Lets Have Some Cake and Eat It, Too: how to save a lot by saving a little.

Say, what would you think if we had some cake and ate it, too, today?"

We often depict penny pinching ladies as shrewish prudes.  This is why I am going to call myself a penny saver and not a penny pincher.  Let's be serious--if I'm going to have cake, then I'm going to eat it too; and I'm going to do this by trimming my outflow without missing a moment of fun.  

Following are 12 simple and painless ways you can save a lot by saving a little at a time:

1. Use web resources. When making online purchases, google the store name and the word "coupon" before making your purchase.  Often, this will lead you to a coupon code, which can save you $3-$20 (whatever you do, don't give the coupon site your e-mail address.  Also, limit your search to 1 minute of looking.  If you haven't found it in 1 minute the coupons have probably expired.  This reminds me.  I just got a coupon from Olive Nation when I received my vanilla beans.  The code is 202011.  Feel free to use it until they won't let us use it anymore).  

2. Take the time to compare prices.  Before purchasing larger items, do a 30 minute search for the best deal. You might be pleasantly surprised when you find your $300 window unit for $25 on craigslist.  Or when Firestone tells you it's going to cost $399 to replace 2 of your tires, take 30 minutes to call around town.  You might find that Discount Tires can give you the same tires for $250 (yes I did. 30 minutes of calling saved me $150).    

3. Become a coupon clipper.  Get a Kroger card and go to www.kroger.com to upload coupons onto your kroger account and visit www.coupons.com.  I know, saving 50 cents on paper towels isn't going to help you that much.  However, if you have multiple coupons you could save as much as $20 or $30 at the register.   

4. Buy in multiples.  Toilet paper is my least favorite purchase in the entire world.  But do yourself a favor and buy toilet paper in 12 packs or more.  I know that buying 1 cheap roll at a time for 99 cents is the less painful way to go.  But you could get really nice toilet paper for 50 cents per roll if you bought 12 at a time.  If you can't bare to spend more than 99 cents at a time, just bite the bullet once, spend $6 on a grown up pack of toilet paper and put 99 cents away every time you use a roll of toilet paper.  Then when you use all of the toilet paper you'll have $11.88 in your toilet paper jar and can buy another 12 pack of premium toilet paper and still have enough to sip on a really expensive latte while doing it (the same thing goes for sandwich bags, paper towels, potatoes, etc, etc). 

6. Have a loose change jar.  Every time Brandon and I have loose change we put it in the jar.  It's money that we'd probably end up losing anyway. Yesterday we emptied the jar and found that we had accumulated $32 in pennies, nickels, quarters, and dimes over the coarse of a month and 1/2.  

7. Be friends with your taylor.  I wear a 0/2.  I recently found a Michael Kors jacket at Music City Thrift, size 8, for 99 cents.  I took it to my taylor, had her sew a few stitches here and there and soon had a custom fit Michael Kors suit jacket for 20.99.  If you're not careful number 8 can be the cause of money lost--not money saved.  

8. Eat and be merry at odd hours.  Instead of going out to dinner, go out to Happy Hour an hour earlier.  

9. Make an extra trip to save money.  When buying veggies, purchase them at the international market or the farmers market rather than buying them at your regular grocery store.  At the international market I can cut my veggie bill in 1/2 (not kidding--I priced it out.  A group of vegetables that would have cost $24 at Kroger cost me a mere $11 at the international market).  And we all know that happy girls eat veggies.

10. Be resourceful.  Instead of buying expensive, organic cleaner, make your own. Instead of buying expensive bath salts, make your own.  Instead of paying someone many dollars to replace your electrical outlet, replace it yourself. 

11. Buy with intention.  Before you go to the grocery store make a grocery list.  If you must impulse buy like yours truly, then be intentional by budgeting for impulse buys (I give myself $25 every month for impulse buys, which saves me from my $200 disasters).  


