TIRESOME TUESDAY

Aloha kãkou! (Hello Everyone) How are you this tiresome Tuesday morning? Me… well not real groovy actually, but like Gloria Gaynor “I will survive” LOL! Congrads to my mom on the new additions to the edible yard and to Tabitha, no I have actually never been to Hawaii. My grandmother and Uncle lived there for about 15 years I think though… that was the closest I got LOL! But it’s a lovely place I’ve been told.



I wasn’t feeling particularly great yesterday and that made me not feel so crafty. But I did manage to pump out a couple of things. The first was more Beer cap earrings. No my DH did not drink this beer, he went for a walk and found them in the parking lot around the corner! Nothing like free materials! I gave them a nice long soak & scrub in a bleach bath, and then wham… cute little earrings. LOL DH was so proud, he snapped a picture with his phone and sent it to everyone he knows and they are already wanting to buy some LOL!



This is the “master centerpiece” LOL. It will either go on Madison’s table (which is where SHE wants it LOL) or the gift table. I really never intended to make this, but looking at all the “spare parts” I started piddling LOL. DD says she loves it when I piddle because I come up with the coolest things LOL! She almost choked me with the bear hug around my neck when she saw it! I think it came out kinda cool, right?

Alright kids, you know I am always looking up (or thinking up LOL) some tips for you about Frugality. I was reading some of the yahoo headlines this morning and this one hit me on the head like a ton of bricks… particularly because I just got a new phone (but paid cash luckily). However, I actually thought this was a good article and wanted to feature it as your frugal news for today!

4 Things That Are More Expensive Than You Think
Mark Riddix
Friday, June 11, 2010

Have you ever given much thought to the real cost of an item, compared to the listed retail price? A perfect example is if you chose to buy a new computer on credit. The real cost of the computer would be the purchase price and the interest that you have to pay. The true cost of an item can often go unnoticed and consumers end up paying much more than they bargained for. Here are four things that are more expensive than you might think.

Active Trading

You might believe that it would be exciting to become a daytrader because you can get rich by aggressively buying and selling stocks. All you have to do is buy an investment and sell it for more than you paid. That sounds pretty easy! There are even television shows, software and blogs devoted to helping you with your daytrading. So, should you start actively trading your account in hopes of getting rich? Not if you want to hold onto your hard-earned money.

The only person who is guaranteed to get rich from your constant buying and selling is your stockbroker. Brokerage firms absolutely love customers that actively trade their account. The brokerage firm makes money regardless of whether a stock increases in value or decreases because they charge commissions on every buy and sell order. You could end up paying thousands of dollars a month in commissions, just for the privilege of trading stocks.

Once you see how quickly these commissions eat up your investment return, you won't be in such a rush to quit your day job. This is of course not to say that some don't realize significant profits through day trading, but commissions build up quickly.

Refinancing

Do you remember the refinancing boom of the 2000s? Lots of realtors and loan officers were advising clients to take money out of their homes by refinancing. The theory is that you can get some extra cash by taking the available equity out of your house by extending the years on your payments. Sounds great! Who couldn't use some extra cash to pay off credit card debt or refinish the basement?

Not so fast! Refinancing can cost you more than you think. Not only are you extending your mortgage obligation for more years; you are also draining the equity out of your home. As the recent financial crisis showed, housing prices are not guaranteed to increase. When housing prices drop precipitously as they have over the past few years, you could find yourself owing more money on your new loan than your house is even worth. There is nothing worse than paying a mortgage on a home that you are upside-down in.

Late Fees

Late fees are like little pests that drain your finances and rob you of financial freedom. Creditors are famous for adding late fees to any bill paid after the due date. Late fees may be added to a bill that is one hour late, one day late or one week late. Credit card companies can charge fees up to $35 for late payments, in addition to the interest. Most utility companies charge late fees of $5-10. Cell phone providers, internet carriers, cable and satellite providers will all hit you with at least $5 late fees. Too many people ignore the detrimental effects of late fees by thinking it is only $5 or $10 bucks. Add these little late charges together, and you could be losing hundreds of dollars a year. Over a 30-year time period, you could easily be losing thousands of dollars to late fees. Imagine what that money could be doing for you if you had placed it in your 401(k).

