Blogroll & del.icio.us

Cotton-candy, sweet 'n low, let me see that blogroll!

I know I am not the only one who starts singing to the tune of Tootsee Roll when I see the word blogroll, just the only one to admit it!

I keep track of blogs in bloglines with private and public designations. If I like a site enough to make it public, it shows in the right-side menu. These sites are not "blogrolled" because I have asked for a link exchange. Of the few that do link back, it is because they chose to (and I thank them!)

If you're blogging and posting photos of crafts or DIY projects, I want to see it! Or if you're a personal finance blogger and want to crossover to crafters and DIY-ers, show us what you've got! Please note, if you are looking to enhance your Google page rank, this blog will not be able to help you since Bloglines uses a script to publish the feed and Google does not recognize links within a script.

Indie web shop link exchanges
Although my web site is currently offline, it will be making a comeback. One area that always got out of control because it was time consuming, was adding new link exchanges. For the time being, udandi is "friending" those shops with MySpace profiles and slowly adding web shop addresses to deli.icio.us. If you are an indie biz with a web site, I would love to check out your site!

Please drop your site or MySpace URL in the comments.

Subscribe
If you enjoy reading udandi and the craft of money, add it to your new reader (blog aggregator) by clicking the subscribe link on each post or from the options on the right-side menu of the main page.

End of season bargains

Spring is just around the corner! I know this not because it was in the mid-50s this weekend prompting people to don shorts and flip flops, but because I went looking for a cheap kelly green tee (to fix up for St. Patricks Day) and ended up walking out of Target with a snow shovel and window insulator film.

I'll be honest, I do not know what a good price is for a shovel. This one appealed to me with its 25" wide plow with a metal edge and a padded grip handle. It retailed for $19.99, I paid $4.98. Yes as a frequent Target end-cap clearance shopper, I know that if the price does not end in a 4 it could be marked down again, but time is money.

I picked up the 3m window insulator film for $2.74 (was $12.99) to shrink wrap my drafty windows next winter. This is this second time this week I mentioned Scotch products, the kickbacks should come rolling in (just kidding!).

[sidenote: I overheard a Target employee explaining to a customer that this was the second year Target offered the Global Bazaar as a 6-week run to fill the seasonal section of the store between Christmas and spring. Last weekend, it was discounted 75% and then Friday everything was snapped up within hours once it was discounted 90%.]

Store Brand Loyalty

In response to Friday's post about failed encounters with certain store brand products, the delightful Giao asked, "Are there any good things that are store brands?"

Yes, I have found terrific products that are store brand! Finding them is the result of willingness to try them and knowing that it is about the product's quality and taste, not the packaging or the perception store brands being inferior to branded name products. Today's store brand (formerly known as generic) products are packaged in a way that you may not realize they are the store brand.

I prefer Coca-Cola to Pepsi any day and I know I don't like Pepsi because I've been served when I ask for Coke. Therefore, I don't even bother with store brand cola because I know it will be a disappointment. But when it comes to cereal, bring on the Cocoa Comets, Honey Grahams, Puffed Wheat and Brans & Raisins because I cannot tell the difference. In fact, there's a good chance the branded name is supplying the cereal (or other product) to the stores.

Store brand products I (or my parents) have bought and liked:

• Target's Market Pantry: fruit cups, pudding, peanut butter sandwich crackers, chocolate chip cookies
• Kroger's Private Selection: Frozen strawberries, ice cream, cookies (the mint and peanut butter taste like girl scout cookies)
• Costco's Kirkland: Trail mix, coffee (my parents)
• Target label: Mouth rinse, disposable razors
• Kroger label: frozen juices, cereal, bread, pasta, oatmeal, aluminum foil or wax paper, sandwich, freezer or trash bags
• Meijer label: cereal, bread, garlic bread, pasta, yogurt, aluminum foil orwax paper, sandwich, freezer or trash bags
  

MyMoneyBlog ranked types of products he will buy generic. I agree on most of what he says, except the OJ, which has to be Simply Orange for me and reminded of some other products to add to my previous post.

Suggested Reading:
"Brand Killers: Store Brands Aren't for Losers Anymore" [Fortune Magazine: August 11, 2003]

Make It: Faux Leather Cards

I probably have eight family members and friends celebrating birthdays this time of year. I have no problem cranking out girly cards, but when it comes to the males, I hit a road block.

I created some "in the wild" themed birthday cards, using the faux leather with masking tape technique from SCS. I skipped the embossing step but still like how they turned out.

Last year, I went with a faux postage theme and now that the postage rate has increased, I'll have to adjust the template I DLed before doing those cards again!