12. Get free samples from sampleaday.  You might never have to purchase shampoo again.

Olive, the other Reindeer: Gifts you can eat

Every Christmas my dad tells the story about the kid who goes to his mom and says, "Mom, I don't like Olive."  And his mom says, "Who is Olive?"  And the kid says, "You know, Olive.  The other reindeer?"  (i.e. Olive the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names).  My dad loves Kid-speak.  In fact, he loves it so much that even after my brother and I stopped using Kid-speak, he still called children "churren" and yellow "lellow" and balloons were still called "bombaloons."  My sweet little 10 year old sister (who is now my sweet little 22 year old sister) sat him down one day and said, "Dad, I need you to stop using those words.  I am 10 years old and don't know which words are real and which words are not real."  Thus ended the day of Kid-speak in the house of Thomas.

Back to Olives.  Every time I go to Seattle I have to stop at Pike Place Market to pay homage to the olive man.  His store is the 31 flavors of olives.  I once asked him if I could try them all and he told me yes.  It was glorious.  Glorious.

With that said, I have come up with a few Christmas presents, which will help your pocket out and 2 of which indulge my love of olives.  The only way you'll save money with these is if you give multiple people the same gift.  You'll need small jars for each of these--I suggest getting them at Old Time Pottery. Let's have money for groceries this month.


The-Best-Bloody-Mary-you'll-ever-have kit.
You'll need: a big bottle of Stoli vodka, a jar of olives, a jar of jalepenos.

Fill 1/4 of your vodka jar with jalepenos and olives.  Pour a bit of olive juice into it if you'd like (I'd like).  If you have the money and want to complete the gift of Bloody Mary, accompany your vodka with a bottle of Zing Zang and tabasco miniatures.

Rosemary Olive Oil
you'll need: a big bottle of extra virgin olive oil (whole foods has a nicely priced one) dried herbs (I'm just using rosemary, but you can fill it with any herb).  It is important for the herbs to be dry because if they aren't the water left in the herbs can grow harmful bacteria.  I have a Rosemary plant outside, so I am drying whole sprigs of this to put into my olive oil.  However, I'm sure you can find what you need readily available at specialty food stores.  Place your dried herbs in your bottles, then pour olive oil over them.

Wonder Salt
This gift will be of no use to someone who does not have a salt grinder.  Make a mixture of coarse Kosher salt, peppercorns, coriander, and dried herbs.  Package.  Fini.


Bacon Bourbon
You'll need a big bottle of bourbon (I suggest using the giant Bulleit bottle for $40 or just good old Four Roses yellow).  Good, smokey bacon--it'll be worth the extra bucks--I mean, who wants putrid bourbon?  I use Benton's bacon (available at our very own Mitchell's Deli).

Cook your bacon.  Make a sandwich for yourself, then pour the grease into the bourbon (1/4 c. of grease to 3 cups of bourbon).  Let it sit for an hour, then place the mixture in the freezer and let it sit for 24 hours in the freezer.  The fat will separate from the bourbon.  Remove from the freezer and strain the bourbon immediately with cheese cloth or a coffee filter.  Voila!  Bacon bourbon.

If you have the extra bucks, accompany your bacon bourbon with angostura bitters, an orange, maraschino cherries, and some brown sugar (or grade B maple syrup) for the ultimate Bacon Old Fashioned kit.

Homemade Vanilla
You'll need: Vanilla Beans (Olive Nation has good prices), your liqueur of choice (you can use vodka, bourbon, rum, or brandy), and sweet little glass bottles.

Use 1 vanilla bean for every 1/3 cup of liqueur.
Place the bean in your bottle and fill the rest with liqueur.  Shake the mixture and allow it to sit, shaking it again every week or so.  The vanilla needs to sit for 2 months before it's ready to use.  So, whoever you give it to will have to wait a month to use it.  But it'll be worth it--you just can't buy good vanilla anymore.


Homemade Sugar Scrub
Technically, this one isn't for consuming--but should you want to, there's nothing stopping you. Click here for the recipe.  If you're giving it as a gift leave the citrus out so it doesn't spoil.

Monday Give Away!! Write a letter, save a post office.

Our RSVP card.