Credit Card Purchases

Credit card purchases should come with the following cautionary warning: This purchase will cost you more than the price advertised! Most credit card users end up paying way more than the stated purchase price. The only exceptions are people that pay their bill in full each month.

Let's say you bought a cell phone for $200 on your credit card and your annual interest rate is 18%. If you don't pay the balance off immediately than you are going to be paying interest on your cell phone purchase. Your $200 cell phone purchase can cost you well over $300 if payments are delayed. Most likely you will not even have the same cell phone a few years later. You could end up owing hundreds of dollars on a $200 item that you don't even use anymore.

The Bottom Line

Small purchases may not appear to be a big deal initially, but over time these little items will end up costing you a whole lot more than you think.

See… Just another tip to help you achieve financial freedom! Ok, as we switch gears now, I think about how you need a craft today… something interesting and fun. Something exciting and new… and of course something totally recycled! I found this instructional for a belt and thought it was pretty neat. You can also do different lengths and make bracelets and headbands and such. So check it out and I hope you like it!



Craft Idea of the Day: Soda Can Tab Belt

Materials:

Soda can tabs(112 makes a 35inch belt)
1cm wide Ribbon or cord

Directions:

Cut the cord into 2 lengths they should be about 10 ft long each. Tie the two cords together about 8 inch in from the ends.

Step 1:

Thread the cords through each hold of one tab.

Thread on a second tab so it overlaps the 1st tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the second tab and the holds of the first tab. As shown in the picture below.

Step 2-3:

Turn it over and cross over the cords.

Thread the cords (now crossed over) through a third tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the third tab and the holes in the second tab.

Keep using this pattern until you have a belt big enough for your waist and just knot it when you get to the end. Leave enough cord or ribbon to tie the belt and cut off any remaining cord.

Ok my precious peoples LOL… its time for some kaukau (food). Now I told you that I was going to bring you Luau foods this week. What is the first thing you thing of when you think of a Luau? Yep THE PIG! Now unless you are planning to dig a big hole in your backyard (I know my landlord would SO freak…) I would imagine you could try to do this on a grill or over an open campfire or something. BUT I also am bringing you a classic Hawaiian dessert commonly found at Luau’s! Eat & Enjoy!



Kalua Pig

Ingredients:

1 dozen burlap bags
firewood
about 40-50 imu(round, porous) stones
kerosene
1 pig dressed
five handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt
4'by 4' piece of chicken wire
6-8 dozen ti leaves
4 banana trunks

Directions:

Imu or underground oven:

Dig oblong hole 4 1/2' long by 3'wide and 2 1/2' deep.

Make it larger if pig is larger size. Lay kindling in bottom. Put long stick upright in center of imu. Lay firewood around it using 3-4 bags of wood. Cover wood with imu(round, porous) stones, about 40-50, more if necessary. Make a lighter by wrapping rag around end of long stick. Dip in kerosene. Light. Remove center pole and light kindling through the hole. Burn till wood becomes glowing coals and stones are very hot.

The pig:

1 pig dressed.

Slit between shoulders and ribs to backbone and up to head, being careful not to cut through the skin.

Rub one handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt in slits. Rub 4 handfuls salt inside pig. Put hot stones in slits and opu(abdomen), as many as they will hold. Tie the 4 legs together.

Line 4'by 4' piece of chicken wire with ti leaves. Place pig on it. Then cover hot stones in imu(pit) with 4 banana trunks that have been cut 2' long and crushed with the blunt side of an ax. Lay netting containing pig on banana stalks. cover with 2 dozen banana leaves or 6-8 dozen ti leaves.
Completely cover this with:

1 dozen burlap bags. Cover bags with sand. Allow pig to cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours according to size. Remove sand, bags, leaves, and stones inside pig. Put pig in large container. Cut in generous servings. Serve at once



Haupia

This coconut pudding, haupia, is a staple desert at every Hawaiian luau.

