a period sans television.

 

You wouldn’t know it talking to me. I follow enough news and celebrity gossip online to know what’s going on. I am only sometimes completely out of the loop.

 

“Why don’t you just get cable?” people have asked me.

 

I’ve found there are several reasons (some monetary but mostly personal health-related) to not have cable.

 

1)      I save the money I would pay on a cable bill. The two years I did have cable, it was included in my rent. I find that I can find better ways to spend $60 or more a month. . . like high speed internet.

2)      I save money on electricity to run the television. Sure there is a television that we have to watch movies but not running the television means one less electronic device is running.

3)      If you do have a favorite show, there are plenty of ways to watch it without having cable. You can watch many shows online. You can also rent or buy the DVD of a season of your favorite program. You can borrow from you local library or a friend for free. You can have it all, without commercials, which brings me to…

4)      I’m not constantly seeing commercials that make me want to buy things. While I can’t prove this, I bet people who don’t watch commercials buy less.

5)      Television leads to higher incidence of obesity and depression.  When I had cable, I was headed towards both as I ended up watching hours of it every day.

6)      I have more time to do other things. I walk the dog, I blog, I read… There are so many things in life that I do that not watching television seems like a very small thing to not do.

7)      I have less negative energy in my life. I don’t know if it’s less electromagnetic waves or less reality television but I feel like I have less negativity in my life.

 

All this said, it is clear that I don’t have the willpower to turn off my television. If you can watch an hour or two a day and then turn it off, more power to you. If you can watch television and still do what you need and want to do, good for you. I am not disciplined in that way. And I think maybe at least a few other people aren’t either.

 

No matter what, I know that having at least one no television night is doable by everyone. As kids my family had it. We ate dinner and played games usually. It was kind of fun, since we were purposely not turning the television. My mom usually made a special snack. I highly recommend it for anyone. If you live alone, make it the night you have friends over for a potluck dinner. When I lived alone, having my friends over one night a week forced me to socialize initially but after a few weeks, I was looking forward to Wednesday nights and the happiness that only real people can provide.

 

If you do want to watch less television, 43Folders has some great tips. Actually, I’d recommend anyone who thinks television is too big a part in their lives to skim the article because it’s pretty interesting.

 

So here’s to more money in your pocket and a happier life being less controlled by a box. I'd rather sit outside if I'm going to sit on my butt! 

 

Image from http://www.hoardedordinaries.wordpress.com/

Bye Bye Y

Suspending My Gym Membership For The Summer

I joined the local Y (which happens to be right near where I live) when I first moved to lovely Ellsworth, Maine. It has served its purpose. I have been getting to the fitness room for some elliptical and strength training on a consistent basis. I have lost ten pounds (but remain firmly there, not losing any more for some reason!) Primary motivation to get to the gym besides avoiding fatness has been free fashion magazines to read while sweating and not wanting to be outside in yucky cold weather.

For several reasons, I have suspended my gym membership for the summer:

1) There is a ton going on. Between day trips and nighttime local events, I feel I should maximize the fact that this time of year, Maine comes alive. I shouldn't be worried that I haven't got in my semi-weekly date with the free weights.

2) The dog needs to walk. Sadie hates do go outside in the winter (mostly because the snow is usually deeper then her little legs) but loves her summer walks. If she doesn't get to go for one, she gets really impatient with me.

3) Longer daylight means it's easier to go for a walk after work, both physically and mentally. The only alternative in the winter to walking outside in the dark is the relative comfort of the Y. So if it's nice out, why not be out? Which brings me to...

4) I'm near cool outdoor attractions. Some places I could be in half an hour or less include Acadia National Park and lots of smaller walking/hiking venues like the Great Pond Fish Hatchery, Birdsacre, and Woodlawn Museum. I can not only walk me and the dog but take in some nature, too.

5) When else but summer can I use my mountain bike?

6) l'll save over $100. And who doesn't like that?

My lack of Y membership will definitely require me to have more discipline. I'll have to make sure to walk (at least) three nights a week and try to do some active crosstraining on the weekends like a hike or bike ride.

But I remind the Y that this is not "goodbye" but only "see you in the fall."

What are your fitness plans for the summer? 

May Movie Giveaway Winner

Congradulations to Randy Devost who won the May Movie Giveaway contest. Here are some of Randy's favorite forms of cheap entertainment, both on and offline:

Cheap Online Entertainment

• Subscribing to YouTube vlogs (for some) is in many ways better than TV. Cable and Satellite subscriptions are SO EXPENSIVE! Some YouTube favorites of mine are: What the Buck Show, ThoseLilRabbits, Rocketboom, Leslie Hall, etc. I’m interested primarily by shows that make me laugh and inform me on what’s going on in popular culture. You can also watch regular TV programming for free using services like: Joost, Hulu, etc.
• For those who seek the latest dance trends, there are those sharing new dance styles online. Here are a few that are fun to learn and alter upon: Sydney Shuffle, Tektonic, C-walk, Le Tabarnak, etc. Upload your own!
• Using Flickr to create photo slideshows of goals you feel like are impossible and then sending them off to your most critical friends may help add viability to your convoluted fantasies. My last, “Shack on a Wharf,” is about how I dream of converting a fishing shack into my home.” What’s nice is that letting yourself dream helps you stay happy and keeps you motivated for the future. “Life is never bland with dreams at hand.”  -Randy Devost

Cheap Real World Entertainment:

• Learning a new card game with friends
• Running, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, etc.
• Inviting friends for a night of board games. Have everyone bring a new or strange board game found in grandma’s attic or from a yard sale!
• Sewing parties for guys and girls!
• People watching (malls, public transportation, public squares, etc.)
• Playing “makeover” and letting your friends dress you up.
• Internet cafés or finding new WIFI zones. jiwire.commay be of help.

Thanks to those who participated and thanks to Randy for fun suggestions. Next time you're bored, try a few off that list!