If you are keeping up with my cheesey card lines, the one with the elephant said "sending you birthday wishes the size of an elephant." No, the card companies are not knocking down my door. Hard to believe, I know!

Don't Waste Your Money

Normally, I don't have an issue with buying store brand, but sometimes it's a terrible alternative.

The other day at the grocery store, I spied a can of Kroger-brand pretzel dough. Thinking I could go home and bake my own soft pretzels, I bought it. It's dinner roll dough, not pretzel dough. Huge letdown.

I use double-sided tape for much of my card-making and scrapbooking, but Target's version of Scotch's double-sided tape, is a waste. It stretches before you can tear a piece off and then when you get that piece off, it's twisted and mangled. Crafters, when you see the Scotch brand discounted, load up

There are probably more products I have bought that make me channel my inner John Materese (WCPO - Cincinnati) and say, "Don't waste your money" but those are the two standouts.

ETA: I remembered more...

• When it comes to chocolate chips go for Tollhouse or go home!
• I prefer Crest's Glide dental floss, but Target's hi-tech dental floss shreds (it's been tossed into my craft supplies and hopefully will be used somehow)
  

Free Stuff: IHOP Pancakes

I'm going to post this a few days early so you can gather up your breakfast bunch and get your free pan-a-cakes (as we say in our family) on Fat Tuesday!

From the IHOP web site:

On February 28, 2006 from 7 AM to 2 PM IHOPs across the country will celebrate National Pancake Day (also known as Shrove Tuesday) by offering our guests a free short stack of pancakes*. This is going to be our biggest one day celebration in our history.

*Limit one free short stack per guest. Valid for dine-in only, no to go orders. Not valid with any other offer, special, coupon, or discount. Valid at participating restaurants only, while supplies last.

USA Today Managing Your Money 2006

After reading Boston Gal's Open Wallet post, I said she should write them and ask why they were only seeking couples. Instead of just barking orders, I emailed USA Today and finally got a reply from personal finance reporter, Kathy Chu:

Got your message, and thanks for your interest in this series. We decided to do a series about couples because last year, we did a similar one for everyone - so we were just trying to do something a little different this year.

This is what we did last year: http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/financial-diet-digest-2005.htm

2005 was for families, this year couples, maybe 2007 will be the year of the singleton?!

Free Stuff: Entertainment @ your Library

Although this is for NoKy fans of literature and live entertainment, it is a reminder to check out your local public library's programs. There might even be free snacks like this one - score!

"Story Cafe: Trouble in Mind"
Thursday, February 23 at 7pm
Erlanger (KY) Branch Library

Three performers will share stories chosen to stimulate discussion on race relations and the African-American experience.

Actor/director Buz Davis, performing arts teacher/dancer Deborah Brock-Blanks, and actor/director Don Volpenhein star -- with pieces from southern writer Jim Grimsley, past poet laureate and Ohioan Rita Dove and a piece from the stage adaptation of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." All three performers are involved in a workshop production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" scheduled to open the first weekend of March.

It's stimulating without being stuffy, entertaining without being fluffy...and snacks are included! Story Cafe -- it's good for your head!

Registration is suggested, but not mandatory

Budget Living = dunzo!

Apparently Budget Living died on Valentine's Day, but we're always a little behind the times in midwest ;)

Many on the craft forums I visit, took issue with Budget Living's interpretation of "budget." Those with a $30k salary have a very different view of a budget than those making $70k, which was its target audience. The idea behind it was cool but as a magazine in competition with the Internet to appeal to those who want to "live rich, spend smart" was off.

This was the only magazine subscription I carried, I jumped on at the start of the mag and enjoyed the DIY ideas and money saving tips for a while, then it started to sour and hit bottom last year when it got a new editor in chief and went to a monthly mag.

Last year, The Cincinnati Enquirer was running DIY ideas from the mag so I began to wonder buy, when I could get DIY ideas online, for free?! This was in addition to the bum deal I was already getting on the subscription. The first year, I paid $5 for the first subscription and $1 for each friends' subscription (6 issues). The second year, I paid $14.95 for my sub and $5 for each friend sub. Last year, when I noticed on the craft forums people were getting $5 sub, I asked for a better deal. No dice so I didn't renew. Since Budget Living was the publisher those who did have 2006 subs might not even get a substitute magazine since it didn't have any sister publications.

RIP, Budget Living!

Make It: Chicken Enchiladas

Madame X of My Open Wallet is keeping a cookbook post. I left a comment about my Cookie Pizza, but forgot to mention my Spicy Chicken Dip and Smoothie recipes. With food on the brain, I thought I would post another recipe, Chicken Enchiladas!