Ingredients:

2 cups coconut milk
1 cup whole milk
6 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 tsp vanilla (if desired)

Preparation:

Pour one cup of coconut milk into a saucepan. Combine sugar and cornstarch stirring into coconut milk. (Add vanilla is desired) Heat over low stirring consistently until thickened.

Add remainder of coconut milk and whole milk and continue to heat until thickened. Pour into 8 inch square pan and chill until firm.

The recipe can be easily modified for personal taste using more or less sugar and cornstarch.

LOL I hardly think the DD would want that monstrous beast at her Momona 'Umi Kumaono (Sweet 16 party) LMAO! But I think it’s cool! LMAO! Okie dokie everybody… time for me to skidaddle so that I can help mom get to therapy today! I hope you have had a blast and maybe a virtual island adventure LOL. And I hope you decide to come back for another visit tomorrow! Take care and see you then… HUGS!

WELCOME TO MY HUKILAU

Morning everybody! How are you doing this scorching beginning of the week? How many of you have those Garfield mugs out filled with Java that says “I hate Mondays”?? LMAO! (A Hukilau is a way of fishing invented by the ancient Hawaiians. A Hukilau is also known to local Hawaiians as a festive beach gathering... for those wondering about the title LOL).

OK so I was crafting my little self crazy yesterday… so much that I started to lose my mojo and had to switch gears to keep it flowing! Let’s get started so you can see some of the funky things I made.



Remember I said the DB and DH had some traditional BBQing man suds? LOL… well I managed to save a few of the bottle caps. TADA! Beer bottle Cap earrings (from the Bud Light Lime collection LMAO). Its actually a very pretty green on the cap and labels. I managed to save a few of the bottles too… which I am thinking some lime green (or whatever green I can find) gem rocks inside and a cool shade would make an awesome lamp! I might just have to scout around!



Now this is for the serious gamer LOL! I think these would be cute if you have a “game” room or a “library” in your home or as a gift for the Scrabble enthusiast… presenting the Scrabble tile drink coasters! Notice how all the words are “drink” related? Cool, isn’t it? This is a cool project if your precious little ones managed to run off with some of your tiles and render your game useless without them. Or maybe you lost some in a move or when you threw the box at your DH cause he was aggravating the tar out of you because he wanted to play the word AIN’T… LOL!



Then of course, the Scrabble “geek” is definitely gonna need a pair of monogram earrings to sport around during tournaments, game night, etc. LOL! I thought these were cool, even though I broke an awesome seam ripper trying to make the dang little holes in the tiles because I couldn’t find a small enough drill bit LOL! So after doing the coasters, these are the letters I had doubles of, so that’s the ones I started with. I am gonna make rounds to thrift stores, Freecycling, etc and see if anyone has some more scrabble parts that need a good home. I also took some of the tiles and hot glued them onto the backs of flat earring posts and made Scrabble push pins for cork board use!



Ever seen a keyboard disassembled like this before? Its quite easy really. This was a very old keyboard that I had packed in a box that didn’t work and had a few broken parts. So I took it apart and popped all the keys out of it. I have a few ideas for this little dinosaur… but first I have to get all the annoying tabs broken from the middles. And when you have CTS in both hands, it gets a little tiresome and painful! LOL but…



Before I got major cramps in my hands and wrists, I managed to whip out some “Computer Tech Savvy” Earrings from some of the keys. You have a pair that says Home & End, Delete & Insert, Page Up & Page Down. I think they are pretty funky!



Then from some more of the old keyboard parts, I made DD a magnet for her board… notice what the keys spell out? Yep… BAND! Hey I had to keep with the theme of her room LOL! She was loving it when she finally realized it was there LOL!



