Staple

Lately, long sweaters are my go-to item in the closet. I wake up in the morning (especially lately when the sun has disappeared, dang June gloom) and debate on what meetings I have -- and if I can wear something pretty but casual.

Every morning.

If it works, the long cardigan comes out. I belt it and pair with a cotton tee. I know, a sweater at the beginning of summer when I could be wearing sundresses. Except that it is cold and cloudy outside with a smattering of rain. Also. I hate freezing all day in the air conditioning of an office.

I love the coziness, the warmth, and I love how it hugs my waist without beeing tight. Also, I try not to remind myself that I wore the same thing in high school, only we called them "dusters."

Love this one by Madewell. It reminds me of fireworks. My self-imposed spending hiatus until Paris means it doesn't make it into my closet, but I'll be hoping to find one similar in the fall.

Nice, printable invites

Wish I'd know about Download and Print before I ordered the hubs' law school announcements.

Definitely will be remembering it for the next party. Even if it is just to create a few for a dinner party. There is just something fun about printing off an invite, and when it is free, well, it is much easier to find opportunities! I love how nice-looking, non-cheesy they are.

I am thrilled at how husband's law school announcment turned out though. Perfectly conveys how we feel - not stuffy, but happy.

It was designed by Wenda of Tucci Paper Company. She was great to work with and very affordable. I printed off the invites on tan, textured paper. So they look better than this, but you get the idea.

Download and Print link via How About Orange

Found in San Diego: Free yoga

I love yoga. I love learning how to overcome pain through breathing, the finding your “happy place” in meditation, the accomplished feeling after conquering a balance pose. I love being sore for days afterward.
I hate that for some it is a high-end, fancy work out. I’m cheap. So the day I shell out $20 for a 90 minute workout will be a day I’ve lost my mind.

I’ve found some free or close to it yoga classes around San Diego and I thought I would compile them in a list. I owe a lot of this to my friend Marketing Melodie because she’s the one who first keyed me into the idea.

Asana Practice at the La Jolla Recreation Center: This is my favorite. I hate the time – 11 a.m. on a Saturday is difficult, but I love the class and the instructor. She pushes me – I am flexible so sometimes it is hard to really “feel” a pose. She’ll come push me deeper into it, and I want to curse – but then I love it.

Meet-up.com groups: There are so many yoga meetups. I have only tried a few but I haven’t had a bad experience! Some are less free than others but it is a good place to start. Just search “yoga.” Many of them are on the beach, which is fun.

Reza’s classes: These are on meetup.com too, but I wanted to mention it separately because he is consistent about the classes and he’s a decent instructor if you like more of a boot-camp style. He is a yoga and boot camp instructor, so that’s why. Don’t expect to get all into your “practice” there. It is a donation class – and donations are expected, not optional. This class is where the picture of my mom and I came from. We went last time she was in town.

Lululemon Classes: This store sells pretty fitness clothes – and they have free classes. In San Diego this month, they have a Tuesday night bootcamp at 6:30 and Saturday morning yoga at 8:30 a.m. The classes change monthly. In the past they’ve done dance classes or pilates, all sorts of things.

Free classes at yoga studios: Most studios offer a free class or a free week. So you could be like this blogger in New York City and just go off of the free classes. Start with CorePower, then go to Sol Yoga and Haute. In some areas of San Diego, cough-La Jolla-cough, there are yoga studios next door to each other, so you’d never have to commute far. Now, the ethics of that practice are arguable. Just saying.

Donation classes: Some yoga studios offer donation classes that are cheaper than their regular classes. They are taught in the spirit of good karma. Some, like SD Yoga Loft are non-profit organizations that don’t have set prices (they also offer naked yoga so check the schedule!) and others like Cross Fit East Village offer a class in Petco Park, but a donation is mandatory.

Let me know if there are any I'm missing. A dream work-out week for me lately is cardio after class on Monday and Wednesday and yoga on Saturday. Some days I'm so done with class and it all that I head home instead of to the gym, but right now, that's my goal.

