The Savvy Life

I can't say that it was an impulse buy as I've thought about making a bulk purchase of flour for over a year now. So, when I was at Costco last week and walked past the dry goods section, I decided to go ahead and make the purchase. Paying just a little over $11 for 50 pounds of flour may seem like a good deal, however, it will only be a sound buy if I actual use it.

Budget Savvy Tidbits is our FREE weekly newsletter.  We offer quick and easy tips on how to:

• Save money in the kitchen
• Stretch your fashion dollar
• Save on makeup and skin care
• Travel, entertain and have fun without going broke
• Manage your finances so you can save and spend wisely

We scour the web looking for the best deals from our favorite stores and will keep you up to date on the latest news, articles and happenings at Budget Savvy.  Subscribe now!

If you find yourself on I-80 between San Francisco and Sacramento and you see a sign for the Jelly Belly Factory - stop and visit!  After years of driving past on our various adventures we finally stopped in over the weekend for the free tour.

Although there were over 100 people in line with us, we only waited 10 minutes for the tour.  The company does a wonderful job of keeping things moving.  The tour itself is 45 minutes and takes you above the factory where you watch various monitors that explain the history of the Jelly Belly company and how they make their famous candy. 

The tour ends in the candy store where you can purchase all the different flavors of beans and Jelly Belly merchandise.  They also make a wide array of chocolate candy that you can pick up to take home.  We managed to get out with spending just $9.00 on Jelly Bellys.  We dove right in when we got back to the car, but didn't even make a dent in our stash.  The nice thing about Jelly Bellys is that they are packed with flavor and a little goes a long way.  We may just be eating jelly beans all the way up to Halloween!

* If you get a chance, try the Chili Mango.  Warning, it's got a kick!

By Diana Pemberton-Sikes

Fashion for Real Women

I have been a long time fan of Diana and this article she wrote on how to get the most out of reading fashion magazines is a good one.  I have never seen this subject covered before and appreciate her take on it.

Read the article at http://fashionforrealwomen.com/articles/fashion_magazine.html

Are you still dreading the holidays? Are you struggling to find the time and money you need to make the holidays special this year? We have the answers you need to turn the holidays from something you dread, to something you get excited about and look forward to.

TheBudgetBabe.com

Perfect for job seekers, Norma Kamali's fall suiting line has hit Walmart.com.  Separates can be purchased for under $20.

Read the article at http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2885-Norma-Kamali-Fall-Suiting-Collection-Now-at-Walmart.com.html

I got an email from a friend yesterday that included the line, "long days and short weeks".  That precisely describes how I feel my time is spent.  Although I typically work a 12-13 hour day, the time goes quickly and I enjoy (almost) every moment.  I can't help the feeling I always get as I drive home on Tuesday night, that the week is almost over.  It happened again this week.  Here it is, Friday afternoon and I feel like yesterday was Tuesday, not Thursday.

It really is a wonderful thing to enjoy what I do so much that the time just flies, but at the same time, I want to slow things down a bit.  Since finishing the Living the Savvy Life, I have been looking for more ways to mark and appreciate time.  I have been seeking out opportunities to shake up our day-to-day and add a little spontaneity.  I am a planner by nature, so it is a challenge, but I am determined.

Tomorrow, we are heading to Rocklin, CA for a housewarming party.  On the way, we are going to stop at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfax and take their 45 minute tour.  It is something Paul and I have talked about doing since way before Dante came along.  This time, instead of driving past and saying "someday", we will be stopping in and eating some jelly beans! 

I will be "eating many jelly beans" in the future and taking the time to do the things I have wanted to do and will also come up with new ideas for fun and adventure.

Happy weekend everyone!

by Jean Chatzky and Sharon Epperson

Money on Today

Strategies such as buying cars online and paying insurance premiums annually can save you big money.  But, have you ever considered renting a designer dress for that big occasion?  Rent the Runway is a website that lets you rent designer dresses for approximately 10% of the retail price.

Read the article at http://bit.ly/bQaVKJ

I had hoped to leave Fearless last night at 7:00 pm, but didn't get out until after 8:00 pm.  Tired and hungry, I was tempted to pick up fast food, but knew I would feel terrible after eating it.  Happily, on the drive home, I rememberd that I had a few Trader Joe's brand tamales in the freezer.  They are just 240 calories and are perfect for a late night dinner. 

I asked Dante if he would like to have one, but he asked for "floppy cheese" instead.  That's what he calls cheese that is so thinly sliced that it's floppy. 

I'm happy we resisted the urge to get fast food.  My tamale and Dante's floppy cheese were far healthier, less expensive and much tastier than fast food burgers and fries!   Ok, maybe not the fries.

By Valerie Stivers

Real Simple

Make your wardrobe investment last as long as possible with these simple preventive measures.

Read the article at http://bit.ly/9Me4KW

As most of you know, in addition to publishing The Savvy Life, I moonlight at Fearless Fitness, our family business.

• Do you get easily bored with gym workouts or the same video over and over?
• Do you want a realistic eating plan that fits your lifestyle and body? 
• Is your schedule a little bit crazy?

• Progressive healthy habits
• Homework to personalize the FFIT@home program just for you
• 4 new workouts, plus one alternate workout
• Tips, suggestions and information for creating a lifelong, healthy relationship with food
• Weblogs from Coach Erika and Coach Melissa plus additional ways to leverage support

• We believe exercise should be fun and something you look forward to.
• We believe food is not "good' or "bad".
• We believe in the power of support.
• We believe that success is achievable because we have witnessed it again and again in our students.

                     

TheRecessionista.com

I typically try to only post articles that are as timeless as possible.  However, when I stumbled on this list of 4th of July sales posted on The Recessionista's blog, I had to share it with everyone.  There are a lot of really great promotions going on this weekend including:

• Nine West
• Norma Kamali
• Rock & Republic
• Banana Republic
• Old Navy and more

Find the entire list of sales at http://bit.ly/ccGwKP

You have to admit, 106 degrees is pretty hot!  That was the high temperature in Fresno on Saturday.  I knew I was in trouble when I met my dad and step-mom Linda on Friday at Pedros in Chowchilla (great chimichangas)!  It was 7:30 pm and Dante and I just arrived from the Bay Area.  As I stepped out of the car, my breath was taken away.  It was freakin' hot!

I didn't let the weather spoil our weekend for a moment.  I enjoyed every second of visiting with my family, doing a little shopping and plenty of relaxing.  I brought my telescope with me and we spent Saturday evening hanging out on the back porch looking at the moon. 

On Sunday, after a quick stop in Chowchilla for another visit with my dad and Linda, Dante and I headed home.  We spent the rest of the hanging out with Paul and enjoying the long summer day.

By Alison Gary

Wardrobe Oxygen

I love reading Alison's blog.  In this entry, she reminds us not to settle for less than we want by purchasing clothes out of desperation.

Read her blog entry at http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2010/06/remember-who-you-are.html

Dante and I are 20 minutes away from jumping in the car and heading to Fresno to see my family.  We haven't had a proper visit with them since before I started Living the Savvy Life.  I am so excited to see everyone.  I typically visit every 6 - 8 weeks.  It has now been almost five months since my last visit - WAY too long.  In fact, I am so excited, I'm not even bothered by the triple digit weather I know will be waiting for us.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 

By Kathryn Finney

TheBudgetFashionista.com

No matter what your shape or size, The Budget Fashionista can help you find the perfect swimsuit.

Read the article at http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/the-right-swimsuit-for-your-body-type-and-budget/

I had a FFIT@home meeting last Wednesday with Coach Erika and our friend, student and marketing advisor Geralyn.  Erika picked up burritos for us at Tres Amigos in San Mateo which were amazing!  I ate half of my burrito and put the rest in the refrigerator

TheRecessionista.com

The Recessionista breaks down each characters style and offers tips on where to find their looks for less.  A fun article with realistic suggestions.

