Love It: My Reusable Grocery Bags

Kroger bags
Originally uploaded by udandi.

In the summer I was wooed by Envirosax bags for their pretty designs, but found them to be cost prohibitive. Luckily, one of my lovely readers said her Giant Eagle grocery store sells bags. At the time, my local grocers were not selling any bags.

A few months ago, Kroger started selling bags, which are about the size of a brown bag, for 99 cents. jackpot! They are not canvas, but rather than softer woven material that is lightweight and folds easily so I can keep them in my car and ready to go! They have a flat bottom with an extra piece in the bottom so they are reinforced and stand up nicely. The black bag is a freebie I got from Zyron and also made from the same material, but is so big I have to be careful that the bagger does not overload it with heavy stuff!

The best part is that when I take my own bags to Kroger, I get 5 cents per bag back per visit!

Giveaway: Thank You

Thank you giveaway
Originally uploaded by udandi.

A small thank you goodie bag for all the readers have and referrals I gotten throughout the year!

I thought I took a photo all the items, but I cannot find it on my computer and since it takes a lot of coordinating between photographing, uploading and blogging since I don't have Internet at home I didn't want to delay this any longer.

This is a photo of the caterpillar or exploding book and little package of paper bits for decorating it to your liking. There will also be a black lunchbag album for you to fill with your own photos, wine glass charms, marble magnets and a blank stamped card.

To enter, post a comment by Friday, December 7 of what you are thankful for!

I am thankful for my patience in waiting a week to get a working fridge/freezer, for not losing it despite being locked out of my apartment twice by the handyman and for standing up for myself in asking my landlord for a refund for all the groceries I lost when the appliance kicked it!

Make It: Pillows from Napkins

Pillows from Napkins
Originally uploaded by udandi.

This past weekend I finally picked up pillow forms (50% off + another 20% off my total purchase at Joanns) and made pillows for my futon.

I picked up 4 cloth napkins from Target for $.74 each with the intention of making pillows from them. The other week when my friend came over for a crafternoon, she saw my napkins and asked if I saw the blue version of them because she wanted to make pillows for her sofa sleeper. Great creative minds think alike!

This whole project cost about 12 bucks and took me about 30 minutes to assemble (I had to wind a new bobbin and move the sewing machine - ha!).

Make It: Remake A Necklace

long necklace
Originally uploaded by udandi.

I had a store- bought multi-strand necklace that I liked but only wore with one shirt and even at that it looked too heavy for me so I pulled out my jewelry pliers and chopped it up!

I pulled off all the beads and remade it into a long necklaces that I wear with my solid brown or black turtleneck sweaters. I did not use all the beads so I might make a coordinating bracelet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Last night, I finally got a freezer/fridge although the night before I was locked out of my apartment for 2 hours so it has been an ordeal!

When it Rains, It Pours

In real life and with my posting on this blog...I think I will become a weekend blogger.

So last week on the way home of the first day of my new job a random tire is bouncing around the street like a pinball and is headed toward my car. Since there was a car following rather close behind me and I couldn't easily predict where the tire was headed, I chose not to slam on my breaks. The tire slammed into my front bumper, pulled it out and down a bit and scratched up the paint then proceeded to roll onto the next car.

The following morning a deer jumped out in front of me and again with the close follower behind me (seriously people stop it, you'll get there when you get there), I was lucky the deer and his hefty antlers went over in front of my car and I didn't have to stop.

Then, this past Wednesday when I opened my freezer to make my smoothie I noticed everything looked like it was defrosting, like maybe I didn't close the door all the way (although it was closed when I opened it). When I got home from work and checked, it was worse and stuff was even more defrosted.

My landlord is out of town and unreachable so I called the person he left in charge. He said he would be over Thursday afternoon to turn on a spare fridge that is in the apartment basement. He forgot. So by Thursday night when I called to remind him, everything I had was pretty much wasted or leaked out, which stinks because I had just gone grocery shopping on Monday.

Apparently, the landlord can get in touch with this handyman, but not me. The handyman said the landlord said he just replaced another fridge in apartment 2 last week so he just wants to have a repairman look at my fridge/freezer on Monday and see if that does the trick. Lovely. I am without the appliance for several days, wasted a bunch of food and hoping whatever happens on Monday works so that when I buy groceries again, they will keep. blargh.

Link Dump: Library

Check out this twirly-girly children's librarian!

Writer's Strike: How Long Before Your Show Go Dark (or why you should go to your library to find TV series on DVD to check-out). I've been watching Big Love and The Wire and have Doogie Howser, M.D. and Gidget on my queue (aka a file card that I write suggestions on, Netflix has nothing on my system!).

Why We Blog
Note: although I toot the horns of the public library systems in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, I never plan to disclose my place employment. For me, it seems like a safe way to keep readers from confusing what I say as being representative of my place of employment. Not that I think any one I meet in person will find this blog, except some coworkers who find me on LinkedIn or Facebook...

Sale: 30% off + FREE Shipping at Chronicle Books

To our Friends & Family,

Here come the holidays! To help you get ready, we’re offering 30% off and FREE shipping on every item on our site. With a huge selection of cookbooks, art and design titles, children’s books, stationery, gift packs, and more, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.

Our sale runs Nov 16 – 28. Use promo code FRIENDS at checkout.

http://www.chroniclebooks.com

Forward this email offer on to your friends & family!

Make It: Martini Birthday Cards

martini birthday cards
Originally uploaded by udandi.

I took my sister's advice and made two extra birthday cards when I was making one for a friend's birthday. To change it up a bit, I used three of my martini stamps and varied the paper and ribbon a little.

The first week at my new job was great, but it is still going to be a few weeks before I have Internet access at home and will be back to blogging regularly so hang in there with me.

Also, I went to Target today and bought NOTHING. I'm so proud of my self-restraint. One of my new coworkers likes Qdoba AND Target, I think we're going to get along just fine!

New Job!

Tomorrow, I start a new job that I am delighted to hold and have already updated my LinkedIn and Facebook profiles :)

But I have not forgotten that I have promised a thank you giveaway for those who have used the ING self-serve referrals and clicked through my Amazon links.

I have been working on my goodies and as soon as I am comfortable with my new budget, I hope to get an ISP at home and can do more blogging from home rather than searching for free Wifi around town.

Just a FYI...

Make It: Your Own Art

Originally uploaded by udandi.

I was flattered to learn that my mom had a 8.5 x 11 of this image printed and framed to hang in their house near their wet bar! Mom said it reminded her of something people would pay for at a store and she could buy from my Kodak Gallery.

If I may toot my own horn, I did take a fine photo although possibly its beauty is enhanced because it is matted and framed. I'll have to take another photo once she hangs her portrait.