Amazing cupcake recipes

Ming Makes Cupcakes makes me want sugar. All sorts of great ingredients. Makes me want to get messy in the kitchen. Love the combo of ingredients. 

I still haven't figured what kind of cupcakes to get for hubs' graduation party. Part of me wants to make them - but when? It will be a busy weekend. Family in town. Freezing seems risky, as I don't want soggy sponges. And what if I totally bomb the recipe? It has happened more times than I care to admit. 

But grocery store cupcakes are sick. I bought some a few weeks ago, thinking maybe they would work, and maybe it it was just Albertson's, but they were icky.

That leaves a cupcakery but that is expensive. I think I might be in for that route though. Grad school is making me pay for convenience way more than I'd like. 

I've also considered buying the Sprinkles cupcake mix from Williams and Sonoma. A mix-meets-cupcakery route perhaps?

Ah well. 

Craft fair alert

Has anyone been to this vendor fair at UCSD before? I am always a tinge jealous of the fairs in Seattle and New York and Los Angeles, so part of me wants to accidently end up in La Jolla on campus sometime next week.

Found (again): The Flower Fields

The Carlsbad Flower Fields are 50 acres of gorgeousness and my absolute fave spring tradition.

Last year was the first time I went, when my mom came to visit. She came last weekend to see them again. They are just that amazing. I love staring at the variety of flower types and the colors.

I wish I was more of a photographer, there were definitely a lot there snapping away, but I'm afraid my photos just don't do it justice.

The cost of admission is $10 -- but there is always a buy one get one free coupon online (PDF). That one prints out funny, but it worked. We had a threesome but we just asked some people behind us if they wanted a $5 discount and they purchased the tickets with us.

We were there for about two hours. I feel like it is definitely worth $5, not sure if it is worth $10. Just being up front here. It is amazing though. I don't know why you'd want to do the wagon ride, it is just breathtaking to walk among the flowers. 

My two favorite people. 

Husband also took the photo on the sidebar. It is one of the first photos in awhile that I've liked of me, so I'm posting it on the sidebar. I'm sick of looking so serious.

Closet shopping

What would you wear with this skirt?

It is taffeta, which I like because it is fancy but because it is a skirt, it is fun for church and such.

I have a lot of clothes that look cute in the closet but I have no idea what to wear with them. I thought I would try asking people on the Internet before sending them straight to the Salvation Army. I am cheap and want to use what I have.

I'm starting with this skirt. What would you wear with it? A white shirt seems too blah because the skirt is cream. And dark colors seem to harsh. I am not quite sure of the fabric either.

It has sat in my closet for a year I think. I want to wear it, I just never know what to pair it with.



As a sidenote, I like these pretty taffeta items. As an inspiration to keep it. And not buy something else that is costly when I already have one similar.

X'S MILANO YOOX Collection $160

Okay, this is a dress. But a fun one.

Nordstrom Adrianna Papell Jersey & Taffeta Dress, $178

Jackpot

I have never had much luck at Charlotte Russe. But my iPhone had to go to the doctor a few weekends ago, and the Mac store just happens to be near Charlotte Russe. I was drawn in by the displays on the windows and oh my goodness I had too much success.

Also. Students get 10 percent off. See I knew this whole going back to school thing was going to be awesome.

I couldn't find anything that I bought on their Web site. I ended up with two button-free, longish cardigans and two pairs of pants. None of it matched but the pants fit amazingly well. And I'm loving long cardigans with belts lately.

Pearl and Flower necklace, $9.50
I have always loved pearls. I bought a pearl and flower necklace and it is way fun too wear.

Striped cardigan sweater, $22.99
I like the nautical trend. It is very Fourth of July, and that is my birthday, so I think it fits.

Chambray Blazer, $29.99
This seems fun for casual Friday.

Striped open sweater, $19.99
So mine are like this except yellow and pink with ruffles. I love them. On work days with a belt, on weekends with no belt, and sometimes with the ends tied together.