In June, I'm launching another contest. The prize this time: the book "Nickeled and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America. I'll make a page for it later today. It'll be a random drawing and it will involve blood. Stay tuned!

Having Way Too Much Fun With Food

The following guest post was written by Randy Devost, my high school penpal and good dear friend. He lives in Quebec, where he lives a cool French and artistic existence. You can email him at randy.devost at gmail.com.

My General Philosophy on Food: I believe most Americans live on a “snacking” diet. Instead of trying to change that by starving ourselves with bland vegetables, “diet” products, and the absence of food, we ought to indulge in healthier snacks! Certain drinks and foods, along with a rigorous weekly exercise of one’s choice, can improve our health enormously.

·        Make your own Italian Sodas! Buying a case of Schweppes brand soda water and adding Torani syrups is an economic and healthy way to enjoy a gourmet soda.

·        For the brave and experimental: mixing teas with floral water, large tapioca pearls, juices, sugars, yogurts, gelatins, milk, spices, etc. (I inspire from Pearl Milk Tea and Lassi drinks.) The goal is to make the most exotic and intoxicating non-alcoholic drink possible.

·        I learned this one from my Mexican friends—a bag of apples with Tajin fruit seasoning is a great way to spice up the ordinary!

·        Forage for your food! Referring to traditional Native American gastronomy is often helpful. (Here’s a list I came up with for us Mainers. We should grow the list as big as possible!)

o       Clams

o       Perrywinkles

o       Mussels

o       Sea Urchin

o       Blueberries

o       Strawberries

o       Dandylion greens

o       Hazlenuts

o       Beach nuts

o       Choke cherries

o       Wild apples

o       Mushrooms

o       Fiddleheads

o       Raspberries

o       Blackberries

o       Wild spices

·        Snacking on toast is cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Depending on the “bread and spread” you use, it can be relatively healthier, and less costly, than a slice of cake or a bowl of ice cream. Here are some spreads I’ve enjoyed over the years:

 

SWEET: butter & Nutella, Peanut butter & fluff, Peanut butter & mollases, Tahini & honey, Butter & cinnamon sugar,

SAVORY: Vegemite, Creton, Hummus,Veggie patés, Cheese-Whiz, Brie or Camembert cheese

·        Popcorn doesn’t have to be boring or bland! I prefer popping popcorn using the classic air popper or even in a pan on a stove. Here are some of my favorite toppings:

 

o       Grated parmesan cheese

o       Lawry’s brand season salt

o       Chili powder

o       Jalapeno oil

o       Sesame oil

o       Black pepper

o       Cayenne

o       Sugar

 

Got any snacks to share? Do tell!

I Want My (Internet) TV

Online Television Not The Real Thing Yet But Will Do In A Pinch

We are lucky enough that television (or at least websites with television-like qualities) is making it's way online. Great for people like me who don't want to pay for high speed internet and cable (guess which one won out for me?) Let's check out our options, shall we?

YouTube, Metacafe, Videojug, etc.

Idea: User submited (and theoretically user generated) videos; ability to rate the videos and sometimes embed them into your own website; you can make one video or a hundred.

The Pros: Short enough to "sneak a quick one", easy to keep clicking from one to the next

The Cons: Often short, sometimes crappy, highly addictive to some people

My Take: I don't like these kind of videos. Nerve Scanner, a blog I love, is great about getting the coolest, funniest ones off the web. I'm not patient enough to watch a bunch of ok videos to find one good one. (Meanwhile Sean will watch YouTube karate videos for hours, though he also likes people being clumsy). To each his own I suppose.

iTunes, or any online location for video podcasts

Idea: User generated and submitted content; like a audio podcast, you can subscribe and get all the episodes; most often a series (it's kind of a commitment). Also, iTunes often has a free television episode every week if you are looking for something random.

The Pros: Usually when people commit to making a series of videos, they are more commited to it then the average person. You can expect content that was thought about at the very least, and if you like what you see, you can see more on the same subject by the same people. Easily loadable on the newer iPods.

The Cons: Sometimes videos seem a little more on the informative side and a little less on the fun side. Sometimes podcasts also just "disappear" (as in they stop being updated with no explanation).

My take: I don't count on anything from iTunes. I use it to learn something (like I love the WhoWhatWear Daily video podcast) and when I go on a trip, I'll download some free television for entertainment. Other then that, not much iTunes for me. 

SurftheChannel.com (from Comment faire de l'argent...en economisant)

Idea: A central place you can go online to watch all your favorite shows... and shows you didn't even know existed (hello, "Make Me A Supemodel"!)

The Pros: Hundreds of shows (everything from Little House On The Prarie to Will and Grace) and by hundreds of shows I don't mean just different shows. There are over 300 LHOTP episodes! You can take the experience to full screen too.

The Cons: It takes awhile to load full screen (so just get up and make popcorn while you wait). The quality is also a little bad. Oh and sometimes the videos have distracting subtitles:

My Take: If I'm bored some Friday night and want to watch a little bit of "Make Me A Supermodel" to test drive it, I will. If I really like the show, I may rent a DVD of a season of it. This is the closest thing to a cable experience I can have at this point.

ABC, NBC, (Television Network websites in general), Hulu

Idea: Networks, not wanting to lose their audience or potential for online revenue, have moved some of their shows online. The good news is sometimes independent companies (like hulu) are thinking of better ways of bringing the episodes to the average computer.

Pros: Video quality is usually good, automatically blowing up to full screen well. Full length shows!

Cons: If you have a five year old (and on it's last leg) laptop, your video card may not be up to snuff. I could only watch about 5-10 seconds of any NBC show before my computer spaced out. 

My take: If I had a good enought video card, this would actually be the closest thing to a cable experience for me.

Image from blogsmonroe.com, Check out a post about Hulu here.