Brandon and I just celebrated our first anniversary.  Wow.  Has it already been a year?   In one year so much has happened, yet it feels as if I was walking down the aisle to Smog's "Let's Move to the Country" no more than 3 months ago.

In one year we have gotten married, both transitioned out of our old jobs and into new ones, have ended one business,  have started a new business, and as if that wasn't enough--we decided to open a shop, too.  Brandon and I just opened This Oktipus Printing Company, a letterpress stationery store in the heart of East Nashville.  This is why I haven't been blogging.  Every spare moment has been dedicated to this little shop.  We feel so blessed to be doing this.

Old Odd Fox Cards

In light of all the things mentioned, the standard gift for a one year wedding anniversary is paper.  So, I feel it is only appropriate to give away paper for the Monday giveaway.  I will be giving away a set of 5 Old Odd Fox notecards and envelopes.  Say hello in the comments below and I will enter you into the drawing.

Also....if you print this blog out and bring it to This Oktipus Printing Company by December 22, Brandon and I will give you 20% off of your total purchase (this does not apply to special orders).

We are located at 1108 B Woodland Street.  Monday through Saturday 11-6ish. For the holiday we will be open on Sunday from 12-4.

For those you who live out of state you can visit our Etsy. E-mail Brandon before you purchase to tell him to discount your purchases.

Buy this, Not that, part II

a continuation of Buy this, Not that, part I

As I have expressed many times, I have a crush on Anthropologie.  Sometimes when I'm sad I go to Anthropologie and walk around and pretend like I can buy whatever I want (and when that doesn't do the trick I hop over to Whole Foods and sample cheese, cherries, and olives).  I love everything about Anthropologie, excepting, of course, their prices.

Sometimes you just have to spring for that perfect dress and invest in something that makes you walk like a lady.  However, if you're in the business of having cake and eating it too you might be better served by buying your basics elsewhere.

Following are a few items from my favorite stores.  Below the items are their less expensive counterparts.  Enjoy!

Anthropologie $168

Target $20

Urban Outfitters $69

Target $20

Urban Outfitters $89

Nordstrom $17

Urban Outfitters $69

Nordstrom $26

super soft tee from American Apparel $24

equally as soft tee by Thread 4 Thought $10

Buy this, not That, part 1

Organic Gardening by a Friendly Farmer

I'm working at the Harvest Market Garden. It is a part of UT's  organic program. There are 6 of us interns and we run a one acre garden and sell the produce at a weekly farmers market on campus. My farm dream is to have a homestead to produce food that is healthy for people as well as for the land. I want to heal the land and heal people with the food I grow. Organic, small-scale farming (what I do) is a great gender equalizer, I think, because it is mostly a matter of stamina - not sheer muscle power. The strength it takes to make it through a 12 hour day of harvesting, when it's 95 degrees, is quite different from the strength it takes to bench press 350pounds. I enjoy being on equal ground with the fellows I work with and feeling strong in what I do.

  

I'm working at the Harvest Market Garden. It is a part of UT's 

organic program. There are 6 of us interns and we run a one acre garden and sell the produce at a weekly farmers market on campus.

My farm dream is to have a homestead to produce food that is healthy for people as well as for the land. I want to heal the land and heal people with the food I grow.

Organic, small-scale farming (what I do) is a great gender equalizer, I think, because it is mostly a matter of stamina - not sheer muscle power. The strength it takes to make it through a 12 hour day of harvesting, when it's 95 degrees, is quite different from the strength it takes to bench press 350pounds. I enjoy being on equal ground with the fellows I work with and feeling strong in what I do.

If fancy loves anything it’s fresh.  Which is why Kirsten Eisele, who is currently working with The Harvest Market Garden in Knoxville, has written a little piece for us on budget organic gardening.  Kirsten has also agreed to help out with a little Q&A on budget organic gardening.  This girl knows her stuff.  Ask her anything in the comments below and she’ll answer.  