Definitely budget friendly. I always worry that their clothes will fall apart, but I've had a pair of heels from there for over a year now that I wear all the time. So I suppose it is hit or miss

Friday rants on eye liner and underwear

Do you ever become such a part of your own stereotype that you encourage it?

Lunch yesterday with some fabulous girls – they made a reference to a Mormon-owned business.
I was surprised. Especially when my little knowledge of the business knew it started in the South.

“Natalie, there are Mormons outside of Utah.”

Shoot.Why did that surprise me? I am one.

I put on eye liner to look good. I pull back my eyelid in the process, knowing this is going to give me crows feet in the future.

I drink through a straw to avoid stained teeth. But the sipping could give me lip wrinkles.

Are you a fan of meetup.com? I am going to go to a yoga meetup tomorrow I think (no guaruntees, sometimes I become shy at the last minute). We have met amazing friends at the pug meetups. Meeting people online is the new bar.

I blogged about Google Buzz on my posterous, kind of a beginner's info about privacy settings and such.

Speaking of being Mormon… I have a issue to pick with President Monson. Wearing the prescribed underwear is a struggle. I don’t appreciate that they just redid my favorite kind (they come in different fabrics) and stopped making my size! How do those things relate? OK, we’re going to redo this and stop making a size? I am short and squatty, I come from a log line of short and squatty women. We thrive on the petite section. Trial of faith I tell you.

Sorry if the underwear rant makes sense to no one. But seriously. I got a comment card and I'm writing in.

We’re OK. In Haiti.

"In the aftermath of disaster, we are reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel. That pain and loss is so often meted out without any justice or mercy. That "time and chance" happen to us all. But it is also in these moments, when we are brought face to face with our own fragility, that we rediscover our common humanity. We look into the eyes of another and see ourselves." -President Barack Obama, Newsweek, Jan. 15, 2010

The story depresses me. The bodies unnerve me and I turn on Friends. Then I feel guilt for doing so.

One thing that helped was watching these videos from CNN ireporters. Just people saying their name and messages to their family about being alive. Not graphic, but human. Jean Batijeune is in a shirt from my husband's alma mater. I loved his "we're OK. In Haiti."

Video source (it kept auto playing and I wasn't a fan of that)

I hear that Haiti needs my money. Then I hear that the text message money won’t make it until April. Or that Haiti won’t know what to do with the money they do get. Like most things, I come back to that it just isn’t my place to judge. Not about why this happened. Or which charity is the best. I will make my donation and hope all is handled correctly.

This quake will cause me to take a moment and say a prayer of hope and one of thanks.

Funny money

Husband and I are fairly good at bottoming out on our "fun budget" and halting use of funds until the next paycheck. Days go buy without use of the debit card and at the end of the week I wonder why it doesn't seem like we saved anything. (sidenote: husband would want me to note that we did an amazing job this week not spending cash post Julian)

Sometimes, I pride myself on not smoking or buying music on itunes, because I'm "saving money" but in reality it isn't in the budget so I'm saving nothing.

As I scoured our budget over the past year, I found we were, to be cliche, being penny wise and pound foolish. As they say. So we are making changes. We identified two major factors of the budget to fix:

Husband didn't go to the doctor once last year. But we spent over $2,000 insuring him. So we contacted my carrier (I have a fear that we'll end up at different hospitals if we don't have the same carrier) and they developed a private plan that is half that. Is the deductible higher? Yes. But with the money we save from not paying a monthly fee, we'll be able to pay the deductible.

We are using our Paris savings to pay off my car. This will leave us with no car payments. Temporarily we will have no debt, at least it will seem that way because the student loans aren't due yet. We will be able to save more money a paycheck and so it will add up faster.

Other than that, after reviewing our fixed expenses, I can't find anything. Of course I thought that a few months ago. Ideas? How have you cut?

Now if I could get California to cut my taxes, instead of increasing them as a loan to the state, I might have money to save and not spend.

