Is that too much to ask of a gift? I truly admire individuals who go all out for major holidays like Christmas but trying to make a dozen or so gifts ready on the same day overwhelms me. Instead I decided to try a year of homemade gifts. It requires a lower work load stretched over the course of a year which gives me time to try and make items truly tailored for the recipient.
My first test was my mother’s birthday on the 9th. I made her a pot holder from a combination of knitting and quilting. Then I sewed the same fabric onto a kitchen towel. You can find the tutorial here. Not the most original idea but it is a useful gift, being “green”, creating items that are useful is important to me. I’d show you a picture except I was in a bit of a rush to get it mailed out in time and completely forgot to take one. The project is very easy and if you don’t knit you could create a simple pot holder from some fabric and batting. It was also very budget friendly. It took maybe 1/8th of a yard of fabric (1/4 yard usually cost a couple dollars), less than a skein of yarn (prices vary widely depending on what you use) and some scraps of batting leftover from my baby quilt. This project is also infinitely customizable, so your loved will get an item that truly fits their style.
J.’s birthday is in April and he was very firm in his desire to get a quilt. I saw this fabric and knew it would be perfect.
I’m going to make a quilt based loosely on the Love Beads pattern. The circles will be patterned fabric, the majority of the front will be a dark brown solid and the back will be patch work so I can try and use all of the fabric I’ve bought for this project. This fabric is hard to find so it costs a bit more.
The next holiday is my sister’s birthday. My sister has, well, a very unique sense of style so I was a bit stumped and ended up simply buying her some fabric so she could make something.
I’ve seen this turned into purses but I just got my sister a purse and she doesn’t carry them that frequently anyway. I also thought of a pillow but… I don’t know. She will love the fabric and along with some other choices it just screams her to me so I guess I’m afraid of cutting into it versus letting her make something.
With her fabric ordered I started worrying about Mother’s Day. That’s a lot of pressure to find something that fits all my criteria and can be made in time for my mother, step-mother and mother-in-law. I’ve decided on cloth napkins as a simple and beautiful way to encourage them to be a little greener. It’s also going to help me use some fabric I purchased online and didn’t end up loving as much in person. A 1/4 yard makes 3 14 by 14 in napkin and I’m going to take the remaining patterned fabric and use it to decorate solid colored fabric so they will get a total of 6 napkins each. Well I’m doing that for my mother and mother in law, my step-mother is very definitive in her decorating so for her I’m going to make 6 solid colored napkins.
Now I just need to figure out something for Father’s Day and everyone else’s birthday. The Dad’s are hard, well I think it’s usually harder to find gifts for guys anyway! I’m thinking about handkerchiefs and tissue holders but I don’t know that they would use them. I also thought about making them lunch bags and utensil rolls since they both pack their lunches for work everyday. If I went that route I would stick with solid fabrics or simple geometric prints.
Some ideas I’m toying around with for birthdays are purses, camera strap covers, yoga mat bags, rice heat bags, softies, pencil rolls and bath salts. I’ve already fallen in love with a ton of fabric so now I need to make sure I put it to use!
Do you have any ideas for homemade gifts? Do you find yourself making more gifts or purchasing more gifts that are handmade?
A while ago, I convinced N. that I (J.) needed to get a Whizzer, which is basically one of the original generations of commercially available mopeds. From a practical standpoint, a moped is a really great idea. It allows a person to run a great deal of errands, and get to and from most necessary activities in a highly economical manner; the Whizzer gets well over 100 miles per gallon at 25-30 miles per hour. Pretty convincing argument, no?
Well, like I said, I did manage to convince her (or at least wear her down) and was about to put some money down, when we discovered that the Whizzer could not accommodate two people. From Whizzer, we went to motorcycle. Certainly a motorcycle is still very economical in comparison to most automobiles. However, the question remained in my mind, ‘what would it be like to use one of these unique bikes?’
