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.

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?

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.