Read the article at http://therecessionista.blogspot.com/2010/05/sex-and-city-2-looks-for-less.html

Owning a pooch that has long hair means the first part of summer involves a lot of brushing.  I'm embarrassed to admit that while writing the book, Harlan's coat didn't get the attention it needed and deserved.  Consequently, he started resembling a Rastafarian rather than a Newfoundland.

I called around to several grooming shops in Redwood City to see how much it would cost to have him professionaly groomed.  All the quotes were in the $70 range.  I was about ready to take him in when Saturday afternoon freed up and I decided to tackle his coat on my own.

I spent an hour and a half working on him starting with brushing out his coat, then using the grooming clippers we purchased for him several years ago to get rid of the clumps around his ears.  Finally, Dante and I gave him a thorough bath.  Up until we got to the bath, Harlan patiently sat through the process loving the attention.

On the other hand, I spent 10 seconds spraying Spur (who has short hair) with water as she ran by. I caught her and scrubbed her down with soap for 30 seconds until she wiggled away, caught her again and rinsed her for another 60 seconds that felt like the longest sparring round of my life.

While brushing out Harlan's fur, Dante and Spur ran around the backyard playing together and all of us had a great time.  As cheesey as it may sound, I reaffirmed for myself that saving $70 wasn't as important as spending time with Dante and the dogs.  Now that the book is finished and I am not on such an intense work schedule (and hope never to be again), I am back to enjoying doing many of the things that I would have resorted to paying others to do if that crazy schedule would have continued.  In fact, the dogs might just get baths again sooner rather than later, since they both promptly rolled in the dirt the minute I walked back in the house.

* The photo is of Harlan, post-bath. Tried to get one of Spur, but she wouldn't sit still. Puppies!!

Frugal Fashionista

The Frugal Fashionista helps you attain Olivia Palermo's look for less.

For more celebrity styles at affordable prices visit http://rpc.blogrolling.com/redirect.php?r=d95ce8c239718f25bf5e40c12995c69e&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrugal-fashionistas.com%2F

I have a character trait that is wonderful, but can drive those around me (and even myself) crazy on occasion.  I am an eternal optimist and can see the bright side of most situations.  Yesterday offered a perfect example.

I got a call from Paul that he was suffering from kidney stones.  Unlike the three other times he had them, this time, they weren't so bad that he needed to go to the emergency room.  Instead, we decided to take him to the doctor. 

Dr. Huey gave Paul a prescription and also sent him to the hospital for xrays.  We spent another three hours getting Paul's prescription filled and waiting for his xrays.  The other coaches at Fearless were kind enough to cover for us both as I didn't want to leave Paul alone in case the pain got worse and he had to go to emergency.  Once we got home, while Paul slept, Dante and I had dinner, played together and read. 

Later that evening Paul thanked me for taking care of him.  I told him that I felt a little guilty because I knew he was in so much pain, but that I really enjoyed the day with him and Dante.  Although we were waiting for one thing or another most of the day, we were waiting together and had a chance to talk and just hang out.  Like I said, I can see a bright side to just about any situation.  Luckily, Paul has grown accustomed to it.  He just hugged me and walked away shaking his head.

By Alfa Garcia

NorthJersey.com

Up-and-coming New York designer Zac Posen has created a new line of clothes just for Target.  Designer Cynthia Vincent has launched a spring footwear collection for the store.  Be sure to check out Eugenia Kim's line of Havana-inspired hats which can be found in stores or online.

Read the article at http://www.northjersey.com/shopping/91445834_Low_price__high_style.html

As I was driving to Fearless Fitness last night, I realized my little Nissan Maxima is just 7,000 miles away from hitting the 200,000 mile mark.  I am so proud of it!  It still runs like a champ and if I continue to take good care of it, it should last for several more years, if not more. 

Real Simple

Make your initial accessory investment go further with these easy fixes for your bent-out-of-shape bags, dull jewelry, scratched leather, and more.

Read the article at http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/shoes-accessories/diy-accessory-repairs-10000001111964/index.html

When visiting the family cabin in Healdsburg, it has become a ritual for Paul and I to sneak away for a few hours and explore the countryside while Dante hangs out with grandma and grandpa.  It cracks us up because usually, grandpa and Dante practically kick us out of the cabin so they can start playing together. 

This weekend, Paul and I decided to drive the 20 minutes to Calistoga and have lunch. We wanted to celebrate the completion of Living the Savvy Life.  We ended up at Brannan's Grill on Lincoln Avenue.  The food was outstanding!  I had the slow roasted pork shoulder sandwich and Paul thoroughly enjoyed the grilled hanger steak.  

After lunch we wandered into Copperfield's Books and poked around.  I stopped in at a cute shop, whose name I unfortunately can't remember, and picked up a birthday gift for Dante's Grandma Joan.  Her birthday is in a few weeks and I was happy to find something for her in advance.  I am still on the lookout for a gift for Dante's Grandma Haze.  Her birthday is Monday!

Before heading back to Healdsburg, we stopped in at Scoops and Swirls for two single scoops of their espresso ice cream.  It was a perfect way to cap a lazy summer day.

By Janet Luhrs

Simple Living

While vacationing, do you often dread coming home?  If that is the case, it is time to rethink your home, your job and your life.  With insight and action, you can transform every day into a vacation day.

Read the article at http://www.simpleliving.com/Mainsite/Newsletter.aspx?NewsletterIssue=1&Article=Family_Home

Just one more day and Paul, Dante and I will be heading two hours north to the Russian River in Healdsburg, CA.  We will be spending the weekend at Paul's dad's cabin which has a deck overlooking the water.  I love sitting there on hot afternoons watching the kayakers glide past us. 

By The Uniform Project

On May 2, 2009, Sheena set out on a challenge for sustainable fashion - to wear one dress for one year with recycled and donated accessories.  During the project, she is raising money for kids who can't afford to go to school.  The results are inspirational!

To see her picture book http://vimeo.com/11113046 

To read her story http://theuniformproject.com/home/about.html

It's done! Kevin and I submitted Living the Savvy Life to Morgan James Publishing on Tuesday night at 11:25 pm. We made our deadline with 35 minutes to spare.

By Jenny Levin

MSN.com

With the exception of the white jeans, this is a great list of investment worthy pieces for any closet.  I personally have a difficult relationship with white pants as I tend to get them dirty the minute I put them on.

Read the article at http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/everyday-style/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23709550

For the last 90 days, Kevin and I have been spending as much time as possible writing our book Living the Savvy Life.  In the last few weeks, the pressure has increased as we work on the final edits in order to make our June 22nd deadline.  Although the book is finished, I asked our publisher for a one week extension so we can have seven more days of microscopic editing. 

The beauty of writing for the web is you can edit your material days, weeks even months after publication.  With our book, we won't have that flexibility.  As you can imagine, we are sweating the details!  At the same time, Kevin and I have both been writing long enough to know that no matter how much time we pour into it, the book will never be perfect and that is OK.  My favorite example of this is the first edition of the print version of Budget Savvy that I spent over a year putting together. On the very first page we somehow missed the fact that we forgot the "r" in the word "pantry".  The food section came to be known as the "panty" section.  Luckily, we both have a sense of humor.

And so, we will continue to sweat the small stuff as we approach our deadline and then do our best to let it all go when we submit the final manuscript on Tuesday.  Wish us luck!

Haute Mimi

Shopping sample sales is a savvy way to purchase designer items at bargain prices.  The hard part is actually finding the sales. Fashion site Haute Mimi offers plenty of insider tips on how and where to find sample sales. 

Read the article at http://www.hautemimi.com

Dante and I have both been on the losing side of a battle wtih colds this last six days.  After getting home from a long night at Fearless yesterday, I didn't have the energy to cook.  Luckily, the fridge was packed with leftovers.