 

So the good news is, if you want a television experience, it can happen online. It certainly does have a little bit of a ways to go to make it similar to a real television experience though. If none of what I've listed above works for you, here is someone who has done enough research to rank each site and list what's available in table format.

Are You Twitter-petered?

Behold The Addictiveness of Twitter And You Too Can Have One More Website To Check

For those of us who are online a lot (or just like being online), it's fun to have a few websites you can visit and have a good time with while feeling as if you're getting something accomplished. People seem to like having things they can check. Sean's obsession with checking his email (at least five times a day) is one such example. A couple of my friends obsessively monitor Myspace pages or surf bored.com. And now, we have Twitter.

Twitter is a social networking site for lazy people. (I lump myself in this group; writing and maintaining this blog take up enough of my time that social networking goes to the wayside a bit.) You have a tiny profile (here's mine) and can send little 140 character messages to people who are following you. That's about it.

I don't know even half the people who are following me. I know only a few of the people I am following. But I broadcast my little messages to the world anyway. Twitter has brought a little traffic to my site, not enough at this point to make it worth the thought I put into my little messages. But it is still oddly addictive.

I think bloggers like Twitter because it let's us get out of our niche and be a little more personal (though shameless self promotion, myself included, does happen). Also people are using it sort of like an online "word of mouth" (See Harnessing the Power of Twitter (SheGeeks) or The Power of Twitter (Miss 604) for more info about this.)

It has some interesting implications and takes little of my time for it so I guess I'll remain a little twitter-petered. (For those of you who get why I used a random Bambi picture, go you.) I'm breakingeven on Twitter if you want to tweet with me. And if you have unlocked the hidden powers of Twitter, do share!

Just think; one more thing online you can check besides your usual haunts... 

Image from www.distractedglobe.com

Movie Contest Winding Down!

It's officially the last week to submit your favorite form of cheap entertainment and why (250 words or less, kind of like a what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation essay in grade school). Email it to me and you'll be entered to win free movies and a loving link to your blog or website!

Because who doesn't love free stuff, especially free cool stuff? Looking forward to reading your entry!

Click here for additional contest info.

Whew! It's Friday Link Love

Sadie shares my sentiments; it was time for this week to be over!

I thought that a round of link love would be a lovely Friday idea. The theme: "Make Something Of Yourself This Weekend" Perhaps you, like me, feel the need to do something productive over the weekend after a week filled with work and general blah-ness. (I'm all over this curb appeal project! Plant sales, here I come.)

Here are some ideas if you are blocked or don't want to attempt curb appeal-related projects, some more crafty then others. (Some requiring little time, giving you plenty of quality napping.)

Make a podcast. (Try Audacity or FeedForAll for free editing software.)
Make sculptures with junk cars. (Carhenge!)
Make dangly pearl earrings.
Make a cool sewing project. (Free sewing patterns that are actually cool.)
Make a lemon creme brulee tart. (This recipe makes me want to bake. Amazing.)
Make something new out of your jeans.
Make your desk clean.
Make someone's day.

Happy weekend! 

I'll Take "Concerts That Aren't The Rolling Stones" for $25

A Reasonably Priced Concert Is Still Rockin'

Last night, Sean and I went to see James McMurtry. The Dedringers opened for them and are a fabulous, high energy band from Austin, Texas. Then to the crowd's enthusiasm, James McMurtry's guitar tuner tuned James' five guitars.

First of all, I'll say that James McMurtry sounded as good live as he did on CD (which I've found is, sadly, not always the case). He started playing around 8:30 p.m. and didn't stop until 11 p.m. He played all his hits as well as stuff from his new album. The tickets cost $25 each.

I was hanging out with my middle school girls a few weeks ago when one of them was talking about going to a Jonas Brothers concert. They said tickets only cost $500. I was floored. I may pay that to see the Stones, you know, if they also helicoptered me in. But $500 for a concert?!? I couldn't believe it. (As an aside, the most I've ever paid for a ticket was $80 to see Matchbox 20, with The Push Stars opening. Both bands were great but any more money would have been out of my price range.)

The great thing about last night was the price made it really accessible for everyone. There were old people, young people, hippy people, biker people, crazy dancers, foot tappers... Hundreds of people came out for the concert, which not only made for a more energetic atmosphere but also great people watching. (I have a bad people watching habit, though the biker chick and her serial-killer looking boyfriend fighting the whole concert was super-interesting!)

So check out smaller local venues, especially in summer, for bands. You can preview them online before buying tickets so it isn't a total surprise (even local ones seem to at least be on Myspace). You'll be supporting a local (and likely, talented) artist and get some cheap entertainment for yourself. You may even get a high drama relationship to watch at no extra charge.

Image from Usatoday.com

Speaking of cheap entertainment, win some exclusive movies from Breaking Even, Inc. in our special May Giveaway!

Why I Don't Have Television

The good news is that I wrote an entire post on this.

The thing is I put it on someone's blog. Peter (he writes for the blog Bible Money Matters) has had some family medical trouble and a fellow blogger (Lynnae at beingfrugal.net) is organizing guest posters to keep his blog going. I put in my efforts for a guest post this morning. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and if you want to guest post, contact Lynnae.

If you want to read why I willingly don't have television, click here. That's right, twice in one day. It can't happen often, folks so enjoy!

Want To Win Cool Movies?

Take Part In This Fun, Easy Contest!

As I mentioned about a month ago, I saw some fabulous films by Julia Radochia. She was kind enough to send me a copy of all her short films to be auctioned off. A few words from Julia: "I've written, directed, edited, produced/co-produced several short films that have been screened in festivals. My partner in filmmaking is Jeremy Ward who has not only helped me produce my films, but has also done sound, composed and performed music, as well as gaffed, ADed, etc. My films are: LIKE HIS FATHER, JIMMY'S HOUSE OF HUGS, SALLY'S DREAM HOUSE, EDDIE'S WINNING DATE, GO FAUX and I JUST WANT TO EAT MY SANDWICH. All have been in festivals, some more than others, with most of them having won at least one award. I'm also working on finishing up my more experimental/musical piece HAPPY AT HOME."

