Life is a Series of Tradeoffs

Spending money wisely is something that has been etched into my mind. Without spending much time on the various sources that left me laced with the value of a dollar I would like to bring your attention to my skillful approach of how to justify the money that does get spent frivolously. If it were a new shirt I would say, "Yes, I do have 3 other black blouses. However, this black blouse is work appropriate." If it were a new camera I would say, "Even though my old camera was still functional, I needed a new one for my blog's pictures to look more professional. I can still bring the other out to the bar."

It's hard to dispute those benefits, right?

Well, anyway, perhaps we can meet at a common place and agree that a nice meal out never takes much effort to justify. After all, eating out turns a boring night in into an occasion celebrated by eating with family or friends. Occasions are easy to justify! (Exclamation added to mask my frustration over how many occasional boring nights were turned into occasions.) However frustrating, it is true that the memories created at these meals will always be close to my heart, could never be replaced, and are always my favorite thing to spend money on.

As the nesters gear themselves up for what is sure to be a delicious holiday meal to celebrate friendship tonight at Victoria's Gastro Pub I began stalking the restaurant's menu: 1/2 price cocktails, lobster grilled cheese, duck fat fries. Oh. Mon. Dieu! Yes! How on anyone on earth pass it up? Slap a $20 price tag on a grilled cheese- some might say, "No, thanks."

And so Dad's old expression, "Life is a series of trade offs" comes into play... again. Because I cannot say no to fancy cocktails, cannot omit duck fat fries nor substitute a plain grilled cheese for the one adorned with lobster I have been forced to trade off some smaller pleasures in order to cushion my wallet. Here are some easy ways to pinch $30 from your wallet this week:

1. Nothing else to eat Chicken Salad: Make it one week night by combining hummus, whatever veggies you've got in the fridge, and canned chicken. Season it to your taste- I, of course, prefer hot sauce. Eat it for lunch on salad, toast or with pasta. Save yourself at least $10 you would have spent on other lunches.

2. No excuse to stop at Starbucks: get your coffee ready the night before. When you run out, drink tea instead. (It's the same amount of caffeine, you know.)

3. Easiest pumpkin muffins ever: 1 box spice cake mix+ 1 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin puree. Mix, bake and grab for breakfast. No extra money spent on breakfasts forgotten at home either.

4. Ask for a ride: the benefits of carpooling go beyond environmental salvation. For those of you with SUV's saving $10 on gas means cutting down just 50 miles from your weekly commute to work, the gym, grocery store, or bar in downtown Baltimore (Wait, should you even be driving there in the first place?)

Note: One glass of Victory's Old Horizontal Barley Wine Ale will have you sawing logs

Now, sink your teeth into that lobster grilled cheese, wash it down with a perfectly paired micro brew and smile because it was worth pinching pennies during the week to afford. (Dad, you were right again.)

Forging ahead

If there is one thing I need to admit first it is this: I have been a bad blogger.

I've heard the call for more and simply replied, "No, we aren't ready."

There have been formatting fixations, content quandaries, and picture placement productions. At the end of the day, I am sorry for not blogging more frequently.

With that being said, I am now ready for more: more posting, more links, more pictures and more thoughts to share. Though, I will must forewarn you- this is just bologna here. Beans went AWOL. (Not really- she's figuring out the best way to make this a better, cooler, more hip blog.) Until she comes back, it will just be me sharing my ideas and thoughts with you. When she comes back you will have her funny videos and silly facial expressions to look forward to once again.

Moving on, I have a second confession to make: I have spent the greater part of my day surfing the web trying to find Christmas gifts for my friends and family. I have had the most anxiety this year than any of those past over venturing into the mall or my favorite discount stores. (Yes, I will now admit that many of your gifts have come from TJMaxx or Marshall's. There-I said it!- I'm out!)

Meanwhile, I've been to four Thanksgiving celebrations, planned a clothing swap and brunch for this Saturday and attending my first boxing class. (In fact, as I sit here typing this I'm feeling a unique pain wiring my body from the shoulders to the hips. Normal, right?) Long story short: my head is spinning. How will it ever get done? I don't know.

What I do know is there are a few simple tricks I use for organize the daily tasks that should never get swept under the rug with the guitar lesson notes from last month. (oops?)

