I have a difficult time with the "I want"s... In other words, I often see things I want, and have a hard time not buying it. I had no clue how to deal with this until I came across a great website called Kaboodle.com (and, no, I don't represent them in any way - I'm just a user).
Now, to appease my "I want" reaction, I write down whatever it is I see, and I add it to my Kaboodle list. It's sort of like purchasing it and just letting it sit before you decide if you're going to return it or actually use it, except without the worries of actually having to return the product (I just remove it from the list if I'm no longer as interested).
Then, if the item stays on my list for a while, and I still really have the urge to buy it after a week or two, then I'll work a place for it in my budget.
It mostly helps, but like any system, it's not infallible. Regardless, I hope it helps someone else like me!
Here's my Kaboodle site, if you're interested in seeing how I've got my lists organized.
I'm a big fan of generic meds, and have had several friends sing the praises of local honey. The neti pot I've only recently heard of, but with this most recent confirmation, I just might give one a try. Thanks for the great tips!
I went over to See's and the first time everything looked like a go, but a few minutes later a notice came up in red saying that the website was down for maintenance.
Thanks for letting me know anyway. It was fun even if I didn't get the prize. ;)
I just heard a story on NPR about an opera singer who uses neti pots to clear out his sinuses before a performance. It sounds really neat I think I might try it.
"We are sorry but www.sees.com shopping is temporarily down for maintenance. You may continue to browse the non-shopping portions of our site by using the navigation on this page."
So, I guess it was a glitch in the system and they are now fixing it... Just when I was about to place my order ;)
Well, looking at the positive side of things, it will make it easier to keep my new year's resolutions.
Thanks for the great deal.
I just went to the site, tried to place an order, and the site is down for ordering.
(I hope they are not adjusting prices because of an error.)
Speaking of price errors, the Frugal Travel Guy at http://frugaltravelguy.blogspot.com , wrote on one of his posts about fare mistakes found through the Mileage Run forum at http://flyertalk.com. He booked a round-trip Business class ticket to New Zealand for $ 1,100!
As someone already said, it took a bit of refreshing...but it did work. I got a receipt for four 1-pound boxes (NOT one 4-pound box) for $4.25. I'm curious to see if it works, and I think See's could be found liable for my purchase at that price in any event. Vamos a ver.
1.7 I just bought a whole bunch of chocolate. How should I store it?
Chocolate is best kept at around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of a nice pantry or dark cabinet. Kept at this temperature, chocolate (assuming it isn't covering fruit or other perishables) has a shelf life of about a year. Freezing chocolate isn't such a great idea; when you freeze it, then thaw it out, it will have a greater tendency to bloom. but if you must, let it warm gradually to room temperature before you try cooking with it.
What is blooming? Read on...
1.6 What is this white, blotchy stuff on my chocolate bar?
A white, filmy residue on chocolate is called a bloom. It occurs when some of the cocoa butter in the chocolate separates from the cocoa solids, usually when the chocolate is stored in a warm area. If you buy a chocolate bar and find it has bloomed, don't let the sales person convince you the taste has not been altered.
So, after googling around for a bit, I'm not quite sure whether freezing is a good idea or not. This answer (from http://chocolatesonline.com/faq.html) seems to apply more than most of the other stuff I found, which was about freezing baking chocolate:
"Freezing chocolate isn't necessary; however, if you're planning to keep your chocolate for a couple of months, place package in two plastic bags, close tightly and freeze. When you are ready to eat your chocolates, take out of the freezer and allow the chocolates to thaw until they reach room temperature while still in the plastic bags. Typically one box will require 5-6 hours."
Took alot of refreshing, but my order went through. Now, I'll be curious to see if they honor my order. When I just went to the home page, they have a message that they are down for maintenance. Good find, either way!
I'm pretty sure that you can successfully freeze chocolates. I'm thinking I might order a couple to bring in to the office during crunch time; if they're in my freezer I won't be snacking on them at home (esp. knowing that I'm saving them for a morale booster!).
...I suddenly feel as if I'm the bringer of doom to all those 2008 resolutions. Obviously, I'm not encouraging everyone to go out and eat a ton of chocolates...but share the love. At this price, you can make everyone in the office happy, or your extended family very very happy! As for Valentine's Day, that I can't tell you. I imagine a box of choccies should at least least a few months though.
