Getting the most out of the resale shops.

I love to shop at the local resale shop. It's great to find clothes that look new and have a small price tag. Here are some tips to shopping smart second hand.

1. Scrutinize. Look at the item closely. The people at the front may or may not have seen a stain or missing button. Check to make sure the item is in good shape.
2. Be Selective. If you do find a stain, missing button, broken zipper, tear, etc consider how much it will take to fix the item. If it will take too much put it back. I bought a dress yesterday that was missing a button after a quick search I found a spare button sewn to the inside.
3. Haggle. If there is something wrong with the item and you still want to buy it ask the shop keeper to discount it. The dress I bought yesterday was marked at $3.50. After pointing out the missing button they took 20% off. I paid 2.80 for a dress I could easily fix.
4. Put it down. If you don't feel you can fix it or the shop keeper doesn't take enough off the price put it back. Don't take a second look at it. If you buy it and never fix it you've wasted your money.
5. Know your Shop. Only shop at reputable shops. If you go into a shop that has racks and racks of crap all marked the same price, chances are you aren't going to find anything worth buying. You can still search but it may be a waste of your time to return.
6. Look Up. Take a look at the walls. Many shops feature their best items on the walls or above the racks. If the items on the walls are dirty, stained, or torn chances are you won't find anything good on the racks and you should leave.
7. Is it Clean? Look at the floors and shelves. If the floors and shelves are dirty just leave. A good bargain is not worth bringing mites, nits, or fleas into your house. My mother once scored a great bargain on some clothes at a dirty little used clothes shop. The clothes were great but she had to spend over $40 to get the fleas out of the house. Not a great bargain anymore.
8. Remember your last trips. Although you may not find anything you like on your first or second visit you may score on the third. However, if you find that you keep walking away from the same shop with no clothes again and again, it may be safe to assume you never will. Find a new shop and begin a new search.
9. When Reselling go to the shop that will offer you the most for your clothes first! If the shop you like to frequent offers more money great! However, you may get more money from a different shop.
10. Distinguish between store credit and money. You should only think about store credit with stores you frequent. If you don't return a store at least once a month you may want to think about cash. Also check on how the store keeps track of credit and how long it is valid. If the store gives you a sheet to keep track of your own credit keep the sheet in the car. Also, if the store credit is not valid after 3 months go with the cash or pick a different store.

Stay green,
Yasha

Mmm Leftovers!

I know I have my lunches for a week! Already the freezer and refrigerator is stocked full of ready made lunches for hubby and myself. Each lunch is stacked conveniently in a divided lunch container. I've only used leftovers from Thanksgiving for the first few, after that I use combinations of leftovers and frozen veggies to store in the freezer. I'm so happy I don't have to worry about any wasted leftovers since hubby never likes to make his own lunch and would rather grab one I've prepared for him.
I love the food that was cooked at Thanksgiving; the whole family chipped in. We had 2 types of cranberry sauce, 5 pies, 2 turkeys, a ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, veggie trays, etc. No one left with what they made we all took home other people's left overs. Since we can replicate our own recipes we decided we'd give away what we made ourselves.

Once I got home All i had to do is replicate a couple of things I cooked that day. The rest of the packed lunches are pure leftover. Since I froze some of it we won't get tired of having turkey everyday.

Now what did I do with those veggie trays? All we had left was broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. What do you think I made? SOUP! Mmm, yummy, tasty soup. Hearty and filling. That will be our dinner for the next two nights, the rest of the soup will be dinner one night in January!

I just love Thanksgiving such a bountiful harvest of, love, family, and food!

Stay green,
Yasha

Freezing your toes off yet?

We are! It's rather cold here already. The highs only hit 60 or 70 tops! Plus winds of 15 to 25 mph. Brrr! But with all that how do we keep our electric bill down?

To help conserve energy during the cold months we have an upstairs apartment. All of the heat from the neighbors eventually makes its way up to us helping to keep the place warmer. Plus, we turn our heater down when we wake up since the appliances help heat up our place. I like to bake at night as well, adding more heat to a cold situation.

We caulked around the windows outside last year and replaced the weather stripping on the outside door last spring. That helped seal the air in better. This place is not nearly so drafty.

When we leave we still turn off all the appliances (except the fridge) which does help conserve energy but also makes it colder inside. We also turn down or turn off the heater when we aren't here. As long as we don't leave the windows or doors open this place stays pretty warm.

We're also looking at winter weatherization kits, film or screens that can be placed on a window to keep cold air out. Some companies even make a roll on caulking that can be attached to the inside of a window to seal it completely.

We're hoping to save more than ever on our bills this winter!