Speaking of magnets, do you have any of those old “used-up-but-to-cute-to-throw-away” gift cards? I do… I have tons. What better way to keep them without them becoming clutter than to make them into magnets! I simply mounted them on a sheet of magnet and trimmed around the edge. Now I know it is not Christmas time yet, but they were the first one I took out of the “junk box”. Yes I have a junk box LOL… it’s a box that I have been tossing things into that I think I can use in crafting… little figurines, ornaments, buttons, cards, game pieces, and etc. like these old GC’S! LOL! I have all kinds of treasures in my junk box! OMG I so just thought of a name for it MY TREASURE CHEST!!!!!! OMG LOVING IT! I have to decorate it real fancy like! OMG or get a wooden “chest” and paint and decorate it from the Hobby store! OH FUN FUN!



Here we have a small little pocket scratch book. I used key rings but I don’t like how big they are so I either need to add more paper or change the rings. However it would be a cute addition to the poker bag I started or the lotto bag I already made. Its very useful in multiple situations LOL!



OK, so I had the second Friskies bag to use right? Well I COULD have made another tote bag… but I opted for a shopping bag. I think this would be so cute to take like to Petsmart and have them look at it in awe as I request all my kitty goodies be put in there to save the environment from further plastic trash! I love seeing people's reactions to things that you don’t see everyday… especially things that I make! LMAO!

Ok, so I started to lose my mojo after the cat food shopping bag. I don’t know why. Maybe because I had been sitting at the table all day crafting and my brain hurt. Maybe because I was frustrated that I didn’t have a few parts to do some of the other crafts I wanted to do. Or just maybe I was tired of recycling and wanted something different. See, I told you, with my ADHD I have to jump around and NOT stay with the same thing for long or else I get very bored and only bad comes from boredom! SO I figured maybe if I tried changing what I was focusing on, I would get back in the groove…



Sure enough it worked! I saw some scraps laying on the table and I had inspiration! Remember, Madison’s Sweet 16 is coming up soon, so I need to get busy getting everything together for her party! White with black music notes and blue accents is the theme, remember? I saw blue bias tape and scrap triangles of the material I did her room in and am doing her party decorations in… IDEA!!! You know those plastic pennant banners that you can buy for like $8 at the store and they rip and fall apart because they are cheaply made? Well I cut out the triangles to be the same size and sewed them into the bias tape and Voila! A $2 fabric pennant banner matching the rest of the decorations that is less likely to tear and rip! And I saved about $6 EACH too! I like being frugal! I was quite proud of myself for this creation and DD was totally diggin’ it too!



These little blue bags I got as a 2 pack at the Dollar Tree. I have been kind of a freak buying stuff in party colors here and there and seeing what I can come up with LOL! So I saw these blue bags one day and said there has GOT to be something I can do with them for the party. So tonight I started playing with the scraps and folding them like homemade bias tape and I started thinking of how I embellish towels. Why couldn’t I do that to these bags??? I undid part of the side seam and fastened the fabric onto each side of the bag. Cute favor bags for all the guests were the result. Now I could either go buy a few more bags or save a few bucks and make some my own if I have some blue fabric. I don’t think I do though, so I will have to do some super digging to see. Either way I think they are cute!

I also got all the remaining glasses for the centerpieces stickered up and filled with the black and white gem rocks.I got the ones with the blue birthday garland and the blue roses completed and only need 2 of the silver cascades and music notes to finish those and then all of the centerpieces will be complete. I stopped crafting because the DD wanted to study her driver’s education book and ask me questions, so instead I was jotting down party notes and things I wanted to do relating to the party (like decorations, food preps, etc. ) while she studied. I was actually feeling quite proud of myself because, remember that list I said I made Saturday and didn’t touch…. Well I got everything but 2 things done on it AND I actually got 3 extra things done that weren’t even ON the list! A very productive day in my mind!