I whipped up a Mickey Mouse pancake for Dante out of the leftover batter from Sunday morning's breakfast. 

For me, I opted for leftovers from Saturday night's BBQ.  My friend Steve (who is a professionally trained chef) brought an amazing dish of baked beans.  Sunday night I poured some of the leftovers in a container to enjoy during the week and froze the rest.  Last night I warmed a portion of the beans and ate them with a handful of corn chips.  It was exactly what I needed after a long day of work and fighting my cold.  Dante and I were both happy and satisfied with our dinners.

By Roya Nikkhah

Telegraph.co.uk

Grace Kelly, a fashion icon was known for her immaculate, understated style.  What is wonderfully surprising about Kelly is her habit of wearing clothes more than once - including the dress she wore to accept her Oscar for Country Girl. 

Read the entire article at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7574779/Grace-Kelly-a-royal-recycler-of-fashion.html

We had a few friends over to watch the fights at our house on Saturday night.  Our living room carpet was long over due for a deep cleaning.  On Friday, I made cleaning the carpets my biggest priority.   Since Dante and I have both been sick, I decided to use the upholstery hose to clean our couch as well.  From start to finish the carpets and the couch took me only 15 minutes to clean.

When everyone arrived for the party on Saturday night, I had that good feeling you get when you have a chance to give your house a little extra attention.

My carpet shampooer is one of the best investments I have made.  It has long paid for itself in both time and money.  Between a three year old, two active adults, a Newfoundland and a puppy, it really comes in handy!

The Budget Babe

The Budget Babe offers fashion guidance and style tips for those of us who weren't born with natural style.

Read her tips at http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2533-Start-Here-10-Practical-Style-Tips-for-the-Fashion-Challenged.html

In this week's Savvy Life Newsletter, I wrote: 

Father’s Day is in one week. Instead of buying your dad something, create a memory together.

* Take him to a baseball game

* Invite him over for a BBQ

* Go fishing together

* Take him to a museum

* Enjoy a hike together

* Watch a few of his favorite movies together

A Sunday spent enjoying each other’s company will trump the gift of any tie or gadget!

After sending the newsletter, I immediately received an email from my dad (and a post on Facebook) stating "I was so disappointed not to see TAKE A LONG HORSE BACK RIDE WITH DAD."

All kidding aside, dad has the right idea.  He would like nothing more from me on Father's Day than for the two of us to saddle the horses and go for a nice long ride. 

What would your dad prefer to do more than anything?  Whatever his hobby, ask if you can spend some time doing it with him.  If he likes model trains, maybe you can help him sort and organize his supplies. 

Is he into airplanes?  Maybe you can take him to an air show or an airplane museum.

We are all so busy that one of the greatest gifts we can give to others is our time and attention.

By the way dad, after we go for our ride, would you like me to clean the tack room?

By Clinton Kelly

MSN.com

If you are going to invest in clothes, make that investment look as good on you as possible with these tips from Clinton Kelly of "What Not to Wear" fame.

Read the article at http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/everyday-style/staticslideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=23736167&icid=LIFESTYLE3&GT1=LIFESTYLE3

You can listen to a rebroadcast of my interview on The Brian Adams Show.  We talk about how to take action toward your financial goals.  I also discuss some of my favorite easy-to-adopt money habits.

Listen to the interview at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/herewomentalk2/2010/06/09/the-brian-adams-show

By Casey Hagarty

The Arizona Republic

Add a pop of color to your spring wardrobe with these suggestions from Banana Republic, Target and Kohl's to name a few.

Read the article at http://www.azcentral.com/style/fashion/articles/2010/03/25/20100325bright-fashion-looks-for-spring.html

I am being interviewed today at 1pm (PST) on The Brian Adams Show. I'll be talking about how to achieve the balance between overspending and extreme frugality. We will also be talking about focusing your spending on the things you truly want.

If you would like to listen in, the call in number is (914) 338-1186.

By Nerissa Pacio

San Francisco Chronicle

If you have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, hiring a fashion consultant to help you shop your closet may be worth the $100 per hour price tag.  If that is out of your price range, consider inviting a friend or two over to help you look at your closet with fresh eyes.  Open a bottle of wine and make an event out of it.

Read the article at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/19/LV601CB5A6.DTL&type=living

I had so much fun making Paul's birthday cake this weekend!  This is the second recipe I have made from the website: Cooking, Dunkin Style.  The author is incredibly imaginative and both recipes that I have made of hers have been straight forward and easy to do. 

I waited until the last minute to purchase the ingredients so I ended up spending about $13.  I will definitely make this cake again, but will stock up on the ingredients such as cake mix and peanut butter cups when I see them on sale.  I know I can make it for less than $8.00.

If you decide to try the recipe, I have two suggestions.  Because it is a whipped cream frosting, don't go nuts when frosting the middle of the cake.  I got a little gung-ho and the cake slid a bit when we cut into it.  Also, I would put it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.  Give the whipped cream some time to set.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cup Cake

TheBudgetBabe.com

The Budget Babe picks her favorite pieces out of Target's non-designer spring lines.  The dress picks meet her criteria of "no-fuss fabric, compatible with a regular bra, and hemlines at or above the knee so you can wear them in professional settings or to family gatherings".

Read the article at http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2438-Off-the-Rack-Spring-Dresses-and-More-at-Target.html

As the June 22^nd deadline for my book looms, I have been hyper-focused on getting it finished. Paul and I haven't thought much about Memorial Day Weekend except for enjoying the idea of being home for three days.

LuckyMagazine.com

Sometimes we think we need new shoes when all we really need is to give them a little TLC.  Try these how-to tips for reviving your shoes.  If they need more help than what you can give them, invest in the services of a cobbler.

Read the how-to tips at: http://www.luckymag.com/style/howto/trick/2009/07/shoe_repair_101

The last few days have been a bit of a blur.  I can't believe it is Wednesday!

Saturday's Financial Fitness seminar was very successful.  It was one of my most diverse audiences which made it even more fun.  I also thoroughly enjoyed teaming with Matt Broadway of Edward Jones.  We are planning another event in the coming months.

After the seminar, I picked up Paul and Dante and we headed to Maker Faire in San Mateo.  This is an event we have wanted to attend for years.  Our friend Tim had a booth at the event and we used that as an excuse to go.  The $25 admittance fee was a bit steep, but I would pay it again.  We were there for over 4 hours and only saw 3/4 of the show.  It is such a unique event.  The work and creativity on display is inspiring.  Next year, we hope to attend again, but go first thing in the morning so we have plenty of time to explore.

Sunday was spent working on the book and doing chores around the house.  That evening Paul grilled cowpooling steaks.  I had a few potatoes in the cupboard so I roasted those and made homemade cornbread.  I also steamed broccoli and made a vinaigrette out of the last of our dijon mustard and a little balsamic vinegar. 

Paul rented Sherlock Holmes for me and we watched it with an open mind.  I am a hard core Sherlock Holmes fan and did my best not to compare it to the books, past movies or television shows.  I am a big fan of Guy Ritchie (the director) and Robert Downey Jr. so I really did want to give the movie a chance.  We both thoroughy enjoyed it and hope they will make another. 

Monday morning started off well, but around noon, I began to feel ill.  Paul was home with the flu on Thursday and Friday and I must have picked it up from him.  He taught my classes at Fearless on Monday night so I could go home and sleep.  I ended up sleeping 15 hours on Tuesday and am still a bit slow and groggy today, although I feel much better!

I am a bit stressed that I lost a day of writing as my June 22nd deadline for Living the Savvy Life looms.  Luckily, we have no plans for Memorial Day Weekend so I will have plenty of time to catch up.

The Recessionista

From March 5 - March 14, donate old denim at the Gap and receive 30% off a new denim purchase.  Your old clothes will be converted into UltraTouch natural cotton fiber insulation and donated to communities in need.