1. Budget- your money doesn't deserve to be spent because you didn't plan to save.

2. Write down the weekly schedule. I usually buy a cheap weekly planner from the drugstore that I can write when my bills are due, birthdays happen and part time job has me scheduled to arrive. This would work too after you've stuck to #1 for a while:

Source

3. Make your lunch the night before, prepare your coffee the night before. ( you know pizza for the 3rd time this week is grosser than it sounds.)

4.Set aside time to relax and workout. Go to a new class (e.g. Boxing), watch an old favorite (see below), or bake some muffins (Trader Joe's Triple Berry Bran are the best for breakfast. +They make breakfast quick and easy, too!)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

What do you do to keep organized and calm during stressful times?

Turkey Bells

Thanksgiving is in one week. Black Friday is in 8 days. Christmas is in 35 days.



It is not just me that panics over these statements. I know that others are panicing because I work in retail. How many years has it been since you have asked or witnessed someone else ask for a unwarrented discount on the items they are purchasing just to save a little money? (All those also related to my mother need not reply to that question- we already know the answer. Thank you, Mommy, for your influence. Few others know the true satisfaction of a $1 sweater you purchased from a secret discount store two towns over.) If you have spent very much time in a mall you may have noticed that until recently the answer to that question would have probably been: never or not for a long, long time. But, times are tough. Our wallets are strapped- whether you are old, young, big or small. Days feel longer than ever: we are all working harder for less and lucky to be working at all.



Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. You are far from alone in feeling financial despair and a lack of play time, friends. With the holidays right around the corner not only are we all under the gun to get work completed but we have obligations tied to family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, churches, work extracurriculars, reading clubs, gym pals, running buddies... Ok, I'm stressed out just thinking about it.



There is only one way to deal:

Last Year's Resolution: No more jello shots, ever.

Drink. Drink until you can't stand.

Just kidding. (kind of)*

In honesty, one of the best and only ways to deal with end of the year and holiday stress is to remember what it's all about. Christmas and Thanksgiving (the holidays I celebrate) are two holidays that are rooted in an appreciation for what we have been given- faith, love, family. Not the things you need to live, but the things you live for. I find that if you maintain your focus on what you need to collect in order to celebrate this cause, the process is less painful. Think: you are making macaroni and cheese for your family because you know it makes them feel warm, full and comforted. That is an opportunity so many do not have.

Let the person freaking out behind you in line go ahead- take the extra five minutes to remind yourself how lucky you are to have someone to cook for, clean up after, and love you back.

If that's not enough, go home and make one of these:

Autumn Delight

2 oz. whiskey

6 oz. apple cider

fresh cinnamon

Top ingredients over ice in cocktail shaker, shake, strain, serve in an old-fashioned glass. (If you are making this for your warn out girlfriend add a couple slices of apple and a cinnamon stick as garnish- girls love stuff that look pretty, too.) Source

*We does not recommend drinking to excess. If you're going to do it make sure you have a loving roommate there to quickly pick your a$$ up and feed you yummy food the next day.

Awreatha Franklin

     A couple weeks ago, a bittersweet sensation came over me as I was driving down Snowden River Parkway. I was on my way to Life Time Fitness when I looked out my window out of curiosity--I wonder what store is going to take the place of Filene's Basement (RIP, great bargain store. *tear*). [[BITTER]]  To my astoundment (not because I had heard of this store and already knew it was amazing, but because the name of it is awesome), there was a brand spankin' new HOBBY LOBBY!! [[SWEET]] I freaking love hobbies. And rhymes.

     So instead of going to Globo Gym, I decided to stop into this creativity wonderland and take a gander. I felt like I had hit the arts and crafts jackpot. Hobby Lobby > Michael's + Joann! All of my random-stuff-making needs in one big happy place.   

     ANYWAY, I went craft-crazy and bought a bunch of stuff, including everything I needed to make this pretty, wintry yarn wreath! I know I got a little bit ahead of the seasons, but I didn't think I'd be able to finish a fall one before fall ended. BUT NOW I WANT TO MAKE ONE FOR FALL, SUMMER AND SPRING! AND EVERY HOLIDAY!

                             A WREATH.                                                A FRANKLIN.

^ A work in progress: my winter wreath, 
inspired by my favorite yarn-wrapping Etsyan, KnockKnocking!

LOVE her work: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnockKnocking