Free Stuff: Krispy Kreme donut

Who knew there was a donut day?!

June 2 is donut day so celebrate by visiting Krispy Kreme and getting a donut of your choice, FREE!

Free Stuff: 25 song downloads

Sign up for a trial of eMusic and receive 25 free song downloads. It does require a credit card to open your trial account. Read the terms and take note that you have to cancel your account before your 14-day trial is over or you'll be signed up for a monthly music plan, which will be automatically billed to said credit card.

As for the selection, it depends on your preferences. I got some Josh Rouse, The Twilight Singers, Drive-by Truckers, The New Pornographers, Tom Tom Club, Scandal feat Patty Smyth, Lita Ford, Taco, Pointer Sisters and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.

There is a compilation of 80s hair band songs, which do not sound like the originals I guess because it is cheaper for one member to re-recorded and license the song under his name than the band's name. I saw a Gorillaz tribute album and a Kidz Bop rip-off sounding tribute to Kelly Clarkson. Both were terrible, which is why it is nice that you can hear of a preview of the songs.

My Nick Lachey readers will be disappointed to learn his album isn't available through this site, but don't let that stop you from getting tracks from fellow Cincinnatians Doris Day, Andy Williams, Bootsy Collins and Kentuckian Rosemary Clooney! Not to mention you can get the theme song to WKRP in Cincinnati :)

Make It: Grilled Italian Chicken Pizza

I made this pizza again and this time remembered to take a photo. Very easy to make and a crowd pleaser!

1 pizza crust (like Boboli)
1 can of diced tomatoes with garlic, drained
2 chicken boneless chicken breasts
Italian salad dressing or marinade
Olive oil
Mozzarella cheese

Marinate the chicken breast in dressing. Grill chicken and dice.
Brush pizza crust with olive oil and grill; do same to other side. Load on the chicken, tomatoes and cheese; keep on grill until cheese is melted. Serve it up!

That photo is not doing it justice, it is seriously delicious!

The Best Part of Waking Up is udandi in Your Cup

Sorry for the unexpected blogging holiday, but I'll update when I have a chance. Happy Memorial Day!

For now, get your slogan at The Advertising Slogan Generator.



I grabbed the code for this "headline" feature to use on MySpace so people can get a glimpse of this blog and hopefully click over and even better would be to subscribe via Feedburner and get all the goodness of udandi & the craft of money in their email inbox.

I decided to throw it on the menu for the fun of it even though it would be quicker to scroll and see the previous 5 posts rather than staring at the graphic waiting for it to change (unless you've got time to blow).

Sunday's Target Ad

I didn't see anything in this week's Target advertisement that really knocked my socks off, but Circuit City had Grey's Anatomy Season 1 DVD on sale for $12.99 (Sunday/Monday only). I didn't buy it, but that is the cheapest I have seen it since it is reguarly priced $29.99 and previously Target once had it on sale for $18.99.

Help Wanted: Flickr

All positions are regular/full time and based (for now) in Yahoo!'s Santa Clara office. Later this year the Flickr team will be moving to Yahoo!'s San Francisco office and the people who fill these positions will all be coming along. All include Yahoo!'s standard (generous) compensation and benefits package.

Requirements for all positions include:

• A passion for the web and the possibilities it affords for new forms of human interaction and community
• A strong tolerance for office tomfoolery (acting like a monkey, etc.)
• A desire to change the world
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to legally work in the US
• Accountability, honesty, responsibility, flexibility ... and a sense of fun and playfulness

Satisfied: Prince on American Idol

Listening to Bob & Sheri* talk about American Idol, I can keep up with the show without watching, but I like the finales for all the showboatin' performances. I missed the middle chunk of the show because I ran out to get strawberries to make a smoothie! But tonight's show ended (for me) with a delicious performance from PRINCE** because, you know, he just "wants to get you satisified." Awesome.

This was me dancing in my living room:



Kidding.