Read the article at http://therecessionista.blogspot.com/2010/03/recycle-your-blues-at-gap.html

Growing up in the country made trips to the public library a little difficult. Luckily, my Aunt Sadie, who lived an acre away, had a healthy appetite for books and was kind enough to let me borrow from her.

By Kori Ellis

SheKnows.com

A good article about achieving and maintaining a timeless look.  One note: I don't believe it is necessary to invest in a designer handbag.  If a designer label isn't important to you, a classic looking bag will do beautifully.

Read the article at http://www.sheknows.com/articles/807806.htm

I love weekends that include a little adventure, but are balanced with getting things done and just enough relaxation squeezed in.

• Target – toilet paper, dog food.
• Costco – milk, butter, eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken
• Farmer's Market – carrots, beets, peaches, oranges
• Trader Joes – cereal, cream, goat cheese, a wedge of parmesan cheese, beer, wine
• Safeway – a handful of basics like tuna, broccoli (it was cheaper and better looking than at the farmers market), strawberries (also cheaper than at the farmers market) whole wheat crackers, chicken broth

Wishpot.com

Affordable accessories allow you to update your spring wardrobe.

Read the entire article at http://blogs.wishpot.com/fashion/2010/02/16/affordable-fashion-this-spring/

It's Wednesday night and our local Round Table's 1/2 off pizza night!  It is also my night off from teaching classes at Fearless Fitness. I'm looking forward to catching up on a few chores at home, working out to a FFIT.tv video and doing a craft or reading a book with Dante. 

Once Paul gets home with the pizza we plan to watch the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter.  If I can keep my eyes open after the show, I'll review the latest edits from Kevin on our manuscript Living the Savvy Life. 

I've got a lot on my plate for tonight, but that is ok.  I'm just looking forward to having a week night at home.  Happy Wednesday everyone.

By Ingela Ratledge

Real Simple

Fashion experts predict which fads will come around again making them worthy to invest in. 

Read the entire article at http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing/wardrobe-basics/fashion-trends-staying-power-10000001709685/index.html

FabSugar.com

Stay warm and look great with this affordable Alloy Long Belted Puffer coat at just $60.

Read the entire article at http://www.fabsugar.com/Stylish-Affordable-Puffer-Coats-Jackets-7247207

One of the drawbacks of writing a blog about savvy living is that my family and friends read it.  Because they read it, I can't write in advance about the birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day gifts that I have purchased.

The Budget Babe

1950's cat-eye frames are back and the prices are budget savvy.

Read the entire article at http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2261-From-Stylehive-Meow!-Cat-Eye-Sunglasses-Bring-Old-School-Glamour.html

I often write about the healthy and affordable meals that I cook.  I realized last night that I rarely write about our family's guilty pleasure meals.  One of Paul's favorite dinners is Bisquick's Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie.  It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to bake.  The dish costs $4 - $5 depending on the current price of hamburger and cheddar cheese.  If I have the time and the potatoes, I will make oven fries to go with it rounding out the meal. 

Last year I purchased a big box of Bisquick at Costco.  I realized when I was cooking dinner last night that it is on the verge of expiring.  Paul and I agreed to take the expiring box of Bisquick on as a challenge and will be testing recipes that we have been wanting to try.  I will let you know if there are any keepers.

By Lindsey Schickner

StyleList.com

Winter blowout sales are in full swing.  Now is the time to take advantage of those bargains!

Read the entire article at http://www.stylelist.com/2010/01/26/sale-rack-calvin-klein-lord-and-taylor-and-banana-republic

Dante and I were at Kohl's yesterday doing a little shopping.  I found a few items and headed to the register.  While standing in line, I remembered that I had a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more.  When I pulled it out, I was bummed to see that it had expired the previous day. I decided to ask if I could still use it.  I figured the worse the cashier could do was tell me no. 

When I approached the register, I handed her the card and asked if it was still useable.  She said, "No problem," and ran the card giving me $10 off of my $29 purchase - a significant savings.

For some reason I have always been shy about situations like that and was proud that I asked. 

By Kathryn Finney

The Budget Fashionista

Check out Kathryn's tips for selling your unwanted items.  It's possible that you have enough sellable clothes in your closet to afford a spring and summer wardrobe update. 

Read the entire article at http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/the-budget-fashionistas-tips-for-selling-your-clothes/

In this week's The Savvy Life Newsletter, I offered the following advice in tribute to Earth Day: 

In the last 40 years, we have become a disposable society.  The availability of cheap, throw away items is ubiquitous.  It has become the norm to throw something away and purchase new instead of spending a little time or money to repair it. Before labeling something as trash, whether it is a shoe, a computer or a piece of furniture, analyze it first to see if it makes sense to have it repaired.  This habit will help you contribute less junk to landfill and save money at the same time.

It was my grandparents who taught me to seek ways to have an item repaired vs. throwing it away and buying a new one.  My grandmother grew up on a small dairy and quit grammar school in the 6th grade to help my great-grandfather milk cows by hand.  My grandfather quit school during the 3rd grade to take over the family's ranch under the direction of my great-grandfather who had gone blind.  They made do with what they had, took care of what they owned and did without when they couldn't afford something.

Farmers and ranchers were the original environmentalists out of necessity and practicality.  There is a lot we can still learn from them.

The Budget Babe

Elle MacPherson always looks stylish and pulled together - even when she is exercising.  Check out The Budget Babe's suggestions for finding Elle's workout style at affordable prices.

Read the entire article at http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2204-Dress-by-Number-Elle-Macphersons-Workout-Style.html

Last night, Dante and I got home from Fearless Fitness earlier than usual, so I decided to make a quick and healthy pasta meal for us. I placed a two handfuls of whole wheat pasta into salted boiling water and let it cook. When it was finished, I tossed in a few slices of goat cheese with the drained pasta and mixed it thoroughly. I added a little salt and pepper and that was it – the entire meal consisted of just whole wheat pasta, goat cheese, salt and pepper. The goat cheese melted into the pasta coating it in a delicious soft, velvety flavor.

The Budget Babe

New Moon star Ashley Greene is spotted wearing a beautiful $29.50 cardigan from Express!

http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/P2.html

I think getting sprayed in the face by a citronella bark collar was exactly what I needed to mentally reboot.  Although the last two days have been hectic, I have felt more in control and focused than I have in weeks.

I just got off the phone with my dad and he is feeling better and stronger with each day.  Although he is anxious to get back on a horse, he is dutifully following doctor's orders. 

Over the past two days I have also managed to put my desired time into Living the Savvy Life and the book is steadily taking shape. 

Outside of a wicked stubbed toe that has me limping around today, last night was a wonderful and busy night at Fearless Fitness.  I just wish I had a better story for my toe injury.  Instead of being able to say something cool like, I jammed my toe sparring two people at once, I have to admit that I stubbed my toe running barefoot with the FFIT class.  I think my ego is more bruised than my toe is swollen.

Finally, I am happy to report that the bark collars work on the dogs too!  The Tosetti family has happily slept through the past two nights.

Hollywood.com

Reese Witherspoon is Budget Savvy!

Read the entire article at http://www.hollywood.com/news/Witherspoon_frugal_about_fashion/6391585#commentBlock

For the past few weeks I have been sitting on the news that Kevin and I secured a book deal with Morgan James Publishing. The book, Living the Savvy Life is 60% complete and the final manuscript is due on June 22^nd. We have been working to secure a publisher since June 2009 so we are very anxious and excited to get the final manuscript done and the book published.   We have been pouring as much time into it as possible while still maintaining our regular work load. 

I received the following email from my friend Jackie who stopped by Peet's Coffee last night with our friend Carla.  It sounds like Peet's could be a savvy place to visit if you are craving a late night pastry!