Well, first of all, these (usually retro-fitted bikes) are really not all that unique, at least in China. Coincidentally, most of the after-market, 2 cycle bicycle engines available are manufactured in China. Second, the number of kits available are not really that plentiful. After a great deal of research (25-30 minutes), I found that there are basically two 2 cycle kits, and about five versions of a rear-wheel drive, 4 cycle kit available. Fortunately for me, that narrowed the search a great deal.
I decided to settle on a 2 cycle kit. Why? Well, there is the (possible) aggravation of having to mix oil and gasoline, but I don’t plan on using this equipment so often that I wouldn’t be able to keep a moderate amount of fuel on hand. Also, the aggravation to cost factor ($200-300 less compared to the 4 cycle engine) is something that I’m willing to deal with.
From here, I don’t have a great deal to report. However, I plan on finding the most retro-looking bike available to get an overall classic-looking ride.
All suggestions and comments are welcome!
Merriam-Webster (yes the actual dictionary publisher) defines a cheesesteak as follows:
cheese·steak
Pronunciation: \stāk\
Function: noun
Date: 1977
: a sandwich consisting of thinly sliced beef topped with melted cheese and condiments (as fried onions or peppers)
In local vernacular, a cheeseteak is also know as a Philly, a steak sandwich, and a sometimes (though incorrectly) a hoagie. You should also know that a steak sandwich doesn’t necessarily require steak.
As far back as April, 2008, N. and I have been sampling the Steak Sandwich joints of South Philadelphia. Since then, we’ve hit many and all of the big names. We’ve sampled Pat’s, Geno’s, Tony Luke’s, Cosmi’s Deli, and Snyder Pizza’s sandwiches. In addition to having some great food, we’ve also developed what we believe are some very specific criteria for our ideal sandwich.
Now, these are the criteria that N. gives high marks for in a cheesesteak:
1) Firm, but not crusty bread that is soft on the inside, but doesn’t soggy when meat and cheese are added
2) Provolone cheese. Non-negotiable
3) No onions, no mushrooms, no peppers. Meat and cheese only.
And these would make the ideal sandwich for me (J.):
1) Meat
2) Cheese
3) Hot
Yesterday, we tried Tony Luke’s. We consider this to be the last of the “Big Three” (with Pat’s, Geno’s) in South Philly. In terms of variety, Tony Luke’s wins hands down. N. had a classic cheesesteak (basically as defined), without onions or peppers. I had something quite a bit more exotic (at least for a steak sandwich): a pepperoni cheesesteak with provolone. N.’s major beef (no pun intended) with Tony Luke’s was that she couldn’t get provolone on her cheesesteak. I would have to agree…cheese selection is quite key. Though I did find the bread at Tony Luke’s (almost crusty on the outside, and medium-soft to firm on the inside) to be my favorite. Also, their fries are quite excellent.
Pat’s, on the other hand, has a much more stripped-down menu, and, of the Big Three, is the most down-home in overall feel. When I think of Pat’s King of Steaks (the long form name), I think of Philly; clean but not new, excellent food but unpretentious, far less flashy than Geno’s (just across the street from Pat’s) but who cares? That’s Pat’s, and I love them for it. It’s also the restaurant where Rocky gets a steak sandwich in the original film.
Of the three, Geno’s is quite clearly a temple to the steak sandwich. If you came from out of town and stood between Pat’s and Geno’s (they’re only about 40 yards apart), you’d probably choose Geno’s. In terms of the menu, it’s pretty spartan but everything is good. Their steak sandwiches are quite comparable to Pat’s, or rather they’re similar to eachother (and that’s NOT a bad thing).
In 2008, Cosmi’s Deli was voted best cheesesteak in South Philly by Philadelphia Magazine. And rightly so. Of all the sandwiches we’ve had in South Philly, Cosmi’s is, overall, the best. Best Bread, best beef, best variety of cheese. They’ll also put just about anything they have in the deli that you want on your steak. While not a restaurant (there are no tables or chairs), this is where I’d go if I had to leave my immediate neighborhood to get a steak. Since they’re a deli, you can also pick up a bag of chips, a 2 Litre of Soda, and head back home (if you live in South Philly like we do), or walk to the park down the street and enjoy your steak there.