These funny, short films are funny and true to life and you need to get them through Julia if you want them (they are working on distribution). So what I'm saying is these neat films are an exclusive offer, and free to you if you win my little contest. 

In 250 words or less, write about your favorite form of cheap entertainment. It could be a hobby or game or even a website, basically telling us what is this cheap entertainment and why is it fun. Email submissions to nicole@breakingeveninc.com. In the subject line, write "I Want A Hug" (House of Hugs Production Company, get it?). Entries are due May 31.

The winner will have their entry published on this blog (linked to their website, of course) and get the movies in the mail. Good luck!   

Check out the House of Hugs Productions website to learn more about Julia and the movies...

Headed Back To College...

Use Those Networking Opportunities At Your College

When I went to college, I just concentrated on getting through the semester. I fell asleep while studying my chemistry book (talk about sleep lines!) and took what I thought were challenging and interesting classes. I worked as a lifeguard in my hometown in the summers to make book and fun money for the year. I had a couple small campus jobs to supplement the "fun money". My parents paid for my college and told me my job was to study and get the best grades possible. So I did. I thought I was pretty motivated at that point in my life, until yesterday.

I sat in a room yesterday with fifty to sixty students who gave up one day of their weekend to network with alumni. They had taken summer internships relative to what they wanted to do. They took notes, nodded at what you were saying seeming genuinely interested. They asked thoughtful questions. They knew going in that they might not get job offers; they just wanted to meet us. Five years ago, I wouldn't have been in that room. But I was there yesterday.

BATEScene was set up by Bate's Office of Career Services. I got invited because I have a creative career, both in my "day job" and with this blog. I was part of small group discussions but at the beginning when everyone was listening, we had to give our names, our job titles/companies, and one piece of advice we would give people about to graduate. The good news is I had a two and a half hour drive to think about this.

My friend Michaela always tells me she admires how I always "put myself out there" and I thought about that a lot yesterday. I didn't realize that other people didn't do that. I looked back on how I got a newspaper job, how I met my boyfriend online, how I got someone to publish my first article. No matter how awful the date was or who told me it was too hard to get published, I kept going. When it got to be my turn to speak, I knew what to say.

I encouraged them to internalize what they wanted and tell everyone they knew. I want people to visit this blog for example. It's in my email signature. I published the address to it in my company newsletter. I tell people upon meeting them about it. "Coca Cola didn't become a household name but sending a couple emails then hanging out in its dorm room. Coca Cola told you that it was Coca Cola over and over again until you believed it." I thought this may have been too corny but a few people chuckled. I guess I am a little corny. But persistance pays off.

On the personal finance front, questions of money came up indirectly. In a small group discussion, I encouraged students to start a savings account beginning with their first job. (They were very concerned with liking their first job and how long they should stay at it.) I told them that they should save even $20, whatever they could afford, and have it automatically taken out. I told them that if they ever felt like they wanted to leave their job (or even were faced with a financially difficult situation) that having that cushion would make them feel so much better. "Plus I mean $20. That's lunch. You'll just buy something stupid with it and be happy for five minutes." I kick myself for not starting saving at my last job, which was higher paying than my current one. But what can you do except tell people open to hearing it who are about to enter the same part of their lives.

I not only met some great students but also other people in related fields. I networked, I ate in the new dining hall, I saw my friend Sarah (who got me involved in this). If your college does any networking event like this, whether you are a student or an alum, it's very worthwhile to go. Networking may get you your next job, allow for a travel opportunity, or even get one more person to read your blog. You may also just get to meet interesting people and have a free lunch. You may even be able to help someone out.

My college's networking event was well worth the five hours of driving. And how many things can you say that about?

Image from www.woodworthassociates.com   

Want New Books And Movies?

We All Do— But A Swap Website May Make More Sense

Who doesn't love the feeling of a fresh new book? It's pretty tempting to pay $8.95 for that shiny new paperback you won't get around to reading for awhile, isn't it? Or listening to that new CD at the store makes you want to buy it on the spot, right?

It really can be convincing to buy new media to consume. This weekend while we were shopping, my sister paused at the books in a store. "Do we need any books?" she asked and we all paused before saying "no", even though books were not on our lists.

In addition to temptation for new media, you've probably been doing some spring cleaning and have found books, CDs, etc. to get rid of, making it even more ridiculous to buy new. May I suggest the win-win situation of a swap website?

At PaperBackSwap, an email address and valid USPS address will get you registered and when you put ten books on the swap, the website gives you two free credits to order other books. I searched for five books (a few obscure, a few more popular paperbacks) and only one that I wanted were available. Like any used book store, this site may or may not have what you want but at over 2 million books alone (they also have a CD and DVD swap) it's worth a shot.

Free From Broke posted a review of Swaptree last week, which sounds very similar to PaperBackSwap only you can also trade video games as well. (Use the link off Free From Broke to get free shipping on your first trade!) Swaptree is a smaller site, though I haven't learned the cultures of either site enough to know what kind of books, CDs, etc. they tend to have. If it's like any garage sale I've been to, there's probably a bunch of romance novels and a George Michael CD or two at the very least.

Both sites are searchable by multiple fields (title of book or ISBN number for example) and both include printable labels so all you have to do is stick the package in the mailbox.

These sites are free but you do have to pay postage, which is usually a lower rate if you go with the USPS's media mail rate. (I sent my sister a book awhile back for about $1.50, though Swaptree promises a maximum of $2.50 for anything.) You can buy envelopes or cleverly wrap things in layers of scrap paper and packaging tape. Not that I've ever done that of course...

If you've used either of these sites before, do comment below. Because there's nothing I love more then free things I like and a way to get rid of things I don't without throwing them away. Happy Swapping!