The Peet's Coffee we visited last night gives pastries away (at least) an hour before closing!  I used a gift card for tea and a pastry, and they only charged for the tea... I was confused and then one of the workers said she would rather give away the goods versus throwing them out at the end of the night.  Carla also scored a free chai latte due to a barista's error.  So, we walked away with two tea lattes and three pastries (I was hungry) for $2.85.  LOVE IT!

Last Wednesday I participated in one of my favorite annual events – The Chowchilla Stampede Cattle Drive. This is the fourth year that my dad and I have saddled up for the ride. The last two years we have been joined by my friend Janna. 

Do you live in the San Francisco Bay Area? Are you a fan of art? If so, you may be interested in attending SF Open Studios Benefit Art Show & Auction this Saturday from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm.  Over 140 pieces by established and emerging artists will be up for bid. I am thrilled that my friend Karl Roeseler will have some of his pieces featured at the event. 

Art is incredibly personal and I hesitate describing Karl's paintings.  Instead, here is a link to his webpage for you to see for yourself:  http://www.karlroeseler.com/  I will say that his artwork is reflective of his personality - bright, bold and cheery.

Saturday's money management presentation at International Paper went very well. I was impressed that several of the employees brought their wives and one brought his college-age daughter. 

I just finished the final review of the presentation I am giving tomorrow at International Paper in Exeter, CA.  I am especially excited about this event as it is the first time I am presenting to a predominantly male audience.  Although I often have couples attend my classes, the majority of students are women.  

Lucky for me, whether you are spending your money on shoes or motorcycle parts, my core message is still the same:

• Spend less than you make.
• Save money on the things that aren't as important to you so you can afford to spend money on the things that are important to you.
• Introduce the 6 Savvy Habits and Routines for managing your finances successfully.

What I am most looking forward to is hearing the questions and concerns of those attending tomorrow.  I am curious to see if they are the similar to the ones I usually get.  If the questions are very different, then it will impact my future seminars depending on who is attending.

Wish me luck and have a great weekend everyone. - Melissa

I have had an almost full bag of marshmallows sitting in my pantry since Christmas.  Last night, as I walked through Safeway, I noticed that Rice Krispy cereal was on sale.  I grabbed a box and when Dante and I got home, we made Rice Krispy Treats with a twist - in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we added green food coloring.

I felt our culinary adventure was savvy.  We purchased cereal on sale to go with marshmallows that needed to be used.  Dante will eat the remaining creal over the next month or two.  Also, with a few drops of food coloring, we were able to make something as simple as Rice Krispy Treats a little more special in honor of the holiday.

My friend Beverly is currently remodeling her house. She has a contractor, but is doing much of the work herself.  Beverly is fearless!  At the moment, she is focusing on creating a tile mosaic in her shower. Did I mention that Beverly is a graphic designer and is the creator of The Savvy Life's gorgeous logo? 

With the cancellation of Saturday's cattle branding, we gained a rare unscheduled Saturday.  The weather was beautiful, which was an added bonus.

Because I typically get up at 5:00 am, I was only able to sleep past 6:30 am Saturday morning, despite my best efforts.  I decided to take advantage of the quiet time and started my day.  After a quick shower, I fed the dogs and spent a few hours answering emails and doing research for The Savvy Life. 

Dante woke up around 8:30 am.  I sat for 1/2 an hour with him and watched Sesame Street then went back to work while he continued watching cartoons.  Around 10:00 am, Dante and I headed into the bedroom to wake up Paul by dog piling on him. 

After making breakfast, pancakes for them and Scottish Porridge for me, we headed out to run a few errands.  When we got back, I took a nice long nap on the couch.  I used to hate napping.  Now that my workdays are so long, I embrace napping!

Later in the evening, I made my mom's taco recipe and we watched Troy, the DVD that Santa brought Paul this past Christmas.  It is one of our favorite movies and worth adding to our movie collection.

Sunday was very much the same as Saturday with the exception of filming two FFIT at home workouts at Fearless Fitness starting at 7:00 am.  With Daylight Savings Time, I have to admit, Sunday morning was rough.

When I got home, I made bacon, eggs and homemade biscuits.  I then passed out on the couch for about 2 hours.  Did I mention I got up at the equivalent of 4am for the video shoot?  Luckily, with Daylight Savings, I woke up with plenty of time to take advantage of the day.

We grabbed Dante's tricycle and took a walk around the neighborhood.  We have been getting so much rain lately that walking in the sunshine felt indulgent.  In addition to the sunshine, we were entertained by Dante's adventures on his tricycle.  He kept trying to "do tricks".  He has a lot of his father in him.

Because we had such a late breakfast, we opted to keep dinner simple and baked a few potatoes.  Throughout the day I had a pot of my grandmother's Portuguese beans simmering and they were ready just in time for dinner.  Coupled with a Guinness, it was a simple, but delicious meal.

It was nice to have a break from our usual hectic schedule and let the weekend unfold on its own. 

We were scheduled to help my dad's friends brand cattle tomorrow in Mariposa, CA.  Unfortunately, the branding was called off due to rain.  As Paul and I talked about last night, branding cattle is dangerous enough when it is dry, add rain and someone is likely to get hurt.

Although we are disappointed about the branding, we are looking forward to having a day at home.  I plan to do a little spring cleaning and a lot of reading.  Paul has aspirations of going out to his studio to work on a few art projects that he has going.  Throughout the day there will be plenty of playing with Dante and the dogs.  If it doesn't rain in Redwood City, I am hoping we can go kite flying.

Have a good weekend everyone!   

This morning I noticed that the fruit trees we planted last year are starting to flower.  With a little luck and continued good weather, I should be able to harvest our first crop early this summer. 

We did have one casualty.  Spur decided that pomegranate trees are good for teething.  She chewed it to the ground.  I am already on the lookout for a replacement tree.

A long standing Tosetti Family Tradition is our weekly Beer and Pizza Night. I know, we are in the fitness industry, but this is a weekly indulgence that we deem "worth it". 

Life is wonderfully hectic right now and I am working at keeping my feet on the ground.  When I start to feel overwhelmed, I try to avoid the temptation to "live for the weekend" or push off having fun for another day.  Instead, I look for opportunities to have fun or to enjoy myself throughout the day.  Sometimes the pleasure comes in the form of a really good green apple or a serving of plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey.  Sometimes the pleasure is stealing a few minutes to visit Facebook to check out what my long-distance friends and family are up to.  When I am working at Fearless, I love getting into a wrestling match with Dante or sitting for a few minutes and reading a book together.  I enjoy talking to Paul throughout the day about business, our plans for the weekend or life in general. 

I am thoroughly convinced that if I wasn't busy doing what I am doing now, I would be busy doing something else.  There are just too many cool things to do in life and I want to take full advantage of the - even when it gets "wonderfully hectic".  So when it does get busy like this, I remember to keep an eye out for those little pleasures.

The last two weeks have bled together in a fun and intense manner.

Immediately following tomorrow morning's Budget Cooking Class at Chabot College, I will be heading to my original Sifu's school (Tomizaki's Champions) to watch two of our Fearless Fitness students compete in a Kung Fu tournament that he is hosting.  I am hoping to arrive in time to watch them compete.  Our Sifu opens his in-school tournament to Fearless students each year and we are grateful to be able to participate.  This year, Paul will be doing a performance that I am hoping to catch as well.  It will be a fun-filled, action-packed day! 

I am travelling almost every weekend in March. I usually try to spread my travel out, but this month there are just too many fun and cool events to pass up. From Author 101 University in L.A. to branding cattle the following weekend, my schedule is as diverse this month as it is adventurous. I'm just hoping that the cows are a little smaller than the last time we helped with a branding two years ago.

