A coupla ways I'm savin' some green...

Just since we're in this whole economic crisis right now, I thought I'd share some little things I've been doing to try & save all my moolah from disappearing as quickly as Paris Hilton's fashion sense.
Hopefully it'll help you out with your money saving too!

- Instead of getting a usual soy-latte at the coffee-shop, I've discovered the Misto (which is brewed coffee with steamed milk instead of an espresso shot with steamed milk). It costs a little less, tastes pretty darn good, and will save you a little caffeine too! Also, most places will give you a 5 to 10 cent discount for bringing your own travel mug (so you're saving green while being green)!

- On a beautiful day (like today) I've been riding my bike to work instead of driving. Saves me oodles on gas, and is a great way to start the day.

- HAPPY HOURS! Good lord, they're a blessing. Instead of meeting for a late drink, try & meet friends earlier to scoop up the happy hour specials. Some places do late-nite happy hours too, so always ask what the specials are!

- Brown Rice. Weird one, I know -- but it's a great way to bulk up a meal in a healthy & cheap way. Top with veggies & tofu for an asian dish, or black beans & cheese for a Mexi-meal -- the possibilities are endless!

- Potlucks / Picnics. Bring a dish to share over to someone's house instead of going out for dinner. When the weather is right, meet at a park to enjoy the sunshine and a meal with friends instead of spending the money on tips.

- Bring your own bag! Not only is Whole Foods offering 10 cents off your grocery purchase for every bag you bring, but King Soopers & other grocery stores have started to do the same! So don't be afraid to whip out that bag, even if it's only a Totino's Pizza and a tube of lipgloss.

- Cut back on nail salon visits, and do your touch-ups at home.

- Go to Aveda "Pure Talent" salons for a wash, cut, and style for only $11 your first visit! Everytime after that it's only $16, and they slather your noggin' with the best-smelling products available. These cuts are done by people just about to graduate from the salon program, so they won't screw up your 'do. Hey, it's better then Great Clips.

They're going to take your brain!

I just watched an amazing and terrifying documentary called "The Lobotomist" on PBS last night. (Yes, this is what I do on my Tuesday nights. I watch PBS, eat wheat-free gluten-free vegan oreos, and make mix CDs. It's a simple life, but a good one).

ANYways - It was all about Dr Walter Freeman and his so-called cure for mental illness, ie. the LOBOTOMY. He performed over 3,500 lobotomies in the United States -- some of which were children, I believe the youngest was 4-years old. One of his techniques was knocking a tool (which was basically an ice pick) above the eyeball and into the brain, where he would swoop the tool from side to side, then extract. The images were terrifying.

He would line people up in a hospital he was visiting and preform this procedure in front of cameras & onlookers over & over again, as if putting on a show. Some people were killed due to a "hand slip" and other carelessness. After the procedure, people would become docile copies of their former selves. Some family members would claim them as "cured" - but really, they weren't living much of a life at all afterwards.

The conditions in mental hospitals were so horrible, that it seemed like this man was doing everyone a great favor in a world where nobody knew what to do with the mentally ill, or how to help them. But it seems like this man saw himself more of a savior than anything, and it was really terrifying to see.

If you're curious at all, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0aNILW6ILk (for a short 5 minute preview)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lobotomist/program/ (official website)

Her Morning Elegance

A beautiful video! Enjoy! :)

I found something just as good as the Vampire Teeth necklace...

A mustache necklace. Holy crap - I LOVE IT.

Check it out at the Bust.com "Boobtique" (can't beat a name like that!)

Link is below....

http://www.bustboobtique.com/product_info.php?products_id=331

UPDATE!! My friend Nikki got this for me as my secret santa gift for Book Club in December 2009 - simply because she saw this post on my blog. I'm so excited!! I'm wearing it right now, and it cracks me up. Thanks for the wonderful gift, Nikki! :)

Alli will make you poop yourself

Yep, you heard that right, my dieting divas out there. I just read an article (excerpt below) citing the warnings listed from the now-popular over the counter diet pill called "Alli". These warnings are listed directly on the Alli website, and boy, do they sound gross. Just goes to show that diet pills aren't the best way to go when it comes to shedding pounds. Isn't part of the motivation to loose weight to be healthier? This doesn't sound too healthy to me....

Let me begin with the cautions found directly on the Alli website. It says that Alli can cause:

* gas with oily spotting
* loose stools
* more frequent stools that may be hard to control

It also says that "You may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Until you have a sense of any treatment effects, it's probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work." Yikes! The website also says that if by dieting alone, you lose 10 pounds, you could lose up to 15 pounds if you diet and take Alli. Is five more pounds really worth it if it puts you at risk for repeatedly soiling your pants? I'd say no on that one. Not only that, but what happens when people use Alli, lose weight, and then go off those pills? They probably gain all the weight back. (full article on www.fitsugar.com)

Christopher Moore at Tattered Cover in Denver!

I'm SOOO excited about this! One of my favorite authors (Christopher Moore) will be reading from his new book "FOOL" on February 19th at the Tattered Cover in downtown LoDo (on 16th & Wynkoop). This guy has written some of the funniest laugh-out-loud books I've ever read. You should definitely check him out (www.chrismoore.com) if you haven't read any of his books before. They're full of dark humor and fantastic characters. I think what I like the best about his books, is that his main characters are very anti-hero. They're not perfect, and most of the time they don't know what the hell they're doing. Part of what makes them so funny, I guess! :)

Lovely Sunday...

I had a wonderful Sunday!

Got up early, cleaned up my apartment, did my dishes.

Tried out some new fashion with the skull & crossbones scarf that Taryn got me in Thailand, then went to brunch at Watercourse with my Mom & Taryn herself.

Tried a new dish at my favorite restaurant called "Amsterdam Hash" which was pretty much hash browns, veggies, and scrambled tofu, smothered in the most delicious vegan gravy ever. I was in heaven!

I also tried a "Dirty Chai" for the first time, which was Chai, steamed milk (or soymilk if you're me), and a shot of espresso. I think it would've been more scrumptious if I wasn't getting a throat-ful of cloves with every sip. Maybe they just went a little overboard with that spice this time... I'm willing to give it another chance.

Ran into Dylan on my way out of Watercourse which was lovely!

Went to Becca's place where a bunch of us watched the first 1/2 of the superbowl together. I left early, and am regretting it now, since I heard the rest of it was even more amazing than the beginning! I'm glad I got to see Jennifer Hudson sing though. She's so beautiful, and her voice totally knocks my socks off.

Then I stopped by World Marked & got myself a globe light for my apartment & some eco-light bulbs. I think it's a teensey bit large for where I hung it, but it casts a pretty light. I totally used chewing gum to get the hook to stay in the ceiling too. MacGyver would be proud.

Then I watched "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves" that I got at Goodwill for 99 cents, read some of my book & crashed early.

All in all - a darn good Sunday.

Hope your weekends were happy ones too! :)