Image from: community.bates.edu  

Jump, Jive, and Wail

How Dressing For A 1920s Theme Party Won't Break The Bank

My birthday is coming up next weekend. When Sean asked me what I wanted, I initially thought "groovy piece of jewelry". When I thought about it more though, I realized that an experience would be more fun.

I love to dress up, eat good food, listen to live music, and dance. The Annual Chef's Gala happens to fall on my birthday (next Saturday) and incorporates all of these things. In addition, most of the money goes toward a digital mammography unit at the local hospital. I emailed Sean the web address and all he had to do is fill out a form online with his credit card number. I think giving him a very specific gift idea was a relief to him and now, I get to do something fun on my birthday.

One of the most exciting parts about the Chef's Gala is the fact that it's themed. I appreciate a good theme and this year, it's the 1920s, the decade that I always say I would have loved to live in.

The problem is at $85/ticket and the fact that it's a cash bar, I feel like I don't want to spend a lot of money on an outfit. I've heard that other ladies are buying vintage designer stuff but I don't want to spend a lot of money on a dress. Granted, there is eBay but after scrolling through pages of dresses and wondering if M/L would fit me, I decided that eBay was not what I wanted to do.

I've been passively looking through local thrift stores but that's probably what everyone else has been doing too because there was nothing to be found.

I've since decided to make a dress I have work and use accessories, hair, and make-up to make me look more like a 20s fashonista.

The dress is a black slip dress (well sort of) with lots of lace. It's definitely cut straight up and down and falls below the knee, which is very period. I had another dress that I was going to just add fringe to flapper-style but I wasn't so ambitious and decided to make the slip dress work, especially since I've only got to wear it a couple of times.

After reading this article about dressing for the 20s, I decided a strong of fake pearls and some comfy dancing flats would update my dress. Sean decided he wanted a fedora with his double breasted suit so I went on a mission yesterday.

My mom and my sister are visiting for a long weekend and I found my needed items at Kohls with their help(for $20 total). What was harder to find was Sean's fedora, which I looked for in the stores we went in. After Sean joined us for supper, Sean and I went off in search of his hat. We had no luck at department stores or Burlington Coat Factory. We found some fedoras very surprisingly at the mall in Spencer Gifts, which is a kind of "joke store" to those of you who haven't been there. None of the available hats matched the suit or fit Sean. We ended up finding one at TJ Maxx ($7) only by chance but I couldn't believe it. Don't men wear hats anymore?

I think I'm set for my night on the town now. I will post pictures next week when we're all dressed up. Meanwhile, have you been to any great theme parties lately? If so, how did you make your wardrobe work?   

Buying Local

A Salute To Earth Week

Yesterday, I spent the day at the Comic Arts Laugh Festival in Belfast, Maine which is about a 45 minute drive. More specifically, I watched a bunch of independent movies.

We got to the theater and the sign said “Independent Movies- 4 hours”. “Can you handle this?” I asked Sean, indicating the sign. He said he could so we bought tickets ($4 each), only to be refunded a few minutes later.

“It’s going to be free.” said Mike, the Festival organizer. “We don’t mind paying!” I said, and meant it. Sean and I were in the process of buying a large popcorn and a drink. Mike handed Sean the money back and I took the refund and handed it to the concession lady in a bizarre exchange of funds. So far, “today is my treat” had only come out to $6.50 and the gas to come to Belfast.

What followed was a series of interesting films I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Sean’s favorite was the Mensher Brothers film “He’s My Dad.” (See the trailer here.) The trailer doesn’t do the movie justice; it is very funny and inappropriate. A girl knocks on the convict’s door (which we later find out is her father), and after a bizarre exchange he says something to the effect of “So you’re a minor knocking at my door and I’m a newly released convict wearing no pants (he’s in a bathrobe) and you want to come in? Sure, I don’t see the harm in that.” The dialogue was deadpan and the movie closed with an original score father/kid duet “He’s My Dad” that made us chuckle through the credits. “…a penitentiary grad, he’s my dad…”

“We wanted the audience to immediately know the girl was in no danger (referring to the beginning scene of the movie). That wouldn’t have been funny.” One of the brothers said after the showing. Oh, did I mention all the filmmakers were there?

My favorite movies were by House of Hugs Productions which is run by Julia Radochia. They were all funny and true to life and told an interesting story in a short amount of time. These are all features I really appreciate in a movie. “I Just Want To Eat My Sandwich” is her latest film that has gotten the most acclaim. This poor woman keeps trying to eat her sandwich in her windowless cubicle when people keep interrupting to ask her questions. As someone who eats at my desk so I can blog, I understand this. I get interrupted about work stuff almost constantly. To be honest, I really liked all of them. I may ask Julia about how to go about buying a DVD.

The festival closed with a movie called “Tire Tracks” about the burning rubber subculture in Deer Isle/Stonington, Maine. I guess it was featured in The New York Times before I started reading it. I’ve seen the tracks myself but I live half an hour away and had no idea of what it all really meant.

So what does this long post have to do with Earth Week? By providing support to small and local businesses (like a local festival at a local theater), you are help keeping money in your economy and you’re probably actually helping someone (or some people) make a living rather than padding some rich guy’s wallet. Also this means that theoretically less resources are being transported, which is always really hard on the planet. So buy local, not only things but entertainment. You’re helping keep it close to you by supporting it and helping the environment by using resources close at hand rather than trucking them in.

Project Night In And Other Adventures

Spend Time With Friends Shouldn't Have To Be Expensive

I think we've all felt a little social pressure to spend money. Whether it's "Hey, let's grab some drinks after work!" or an weekend ski trip around when your bills are due, there are times when you want to be with your friends but can't necessarily afford what they are doing. The options are clear: go home and sulk, create something free to do together, or compromise.

Free Event: The Get Stuff Done "Party"
In college, friends and I used to have homework parties, which are along the same line. Everyone would bring their work over to a room and just hang out. Sometimes you'd throw a movie in or have snacks but overall, it was just a way to get things done, have a few conversations, and not spend a dime.