So, has all this commotion made you even the least bit crafty? Yea? COOL! Well let me tell you, I have a neat little project I am bringing you today! Now if you know me, you know I am a big “cause” supporter… well I am focusing today on the Breast Cancer cause. Now the first time I saw this I was taken aback… BUT when you really think about the reason behind this project, its really cool! SO I am gonna bring you this nifty recycling cause related craft AND some of the comments off the CraftBits website so you can see…



Craft Idea of the Day: Bra Purse

Materials:

Old bra
Ribbons fringing
Hot glue or craft glue
Scissors

Directions:

These bags have been made famous by their use to promote awareness of Breast Cancer.

And to carry on with that awareness I have used my mothers bra's to make the bra projects on this site.

This bra purse is made with a lightweight Lycra bra a padded bra would provide you with more stability, obviously the bigger the bra cup the bigger the purse.

Start by removing the straps from the cups.

You can keep the cups together with most bras, but it will depend on the bra you are using. If you separate the cups you will simply glue them back together along the wire line.

Glue the cups together to form the pouch part of the purse. This bra was slightly open cupped (deep plunge line) so I just glued up the side to form a deeper pouch.

Glue the straps back on to form the handles, these can be short or long depending on your bag style. I used the actual bra straps to keep the purse "Bra Looking" but you could swap this for a cord or ribbon. Just attach them to the top of the bra where the straps would normally sit.

If you are using a Strapless bra then just glue the handles into the inside edge of the cup.

Embellish the handbag by gluing on trims, ribbons and sequins to your desired style.

You can add a little or a lot.

And remember Breast Cancer is important so check each lump and each bump no matter how old or young you are and get a mammogram regularly. Early detection is the key to survival.

Comments:

I've made a couple of these already ~ a white one and a royal blue one, both of which have pink lace and ribbons and the pink BC awareness ribbon on them. I think they are adorable and the person who came up with the idea is a genius! People shouldn't be anymore offended by these than by the naked women or peeing Calvin bumper stickers on cars. Hooray for BC awareness!!

This has got to be one of the most awesome ways I have ever seen to honor or remember a loved one who has been impacted by breast cancer. I'm going to share this with all my RFL buddies.

Look out Thrift stores and yard sales, I am bra purse hunting.=) clever idea!

ok yes first look i thought oh my goodness why would anyone want to do this. then i read the reason behind it and some comments from quests and one said it write "who hasn't seen a bra" now a days they are everywhere, on TV in almost any store we go into. out on display for everyone to see. so why not on are arm? it is a wonderful idea. i have never know anyone that has had breast cancer but i have seem some ladies out and about that made me want to cry. i support awarness 100% and anything that will help these ladies battle a little easier. i also think its a great idea to make and sell these and giving the money made to the cause. You go girls!

What a fantastic idea. I love finding new & interesting things to make & this place is just full of them. Thankyou for your idea. Gives me all sorts of ideas to raise money for the breast cancer assoc. here in Australia. Thanks again

LOVE THIS!!! I'm going to make a hot pink bra purse. I'll add pink tassels & am thinking of using little pink fabric letters to add the phrase, "Save the ta-tas!" to the purse. Where's my Bedazzler????

WOW..I just started sewing again...been about 20 years...and in fact I just made a couple of purses and this is going to be the next one I make..AWESOME..my mom was a breast cancer survivor..although she is passed now..I love the idea..and will pass along to my sewing friends....

My mom is going through this, but making a bra out of it isn't called mocking? It seems kinda "in-your-face" as if saying, "Hey, I made you this because you know, you have..."
It's cute idea but I wouldn't consider this as a gift option.

Cool Idea, but I would need at least a DD sized bra to hold all my crap! LOL. And I am only an A...Also I can't see myself explaining to my kids, all their friends, and my husband why I am carrying around an embellished bra. No we don't live in the Victorian ages but somethings do need to be kept private. Sorry girls there are lots of ways to show your support for breast cancer awareness and this isn't one I would like my daughter to participate in. Like another guest said, would people really see the bra purse and think oh breast cancer awareness! I think not. You are better off wearing a T-Shirt with your message in plain english stating your cause.

lol I have to tell u I have seen quite a few of these purses. They are great! My aunt is a breast cancer survior. lol Even those of u who think this is tacky or wierd, It served its purpose. It made u think of Breast Cancer. The whole purpose of the bag. GOOD JOB!