1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup of sour cream
1 tbsp butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. chili powder
2 cups chopped cook chicken (or turkey)
1 can chopped green chiles (about 4oz)
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, monterey jack - your choice!)
8 flour tortillas

• HEAT butter in saucepan
• DD onion and chili powder and COOK until tender
• ADD chicken, chiles and 2 tbsp of soup-sour cream mixture
• SPREAD 1/2 cup soup-sour cream mixture in 2-qt shallow baking dish
• SPOON about 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla, roll up and place seam down in pan
• SPOON remaining soup-sour cream mixture on top
• SPRINKLE with cheese
• BAKE at 350*F for 25 minutes

Great American Debt Diet - Oprah

I was going to watch Oprah and the Great American Debt Diet, but then remembered I had a Friday afternoon work meeting (who does that?! I'm in grad school because I don't want to attend meetings on Fridays!). Anyway, I could not have stomached this show and hearing about the debt of these families.

I'll admit, I cannot wrap my head around the lady who said she doesn't like doing dishes so they use disposable dishware. Really? I don't especially like cleaning a toilet, but I do it. I don't like going to meetings on Friday afternoons, but I do it.

When I graduated college, I would have liked to move to a big city, rent an apartment with my friends and take on the city each weekend wearing fashionable clothing. Reality was a degree in an industry known for low wages, which meant paying rent (yes, rent) to live at my parents' house and driving a 1991 Tercel so I could pay down my student loans.

If I let my peers deem my worth, I would be considered lame and/or missing out on life. But I have never carried a credit card balance and, to me, that is a huge peace of mind worth those little sacrifices. For others, high-priced jeans are worth carrying a fatty debt. To each their own!

Free Stuff: Food (Qdoba)

After a week of packing my lunch and eating at home, I treat myself to one out-to-eat meal on the weekend. Due to the generous Qdoba gift cards my sister gave me for my birthday and Christmas, these meals are free, for me!

Even if you are not dining on gift cards, you can join Qdoba's frequent eater club and after ten entrees, you get one free. Today was my free meal! Plus, once you register your card online, you get free chips and salsa after activating the card.

I love the takeout containers so Qdoba is a win-win-win for me!

Organize: your albums & scrapbooks

In addition to the altered CD-lunchbox album, which is filled with mostly family before college photos, I have five scrapbooks: 4 from college-present and one for my little buddies (better known as my nieces and nephew).

I had been stacking them but aften emptying this decorative shoebox, I realized the books would fit well in it and with labeled tags tied to the spine, I can easily identify them. I call it a scrapbookcase.

I'm sure to serious scrapbookers, I'm compromising the quality and preservation of my photos, but I don't care, it's better than having photos in those sticky, magnetic albums of the 1980s! Besides, I know my friends love looking at my albums (and I love sharing) and this way they're easily accessible.

Clever Box of Chocolates

Julie of Paper Trufflez went to the CHA and posted her photos, the first photo was this box of chocolates! It gave me an idea for the little box that once held Christmas chocolates. I have some mini cupcake papers and am thinking I could create a delightful box of embellishments for a certain someone's upcoming birthday!

If you got a box of chocolates yesterday, you might save it and do something similar for a stamper, scrapbooker or jewelry maker.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is just a sampling of some Valentine cards I sent out. It is the return of Target Dollar Spot scrapbook paper and Dollar Spot ribbon. I picked up the bumble bee stamp for $1 at Michaels and the Happy Valentine's Day and letters are from Stampin' Up!


Last year with the help of my friends and coworkers, I was able to drop off a handful of cards to a local nursing home. Good times!

I have a secret email admirer! I keep getting this messages from sender (unknown), which say "hello beauty."

What, you think it is spam mail?! pfft!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Make It: CD Cover Art, part II

Even though it is the day before Valentine's Day there is still plenty of time to make your gifts without resorting to store-bought gifts!

Last week at SCS, the weekly tutorial was a cover for a CD, which was about 2 weeks too late for my CD Cover Art post.

I decided to give this project a whirl on an empty cereal box and it took maybe 5 minutes. I didn't have any hook-n-loop fastener (brand name: Velcro®) so I went for ribbon but none in my collection really coordinates with the cover. But I love this ribbon!

It might be hard to tell, but I used a Corn Pops™ box though I haven't thought of a cheesey statement to include with it. Hopefully, I'll be inspired as I select the best monster ballads available for the mixed CD!