Other random notes:
I like my mom's meatloaf, but otherwise I've never been a fan of Meatloaf. I don't know if he was having a bad night or not, but does he always make those awful facial expressions? Poor Kat because that was the creepiest duet of the night. Worse than the nerdly kid who was asked to sing a song and then was surprised on stage by Clay Aiken. And how many wardrobe changes took place throughout the performance?! My mom would answer that with a word, not a number and say many.

*Their podcast = free and hilarious
**Prince's 3121 = good stuff

Contests

This is short notice for Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty but they are looking for girls 8 to 17 who have overcome a challenging self-esteem situation with the help of her mom, relative or a female friend. Send your story (100 words or less), an original photo, and a completed entry form to be received by May 26, 2006 for a chance to be featured in O, The Oprah Magazine and many more.

Play Crunch 'N Win and try to win over 20,000 prizes from Nestle. I enjoyed Nestle Stixx and like the magnets although I meant to leave them at work and not add them to my fridge, which is overwhelmed with handmade magnets.
That second person bares a slight resembelence to my former coworker, I hope he's reading this!

Make It: Stamped Coasters

With Staz-on ink I stamped these images on tumble tiles to create oasters for (part of) a friend's wedding gift. I did not seal the tiles so that they can use them and liquid will be absorbed, not roll off because of the sealant.

I love this stamp set because it is so fun! I'll probably break out that shirt stamp and use it for a Father's Day card!

More ideas at the Splitcoaststampers gallery.

Miscellaneous Monday

Kelly's Martha Stewart's Cake o' the Month posts me hungry since they're so delicious looking and I'm told they are! I comment on blogs, but never know if it is like this blog where I'm usually talking to myself so I was blown away when she replied (via email) to my comment!

Similarly I left on Supereggplant and Mariko replied, too! Here's the photo I was referring, in case more of her readers click over and wonder what I was talking about here. It made my days to get those replies (it's the little things)!

A web site with some cool projects to try.

Stampin Up! posted their 2006 retiring rubber stamp sets. I've got some ABR (already been retired) stuff on ebay.

LJC found a really cool contact lens case!

Lastly, I would like to send a Barry Manilow song dedication birthday greeting to a very cool chick who won't see this because she's busy with her new babies - happy birthday (to all of you)!

Target Ad: Beach Towels

I think I've mentioned I like this little store, called Target, and every Sunday morning I look at the Target ad online so this might become a new weekly feature.

This week (Page 7 for my area*) I noticed they have 30x60" beach towels ($4) that appear to be like pink and white striped one I picked up last year. Later in the summer, I wished I would have bought two: one for toweling off and one kept dry for the ride home. Or one to lie on and one for a pillow. Or one for me and one for the friend who forgot a towel. I kept an eye out the rest of the season and though Target had the towels, they were never discounted again.

Since it is seasonal merchandise that doesn't have a rain check option, I might swing into Target this week when I run errands and scoop up a few!

*To the best of my knowledge, Target's Sunday advertisements can vary based on your location.

Make It: Garden Markers

garden markers
Originally uploaded by reebert.

Cruising through Flickr, I saw these garden markers and was impressed not only with the idea, but look at that handwriting and realistic art!

Very cool idea!

Book Review: Dollar Store Décor

Dollar Store Décor : 100 Projects for Lush Living That Won't Break the Bankby Mark Montano and photography by Jeremy Nelson

I've had this on my wish list, which actually just means I've been waiting to check it out from the library, not buy it.

Some of the projects are goofier than what I could consider lush, like gluing plastic spoons and forks outward on a plastic clock, but to each her own. Of the projects, the color-block floor mat made of colored scrubber sponges backed with a piece of demin would probably be one I would try (bottom right on the cover). I might try the rag rug turned in toplace mats if I could find appropriate washable ribbon since you cut the rug in half and sew ribbon on top of each piece, near the edges, to keep it from unraveling.