"Greetings, fancy ladies! I am a fancy girl who gets her hands dirty at different farms across middle and east Tennessee. Last year I had the privilege of living in a house where the owners had established a perennial herb garden and was 

completely won over to the joy of cooking with fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs are essential to every fancy girl’s kitchen. They lend that extra edge of flavor to any dish, whether a simple spaghetti sauce or a crusty loaf of rosemary bread.

The only problem with fresh herbs is that they cost a whole lot if you have to rely on the grocery store to get them. You’ll pay about $3 to buy a tiny package of probably not-so-fresh herbs that will go bad quickly if you don’t use them immediately

The solution? Grow your own! Most herbs are notoriously easy to grow. They will grow in the ground, in a pot, indoors, outdoors, on the roof, in the backyard. 

Starting from seed is my recommendation. It may take a bit longer for you to get the lovely-smelling plants you desire, but it will be worth the wait.

You’ll get the best value by purchasing an assorted seed packet. Individual seed packets cost about $2/each and can be bought at your local hardware store or farmers co-op.

http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Collection-Varieties-Quality-Seeds/dp/B0042AIYH0/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1307643807&sr=1-2

Many herbs are either perennials, such as rosemary and sage, or self-seed easily, such as dill. Put a bit of effort into setting up your garden and with luck you will be literally reaping the rewards for years to come.

The cheapest soil prep is good hard work, if you have a home where your herbs will be permanent. Dig up the spot where you're going to put the plants 

Here's a link to a recipe for homemade organic pest sprays. Super easy to make and earth-friendly. Though usually, the best organic form of pest control is to use two fingers to squish the offending bug!

Two Homemade Sprays for Fighting Aphids organicgardening.about.comThese two homemade organic sprays have a proven track record of effectiveness when it comes to getting rid of aphids.

Interested in an indoor garden? Check out this resource for information on growing different kinds of herbs.

http://www.indoorherbgarden.org/indoorgardeningtips.html

Interested in an outdoor garden? In our mild climate, perennial herbs can survive the winter and thrive during warm weather.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4933292_plant-outdoor-herb-garden.html

Please comment with any additional questions and I’d be happy to do a follow up Q and A post!

Your friendly farmer, 

Kirsten"

Monday Giveaway: Let Them Eat Cake!

letterpressed card on Etsy

"Let them eat cake!"

No one really knows who said this and when she said it.  However, they--whomever "they" are--are pretty sure it was a woman and it was said during a time of famine when the peasants had no food.  Though this quotation is commonly attributed to Marie Antoinette, the likely suspect is probably Marie-Therese, the frivolous and self-absorbed wife of Louis XIV.  Because, really, who, besides myself, would be able to afford cake when they can't afford bread?

And this leads me to my next point.  The truth is, I have a tendency to buy the things I enjoy rather than buying the things I need.  Wine?  Cheese?  Cake?  Cookies? Yes!  I have them!  But real food?  Oh goodness.  I can't help it if I'm drawn to overtones.  The essentials get lost beneath all of the fun.  And amid all of the wooping, hollering, and enjoying, I suddenly realize that I am starving and desperately long for a piece of broccoli.  I know, this goes against everything I've said about food thus far.  I can't help it.  I'm sorry.  You caught me.  Now go eat your flax seed!

Anyway, what I mean is I am doing the Monday giveaway on Tuesday.  And I am giving away a 6 inch peanut butter fudge cheesecake to one fancy lady or fellow.

Answer the following question and I'll choose a name at random from the answers below:

I'm a little tired these days and would like a little help coming up with topics.  My frugal mind is always in full force, even if my body is, admittedly, a bit tired these days.

What is something you'd like to know how to do cheaply?

man up and be a woman.

"A rally is not a breather. A rally is the breath before the battle-cry." --Jenna of SingleInTheSouth

I made it extra large for you so you'll know how serious I am.  Ladies, rally!!!!

Ok, so, I'm tired.  And I've been working like mad so I can be fancy and out of debt.  So far, so good.  However, I haven't had a chance to do a few of the things I love so such as tea parties and writing to you inspiring and lovely ladies. In fact, all I've done when I'm not working is wine, eat cookies, and watch Ugly Betty.