There are other steak sandwiches in South Philly, and N. and I hope to enjoy many of them. There are also steak sandwiches that don’t have beef, and one of them is actually my favorite sandwich in Philly. Down the street from us is a take out pizza shop called Snyder Avenue Pizza. They have a buffalo chicken cheesesteak that is truly outstanding. I’ve had that sandwich, well… several times. It’s always consistent, and I’ve never had a bad one.
What are your favorite sandwiches or favorite local foods?
A couple years ago J. and I took a four day vacation to Miami Beach which included a trip down to the Florida Keys. It was an amazing vacation that happened to coincide with an art festival right outside our door. Many of the art pieces adorning our walls are from that trip. This year that kind of trip is out of the question. We can’t really afford it and even if we could J. can’t get off from work to take it.
Instead I went out to visit our friend Bob in Denver. While I may not have been able to sit on a beach feeling sand between my toes it was over 70 F when I landed a welcome warm up from the snow I had left behind. The trip was done on the cheap and was designed to minimize spending as much as possible. In total I spent a little over $30 including my plane ticket.
How is this possible? Well the plane ticket was purchased using my United air miles and was a great deal since it “only” cost 25,000 sky miles for a non-stop flight! What was interesting is that the same flight would have cost me 50,000 points if I purchased a regular sky mile ticket versus the super-saver sky mile ticket. Make sure if you are booking a sky ticket you check both options! Now I still have enough miles left for two super saver tickets instead of just one. The ticket ended up costing me a $5 processing fee which is okay by me. Be warned the fine print says this processing fee can cost up to $80.
The majority of my money was spent on food. I packed snacks both coming and going but ended up buying food at the airport both ways. In retrospect I should have packed more real food like sandwiches and then I could have avoided buying food altogether. The grand total for food was $20. Most meals Bob made at home and one afternoon she treated me to an Indian food buffet- yum. The only time I bought food while I was in Denver was a mid-afternoon coffee. It was key as we were running around preparing for her party and I needed it to stave off crankiness 
. She has already informed me that I need to buy her a french press (she’s a bossy one!). I can’t complain about her cooking though- it’s amazing.
That’s all I spent, I would have liked to visit a quilt store while I was there but we simply ran out of time. I spent the four days helping her get her apartment organized and a bit more decorated, cleaning out her car, buying container garden supplies and being her kitchen slave for her party. It was a great four days spent with a dear friend and it cost next to nothing. The perfect vacation if you ask me. (Well a beach would have been nice too…)
Have you scaled back your vacations due to the economy?
Do you consider yourself a clothes horse or a fashionista? My friend Amy has worked retail apparel for years for the same store and thus has quite the wardrobe. On a lark she decided to see how long she could go without repeating a single piece of clothing. After six weeks even she came to the realization that she has an excessive amount of clothes.
I, on the other hand, am quite the opposite. I have a handful of t-shirts, some sweatshirts, some sweaters and a couple pairs of pants (mostly jeans). When I left the military and started working in a “business casual” environment I had to go shopping. Lacking any sort of style or inspiration I bought five polo shirts all the same style but in different colors. I also bought a single pair of khaki pants and a single pair of very dark wash jeans. I searched high and low until I found a simple (and inexpensive) pair of brown “wrestling” shoes. In warm months I wear the polo shirts and now that it is colder I wear my sweaters and occasionally a blouse with cardigan. And because I’m sure you are riveted by my wardrobe details I will tell you I own one pair of slacks and a couple blouses that I use for dress up occasions, church, and when I need to be more businessy. That’s it. A couple of my clothes are quite cute, I have a couple pieces from Anthropologie, but most are simply utilitarian and lack style. But they all function and that’s really what matters to me.
Occasionally I will swoon over something in JCrew or Anthropologie but practicality in function and budget usually win out and I’m fine with that. I would much rather have a very stylish and well decorated home then clothes. Perhaps because I see my house but I don’t see what I’m wearing most of the day? Who knows. I do know I would much rather spend money on decorating my house, getting just the right lamp or some really awesome art work than Jimmy Choo shoes or a Coach purse.