I think this is absolutely full of good humor, while supporting (no pun intended) a very good cause! I don't know if I'm gutsy enough to make one and be caught with it out in town, but I can see this making a huge statement in the hands of a confident, fun woman. :)

I think it's a great idea. I can't wait to get some done for the boutique I'm selling things from. Until I read some of the comments on here I was foolishly under the impression that we had gone beyond Victorian times.

LOL!!(= love the idea. for those of you who think its gross, dont worry. its not even a bra any more, its been cleaned, cut and sewed. its just like making a shirt into a stuffed animal.

I love this idea, I think that people should lighten up... its only a bra... who hasnt seen one before?! People who say "eww" and "gross" are obviously too up tight to raise breast cancer awareness, very irritating, just my opinion

I'm a male directed here by a female, neither one of us feels it's inappropriate in anyway for males to see. We seen the X UR heart ads on TV for years and past the store unavoidable displays, so it's nothing we haven't seen before. Lighten up world.

Anyway, you get the idea… mixed emotions for a very “taboo” project could you say? If you want to read the TONS more comments or see the step by step photos, take a gander at it on CraftBits. Either way, I personally think its great!

Okie dokie my friends… its time to eat! I love food and boy does my waistline rat on me for it! But ya know what… I don’t care! Just more of me to love I say LMAO! I have had great fun bringing you “themed foods” weeks, that I think I am gonna keep it going! There are so many great themes we could do… its just so hard to choose! After sitting and jotting down a list of over 100 themes just off the top of my head, I have decided that this week’s theme will be… LUAU FOODS! Yes, with summer in our midst, I will be bringing you some flavor from Hawaii and some of the more popular foods you might find at a Luau (as a Luau is also a popular party theme for the summer, so why not have some authentic food right?). Now, when visiting Hawaii, you will encounter many foods names and terms that may seem quite foreign to you. This is due to the fact that Hawaii is such a melting pot of cultures from around the world, with influences from the Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese and others. But I will be trying to focus on the dishes more native to the Hawaiian people. So I hope you enjoy this upcoming week of tasty tropical treats!



Chicken Lu’au

Chicken luau won't win any prizes for presentation. It has all the visual appeal of pig slop (or worse), but you'll also notice it's one of the first pots to be scraped clean at a pa'ina. The sweetness of coconut and taro, combined with savory chicken make this one a local favorite. The dish takes its name from the Hawaiian word lū'au, describing the young taro leaves that make the bulk of the recipe.

3 lbs. taro leaves
8 c. water
1 t. sea salt
3 T. unsalted butter
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cubed
2 c. coconut milk
1 c. chicken broth

Remove the taro stems and any tough veins. Hold your hand in front of you. If your taro leaves are larger than your outstretched fingers, chop them into smaller pieces. Bring the salt and water to boil, then add the chopped taro leaves and cook for one hour, stirring occasionally. Don't rush this step! Taro contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause a fiberglass like irritation in the mouth and throat unless cooked adequately. Drain the taro and lightly squeeze to remove excess water.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the chopped onion until translucent but not browned, about five minutes. Add the chicken and cook another three to four minutes to lightly brown. Finally, add the coconut milk, chicken broth and cooked taro. Simmer gently for fifteen minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Salt to taste, although in my experience you may not need more. Serve over rice.

Substitutions: You can use spinach in place of the taro, although this changes the flavor somewhat. If you use spinach, don't precook, but instead add it fresh when you add the coconut milk and broth. Another very popular option is to use squid or octopus in place of the chicken.

Serves eight to ten as a hearty side dish.

Well folks, I think that about wraps things up for today! I am gonna wander on over to the “craft station” and see what kind of trouble I can conjure up over there LOL! I hope you liked my adventures in crafting and are excited about the food theme of this week. I hope you will join me tomorrow morning for another cup of craziness and fun! Until tomorrow… HUGS!