At the end of Ugly Betty, episode 20, season 4, with a mouthful of cookies (Don't make fun), I had an epiphany.  "Crystal," I said, "You must rally!"  I mean, Betty did it.  No more whining!  No more cookies!  No more Ugly Betty!

So here I am, tired, rallying, and ready (aaand, wearing a sugar mask as I type this--just because you're worn out doesn't mean you should look like you are).  Sometimes you've just got to man up and be a woman, do what you've got to do, fight for the greater good, so you may be who you were called to be.

So, no tips today on being poor and fancy--just a word to live well and rally.

Dear Xanga

Dear Xanga,

Today I am all fancy and pouting.  I have no tips--just sighs.

For the Love of Candles

                                                                                    

mmm. love these.

I love good candles.  I think they are essential to every house that wants to be a home.  And, yes, I am the girl standing behind you in the check-out line at Anthropologie with 5 candles when they go on sale.  And why shouldn't I?  When I invite friends into my home I want them to be greeted with the smell of Baltic Amber as I serve them a hot cup of coffee with a splash of Bailey's--perfect for secrets among friends.

And I'm not the only one.  While looking through articles on smell I found this from sensingarchitecture.com:

"Perhaps you can be more proactive as you design. Instead of letting the scent within your space just sort of happen as a by-product of all your other design decisions, you can instead think about what effect you want to have with your space....did you know that some hospitals are beginning to design for the olfactory sense? Patients in some facilities are already benefiting from aromas (circulated through the air systems) that are more soothing, anxiety reducing and calming....Think of what you want your occupants to experience within your architectural space, how you want them to navigate though it and where you may want them to stop and engage in activity. As a designer, think about ways to tap into the olfactory sense — use it to spark occupant behavior, thought, emotion and intellect."

Now! The moment you've been waiting for; the moment where I tell you where to find amazing candles at amazing prices!  Nope.  Sorry.  I don't think you can buy amazing candles for amazing prices.   This is why we upcycle what is left of them.  Follow these simple steps for a full, prolonged, and resuscitated life out of your hard-earned candles.

You'll need the following: Candles with no more wick to burn them, a darling glass or metal container in which to contain your new candle (and you can get creative.  Use an old candy tin, tea cup, anything metal or glass), a wick, which can be purchased online or at Michael's, and a pot of water on a stove.

candles in water

1. place the candles in a pot of water and turn on low/med.  If you have pillar candles you can put the remains into an aluminum can. Be careful not to let any water get into the candles (and if it does, pour it out in the trashcan, not the sink--trust me).

2. Place wicks into your container.  If you buy a spool of wick, make sure you dip it into the wax so it can stand upright on it's own.  Also, attach an anchor to it (like a nut or bolt).  Then wrap the top of the wick around a pencil and let the pencil lie on the top of your candle container.  However, you don't need to do this if you buy the wicks to the right. (if you only have a tiny bit left, take a tea candle, remove the wick from the wax, and use it for the little remains of your beloved candle)

3. Dip the anchor into the wax and attach to the bottom of your container.

candle wicks

4. Pour the hot wax into your container with the wick and allow to sit until hardened.

Voila!  More candle!

Entertaining on a Budget: Ethnic Eating, part 1

When it is possible, I like to enjoy as many of my favorite things as I possibly can at one time. Really, why take just a bubble bath when you can take a bubble bath with Cabernet, Voluspa candles, lavender oil, salts, Erik Satie (the music, not the man), and my bath time book of choice, Pride and Prejudice. Furthermore, I've read Pride and Prejudice so many times that I don't even bother with the entire book anymore.  I merely choose my favorite parts and read them to my delight and at my leisure.  Then I soak, detox, and enjoy.

So, in the spirit of enjoying everything at once, I present to you, traveling, entertaining, and spending as little money as possible.  Unfortunately, we are going to travel in our kitchens, but if we spend a small amount of money doing it, then we can put more in our actual travel fund.  Greece, here I come.