And if I can refrain from dying my hair a deep rich brunette. Or dark red. I am in a melancholy phase and wanting change. I think I can sport darker hair, but this choice is generally a bad one for the pocket book. But in order to prove that this would be a good choice, I revert back to my dolled up moment of 2008. Of course while I'm justifying by reverting, I suppose I could just invest in teal mascara instead.

I am seriously inspired by two articles from fave personal finance blog Get Rich Slowly. Sweating the Big Stuff for trimming the budget and Large Amounts Do Matter for making purchases, such as the trip to Paris.

When it comes down to it, I love money and I hate money at the same time. The verdict on teal mascara is still out.

What about the Sugar Mamas

Barbie is coming out with a Sugar Daddy Ken. But in my world, I must ask: what about the Sugar Mamas?

From the New York Post:

"The 'Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken' is actually part of the adult Barbie Collector Line," the spokeswoman said. "It is targeted toward adults."
And before anyone thinks the "Sugar Daddy" title refers to an older man with a younger lover, Mattel says that there's a much more innocent explanation.
"The little dog's name is actually Sugar," said the Mattel spokeswoman. "That's where the name comes from. He's Sugar's daddy, as a reference to the dog."

Whatever. It is definitely eye-roll worthy.

Big Poppa on Real Housewives Atlanta (hanging head as I confess to watching that) is the only sugar daddy I know. Moreso, I think of women putting their husbands through grad school. No longer is it Mormon girls who married young either. More men are being laid off than women, making those with the double X chromos more likely to be the breadwinner.

We could join up, we could raise a rally cry and represent. But after three years, I am exhausted. Can't imagine what the women's movement was like. I can't wait for hubsy to graduate and we can share the load. Newsflash: husband registered for his last semester this week!

While I plan to work while go to school -- giving up my income scares me -- I can't wait until we share the burden. No longer will I worry in fear about the recent tax increases and withholding and what it will do to my budget. Or how health insurance prices are going up. I just want a little extra loving on the bank account.

Sugar Mama Barbie would come complete with a day planner, a grocery list written on a post it, and a outfit that could work for both the office and date night. Likely the top is from Forever XXI and the skirt is a higher quality piece. Because this woman knows her money and doesn't spend it on trendy items.

Likely I will continue to stress and I am guessing grad school Barbie comes with frazzled hair. But I would appreciate a Barbie in commemoration for the past few years. I'd even take Ken's jacket, in an appropriate size of course.

I can be bought

We were in line at Ross. The line wrapped around the store.

Thirty minutes into the line, next to the women's dress section, I found a great dress. I resisted.

Forty-five minutes after entering the line, and after adding a basting brush to our haul, we were at the front. We were debating on stopping at the nearby Wendy's...or being more money smart and driving home for lunch.

Then, a gentleman, possibly 24, approached us. In his hands? A pair of men's dress shoes and a tie.

"I will give you $5 if you let me cut in line. I need to go to a wedding like now."

I felt bad. I let him cut. When he reached into his wallet and pulled out a wrinkly five-dollar bill, I didn't say no.

We went to Wendy's on that five. Spent no more than that. We were so proud of our three burgers and chicken nuggets and waters.

I felt so greasy happy about it all the way home. Is that bad? Can you bought?

Palm Springs getaway

So Palm Springs was fun. We stayed at the Shadow Ridge Marriott in Palm Desert. Its a timeshare place, and oh was it tempting to do that timeshare presentation in order to get a bunch of giveaways. But nah, next time.

When we first arrived, we hit up the outlet mall. I totally recommend the outlets. Hubs and I enjoy some shopping. We shopped last year for our anniversary. The Nordstrom sale takes place over our anniversary. Coincidence? I think not. OK, that is a coincidence, but its a good one.

Then, we checked in. Hubs dealt with the room, and I went over to the concierge.

So get this: While hubs was being upgraded to a suite and handed a bottle of wine for our anniversary, the concierge looked at me and said:

"Honey, where are your parents?"

Yup. Yup, she did. And when my husband came over, she didn't drop the bit.

"Doesn't she look so young! You really robbed the cradle!"