It's a fun eye-catching book with great photos for each project, but they aren't exactly 101 different projects. He uses many of the same items in different projects, like color tissue paper, gift bags, rag rug, chopsticks and thumbtacks, which is cool because you can use the same items for so many different things. But he uses different items in similar projects, like a picture frame decorated with chopsticks, clothes pins, colored pencils or dominoes. In fact, one frame he positioned the color pencils pointing out from the center and in another he overlapped the pencils.

It's rare that a craft-related book really knocks my socks off to the point that I would go out and purchase it after previewing it at the library and this book is no exception. But if nothing else it might inspire me to see dollar store items in a new light!

Friday Funny: Evolution of Dance

My friend sent me a link to Judson Laipply's Evolution of Dance video on YouTube. With wedding season upon us, I'm sure you'll see some of these moves in full force on dance floors! Link

The $39 Experiment "Free Stuff" Charity Auction

The items received from the $39 Experiment are up for auction and proceeds will be donated to charity, including a matching donation up to $1000. It is $250 worth of stuff!

Make It: Solar System of Cupcakes

New to me, is Rocks in My Dryerwhich I found when another blog linked to her "works for me Wedensday" meme. I was looking through her blog and saw photos of her clever cupcakes! She designed them for her son's Cub Scout pack banquet and the boy whose parent brought the most creative dessert would be recognized. These cupcakes are pretty darn cool, but they weren't the winners, so I would love to see what won.

This would be a fun project to make with a couple little cupcake lovers I know. Although they might not like it as much as seeing their faces on their cupcakes!

Indie Craft Shows - Fairs

Four years ago, I attended the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago and it was a awesome opportunity to meet up with other indie craft business owners. Since either then it seems many more have cropped up, including a second location of Renegade, providing an alternative to the traditional craft fairs that evoke images of grandmas and kooky krafts. Even Cincinnati had a show this past weekend with that Caffeinated Craft Show!

The following are midwest shows, but Check out Indie Craft Shows for a listing of more shows around the country.

Handmade Market (Chicago) May 20, June 17
Art vs Craft (Milwaukee, WI) June 24
Detroit Urban Craft Fair (Detroit) August 5
Renegade Craft Fair (Chicago) September 17-18

I was a Boomerang Kid

I'm not a fan of lables, but my siblings and I were "boomerang kids."

BOING!

We all went away to college and upon graduation, our parents invited us to move back home and we took them up on their offer. We picked up after ourselves, made family meals, did grocery shopping, helped around the house, paid rent and our own bills and saved up to move on to the next stage of our lives. Life was similiar to what it had been prior to going to college, because we were not coddled before or after college.

I think it is great that some parents are able and want to help their children with whatever means they choose. Receiving a car, European vacation, money for groceries, bills or rent, a downpayment on a house, money for a wedding or free childcare while you work do not seem to carry the same stigma as living your parents, but all are forms of parental support. Somewhere along the way my peers defined the types of parental help that are acceptable and living with parents ranked low.

From all I've gathered, people would hold higher regard for me if I sunk into debt, just as long as I don't live with (gasp!) my parents. Or that I could live in my own apartment and ask my parents for help in paying my rent and bills, because no one would have to know I need help because after all I'm in my own place - I'm independent!

My siblings and I may not be representative of all the "boomerang kids," but I don't think you can paint all "boomerang kids" with a broad brush of being lazy, immature, irresponsible, living rent-free on easy street, presumed to be spending all their income on "toys" and derailing their parents' financial future. For every extreme there's an opposite!

BOING!

Readings that led to this post:
34 and living with his parents?
Boomerang Kids
Do You know a Boomerang Kid?

Make It: Itty Bitty Album

Via the Readymade blog, I saw a tutorial for a digital photo album and it was tricky for me to understand because I have swiss cheese for a brain, although if I acutally opened a design program and tried I probably would have gotten it.

Moving on...last Sunday, I was wandering Michaels because I had a 40% coupon and thought I might get a cupcake stand. I am easily distracted and I saw these Zoom Albums that someone abandoned and they were marked down to 3 bucks. Since I don't really need a cupcake stand, thanks to my cake plate, I bought some rubber stamp cleaner with my coupon.