Try these ethnic desserts and impress your guests, while spending 3-7 dollars:

1. Turkish Sutlac
2. French Petit Choux (this recipe does have not the filling recipe, but it's a good choux recipe--you can fill them with any kind of cream or custard--whipped cream is the easiest.)
3. Ukrainian Vareniki 
4. Polish Paczki 
5. Thai Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)
6. Japanese Daifuku 
7. Spanish Churros 
8. Mexican Flan
9. Norwegian Pannekakes 
10. Indonesian Burbur Ketan Hitam 

Monday giveaway: a SCOBY of your very own

Kombucha: the fancy way to stay healthy.  Ok, so I realize this is the newest health fad.  However, I've been drinking this stuff for a month and my energy levels have nearly doubled.  Unfortunately, at 5 bucks a pop, I can't afford it.  This is why I make my own.

Buying Kombucha vs. Making It: being fancy and poor isn't all glamour.

You'll need the following:
filtered water (don't use distilled), 4 tea bags (either black or green tea.  No herbal teas, ladies), a giant pickle jar (if you don't want to spend the $5 on a jar, go down to your local deli and ask them for one of their left over jars), cheese cloth, 1 cup of sugar, 1 c. kombucha, and a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast).

1. Place tea and sugar into a separate bowl. Pour 1 quart of boiling water over tea bags and sugar and let sit until room temp.

2. Pour tea/sugar/water into your giant pickle jar

3. Pour 2-3 more quarts of water into the mixture

4. Pour in 1 c. of kombucha and place your SCOBY on the top with the dark side facing down.

5. Cover with cheese cloth and allow to sit, untampered.

6. Your kombucha will be finished when it is fizzy (5- 10 days).

7. Bottle and refrigerate.

8. Drink 1 cup every day.  You can also mix kombucha with your favorite fruit juice (I mix mine with lemon juice)

Ok, now for the fun part.  I have in my possession an extra SCOBY, which I will give to one lucky lady.  I want to hear about a fancy poor moment you had this week.  I'll draw a name at random from the comments below.

Buy this, Not that.

I heart Anthropologie; I do not heart their prices.

Don't think for a moment that I am telling you not to shop at Anthropologie.  However, there may be a few things that are better purchased at another store.  Since many stores import their goods, there's a chance they may be buying from the same countries or even vendors.  Take a look at these (and try to see past the poor quality of Pier 1's pictures):

Pretty Skin!!!

I want to dance with vanity and still have the gumption to stand when it's over.  And I want to have good skin doing it.  Unfortunately, my favorite products (i.e. the orange sugar exfoliant by Fresh) cost upward of $50.  I thank my mother, my grandmother, and my Aunt Patti for my expensive taste.  However, it can't be helped. My taste may be expensive, but who says you have to spend a fortune on goodness?

this is a portrait of Erzsebet Bathory, the Countess

    who bathed in the blood of young maidens to retain her youth. 

Little did she know she could have used a sugar scrub.

I love the Fresh products because they are comprised, primarily, of things I can buy at my neighborhood grocery.  But since I can buy the ingredients at my grocery then I should just make it myself, right?  And the answer is yes.  After a short trip to the grocery, all you'll need is a bowl, a spoon, and a pretty little air tight container that you love to open and close (I'll admit, I do love the sound the Fresh container makes when you close it--the glass is so thick that the sound it makes is most substantial and satisfying.  Do you know what I mean?)

Granted, my Fresh exfoliant that I love so has many more ingredients, so know we're not making the exact scrub.  But this exfoliant works like a charm.   Use it one to 2 times per week.




1 tablespoon cane sugar
2 teaspoons of oil (try olive, avocado, macadamia, sesame, jojoba, or coconut oil. you may have to try a couple before you find the right oil for your skin)
1 teaspoon of orange juice
Citrus zest
(the citrus is optional for those of us with dry skin.  If you do leave the citrus out, add another t of oil.  However, if your skin is extra dry, throw some oats and honey into the mix.  Wear it for 10 minutes--eat it if you'd like).