She never really spoke to me. Except to tell me she could be my mother. This event led to a lot of jokes about my husband being a bit of a pedophile for the rest of the trip.

So when we finally did get her to focus, and asked for a fancy restaurant, and she's all "Oh, yes, I know of a great steakhouse, they have a special - a dinner for $19.99."

I thought oh, great, we won't have to split a meal. And asked her to set up a reservation.

But, when we got to the restaurant, it wasn't a $19.99 special, as much as it was a $99 special.

Oh, there's a price difference there. But they personalized the menu!

So we stayed.

Spent more money on dinner than I ever have in my life. My banker dad would have had a heart attack. But I did get the excuse to wear my black dress. And they took a picture for us and presented it to us framed at the end of the night.

With the check. It softened the blow. And, we almost went to Catalina Island or Santa Barbara, but didn't because of the cost. So we could afford to splurge in some off season Palm Springs goodness.

I liked Palm Springs. It was hot, but that meant we got to jump in the pool at 9 p.m. after dinner when it was still 90 degrees outside. We didn't even take towels (I needed a dry towel to shower) and we were dry by the time we got back to the room. I am solar powered.

It was my first time playing in a pool with husband ever. He'd never seen me swim. I hadn't ever seen him tread water. Ah, the love. He proposed without ever finding out about the mole on my belly button.

Now, that's forever.

And State Farm really fails to impress

So we go through State Farm for our car insurance and car loan. I liked them

Until they sent me this letter that made me feel like they were contibuting to everything slimy in America's credit crisis. Here's the letter -- with my commentary. The italics are mine. 

Dear Natalie,

Before you know it, summer will be here. Let State Farm Bank help you by putting a little extra spending money in your pocket. 

How nice right? They like me!

As a preferred customer, you have the option of skipping your June 2009 vehicle loan payment.

Oh great! I have the nicest loan people ever! I do always pay on time. 

If you take us up on our Skip-a-Payment offer, you 'll have extra funds available for 

• Doing something you've "always wanted to do"
• Paying off higher interest rate debts
• Taking a vacation with your family
• Take a trip

Hmmm, well three of those are the same, and my payment doesn't really cover the trip to Paris that I've always wanted to do, but whatever! 

Take advantage of this special offer by following these four easy steps:

1. Sign and date the Skip-a-payment request below

2. Detach and mail the Request in the envelope provided, along with a $40 check.

3. Mail the check and Request before May 25, 2009

4. Put your June 2009 payment coupone in the back of your loan payment book as a reminder that your final payment will be due one month later. 

Aww, the catch. So they want me to pay a $40 fee, and the payment. Win for State Farm. 

And -- the fine print at the bottom that you sign your name to --

...Interest will continue to accrue. The final payment of the loan will be different because of the loan extension and may be significantly higher. 

Oh sweet, don't forget the interest people. 

I'd just really like to know how many people go for this. I mean, I fell for a "sweet deal" a few weeks ago, when I got a flier in the mail saying I could drop by a Toyota dealership for a maintenance coupon book. But I ended up having to test drive a car, get my credit checked, and sit with the finance guy and tell them over and over that I'm not going to buy a car. I ended up walking out. 

But man, that 2009 Corolla was pretty sweet. 

iphone or blackberry or paper?

In July, we have the opportunity to redo or renew our cell phone contract. Right now its as simple as can be -- shared plan, 700 minutes a month, 400 texts. We never go over. Ever. But we also don't have Internet, or any way to schedule our lives and communicate (OK, I know we have phones) but I want email, to live tweet a seminar, to interact.

We're looking at three choices -- touch screen, ala iPhone, blackberry, or maintain the status quo. We're prepared to handle the cost of the phones because basically our birthdays are in July and August -- but I'm definitely weighing the cost of what's going to happen to our plans each month.
iPhone
Pros:

• Great viewing of the Internet in a regular browser

• Tons of apps that seem so great, including Tweetdeck, which I love

• Touch screen was recommended by my doc as best for my hands and wrists

• Music -- I don't have an ipod right now because it went extinct and it stinks. I miss it. I need Taylor Swift with me at all times. We're best friends, she just doesn't know.