Just as millions of people vow to start exercising, eating right, and lose some weight this year, we have a January 1st treat that's almost too good to pass up! Great find, Paul! I think I may have to order one right now. Do you suppose they'll keep until Valentine's Day?
My father worked as a cook at a few different restaurants in the 60's and ran a few temporary food-service shops in the 70's and 80's. He related the following anecdote regarding exactly this topic.
One of the first cook gigs he got was as a short-order cook at a greasy-spoon style diner. The grills were behind the counter and as such his work was done in full view of the customers. As happens on a busy grill, occasionally he would miss a flip of a burger or something and a lump of cooking meat would land on the floor. He was taught that when that happened to pick it up, throw it away, and start a fresh burger.
Later, he got a job at a more upscale restaurant where the kitchen was in a separate room from the tables and not in view of the customers. As inevitably would happen, he eventually dropped a burger on the floor. So he dutifully picked it up and put it in the garbage. The manager at that point rushed out, pulled the burger from the trash, brushed it off, and put it back on the grill. After all, the grill would kill any pathogens on the meat, and my father shouldn't waste perfectly good meat by throwing it away.
This was probably 40 years ago at this point, so there is no reason to suspect that health regulations would permit that behavior today.
I just wanted to call attention to a great line in Ed's post, "Satisfaction will come by believing in yourself and using your talents to find the deeper meaning of who you really are, inside."
There are so many things I like about this quote that I am going to pop it into my journal and use it to write my New Year's mission statement. Like all great wisdom, its not new- but well put and a good reminder of a truth we instinctively know.
While I am here, I will say that I have enjoyed the video of the Secret. Messages like "gratitude" and "focusing on positive solutions instead of negative situations" can enrich anyone's life. Undoubtedly authors will sell more books and movies if they promise money, health and love using these tools. Is that exploitation or is it a way to sneak a spiritual message into the hands of a materialistic audience?
I have heard a few other attacks on the materialistic nature of the Secret. It annoys me to hear pundits with several cars, and an estate in Maui telling a single mom renting a 1 bedroom apartment and taking the bus to work to be less materialistic. People who want to pay the heat bill and send their kids to college are not greedy and materialistic- they are tired and don't know where else to turn. Maybe the Secret is selling false hope, but any hope is better than none for some people.
Perhaps the most valuable advice on both sides of the argument is to be less judgmental. Take what is useful for you and leave what is useful for others. (but then how would we start great discussions like this one?)
PS- If I don't respond to replies- sorry. I am not a regular blogger- just passing through.
it has many of the same properties as the homemade play-doh. Although I'm not sure of the absorbancy of a grain of sand, I'd hate to get the kool-aid coloring everywhere. It's a pain to remove.
I remember that when my mother-in-law used to make her own Play-Doh, she used Kool-Aid for coloring and giving the finished product a pleasant smell. Might work for moon sand too -- we'll have to try it out.
Here are step by step instructions to make your own felt board - it's easy, inexpensive, and so open-ended! You can make all kinds of figures out of felt to go on it and kids LOVE it! How to Make a Flannel Board
:)
The mile limit is in the law, but most credit card companies will charge a merchant back on a dispute regardless of the distance--they just aren't required to by law.
After all, the card-holder is the customer, and it's generally worth trying to keep the customer happy--especially when it doesn't cost the company anything. (The merchant is the one who's out-of-pocket.)
Yeah, I accept that the fast food vendor in question was trying to be funny. (Actually, I was trying to be a little funny too.)
But I also think the topic has limited potential for humor. Swipe envy is a real phenomenon, but over-use (and mis-use) of credit cards ruins people's lives.
In the 1950s and 1960s, drunk driving was considered a appropriate object of fun. You can see movies from those days where you're supposed to laugh when some plastered guy gets poured into his car and weaves on down the road. I'd like to see social circumstances change so that poking fun at misuse of credit makes people wince just like like poking fun at drunk driving does today.
we have a waterbed which doesn't take much electricity at all to keep warm in winter and we turn it waaaay down in summer so it helps keep us cool, which is a bigger deal than warm since we're in Phoenix. Still ... It's dropped belw freezing several times this week here.
pb
I have a difficult time with the "I want"s... In other words, I often see things I want, and have a hard time not buying it. I had no clue how to deal with this until I came across a great website called Kaboodle.com (and, no, I don't represent them in any way - I'm just a user).
Now, to appease my "I want" reaction, I write down whatever it is I see, and I add it to my Kaboodle list. It's sort of like purchasing it and just letting it sit before you decide if you're going to return it or actually use it, except without the worries of actually having to return the product (I just remove it from the list if I'm no longer as interested).
Then, if the item stays on my list for a while, and I still really have the urge to buy it after a week or two, then I'll work a place for it in my budget.
It mostly helps, but like any system, it's not infallible. Regardless, I hope it helps someone else like me!
Here's my Kaboodle site, if you're interested in seeing how I've got my lists organized.
I'm a big fan of generic meds, and have had several friends sing the praises of local honey. The neti pot I've only recently heard of, but with this most recent confirmation, I just might give one a try. Thanks for the great tips!
I went over to See's and the first time everything looked like a go, but a few minutes later a notice came up in red saying that the website was down for maintenance.
Thanks for letting me know anyway. It was fun even if I didn't get the prize. ;)
GinnyBerry
Note to self: only eat in restaurants with open, full-view kitchens.
I think the lesson we learn here is: Read Wise Bread every hour, on the hour, so you don't miss any deals.
Another great article Lana. =)
I just heard a story on NPR about an opera singer who uses neti pots to clear out his sinuses before a performance. It sounds really neat I think I might try it.
You gave up to easily. Keep trying, going back, refreshing, etc. It does work! Linda
"We are sorry but www.sees.com shopping is temporarily down for maintenance. You may continue to browse the non-shopping portions of our site by using the navigation on this page."
So, I guess it was a glitch in the system and they are now fixing it... Just when I was about to place my order ;)
Well, looking at the positive side of things, it will make it easier to keep my new year's resolutions.
Thanks for the great deal.
I just went to the site, tried to place an order, and the site is down for ordering.
(I hope they are not adjusting prices because of an error.)
Speaking of price errors, the Frugal Travel Guy at http://frugaltravelguy.blogspot.com , wrote on one of his posts about fare mistakes found through the Mileage Run forum at http://flyertalk.com. He booked a round-trip Business class ticket to New Zealand for $ 1,100!
As someone already said, it took a bit of refreshing...but it did work. I got a receipt for four 1-pound boxes (NOT one 4-pound box) for $4.25. I'm curious to see if it works, and I think See's could be found liable for my purchase at that price in any event. Vamos a ver.
...from chocolate.org
1.7 I just bought a whole bunch of chocolate. How should I store it?
Chocolate is best kept at around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit, the
temperature of a nice pantry or dark cabinet. Kept at this temperature,
chocolate (assuming it isn't covering fruit or other perishables) has a
shelf life of about a year. Freezing chocolate isn't such a great idea;
when you freeze it, then thaw it out, it will have a greater tendency to
bloom. but if you must, let it warm gradually to room temperature before
you try cooking with it.
What is blooming? Read on...
1.6 What is this white, blotchy stuff on my chocolate bar?
A white, filmy residue on chocolate is called a bloom. It occurs
when some of the cocoa butter in the chocolate separates from the cocoa solids, usually when the chocolate is stored in a warm area. If you buy a chocolate bar and find it has bloomed, don't let the sales person
convince you the taste has not been altered.
So, after googling around for a bit, I'm not quite sure whether freezing is a good idea or not. This answer (from http://chocolatesonline.com/faq.html) seems to apply more than most of the other stuff I found, which was about freezing baking chocolate:
"Freezing chocolate isn't necessary; however, if you're planning to keep your chocolate for a couple of months, place package in two plastic bags, close tightly and freeze. When you are ready to eat your chocolates, take out of the freezer and allow the chocolates to thaw until they reach room temperature while still in the plastic bags. Typically one box will require 5-6 hours."
Took alot of refreshing, but my order went through. Now, I'll be curious to see if they honor my order. When I just went to the home page, they have a message that they are down for maintenance. Good find, either way!
I'm pretty sure that you can successfully freeze chocolates. I'm thinking I might order a couple to bring in to the office during crunch time; if they're in my freezer I won't be snacking on them at home (esp. knowing that I'm saving them for a morale booster!).
...I suddenly feel as if I'm the bringer of doom to all those 2008 resolutions. Obviously, I'm not encouraging everyone to go out and eat a ton of chocolates...but share the love. At this price, you can make everyone in the office happy, or your extended family very very happy! As for Valentine's Day, that I can't tell you. I imagine a box of choccies should at least least a few months though.
Just as millions of people vow to start exercising, eating right, and lose some weight this year, we have a January 1st treat that's almost too good to pass up! Great find, Paul! I think I may have to order one right now. Do you suppose they'll keep until Valentine's Day?
My father worked as a cook at a few different restaurants in the 60's and ran a few temporary food-service shops in the 70's and 80's. He related the following anecdote regarding exactly this topic.
One of the first cook gigs he got was as a short-order cook at a greasy-spoon style diner. The grills were behind the counter and as such his work was done in full view of the customers. As happens on a busy grill, occasionally he would miss a flip of a burger or something and a lump of cooking meat would land on the floor. He was taught that when that happened to pick it up, throw it away, and start a fresh burger.
Later, he got a job at a more upscale restaurant where the kitchen was in a separate room from the tables and not in view of the customers. As inevitably would happen, he eventually dropped a burger on the floor. So he dutifully picked it up and put it in the garbage. The manager at that point rushed out, pulled the burger from the trash, brushed it off, and put it back on the grill. After all, the grill would kill any pathogens on the meat, and my father shouldn't waste perfectly good meat by throwing it away.
This was probably 40 years ago at this point, so there is no reason to suspect that health regulations would permit that behavior today.
I just wanted to call attention to a great line in Ed's post, "Satisfaction will come by believing in yourself and using your talents to find the deeper meaning of who you really are, inside."
There are so many things I like about this quote that I am going to pop it into my journal and use it to write my New Year's mission statement. Like all great wisdom, its not new- but well put and a good reminder of a truth we instinctively know.
While I am here, I will say that I have enjoyed the video of the Secret. Messages like "gratitude" and "focusing on positive solutions instead of negative situations" can enrich anyone's life. Undoubtedly authors will sell more books and movies if they promise money, health and love using these tools. Is that exploitation or is it a way to sneak a spiritual message into the hands of a materialistic audience?
I have heard a few other attacks on the materialistic nature of the Secret. It annoys me to hear pundits with several cars, and an estate in Maui telling a single mom renting a 1 bedroom apartment and taking the bus to work to be less materialistic. People who want to pay the heat bill and send their kids to college are not greedy and materialistic- they are tired and don't know where else to turn. Maybe the Secret is selling false hope, but any hope is better than none for some people.
Perhaps the most valuable advice on both sides of the argument is to be less judgmental. Take what is useful for you and leave what is useful for others. (but then how would we start great discussions like this one?)
PS- If I don't respond to replies- sorry. I am not a regular blogger- just passing through.
it has many of the same properties as the homemade play-doh. Although I'm not sure of the absorbancy of a grain of sand, I'd hate to get the kool-aid coloring everywhere. It's a pain to remove.
I remember that when my mother-in-law used to make her own Play-Doh, she used Kool-Aid for coloring and giving the finished product a pleasant smell. Might work for moon sand too -- we'll have to try it out.
Here are step by step instructions to make your own felt board - it's easy, inexpensive, and so open-ended! You can make all kinds of figures out of felt to go on it and kids LOVE it!
How to Make a Flannel Board
:)
well I am late in the day but mine are here http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2008/01/green-new-year-resolutio...
trying to cut out palm oil and campaign against biofuels are my big ones
The mile limit is in the law, but most credit card companies will charge a merchant back on a dispute regardless of the distance--they just aren't required to by law.
After all, the card-holder is the customer, and it's generally worth trying to keep the customer happy--especially when it doesn't cost the company anything. (The merchant is the one who's out-of-pocket.)
Yeah, I accept that the fast food vendor in question was trying to be funny. (Actually, I was trying to be a little funny too.)
But I also think the topic has limited potential for humor. Swipe envy is a real phenomenon, but over-use (and mis-use) of credit cards ruins people's lives.
In the 1950s and 1960s, drunk driving was considered a appropriate object of fun. You can see movies from those days where you're supposed to laugh when some plastered guy gets poured into his car and weaves on down the road. I'd like to see social circumstances change so that poking fun at misuse of credit makes people wince just like like poking fun at drunk driving does today.
we have a waterbed which doesn't take much electricity at all to keep warm in winter and we turn it waaaay down in summer so it helps keep us cool, which is a bigger deal than warm since we're in Phoenix. Still ... It's dropped belw freezing several times this week here.
pb