Stay green,
Yasha

25+ Fantastic Fall Recipes

Mmmm. From Craberry Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Streusle to Eggplant and Chicken Puttanesca Snacks these recipes will make your mouth water. Sweet, savory, rich and creamy these recipes are great for crowds, small gatherings, or lunch!

I read through these and they are mostly easy to make with simple ingredients. Many of them have items that can be found at the Farmer's Market in the fall. I love buying fresh produce from the FM I get such a good deal on it!

I just can't wait to try the applebutter recipe!

Stay green,
Yasha




SERVINGS
Yields 3 1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS
5 pounds cooking apples, cored and quartered
1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

PREPARATION
1. Combine the apples, cider, and orange juice in a large Dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft -- 30 to 40 minutes.

2. Remove the pan from the heat. In small batches, puree the apples and any cooking liquid through a food mill.

3. Return the puree to the Dutch oven, add the sugars, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook, still stirring, until the puree thickens slightly -- about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 1 hour.

4. Transfer the butter to a clean jar and cool completely. Store refrigerated for up to 1 month.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
(based on individual servings)
Calories: 49
Total Fat: .1 g
Sodium: 1.2 mg
Carbohydrates: 12.6 g
Fiber: .8 g
Protein: .1 g

Originally published in Country Living.


http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/fall-recipes-50092209?click=pp

Beware of eBay, You May Get What You See

While having coffee with a friend, she related to me a story about a recent eBay sell.

She was selling her old clothes on eBay to free up space in her closet for items that actually fit and decided to sell one of her silk shirts. It was a black silk shirt, in good condition, just a little out of date. She says that although there was some fading she didn't think to mention it in the eBay description because the shirt was black silk. (If any of you out there have ever owned a black silk item then you know that no matter how it's washed, dry clean or hand, it will fade a bit after purchase.)

Well the item sold for the incredibly low amount of $1.04 with buyer paid shipping. Effectively they paid $4 for a used silk shirt in good condition. I'd say that is a steal, $4 for a silk shirt! The buyer apparently wrote her back saying she was disappointed with the shirt because it was faded. She went on to say that she had that same shirt in beige and it never faded! Wow, imagine that a non fading beige shirt. Amazing... not.

We laughed and giggled, giggled and laughed, about this customer's declaration. The truly funny part? The customer claims that the shirt sent to her looks just like the one in the picture but she thought the fading was a trick of the camera!

Rolf.
Stay green,
Yasha

March of Dimes Honors Infants During Prematurity Awareness Month

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 1 2010 – More than half a million babies are born too soon each year and thousands don’t live to celebrate their first birthday as a result.



November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and people can learn more about the seriousness of premature birth, donate, or create a virtual band to celebrate, honor or remember a baby in their life at the March of Dimes web site – marchofdimes.com/fight.

On November 17, the March of Dimes will mark the 8th annual Prematurity Awareness Day by issuing its 2010 Premature Birth Report Card, which grades the nation and the states on their preterm birth rates.


As part of Prematurity Awareness Month®, March of Dimes staff and volunteers nationwide will host vigils, and light buildings in purple to draw attention to the epidemic of preterm birth. The March of Dimes also has been working with organizations in Africa, Australia and Europe that are raising awareness about the consequences of preterm births.

[See More...]


http://www.marchofdimes.com/news/nov1_2010.html

An Eco-friendly Thanksgiving?

How do you have an eco-friendly Thanksgiving?

Start by trying to buy local. The closer the product originates to you the less gas is wasted getting it to you.

Wash that dish! Try to avoid using disposable dishes when friends and family come over. If you feel you just can't do that many dishes try to find biodegradable plates, cups, and utensils.

Don't buy too much food! Fight the urge to over cook. Not only will you save more on your energy bill you won't have to throw food out that doesn't get eaten.

Eat your left overs! It costs a lot less to reheat your left overs than it does to cook a new meal or go out and buy one. Tired of Turkey for the fifth day in a row? Make turkey pot pies and freeze them for a later date.

Turn out that light! You may have a house full of people but I'm sure there is no one in your bedrooms! Go turn off lights in rooms that are empty. While you're at it go open the front room curtains. Uncle Bob complaining about the glare on the screen? Try to position your TV so there is no glare before the big day.

Know thy neighbor! Don't plan on having many people at your house? Save money by buying a turkey with a neighbor. Cook it together and split the deliciousness and the bill! On that note you can share prepared dishes too!

Try your pot luck! Always liked Aunt Gertie's green bean casserole? Ask your family and friends to bring one dish each. You'll find your energy bill has gone way down. Don't like Cousin Bill's cooking? Ask a select few to provide their 5 star dishes!

Recycle your waste! Pile up your empty bottles, cans, and cardboard to take to the center. Get the kids involved. They'll love to have something to do the next day.

Carpool to the day after sales!