Wet your face with a warm cloth.  Gently message the face with your sugar scrub.  Let it sit for 4-5 minutes.  Then rinse and moisturize (I moisturize with olive oil).  Pretty skin!!!!  

You want Fryes with that?: Guerilla Shopping

There are few things more satisfying than digging through junk and uncovering a treasure.  This is why I love the Goodwill outlet.  And let's face it, the Goodwill has just gotten too expensive (kidding--sort of).

Vintage Fryes from the 80's

The Goodwill outlet is open every Sunday from 11-6.  Not only do they sell clothing for $1.34 per pound, but people from all around the globe happen to show up at this little hub.  It's quite the cultural experience. 

And most weeks it really is just junk....but not last week!  Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, my vintage Frye's, purchased for the low, low price of $1.34.  (this is also where Brandon and I got our $10 wrought iron antique bed--I'll post pics later).

These are the rollable bins of glorious things

Following are the rules for the Goodwill Outlet.  It is crucial that you obey each one:
1. Your buggy is fair game until you put something in it.
2. You may not touch anyone's shopping cart.  Even if it's blocking the path it would be better to go out of your way than get into a fist fight with the pusher of the cart.  Trust me.  It will happen.
3. The Goodwill Outlet doesn't have any shelves--it merely has rollable bins full of glorious things.  When they roll a new bin out everyone clusters around it.  You may look, see who's eyeing the same purse you are, then calculate your first move--to dive or not to dive, that is.  Then when the kind lady in the blue vest says, "Go!" you may dig.  But don't be surprised if someone accidentally hits you in the side of the head with a tennis shoe.  Trust me.  That'll happen too.
4. Hold your friends close and your enemies closer.  That is, be nice to the lady who dove into the shoe bin and got to the cowboy boots before you did.  Next time you see her looking for the match to those cute vintage heels, say, "What shoe are you looking for?"  When she shows you tell her you'll keep an eye out.  Then hold up the shoe you're looking for and ask her to do the same.

3 dozen things you can do with 3 dozen eggs

"Necessity....the mother of invention" -Dear Plato.

So, the big barter mentioned previously has taken place.  I now have in my possesion 3 dozen, organic, farm fresh eggs from chickens who have names.  And I'm excited.  No one was interested in bartering for any of them so Brandon and I are going eat all 3 dozen (baring in mind that we can freeze most things).  

Not only are eggs cheap, but they have the ability to be decadent.  Following are 3 dozen fancy things you can do with 3 dozen eggs by adding a few additional ingredients:

1.Meringue Cookies

fancy egg

2. Chocolate Souffle
3.Crepes
4.Sponge Cake
5.Gruyere Souffle
6.Terragon Egg Salad
7 Eggs in a Basket 
8. Eggs Benedict
9. Quiche Lorraine 
10. Frittata 
11. Souffle Omelet (for dessert)
12.Oeufs a la Neige
13. Creme Caramel
14. Egg Custard
15. Zabaglione
16. Cold Tangerine Souffle
17. Deviled Eggs
18. Sweet Potato Souffle
19. Egg Curry
20. Egg Fu Yung
21. Egg Drop Soup
22.Pavlova 
23. Flourless Nut Cake
24.Meringue Nest with Ricotta 
25. Creme Brulee
26. Vanilla Barvarois
27. Angel Food Cake
28. Choux Pastry
29. Chocolate Ganache Meringues 
30. Baked Eggs with Basil-Mint Pesto
31. Croissant French Toast
32. Baked Eggs Florentine
33.Baked French Toast
34. Egg and Rice Scramble
35. Almond Coconut Flan
36. Huevos Rancheros 


If you have any, please list your favorite use of eggs.  

The Oregon Trail (dysentery not included)

I'll trade these English beads for some of that fish you skillfully caught.  What's that, brother?  Ma has dysentery? Oh no!....Wait, what else?...we broke an axle, too??....Repeat, brother!  I can't read the text because I'm in 4th grade and don't know I need glasses!  And what part of the body is the axle in? ....What's that, brother? ....Are we going to have a proper burial or leave her while on the Oregon Trail?  Is this the fun game?