Make It: Ticket Bowl Gift Basket

I got this idea from a MTV special where Todd Oldham (RIP House of Style) helped Cincinnatian* Nick Lachey (assisted by brother, Drew, and bandmate, Justin) turn a room into a home theater for Ditzy. This special aired pre-Newlyweds.

Using a roll of tickets, shape it into a bowl. Cut a circle from cardboard to glue to the bottom, covering the hole. Seal with a mixture of half white glue and water.

Fill with movie-size box candies, microwave popcorn, DVDs, a movie rental gift card, etc.

Create a marquee-styled card from a black border over yellow cardstock. Address it with something cheesey like "To my beautiful/handsome leading lady/man..."

*I always liked that he wore his hometown teams on his show. Some day, I'll run into him, probably at Skyline. Way back in the day 98 Degress released their first album and (Cincinnati) Channel 12 news interviewed them at Skyline Chili. If you read getcrafty, you know Skyline Chili is one of 3 things I love! It could happen! Let me finish my "homer" love weekend with a request to vote for Drew on Dancing with the Stars!

Back to your regularly scheduled Valentine crafting...

Make It: Cookie Pizza

Yesterday, a fella dropped off a store bought giant cookie for a coworker and I was reminded that you don't need to spend 8 bucks on one when you can do it yourself!

12 inch pizza pan
1 roll of chocolate chip cookie dough (or make your dough)
3 tablesppons of creamy peanut butter
1/2 bag of chocolate chips
2 candy bars (Snickers, M&Ms, Butterfinger, Heath, etc, but I guess M&Ms are the only Valentine-colored candy??)

• SPREAD cookie dough in pizza pan - use wax paper and a glass tumbler to roll it out
• COOK at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes
• Remove from oven and DROP peanut butter and chocolate chips on cookie
• Put in oven for 30 seconds to melt
• Once you remove it, use the back of a spoon to "ICE" the cookie
• CHOP candy bars and SPRINKLE on top

Free stuff: Photo Prints

If you are just looking to get free prints from your digital photos, you could sign up for a variety of services and cash in on the free prints. You will have to do your own cost-benefit analysis to decide if free prints are worth one brand of photo paper or service over another and whether you want them sent or will pick them up.

Kodak EasyShare Gallery

• sign up before March 31, 2006 to get 10 prints free (must order prints within 60 days of registration)
• Pick up at local CVS stores for a $1.49 processing charge (versus $4.99 for shipping)
• Can be uploaded from Picasa
  

According to my sister who has had visitors order prints from her gallery, she has received credits for additional free photos. Apparently none of my family or friends want to order the photos I take, oh wait, I don't have a baby! ;)

Walgreens

• upload through their web site and receive 20 prints free
• Pick up your order and skip any shipping fees
• Orders are sent directly to your local store for printing so while it may say allow 3 days, you might get your order within 3 hours like I did!

Snapfish

• New users can sign up and get 30 prints free
• Send in a roll of film within 90 days of registration and pay only $1.99 (shipping)
• For each friend who completes their registration information, you'll receive credit for 20 free 4x6 prints (max. 5000 free prints)
• Save on shipping by picking up at your local Walgreens store

I have not used this service, but knowing that I can get them from Walgreens, gives me a good reason to try it (along with 30 free prints).

Shutterfly

• Sign and up get 15 prints free

Altered: Pull-tab can

Create a quick and easy giftie for your Valentine(s)!

Get a can with a pull-top or pop-top lid (I like the mandarin oranges from Walgreens, but the 4-pack of cans would be good if doing multiples).

Turn the can upside down, use a safety can opener to cut open the bottom. Unlike a traditional can opener, a safety can opener goes along the outside, not inside so you are left with a piece that can be glued to the bottom. I hear pamper chef sells these, I got mine at Target labeled as a safety can opener.

Empty the contents into another container or have a craft snack break!

Fill the can with little treats (mini candy bars, little notes, plastic trinkets, etc).

Glue the bottom back on with a non-smelly glue (this is not the project to use something like E6000).

Decorate a strip of paper and afix it right side up on the can. Loop a little note through the tab instructing the recipient to pull it open!

[Crossposted at getcrafty]

My other post received a few questions about glue. I didn't mention that I used Crystal Effects, which is a Stampin' Up! product, because I did not want to look like I was shilling the company since it is a direct sales deal. Diamond Glaze by Judi Kins is available in stamp and scrap shops. Or Making Memories sells a metal glue that might work, though I've not tried it.

Free Stuff: Books, CDs, DVDs

At the library! Okay, so technically not free because your taxes fund public libraries, but overall a terrific deal!