Mark and I are in the final stages of pulling together the information for our Budget Cooking Class - Top 10 Money Saving Meals & Tips that we are teaching at Chabot College this Saturday.  Mark is one of my favorite people to hang out with and I am really looking forward to teaching this class with him.  His knowledge of cooking and running a kitchen is vast.  It's been fun comparing our own budget savvy tips and seeing who has the best money saving ideas.

There is still time to sign up for Saturday's class if you are interested.  For more information, click here.

Last week's Tidbit email called for a Pantry Challenge.  Paul and I rose to the occasion with a Sunday night feast cooked with ingredients that we already had in our kitchen.

We started with round steak from our cowpool project.  Paul marinated it for about an hour in a concoction of brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and other ingredients.  He then browned the meat before popping it in the oven.

I had a 10 lb bag of potatoes in the pantry and 1/2 a tub of sour cream in the fridge.  Paul was using the oven for the round steak so I couldn't bake potatoes.  Instead, I made Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes.

The round steak finished cooking a lot faster than we expected so I decided to make corn bread muffins as they cook more quickly than cornbread.  I used the last of my cornmeal for the muffins and added a can of kernal corn to the batter for added texture, flavor and moisture.

I found 1/2 a quart of heavy whipping cream in the fridge.  I decided to make Chocolate Mousse with it using semi-sweet chocolate chips.  I buy them in bulk at Costco so I almost always have them on hand.  I didn't need all of the whipping cream for the mousse so I made a big batch of whipped cream with the remainder. I had to be careful.  I love homemade whipped cream and could eat a bowl of it all by myself.

The meal was a delicious adventure.  Admittedly, with 75 pounds of cowpooled beef in our freezer, Budget Savvy's quarterly Pantry Challenge is going to be a lot easier than normal!

February 27, 2010 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Chabot College, Hayward, CA

I will be teaming with Budget Savvy's Food Columnist, Mark Parker, to teach Budget Cooking at Chabot College next Saturday.  Mark is a savvy, talented cook and a blast to hang out with!  It's going to be fun!

Take this hands-on class and discover at least 10 meals that you can put into your cooking repertoire right now!  We will show you meals with easy-to-find ingredients that are delicious and nutritious.  Mark will demonstrate how to cut up a whole chicken and the best knives to do it with.  We will also share grocery-shopping tips, tell you the best places to find certain foods, offer strategies on saving money when dining out and more! 

All participants will get a copy of the Top Ten list with the recipes included.  If you like to cook, save money and have fun, please join us!

Click here for more details.

It seemed like every time I asked someone what they were doing over President's Day Weekend, the answer was always, "Going to Tahoe". By Thursday afternoon, I was a in a bit of a panic that there was going to be a mass exodus from the San Francisco Bay Area snaking up I-80 to Tahoe. So, on Friday morning, Paul and I packed the car, tossed a sleepy three year old in his car seat and sneaked away. We managed to arrive at our destination within 3 ½ hours. I would have been happy with anything under four. It was worth getting up at 5:00 am.

Last night, Dante asked me if he could go to bed. It was a full hour before his normal bedtime. When a three year old asks if he can go to bed, you know he played hard and had a fun weekend. I played hard and had fun as well. In fact, Paul and I are still in a Post-4-Day-Weekend-Coma.   Brain fuzzy, body tired, so happy!

It started the last week of January when I sent a "reminder" email to everyone that our annual snow trip was coming up.  I immediately received a reply from Budget Savvy's own Mark Parker saying, "I've been waiting weeks for you to send the first email out about the snow trip."  He signed off on the email with the word, "SSSSNOW!" 

When eating out I try to save at least half of my meal to eat at another time.  I also do this on the weekends when we cook at home.  Most steak cuts are two portions or more so I find it easiest just to cook the entire steak and save the other half to eat within a day or two.  This allows me to spread the enjoyment of the meal over two days - as well as the calories.

This habit became a topic of conversation last night when Paul came home from Fearless and saw me enjoying the second half of my T-Bone steak from Sunday night's dinner.  He smiled and said, "I came really close to eating that for lunch today."  Lucky for me, I like my steak cooked medium-well where Paul likes his still moo'ing. 

As I have said from the beginning, our Cowpooling project was a culinary adventure. No matter how much we saved or didn't save on the process, if the meat didn't taste good, the project was a bust.

Today, my dad will be picking up and delivering 542 pounds of meat to Fearless Fitness to be picked up by our cowpooling investors.  The challenge is trying to get as many of the investors at Fearless as quickly as possible to pick up there 77 pounds of meat.  We have a regular sized refrigerator at Fearless, but I don't think it's going to be big enough to house that much beef.  In actuality, I have no idea what 542 pounds of meat is going to look like, but I am very excited to find out!

The true test of this entire project will be this weekend when we have an opportunity to taste the meat.  From the start, we have called this project a "Culinary Adventure".  What is most important is the flavor and quality of the beef.  

I posted an article today in the Budget Savvy World Report titled 28 Uses for Everyday Items.  I am particularly fond of the article because it reminds me of my mom and her side of the family.  My mom is the queen of problem solving, often involving items that you would never think of.  My grandfather was like that as well.  Anyone who has lived on a ranch or farm knows that recycling and repurposing is a normal part of the day.  Papa Faria always had interesting uses for old tires, barrels and water jugs. 

Whenever I find myself in a problem solving situation at home I always ask myself, "What would my mom do?"  The crazy thing is that 90% of the time I come up with a good solution!

Our housekeeping challenge has come to a close. From a day-to-day standpoint, I call the challenge a complete success. We stayed on top of our daily and weekly chore list better than ever before. Knowing that each day I had just a few things to to take care of rid me of that feeling of being overwhelmed. 

Yesterday, I arrive at work, look down and realize that my black pumps are covered in puppy paw prints.  I grabbed a wet paper towel and cleaned them off.  That's when I realized they were in desperate need of polish and that the heel cap wore through on the right shoe.  Apparently, my shoes need some love! 

I finished cleaning the shoes as well as possible and when I got home, set them aside to take to the cobbler for the heel to be repaired.

This morning, I arrive at work, look down and realize my black flats are covered in puppy paw prints.  I vow to train Spur to stop stepping on my feet, grab a wet paper towel and clean them off.

While visiting my dad last weekend, we spent some time looking over the steer we purchased in October - see cowpooling. My dad and I both felt he was ready, but called in his cousin Bob Campbell to get his opinion. Bob's statement was, "Call the butcher".

I am getting ready to teach tonight's Money & Home Management Basics class at the San Carlos Adult Community Center.

Last Thursday, Paul poured the ingredients for beef stew into our Crockpot, plugged it in and then left for work. 

Thursdays are one of my longer days and as I drove home during a heavy rainstorm, I just wanted to get home to where it was warm and dry.  As Dante and I walked in the door, we were greeted by the most inviting scent of meat, potatoes and carrots simmering in a thick broth.  My mood immediately lifted.  Within 10 minutes our evening chores were complete and we were seated in front of steamy bowls of Paul's stew. 

As I drove home Friday night during another rainstorm, I practically salivated thinking about the leftovers.  Paul must have had similar thoughts as he finished the last of the stew that night.

The fun thing about Crockpots is that they become addictive.  I am already looking for ideas to use it again this week. 

The annual snow trip to Tahoe we take with our friends in lieu of exchanging Christmas presents is just three weeks away.  This year we will be staying three nights and, as usual, cooking all of our own meals.  Luckily, we will have two professional chefs with us and at least four exceptional home cooks.  The snow trip is always a hedonistic event involving all of our favorite foods.

Today, Paul and I will decide what meals we will prepare that weekend.  This way, I can purchase non-perishable items for the trip when I do my grocery shopping tonight.  Shopping this far in advance also lets me take advantage of three separate sales, greatly reducing the price of my groceries for the trip.  It also allow me to spread the cost of the trip over two paychecks. 