Last night, a friend came over and we had a project night. First, we made a pizza (I always keep pizza dough in the fridge) and put all kinds of nutrious and yummy things on it like beans, veggies and garlic (total cost less than $5). After we took out our respective projects. She made a cork board; I lugged out the sewing machine. Music was played and selzer water was drunk. (Alcohol and sewing don't mix if you want a straight stitch!) Overall, I fixed eight pieces of clothing and Jessica started and finished her corkboard. We could have gone out for drinks and had really fun conversation to but when it's a friend, location is not critical for having fun. Plus it's fun to have a finished product at the end of a social event.

Going With The Flow, But Comprimising
If you aren't into crafts or homework get-togethers, there are other options to spend time and not money with friends. Another friend and I went out to lunch a few weeks ago but since I couldn't afford a whole lunch, I just got a soda. What I really wanted to do was see her, not break my dining out budget so I didn't. And Ashley's a good enough friend that she didn't say anything about my lone diet soda order.

When I go shopping, I usually let the other people do the trying on or I try on the most ridiculous thing in the store. Dinner out may mean I get a salad or soup instead of a $15 entree. There are small modifications you can make without seeming like a stick in the mud.

You Can Also Just Be Honest
Whatever the case, being honest about being on a budget shouldn't hurt your friendships. Telling a friend you're on a clothing budget or suggesting cooking dinner together to save money isn't a big deal. If anything, your admission could inspire friends to rein in their spending.

I think if people were more honest with each other, people would probably be in much less debt than they are. It can take guts to admit you can't keep up with the Joneses but remember, you're telling this to a friend. And you should have the kind of friend who will love hanging out with you at a five star restaurant or in your kitchen.

Photo: Jessica projects with the best of them.

The Comic Laugh Arts Fest In Belfast, Maine

This First Annual Eclectic Festival Makes For A More Interesting "Mud Season"

I really admire someone who chooses to hold a festival during Maine’s off-season. Sure, your festival can be a guaranteed money maker if you hold off for the tourists June to August but squeezing every possible type of celebration into three months is can be hard for us locals because 1) there ends up being so much going on that you can’t go to everything and 2) it gives you nothing to look forward to at other times in the year.

Enter The First Annual Comic Laugh Arts Festival that is happening in Belfastthis month, April 9-13. The whole thing is grassroots organized and publicized. I wrote in for a free bumper sticker and they asked me to place it somewhere prominent. I thought I would do them one better.

The Laugh Fest seems to have a lot going on, some of it free: party Friday night, YouTube workshop on Saturday, and a showing of “Funny Looking” photos at Aarhus Gallery. In addition to the free stuff, going to a movie showing (1 pm and 7 pm daily, various movies) or seeing some of the live performances will only run you $6. The highest priced act at $16 includes an opening band, performances from three comedians, and a catered bar.

All in all, this seems to be a very affordable and local-driven event. Belfastis a completely do-able drive on one tank of gas from many parts of Maine. Plus there is enough to do there during any downtime to round out a day. (See my post about a Belfast day trip here.)

It’ll be fun to be part of something new and exciting that could easily become a popular tradition. If you live nearby, I hope to see you there!

How To Throw A Party For Under $50: Part II

A Fun, Inexpensive Event Is Possible

It's time for spring, time for another gathering of friends. Sadly, I'm entertaining much less than I used to but it still nice when the occasional occasion happens.

Sean in the past used to have a winter barbeque (and depending on the weather, eat the food outside) which I am intrigued by. It seems really impractical but also kind of fun.

You may remember how I threw a party with $50. I am going to do it again folks. I'm doing it today actually.

I used an Evite for my invitation and not only did it make for a prettier invitation then I would normally send but it also kept track of who said they were coming. This way, when I want to know who's coming, I open one email instead of 15. Cost for Evite- $0.

For food, we have a steak ($5), ribs ($6), asparagus ($1, clearly on sale), roasted veggies like zucchini ($3), tofu for the vegetarians ($2) and some sweet potato fries ($3). Marinades will be made from whatever is in the fridge and all the veggies need is a little butter and some light spicing to be good anyway.

For dessert, there will be chocolate fondu made from a ginormous cube of chocolate ($6) and some leftover cream. What to dip in the chocolate? Peeps are in abundance this time of year but you can also dip pretzels, fruit, graham crackers, and most anything edible you have kicking around your fridge or cupboards (though I'll invest $5 in some peeps, graham crackers, and apples). Plus in my experience people think fondu is fun and kind of retro. ( Which means clearly this is the kind of dessert people would expect at one of my gatherings.)

On the drink front, Sean has been stockpiling beer for awhile ($15-20 worth probably) buying a six pack most every time we grocery shop and we have some leftovers from other get togethers that people have left. My box of wine I opened a few weeks ago is still is half full. We are good to go.

We're dragging the kitchen chairs (and others) onto our back deck and getting a fire going in the firepit. We've got plenty of scrap wood, cardboard, and newspapers to get a fire going and to burn it for awhile. I'm also breaking out the Apples To Apples, the wiffle ball set, and maybe a chess board or two, depending on the party mood. As always I'll make a party appropriate mix on my iPod because nothing says party like some festive music. All these things, like other good things, are free in that we are just using what we already have in a way we don't normally use it. If the weather turns, will move things inside but still grill.

So far it looks like it'll be around 10 people, a good amount though we can always make people more work.

My point is that you don't have to be a millionaire or very fancy to throw a great party that people have fun at. Here are my tips:

How To Throw A Cheap And Rocking Party

1) Pick a theme and stick to it. Winter Barbeque/Board Game Day: random but people know what to expect. Want to watch kungfu movies? Sit on floor pillows and eat wasabi crackers. Want to eat pasta? Throw an Itallian dinner with cheezy music in the background and biscotti dipped in wine for dessert. Use elements of the theme to set up the party but you don't have to completely commit to it (hiring someone to sing Italian during dinner, for example, may be going a little overboard). Propose an interesting idea and if you're interested in it, others will be too.