Cons:

• Tons of apps. Am I just going to waste time?

• No vibrating email alerts, right?

• It's pricey. It would more than double our cell phone bill. This is huge deal to me. I don't know if I have job security -- and while I can save my ziplock bags all I want, the best way we've saved money the past few years is keeping our bottom line low.
  

Blackberry (loving the new Bold)
Pros:

• They are made for email. Every time I see someone's Blackberry vibrate with a new email, I'm jealous. I treat emails with the same importance as phone calls.

• The Internet is there. I just want to be able to Google on the car ride from San Diego to Las Vegas.
  

• Applications like GPS, instant messaging and twitterberry pretty much sum up what I can imagine I need in a phone.

• Cheaper. Our bill would go up, but more like by $30 instead of doubling.
  

Cons:

• No touch screen...though I've heard they are super difficult anyway.

• My husband really wants an iPhone. Do I break his heart and force him to get on a plan for money reasons and, because its tax deductible for my job?

Paper (the current choice):
Pros:

• I use the same process I learned in first grade. Pen meet paper.

• I can utilize post-it notes. I'm pretty sure I'll stick post it notes on whatever digital organizer I get. I stuck them on my Palm Pilot. (remember when people had palm pilots?)

• It's way cheap. I wait for them to go on sale and then pick them up. My current one cost $2.48. And my neighbor gave me a new one for free. So I'm good through 2010.

Cons:

• It's disorganized. I double book myself. There's a Saturday in May that I'm supposed to be studying for the GMAT, going to a pug party and another social event of sorts. I blame the calendar!
  

• I leave it at home. I leave it everywhere. Which I can't decide if its a pro or a con. It worries me to pay several hundred dollars for a calendar that I might lose. But I also wonder if I might lose it less if its attached to something that rings.

So what are your pros or cons? Since I'm probably the last one on earth not electronic -- what made you make the plunge, spend the extra coin? And is it totally worth it? Why -- just to chat with pals -- or something that I'm missing?

Green Dots Mini Book from Etsy Seller greenflagdesign

Cheapskate or frugalista

Jane M Buri died a few weeks ago - $1.4 million in her account. The social worker gave all her money away to assorted charities. Some of her friends were shocked to learn that she had so much money.

But some - weren't. After all she drove a 30-year-old car, watched an ancient TV, lived four decades in a house bought with cash in 1969. She was known to buy five Arby's sandwiches at the 5 for $5.95 special - eat one and freeze the rest.

But she also traveled to Europe. Bought herself a baby grand piano. And always offered her friends some of those Arby's sandwiches.
She lived the way she wanted to live - with an ugly green car, and clothes that might not be considered "cute" -- because that's how she wanted to live.

So was she cheap or frugal? I lean toward the fact that I could definitely learn some lessons from her.

Consumerist posted a list of 112 money saving tips. I'm posting my faves, beyond the typical cut-up the credit cards. That happened immediately after the wedding and school started with the husband:

• Rent away from the new release shelf. We've considered a NetFlix subscription -- then we realized that there are so many flicks at blockbuster that we've always wanted to see -- and we rent one or two a month for .99
• Reuse your ziploc bags - I always hate throwing them out, but never thought I could put them in the laundry! I considered the dishwasher, but never did it.
  
• Make multiple meals at once - I love this. For ideas, try Money Saving Mom.
  
• Use a half of the recommended laundry detergent
  
• Stop drinking. They mean alcohol, but we've only bought juice on special occasions, since hubs started school. Water works great (well, husband puts sugar stuff in his drink) and the money we save goes toward fruit and veggies.
• Bring your lunch to work - this saves me so much money. I am not great at packing a lunch though -- the other day I took chips and salsa. No seriously, chips and salsa. So maybe I should take tips from this site or this story from the Sacramento Bee.

The best ways to save are to reduce the actual fixed expenses, i.e. rent/mortgage, cable, phone, etc. But it has been amazing to watch what we can do when we watch our pennies.