During my shopping trip with my mom and niece Chloe Saturday, we stopped at Walgreens.  Chloe was looking for a foundation equivalent to Bare Minerals.  At 14, Bare Minerals price point is a bit prohibitive for her.  I suggested Maybelline's Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Powder Foundation.  The toughest part of purchasing makeup at the drugstore is that you can't try it on to color match.  Luckily, Walgreens allows you to return opened makeup. 

Chloe also needed mascara so she picked up Revlon's Fabulash Mascara. 

Since I had completely struck out finding a "cool aunt worthy" gift for Chloe's birthday, I grabbed the makeup from her and bought it as my gift.  She was thrilled and I received several fiercely appreciative hugs.  I love that kid!

I didn't realize that the Revlon mascara was buy-one-get-one-free so I picked up a second tube for myself.  Serendipity!  This is the best mascara I have come across for my lashes.  For the first time ever, I feel like my lashes look naturally long and thick - no clumping.  Apparently, you can learn a lot about makeup from a 14 year old. Thanks Chloe!

As I was getting ready for work this morning I realized how well we are doing on our 31 Day Housekeeping Challenge.  By committing to a handful of habits and routines we have managed to stay on top of our daily and weekly chores.  The piles are steadily disappearing and we have been able to do deeper cleanings such as vacuum corners and wipe fingerprints off door jams. 

What I find most exciting about the challenge is that it gives me permission to stop cleaning.  I believe that is why we procrastinate in the first place.  If we start with plenty of time to do a task, it is very easy to make that task last as long as the time we have alotted.  If we procrastinate, then we have a definitive end date or time to complete the task.  With the Flylady's system, you have a basic routine and a list of tasks to do for a particular zone.  Once those tasks are complete, you are done for the day.  A new set of tasks will be waiting for you the next day.

My stress level regarding the house has gone down tremendously.  I am slowly gaining control and it feels really good!

We had a small get together to celebrate Dante's birthday on January 2nd.  I was thinking about getting him a really cute Spongebob cake that we saw at Safeway, but I just couldn't get myself to pay $50 for it.  Instead, Paul and I decided to get creative.  Dante loves Star Wars.  Paul and I found a Darth Vader candle holder for $3 at a local party store.  We also found black "edible spray paint" in the cake decorating department of the same store.  I decided to make a Red Velvet Cake and use blue food coloring instead of red.  Paul used the spray paint on the outside of the cake to give it a brushed metalic look.  If nothing else, the cake was a conversation piece!

I don't think we spent more than $10 for the ingredients of the cake (much of which I had leftover from the Red Velvet Cake I made for Christmas Day) and the decorations.

Paul and I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating on the cake so we not only saved $40, we also entertained ourselves for an afternoon.

I am going to try taking a cake decorating class at the local rec center this winter.  With the money we saved just on Dante's cake, a cake decorating class will pay for itself in just a few cakes.

Dante and I had a fun trip to the Central Valley to visit my family.

We arrived in Fresno early Friday afternoon and spent an hour visiting with my mom, her boyfriend Gary and my grandmother who had just adopted a puppy the day before.  My mom and I were planning on shopping that afternoon, but because of the puppy, we didn't want to leave my grandmother alone to care for him.  She doesn't move around as well as she used to.  My mom convinced me to enjoy a few hours of shopping on my own while Dante stayed behind with her.  As much as I enjoyed the time to myself, I know that she secretly wanted Dante all to herself for a few hours.  That is a grandparents prerogative that I will not interfere with.

I took advantage of the time by going to one of my favorite consignment shops called Repeat Performance.  This store is designed and cared for with love.  It is such a pleasure to shop in.  I found an adorable skull and cross bones t-shirt (I know - the description doesn't sound right) for weekend wear.  I also promised myself to start visiting there on a more regular basis.  There are treasures to be had.

I returned to the house in time to help my mom with dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening visiting with everyone.

Saturday morning, I left Dante at mom's to play with his cousins Chloe and Jacob.  I jumped in the car and drove the 30 minutes to my dad's ranch in Chowchilla. Since it was clear at my mom's house, I was surprised by the fog that I hit just a few minutes into the drive.  Finding my dad's ranch on a clear day can be challenging.  In the fog, it was a downright adventure.

When I got there, I visited with Dad and my other-mom Linda for an hour while we waited for the fog to let up.  Once it cleared a bit, Dad and I saddled up and went on one of our best rides ever.  We went "offroading" and followed the Berenda Slough for a long stretch.  We were enjoying ourselves so much that neither of us realized we had been gone for over two hours.  I treasure those rides with my dad.  We talk about everything from Budget Savvy and Fearless Fitness to old family stories and the state of the economy.  Too soon it was time to unsaddle the horses and drive back to Fresno.

After a quick lunch at my mom's, we grabbed Chloe and Dante and drove to Fashion Fair mall for a bit of shopping.  Chloe had been saving her money for this particular trip.  At 14, I am very proud of her budget savvy ways.  She is discerning in her spending and will wait for what she truly wants.  Unlike most kids, money doesn't burn a whole in her pocket. 

After a few hours of shopping we headed home for another delicious dinner with the entire family.  My brother Jimmy and mom are a great team in the kitchen and I always look forward to those meals.

The next morning, Jimmy fixed one of his famous breakfasts while Dante and I packed our bags for the drive home.  During breakfast, my Uncle Manuel and my Aunt Adeline stopped in for a visit.  It was a bonus to an already great trip.

On the way home, Dante and I stopped back by Dad and Linda's to give them a chance to visit with Dante.  Dante asks me all the time to go to "Pappa Horsie" as he likes to call my dad.  Despite the rain, we took a bundled Dante outside for awhile so he could see the horses, the steer, the dogs and play in the mud.  It's not a surprise that he slept the entire drive home.

It was a wonderful trip.  I'm looking forward to our next visit in late February or early March.

Dante and I are a few minutes away from heading to the Central Valley for a two night visit.  We have a weekend of birthday celebrations, horseback riding and shopping ahead of us.  We have both been looking forward to this trip for a long time.

While in Fresno, I am hoping to go to a few consignment shops and thrift stores.  I love hitting second hand shops a few weeks after Christmas.  Everyone has cleared their closet so the shops are filled with new items.  

Paul will be teaching an MMA seminar tomorrow so he is staying behind.  After the seminar, a few of our friends are coming over for a game night so it will be a fun filled weekend for all of the Tosetti's. 

My friend Cinndy sent an email to me in response to my Noisy Donations entry.  She has a wonderful tradition for "donating" beloved stuffed animals.  With her permission, her email is posted below.

I am gearing up to teach my Money & Home Management Basics class on January 26^th at the San Carlos Adult Community Center.

Last month I wrote about how much I enjoy reading Martha Stewart's Planning Calendar that she publishes in Martha Stewart Living. I decided to create The Tosetti Family Planning Calendar and map out the month of December. Although I am a pro at keeping a calendar (I do admit to making the occasional rookie move and double booking myself), creating the family planning calendar really helped me accomplish so much more. Instead of thinking that I would like to help Dante write a letter to Santa, I decided that I was going to do it the first week of December. When Dante and I were home early from Fearless one night that week, we sat down and wrote his letter. We could have taken that time to do a few chores or read a book, but instead, we did an activity together unique to the month. I don't know that I would have thought to write the letter at that time had it not been for the Planning Calendar. 

Yesterday morning I woke up looking forward to doing my morning chores.  I showered, fed the dogs and went to sweep and mop the kitchen floor.  At that moment, I realized another bad housekeeping quirk that I have.  Apparently, I only like sweeping and mopping when the floor is really dirty, which if you think about it, is gross. 

It was apparent to me over the holidays that I am not as on top of my housecleaning as I would like. Actually, I have known that for a long time. But, last week when we hosted a New Year's Eve party and then, two days later a small get-together for Dante's birthday, the marathon cleaning that I had to do to prepare was ridiculous. This is a reoccurring scenario. There have been too many parties where I exhausted myself preparing the house and was too tired to fully enjoy the event. 