2) Make a music playlist. It takes a little time but it really keeps things upbeat and fun to have music. You can also use your playlist from Pandora if you are lacking in time to plan.

3) Plan your meal (and entertainment) around what you have in the house. Have ricotta lying around? Make lasagna. Have mac and cheese? Have a party with friends where you wear pajamas, eat mac and cheese, and watch cartoons. Buy as few groceries as possible to keep costs lower...and to allow you to buy drinks. Along the same lines, use what you have. Consider large tvs, game systems, sports equiptment, and even toiletries (masks anyone?) as resources.

4) Have fun, before and during the party. If you're not havig fun, no one else will be.

5) Clean up after everyone is gone. No one likes a kitchen martyr. And nothing says "go home" like a sink full of soapy dishes. Only start cleaning up when you want people to leave.

Just because you can't buy expensive wine or hire a six peice band doesn't mean you can't hang out with your friends. Party on and have fun! 

Winter Sports: Retro And Cheap

It is winter and I do live in Maine so there is lots of snow and ice. I’m sure other people live in places like this. It’s either hibernate until spring or pull on your boots and head outside. The daylight is short so getting out there even a few minutes can do wonders for your brain chemistry.

Not So Cheap: Skiing

There are several sports one can do that are quite expensive but the main one I think of is skiing. I know this first hand because I was on my high school ski team. You need boots, poles, bindings, skis, long underwear (ok maybe only I need that), snow attire, and some kind of pass to a ski place to partake in the sport. My boots were around $150 (bought new) and I got some used cross country skis and bindings at a local ski sale for $60. I bought the poles for $30 and a pass for the season even at an inexpensive place like Snowrada in Auburn (Maine) or 10^th Mountain Ski Club in Fort Kent will run you at least $25. A little less than $300 and I haven’t even put on clothes yet. Don’t get my wrong, I love to ski but it is far from being an affordable sport. Of course, if you take care of the equipment, you can have it for ten years like I have.
Find cross country ski trails (only bigger places though): Cross Country Ski Areas Association

Cheap: Ice Skating

Ice skating is a little cheaper. For $50-$100, you can get a decent pair of skates that are comfortable. And then you just pile on a bunch of clothes and find the nearest pond or rink. We have one in Ellsworth that seems loosely affiliated with the YMCA which is free. The rink I went to as a kid charged a whopping $2 for a day of ice skating and $1 a day for rentals. My friends and I got to skate to blaring 80s music and live our 10-year-old dramas all afternoon for the price of half a movie ticket today. (I think they made their money on the $1 hot chocolates but I digress.) My parents bought me really cool ice skates when it seems like I had stopped growing and, other than sharpening them occasionally, they have been maintenance free since. Yup, I’m still wearing them, even if they are a little retro-looking.

Find your local skating rink (very comprehensive): Arena Maps

Supercheap: Sledding

By far the cheapest winter sport is sledding. A carpet sled is about $1 but you can invest in a real high tech sled for more. You can also use cookie sheets, trays from your college lunchroom, or your butt in a slippery pair of ski pants. There may be some effort required to scout out a hill

Invest in a snow sled (I had no idea there was such a range): Sleds.com

Of course, I’m ignoring other great winter sports, like snowmobiling, snow shoeing, and curling. I’ll leave those to others who know more about them. Whatever you decide to do, get out there and get some exercise. It’s only winter a few months a year…

By the way, did I mention I'm down four and a half pounds? (That's right, I'm counting every half!)

Photo: Me pretending I'm good at the local rink

Free Music and Movies

I know, I put the word "free" in there to get your attention. But it is true.

I just found out that our library has CDs (and I already knew about movies) that you can take out for free for a couple of weeks at a time.

While what our library had wasn't necessarily cutting edge (albums that were cool about five years ago with a few new ones), your local library can be mined for classics or local independent stuff. (At least I would think, if you're too awful musical-talentedwise to be carried by the local library, you may want to rethink that music career.)

Yeah, I've totally "rented" library movies but when I saw the two racks of CDs, I had a new found appreciation for my local resource.

Of course, I only listened to the CDs I took out a few times and then brought them right back... I certainly didn't rip them to my computer or remix them or anything. Oh, and I didn't check out any Metallica. So record companies, please don't sue me. And everyone else, check out your library!

A New Idea For A Yankee Swap

I was reading in a magazine today about hosting a Yankee Swap where people had to bring in something that was already in their house. I thought this was a fabulous idea because I think everyone has at least a few things they could easily part with and no one enjoys buying some cheap under $10 to bring to a company party. We all have enough to think about (and spend money on) this time of year.

After I read this article, I was invited to a party with a Yankee Swap of exactly this brand. And knowing who may be there, I am actually excited/intrigued at the prospect of what I may come home with.

So if you're hosting this sort of thing, whether it's a work party or a low pressure way for your family to buy presents, consider a Yankee Swap with used things only. It'll save everyone some money and if you go home with something you hate, you've lost no funds in the process.

The Party Aftermath

I held the infamous party I blogged about this Saturday. I spent $51 on food and I have leftovers. For future reference, pumpkins have a lot of seeds and toasting them is an excellent party snack. I brought some left over seeds into work and you would have thought I baked a tiered cake the way everyone was reacting.

All told $51 fed $15 people. I'm kind of feeling like I pulled a Jesus there.

Entertainment Is A Click Away

Looking for a way to hear new music but can't afford satellite radio? I've got the perfect solution.