So, I learned a few things from The Oregon Trail.  One being that I needed glasses, two being that everyone used to die of dysentery, and 3 being that you can barter for just about anything.  I love to barter.  And it's a good thing.  My taste is too fancy for my pocket book.

If we still lived in the world of guilds, and Robert Smith was actually the blacksmith, I suppose I'd be Crystal Cheesecake.  I make cheesecakes.  And people give me money for them.  But tomorrow someone is giving me 3 dozen eggs from her farm for a 6" cheesecake.  And I am excited.

This leads me to my next question: What am I going to do with 3 dozen farm fresh eggs?  Well, I could eat them.  Or I could trade a dozen of them for another commodity.

So, I pose the question, is there anything you guys would like to trade for a dozen, organic, farm fresh eggs?  Please leave the item you'd like to trade in the comments below.

The B-word.

The last time I ordered a decaf coffee the entire staff behind the bar stopped what they were doing and looked at me, their mouths agape, their eyes wide.  The girl had a twinkle in her eye as she exclaimed excitedly, "A decaf??!"  What she really meant was, "Are you and Brandon expecting??!!" And the answer was no.  I just didn't want to stay awake for the rest of the night because, unlike most people my age, caffeine effects me in the most wonderful and devious of ways.    However, I do understand how she may have thought this, as Brandon and I just got married in October.  Also, we took a break from the world for the 5 months following our wedding, returned, and realized everyone had had a baby.  So, the natural thing to think is that, during the Nashville flood of 2010 the water supply was contaminated with things like trash, sewage, radiation, and sperm.  The mix of these things created what is technically known as SuperSpawn (i.e. radiated sperm), which swam into the Cumberland and came through the East Nashville faucets.  Once in your water glass, they were ingested, infiltrated the blood stream,  swam to their destination, and implanted.  Thus happened the influx of East Nashville babies in January, 2011.  But, no.  Not me.  I drink bottled water.

I'll tell you what that means to you in a minute.

So, you want to go out.  But you don't have the money.  But you want to go out.  And you don't have the money.  Ah!  But you want to go out!  And you should.  But only if it's in the budget.

You heard me.  Budget.  I'll say it again if you don't stop whining.  If you just cringed when I said the word "budget," you're thinking of it all wrong.  A budget is not there to deprive you.  It's there to allow you to spend your money on things you truly want (note that I said spend your money and not someone else's. i.e. your credit card company's money).  What's that you say?  You don't have enough money to make budget?  Ok, just bare with me.

How to make a budget:

1. make a list of your expenses, including your debt.
2. order your expenses from most important to least important (food is most important.  next is lodging.  next is everything else).
3. make a budget that includes the minimum payment of your debts.
4. Always budget for savings
5. Though you have to be smart with your money, don't forget to be generous.  Fancy girls are saavy, saucy, and frugal, but never are we cheap.


So, lets say Molly Sue makes $500 every 2 weeks.  Her rent is $300.  Here's what her 2 week budget might look like:

1. Charitable donations $50 ($450)
1. Food: $40   (balance $410)
2. Lodging: $150 (balance $260)
3.utilities: $75 (balance $185)
4. Cell phone: $50 (balance $135)
5. Fancy Soap: $10 (balance $125)
6. Fun: $30 (balance $95)
7. student loan $50 (balance $45)
8. gas $20
8. Savings: $25

It's very important to give yourself money for fun.  If you don't you'll blow the budget.

If, however, you find that you don't have enough money to make your payments, make sure you call the company who's not getting paid.  They may be able to adjust your payment to fit your income.  Trust me, they want to help you give them your money.

So, when the girls call you up to go to dinner, you look at the budget and see how much you have budgeted.  There you go.  Guilt free fun.  To stretch your $30 of fun, stick to Happy Hours, free movies in the park, and things going on in your city.  And if you find you're down to your last $2 you can always just order a cup of decaf.  But don't surprised if everyone thinks you're pregnant.  Happy budgeting!  

click here to see what Dave Ramsey says about budgeting.