I left a comment on another blog suggesting the library and then I saw the one after mine and realized, probably not everyone realizes you can access the catalog online and select items for pick-up using your library card. With a PR background, I know libraries have a way to come in promoting their services, but check out the "For a Nickel" marketing campaign Lexington Public Library ran to show what their patrons enjoy.

Remember, don't borrow your way into prision or let overdue books after your credit score. And as to why libraries have turned to collection agencies, chomp on this bit from The Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac (2005)

A spokesperson for the Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library reported more than 500 patrons each had $300 worth of items overdue, and that the library was losing up to $400,000 a year in materials. After hiring Unique Management Systems, a 10-year-old collection company specializing in libraries, 70 percent of the delinquent patrons contacted were reported to be cooperating with requests to return or pay for their overdue materials. Those who didn’t respond to Unique’s “gentle persuasion” were reported to credit agencies.

Find: spare change

I saw the quote below and went to my not-quite full mayo jar of change, started counting and two smelly hands later I have $71.54, but only $59.50 could be rolled for deposit.

"Approximately $10.5 billion in change is hidden in U.S. homes," says Alex Camara, senior vice president and general manager, worldwide coin for Coinstar, Inc., whose big, green machines can be found in the front of supermarkets across the country. "That breaks down to about $99 per household." [source: free money finance]

The Grocery Game

My sister sent me a referral to the Grocery Game. I never heard of it so I searched the blogosphere and found some posts at the Frugal Homemaker Plus: one two three.

Then, I started a thread at getcrafty, which received one reply so I'm guessing it is not terribly popular?

My immediate issues with it:
1) The stores in my area are not ones I shop.
2) The trial is $1 for 4 weeks, but if it is one of those deals where you have to send a letter, not just an email, to cancel and forget and keep getting charged, it's a hassle*.
3) A Sunday paper costs $1.75 and that's the only day to get manufacturers coupons. I would need to recoup $2.75 in savings to break even.
4) Even with double coupons on the items I buy (not the itesm I could buy because I have a coupon but don't really need or could do without), store brand tends to be cheaper.

Anyone using it and want to sell me on the goodness of it?!

ETA: I added to my thoughts
ETA2: *Frugal Homemake left a comment saying cancelling is as easy as clicking a button.
ETA3: The thread has picked up some more feedback

Make It: Spicy Chicken Dip

If you're headed to a football party this Sunday and need a quick recipe, you cannot go wrong with this Spicey Chicken Dip (unless you don't like the ingredients). I got this recipe when I hosted a craft party and asked guests to bring a dish to share along with the recipe.

Drain water from 1 large can of chicken. Mix chicken with 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 bar of cream cheese and 1 can of chopped jalapenos. Heat 2-4 minutes. Serve warm with Fritos.

Since I save the containers that Qdoba quesadillas are served, I have a container and lid to take this dip on the road!

Make It: Fruit Smoothie

About 2 years ago, I bought Smoothie Jr. because I wanted a very easy way to make smoothies as I rushed out the door. I couldn't begin to estimate how many I have made, but it quickly got to the point where I just eyeball all the ingredients.

Blend:
*milk
*apple or grape juice
*low fat yogurt
*frozen strawberries and/or raspberries
*wheat germ

For one serving, I probably use about 1 cup of liquid, 6oz of yogurt, 8 strawberries and a tablespoon of wheat germ for a little bulk. I don't put crushed ice in because the frozen fruit and liquids are enough chill for me.

Organize: your craft space

The top two New Year's resolutions are to lose weight and get out of debt. I think the third might be to get organized. Makes sense to me considering this weekend is Super Sunday and that means Super Crafting Sunday!

Ready, set, click!

Over at getcrafty.com Chelsea shared photos of her new craft space and How to by Cee Bee posted an article on how to get your craft space going.

The ladies at SCS are sharing their stamp spaces and you can see more in the SCS gallery.

At Two Peas in Bucket, the Madison Trestle desk from Target is a popular piece for setting up a craft space here and here and here. I like it, but $200 is a little spendy. I could totally dig a lime green room!

A quick search of Google, I found this cool shelf of craft goodness (and check out her decorating ideas while you're there).

If you watch HGTV, you have probably seen the spot where she converts a baby changing table into a drink serving cart, which similarly could be a craft trolley. This link will bring up a video, select colorful serving cart.

I already posted my craft storage center and to the left is my shelving unit with the curtains my mom whipped up faster than I could say tension rod, which is how they're are hung.

If you have images of your cool space, leave me a comment so I can check it out!