I want to take lessons from Katie in New York. Take her tips to save on home decor and make these amazing curtains. Definitely frugalista. I can't wait so see how she decorates the rest of her new apartment.

Do you set your table?

I'm addicted to buying tableware -- translation, I'm addicted to watching fancy tableware go on sale and then buying it in mass quantities, dreaming of dinner parties, i.e. these from Crate and Barrel. My momma always said to buy it for a party of twelve -- what was your magic number? I've heard eight, ten, and I think I've even bought sets of four. Beggars really can't be choosers.

You'd never know I possessed this addiction if you spied on our table every night. In my head, I know that my husband should be the person that means the most -- and that should translate to how our house looks when its just the two of us.

But I'm usually stirring side dishes and I'm just happy to throw plates out -- usually for the husband to spread out. On Sunday, we set down the ham, poured the Martinellis, turned our backs to get the rest of the food -- and someone else decided it was time to eat. It was too cute to not get a picture.


At the time, we thought it was kind of cute (dog did not contact ham). But then I looked at that table and thought, gee, that's kind of pathetic. Maybe its because our plates look so bare. Promise I feed my husband.

The ham was delicious by the way. I put it in the crock pot, rubbed it with brown sugar and poured some maple sugar and a can of pineapple chunks over it. Then, we left to visit the baby that smiled at me a few weeks ago because he was christened.

When we returned a few hours later, I rerubbed it, and let it sit for a few more hours. It came out super soft and full of flavor. I am such a sucker for using premade ingredients. Lame, I know. Next year, I might just be more creative, but this simple recipe makes it so sweet and tender.

This is me shopping online

I shop online a lot. Just ask my landlords.

I was happy to see that the plastic bag from Old Navy/Banana/Piperlime was reuseable for returns.

(yeah, banana and I are on a first name basis. Just ask WaMu - er Chase)

But there was no way to delicately open the bag. At all.
By the time my pretty purple dress for $24.99 (dress = entire outfit! Score!) arrived -- there was no way I could have returned it.

Teehee...Maybe that's their solution for the economic woe.

(this particular dress wasn't returnable in the store)

Reading junkie

I love taking the Trolley to work everyday because I have time to read! If possible, I would spread out on my little seat and accomplish projects, but there just isn't room. So I sit there and contemplate life with a book. Right now I'm reading business books, but I have been reading lots of books. I borrow them from friends, my grandma and the library. It's my way to save money.

Sister of My Heart: I love it when books have a grain of truth to them, and this was the case with this one. It is about girls growing up and getting married in India and going back and forth to America. There are tales of arranged marriage, not-so arranged love, divorce, pregnancy, separation, etc. It's intense! I liked that it was constantly twisting and turning right up until the last page. Kind of made for an abrupt ending though! I hear there is a sequel and I think I'll be looking for it at the library because I was definitely left hanging. If I had a rating system, I'd give it four stars.






Mercy: I loved it when this arrived in the mail from my grandma! It's this interwoven tale of love that just makes you think -- about a man who killed his wife for love, and then a couple who seems to not love each other, but are law abiding. The book just really makes you think as you follow them through the trial. I really liked it. There were times that I would have one opinion about the characters and the theory of love and then the author would have the attorney introduce another piece of evidence into the murder trial and I'd totally be blown away. I'm a fan of anything Jodi Picoult writes -- well that I've read thus far anyway. Every book I read from her is five stars.









Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: This book is written about 19th century China, when girls bound their feet, had arranged marriages (apparently I like to read books about that!) and lived in seclusion. It was fascinating. My grandma sends me a lot of books about China because she taught English there and enjoys learning and studying about the culture and I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't just a boring book on decorum - it was about two best friends and how they really were friends no matter what -- except when they weren't. It's the painful truth about how being friends in childhood is so much easier than being friends as adults. It's five stars too.

Though, I'm probably an easy reader -- I used to make myself get through any book I picked up. Now I don't buy, I borrow, and I just don't finish if it doesn't entertain me.