Pandora (the Music Genome Project) is a great web site where you put in a favorite song or artist and then Pandora "suggests" other artists/songs like the one you entered by playing the song. (Something about how it analyzes the tempo, harmony, etc. matches similar songs up on many dimensions.) You vote the individual songs up or down when they play. Vote the song up and it will find you songs like that one to play for you in the future. Vote the song down and you will never hear that song again. The first few times you use it (you'll have to create a log-on name so the web site can find your station when you log back on), it's pretty hit or miss. But eventually this wonderful thing happens. It knows you. It picks only songs you like. I feel like if only it would give me backrubs and take me to dinner once in awhile, I would marry the Pandora web site.

I have a few "stations" going: one with upbeat music when I'm in that mood, another has female jazz artists, one for hiphop when I'm channeling my inner thug. When you feel a station is pretty good, you can even share it with friends.

Of course on the site, they will attempt to sell you the service, which is very reasonably priced. What isn't reasonable are the players it's compatible with. Do I really want to spend $200 on a device that I can only listen to Pandora with? Not so much. True, you can listen on your cell phone but I don't have one, nor do I believe that many cell phones are built for music listening anyway.  Plus Pandora only works with certain cell providers. What to do?

The good news is you don't have to be sitting in front of your computer to listen to your Pandora station. What I have been doing is hooking up my computer to my stereo with a cable. The music can be as loud as I want it to be and when I want to have a party, I just tuck it under the stereo so no one has to stare at my computer all night.

So endless music that you like, no commercials. You get to hear a mix of the old stuff you love and the new stuff you probably will end up liking. And with the title and artists of the songs you like conviently listed, you can figure out which album to download next.

Happy listening... Tell Pandora I said hi, and ask if it got the cookies I baked it.

How To Throw A Party With $50

I've been really hankering to have a party lately. I don't know if it's because Halloween and other holidays are coming up or because I haven't thrown one since moving here (and it's been about three months) but it seems to be the time to invite people over and be the hostess with the mostest.

As someone who takes pride in throwing a good party, I want my guests to have a good time, eat well, and have a drink on me. This got me to thinking how I could throw a great party on a budget while still maintaining my great hostess reputation. The following party will be thrown a week from today. The budget is for 8 people, though I'm sure I could make this work if a few more showed.

Purpose: Pumpkin carving/Belated Housewarming

Drinks: Not that this is the most important part but I like to have something to offer my guests when they walk in. Often, the well meaning guest will have picked up a six pack of beer or bottle of wine on the way over but I never want to assume anything. Plus, what can we drink while we wait for the brought-over beverages to chill?

Stocking a bar can really break the bank but I've found having one drink of the night has really saved me. Let's face it, a handle of medicore hard liquor and a mixer is cheaper than a round of good beer for everyone. (Plus mixers can often mask the taste of even cheap hard liquor; if you don't want people to see the bottle evidence of your thriftiness, you can just pre-mix it in a pitcher beforehand.)

I usually include the drink of the night on my invitations or when I call people. My usual script for telling people this is "The drink of the night is vodka tonics but I certainly won't be offended if you want to bring something else to drink instead." See? You're cool and accomodating, not at all a cheap bastard.

Also, the added benefit of a drink of the night is it can contribute to your evening's theme. Hot chocolate with Baileys on a cool night, cosmopolitans for the girls night in. I find vodka tonics to be my all-time standby.

A handle of vodka, some tonic water, and limes: $18

Snacks: I don't like going to parties where the main food is chips and salsa or crackers and hummus. To me, that says, "I don't want to serve you real food." I also don't think you have to serve a 10 course meal either.

Appetizers with some substance say you care and mean you don't have to worry about silverware or finding a table that seats everyone. I plan on serving some baguettes with good cheese ($10), home-made spanikopida (phyllo dough, frozen spinach, and garlic) ($6), chicked kabobs ($9), seasoned popcorn ($2), and grapes or some other fruit/veggie on sale this week ($3). I'll also be toasting some pumpkin seeds as the carving progresses (free!) and send guests home with small bags of them (free- use grocery bags).

Appetizers with substance: $30

Ambiance: Tea lights are cheap enough to buy a ton that you can put everywhere... plus you can illuminate the pumpkins carved as party decorations for the evening. I'll be creating a cool playlist on my iPod to be playing in the background (free).

Tea lights: $2/bag

Other supplies: Newspapers and knives to carve pumpkins (free). It'll be BYOP. Some home-made ribbons for the best and most ridiculous pumpkin (free- markers and paper!). If you have a good friend at the party, get them to start a game of charades, bullshit, or some other group game if you find people aren't talking or mingling. Whatever you do, don't be the hostess/martyr in the kitchen or doting on everyone. If you have a good time, so will everyone else.

Party on!

When You Have To Pat Yourself On The Back

What I wanted to do tonight: Order out some Chinese dumplings for dinner and buy a new glossy magazine to flip through. Total theoretical cost: $10

What I did do: Ate leftovers and downloaded a free TV show on iTunes. (This feed let’s you know what free downloads are available from iTunes. Very handy.) Total actual cost: $3

Once a month, in an effort to save funds, I like to not go to the grocery store for a week and really clean out the fridge and pantry. The results are usually bizarre and can result in small portions of random dishes. I find though that I waste less food this way as I find, for example, some corn that has migrated its way to the back of the fridge or a can of beans I forgot I had.

Yes, it’s easy and fun to go out to eat. But it’s expensive. My average meal at home costs about $3 while even my inexpensive dumplings would be double that.

So I think it’s good to do some small thing that’s a little annoying or hard. It’s not about self deprivation but about thinking ahead. Think of it as saving money for something more important like Christmas gifts, your retirement, or that trip to Budapest.

Skip the gourmet coffee and just get a small regular one, decide to walk to work and not use gas, print local grocery store coupons… whatever saves you a little money and doesn’t in the end make a big difference in the grand scheme of things.

Now how did that feel? Good. So pat yourself on the back and enjoy some of that slightly bizarre yet nourishing stirfry made from items in your fridge. Pretty soon, you'll be on that plane to Budapest...