Back to the album, I had to download software and then within a few minutes I printed 12 photos with captions and assembled them into a 3x3" album of my favorite little buddies! Since it is Mother's Day, I'm going to give this one to my mom so she has a bitty brag book :)

Before I make the next one, I need to take notes on the page layout and photo orientation so I can make my own from photo paper and covered cardboard as album cover. The cardboard off the back of writing tablets, legal pads, notepads (whatever you call them) is perfect for a project like this.

A reader had asked about the cost of crafting and that's a huge can of worms, but for this project, the kit cost $3 and makes two albums.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, sister and all the mommas who read this blog!

Desdemona Music Festival - June 23-25 - Cincinnati

It is the same weekend as the 2006 Intonation Music Festival in Chicago, which was probably a smart move to get some of the artists playing there to travel to Cincinnati for the Desdemona Festival, June 23-25. Hopefully, this will be well received, not just by locals but from those in nearby cities. At $24 for 3 days and 30 bands, it is certainly a deal.

GHOSTFACE KILLAH
THE WALKMEN
THE FIERY FURNACES
THE STILLS
ANNIE
RADIO 4
ENON
HEARTLESS BASTARDS
WE ARE SCIENTISTS
ROGUE WAVE
FORGET CASSETTES
MARGOT AND THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S
APOLLO UP!
SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME
THE DOUBLE
AU REVOIR SIMONE
RICHARD SWIFT
SMALL SINS
ACTRESS
COUSIN
THE SUNDRESSES
(IN)CAMERA
CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY
PAPER AIRPLANE
THE SPECTACULAR FANTASTIC
THE TURNBULL ACs
THE HIGH AND LOW
DIET AUDIO
WIL-O-EE

My Old Kentucky Blog offers a music sampler from the artists, if you are so inclined.

Desdemona Festival
Sawyer Point Park
Cincinnati, OH
June 23-25, 2006

Desdemona Festival tickets
Desdemona Festival on MySpace

Free Swag!

The other day I received an email invite to an event that offered free food and soda, which was enough enticement. I went and got pizza, soda, candy, snacks, t-shirts, first aid kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, tape measure, pencil, notepad, magnets, coldy-holdys, stuffed Snoopy, foam flinger-thing (totally not the correct name), plastic cup and coffee mug.

Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner

Target has the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner for $18.99. If you got the $5 off coupon from the web site (or a friend) and are thinking of getting one, this might be the time to seize the day.


P.S. I'm guessing some visitors do not realize the title of some entries are hyperlinks, as in the case of this entry :)

a Free Stuff update

This actually isn't all the freebies I've received because the Take 5 and Nestle Stixx candy bars were given away, Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner is hanging in my shower, the ING Direct referral bonuses are earning interest and I've used some samples. But the BIGGEST freebie I have gotten since the start of the year, was weight training with a personal trainer 2x a week for 15 weeks.

Some people think it is silly to sign up for this products samples, but I disagree since it only takes a few minutes to sign up and most of these products will come in handy for vacation packing!

End of the Semester!

It is the end of the semester, which means I'm tempted to hop in a pick-up truck, hum the Sanford & Son theme song while cruising around campus checking out the discarded items. Unfortch, I have no place to store any new treasures so I will just "window shop."

If you're near a campus, this is the time of year to do the hunt for furniture to do a trash-to-treasure makeover project!

Free Stuff: product sampling opportunity

I just submitted my report for the Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner and I hope they like it. Though it is slightly loud, I've had fun standing on the closed toilet seat and peering over the shower curtain to watch it in action!

If you like getting and testing free products and are willing to provide feedback on them, email* me for a referral. It will allow you to sign up with a company that manages word-of-mouth promotion campaigns.

Right now, there is a candy campaign you might qualify for. Also, they are looking for expectant parents in or around the metro Atlanta and Boston areas to try babycare products from a well-known company. If you're an expectant parent, please note that in your email so you get the correct referral!


* UDANDI at GMAIL dot COM