Tonight I will be celebrating New Year's Eve with some of my closest friends.  The same friends I have celebrated New Year's Eve with for the last 15 years (barring childbirth three years ago).  As I mentioned in a previous entry, we often have themed parties including The Thin Man and tonight's Steampunk event.

One thing that doesn't change from year to year is that it is an overnight shindig.  Everyone spends the night so there is no worry about driving home.  The fact that no one has to worry about driving home actually adds to the fun of the party.  Everyone is a lot more relaxed and settled in for the night. 

I understand that having a "slumber party" with your closest friends isn't for everyone, but for us, it has worked out brilliantly.  Regardless of what your plans are for tonight, have a wonderful time and stay safe.  Happy New Year!

Most people who read Budget Savvy know that my husband Paul and I own a martial arts school called Fearless Fitness. A few years ago, when I was trying to lose the last of the 40 pounds of baby weight I gained, I teamed up with Erika, one of our coaches. She had a similar struggle of being physically fit, but carrying unwanted weight. We created a 6-week "bootcamp" comprised of our favorite exercises, a sane nutrition plan and continuous support. Within that 6-week time period we both reached our goals and had a blast doing it. We decided to make it a permanent part of Fearless' schedule and named the program FFIT for Fearless Fitness Intensity Training. My favorite way of describing FFIT is that it is martial arts based and influenced by Yoga, Pilates and 2nd grade recess.

• We believe exercise should be fun and something you look forward to.
• We believe food is not "good" or "bad".
• We believe in the power of support.
• We believe that success is achievable because we have witnessed it again and again in our students.

I have a box in my office closet that is set aside for items to be donated. It really helps minimize the clutter. Every time I see an item that I have decided I no longer need or am in love with, it goes directly into the box. Once the box is full, I put it in my trunk and the next time I am near the Goodwill store, I drop it off and collect my tax deduction receipt.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  Like many of you, our celebrations will continue on Thursday night as Paul, Dante and I host a small New Year's Eve gathering at our house.  When Paul and I talked about hosting New Year's this year, we knew we wanted to do something different.  One of the best New Year's parties we ever attended/hosted had a Thin Man theme.  We all dressed in 1930's costumes as we ate and drank the night away. 

This afternoon Dante and I will bake cookies for Santa. I forgot to buy carrots for the reindeer so they are getting broccoli this year. 

Last night I had to run an errand across town.  On my way back, I decided to use a different route so Dante and I could enjoy the holiday lights.  We enjoyed our little tour so much that I got lost.  For a full five minutes I drove around from one neighborhood to the next trying to find a main street.  The part of Redwood City that we were in wasn't laid out like a typical grid so we kept looping around.  Luckily, we had just had dinner so we weren't going to starve. 

As I turned down one particular street I was relieved to see the signs of a main street ahead.  I thought it was El Camino, the main thoroughfare through town.  Instead, it was Woodside Road, about three miles away from El Camino and the exact street we started our journey. 

If you are going to get lost in your own town, doing it during the holidays when everyone's homes are decorated makes it entertaining.

I took Dante to The Great Dickens Christmas Faire on Sunday. This was an event I had been looking forward to for months. We were joined by Kevin and my friend Petek. Kevin and I had both been before, but it was Dante and Petek's first visit.

 

I am a huge fan of FoodTV's Guy Fieri.  I record Diner's Drive In's and Dive's so I can watch it on the weekends while taking a break from house cleaning.  Paul, Dante and I enjoyed an amazing meal at his restaurant Tex Wasabi's in Santa Rosa that I wrote about in my entry The Tosetti Family's VA-cation.

So when Paul heard that Guy was doing a road show with a stop in San Jose, he knew exactly what to get me for Christmas.  The show was on a Wednesday, a night that both Paul and I teach at Fearless Fitness.  Without letting me know about the surprise, Paul had to get two separate coaches to teach for us that night.  In addition, he had to find a babysitter for Dante.  Paul's dad happily helped us out in that department. 

The Sunday before the event, Paul finally told me about the surprise.  He really does have a gift for gift-giving.  I couldn't have asked for a better present and I really appreciate the strategizing he had to do to get the night off.

Prior to the event, I tried to find information about the show to get an idea of what we were in for.  The only description I could find was, "It is food, rock n' roll and everything they won't let me do on television."

I now understand why the description was so cryptic.  There was no way to describe it.  It felt like we were at a wild party at Guy's house and he just happened to invite 2,000 people.  They cooked food, made margaritas in a giant margarita maker, shot t-shirts into the audience with an air gun and had a karaoke contest that culminated into an audience member proposing to his girlfriend on stage.  That's just a few of the things that took place that night.  It was wild!

The audience itself also added to the ambience.  It was an eclectic mix of the young and old as well as the the tattooed and the straight laced. We sat just a few seats away from Guy's sister and parents which made us feel that much more connected to him onstage.  It was fun watching Guy's dad watch him on stage and react to his antics.

One of the things I am attracted to most in other people is passion.  Guy has a passion for family first and food next.  His enthusiasm is contagious.  If Guy does the Roadshow again and you are a fan of any of his shows, this is a must attend event!

In my blog entry titled Thanksgiving and a Tour of the Sierra Foothills I omitted a very important event that took place. We found a puppy to give Dante for Christmas.

A few years ago Paul and I invested in an artificial Christmas tree. The two major reasons for purchasing the tree were cost and convenience. Christmas trees can get pricey. I like the idea of knowing that no matter what, I will be able to display a big, beautiful tree every year. Even more importantly, the convenience of having an artificial tree tucked away in our attack is priceless. Our schedules are packed most of the year and even more so in December. I like that I can just go up into my attic, grab the tree and I am ready to go. In fact, on Thursday, Dante was asking when we were going to get our tree so Paul went up and got it for him – instant gratification!

Last night we indulged in the simple holiday pleasure of watching Rudolph's Shiny New Year which we had on Tivo.  Dante was completely engrossed by the story and Paul and I got the biggest kick out of watching his reactions.  It was a fun, relaxing and memorable evening.

On Sunday, my revised deadline date, I managed to complete my holiday shopping!  I am usually finished with the majority of my shopping by this time, but there have always been a few last minute gifts that I have procrastinated on and allowed to weigh on my mind.  I am very proud of myself that I actually achieved my goal this year.

I spent all day Saturday baking shortbread and deep cleaning the living room to get it ready to decorate.  That night we went to one of our favorite events of the year - a Kris Kringle party attended by our long-time martial arts friends.  The next day I spent the morning getting the front yard ready to decorate including weeding, mowing and a lot of sweeping.  I didn't get out to start shopping until 3:00 pm.  In addition to needing to finish my shopping, I also had to pick up dog food and take Dante to get his haircut.  

By 4:55 pm, the dog food was in my car, most of the gifts were in my trunk and Dante was in the process of getting that much needed haircut.  I took a mental inventory of what I needed to officially finish my shopping and realized that Target would have everything I needed.  I have to admit that for a brief moment, I debated missing my deadline again and going home.  I am so glad I followed through.  Once Dante's hair was finished, we made the 10 minute drive to Target.  By 6:01 I was in my car calling Paul to let him know that we were finished and on our way home.  Mission accomplished.

...and Win a $100 Gift Card to Target

A few weeks ago, I wrote about being inspired by Martha Stewart's Planning Calendar in my post titled Martha Stewart Inspiration. I decided to create my own planning calendar to include just one or two tasks or activities per day. The idea of the calendar is to ensure that I make time for the fun stuff. It will also keep me focused on important tasks that I want done before getting bogged down by day-to-day demands. In a way, the list gives each day a theme. It's much more fun to think of Tuesday, December 1^st as "Write Letter to Santa Day" than just "Tuesday".