How do you express your personal style? What would you rather spend your money on?
Our foster kittens are over two months old and full fledged terrors, I mean curious cats. They like to get into everything and while I love them five cats in one house is simply too much.
However, the SPCA has as strict policy that cats and dogs must be fixed before they can be adopted out.
I’ve listed them on Craigslist and got a great response until i tell people it will be a couple weeks before the kittens will weigh enough to get fixed.
Aren’t these sweet faces worth waiting for? I guess they will stay with us a bit longer and I will relist them on Craigslist and Petfinder when they are ready to go home with someone right away.
It’s hard to believe that they used to be this small and never left their bed! I kind of miss those days right now
At least I’ll get to enjoy cuddle time with a kitten pile for awhile longer. After about an hour of running wild in our living room (they are usually shut in their own small room to wreak havoc at will) they will climb into our laps and curl up for a much needed nap. It’s quite cute and I’m glad that aren’t keeping a grudge over the fact they routinely get squirted with water when they are being naughty.
Do you like to bargain and haggle? Personally, I don’t and while living in Iraq I usually gave my money so someone else so they haggle with the vendors for me. But in a tanking economy I’m starting to get over my aversion.
The simplest tip is to walk down to your human resource department and see what if any discounts you can get through work. Most times these discounts aren’t advertised and many people may not know they exist. I worked for the military for almost 4 years before I found out that I could get a 10% discount off my monthly phone bill. After only six months J. just found out he qualified for 17% off our cell phone plan. My current job has been a bit more upfront. I knew right off the bat that I could get discounted ski tickets, free football tickets, discounted Sam’s Club membership and discounts on car rental. At first glance this may not seem like much but every little bit counts.
Asking for a discount at a store is a bit harder. If it’s a large corporate owned store you could probably get a discount on slightly damaged item, otherwise their price is pretty fixed. Small businesses certainly have more flexibility especially if you are dealing with the owner. I’ve been buying a lot of fabric recently off of Etsy and each time I’ve asked for a discount. I’m looking for much but when I’m spending %30-$60 on something that is for me a luxury I like to be able to save a little. Some people have said yes and some have said no but I didn’t lose anything by asking.
Have you ever asked for a discount when one wasn’t advertised? What discounts do you get through work?
It’s amazing how much faster a quilt goes together when you use a sewing machine! I’ve been working on this for a couple days and I’m almost half way done with the quilt top. I could have finished it but I underestimated how much fabric I would need.
There’s something to be said about a greasy spoon-type diner. Most folks wouldn’t call them fine dining, they might not have a flashy exterior (or interior, for that manner), and you certainly can’t easily maintain a healthy figure by frequenting them.
When you go to a good greasy spoon, however, all of the “cons” to dining there don’t matter. N. and I, whilst returning from the Camden Aquarium (which was excellent, by the way), sought out a little spot that we’ve been meaning to try for some time on South Market Street in Philadelphia, called Snow White Diner.
If you’re short of time, let me sum up this post: Snow White Diner is excellent! When N. and I made our way back over the bridge from Jersey, it was well after noon time, and we were hungry. Regardless of the time of day, I’m pretty sure that I would be compelled to order coffee. It’s that kind of place.
Every American diner could really take a page from Snow White. In the past few years, I’ve patronized many-a diner throughout the US, and have seen some that were very well done. However, I’ve seen some that, in every thing they did, menu to decor, they really seemed to be trying too hard. Snow White is NOT that place. No Coca Cola signs, no cartoonee Big Boy out front, no ridiculously over-done hamburgers.
No pretense at Snow White. None whatsoever. In fact, the only adornment of the walls are sun-faded and tobacco-hued pictures of classic American (mostly Philadelphian) events, such as the signing of the US Declaration of Independence and Washington crossing the Delaware. The menu was classic: pancakes, eggs and bacon in the morning; grilled and cold sandwiches the rest of the day. Yes, you can order a salad, and yes they looked very good, but that’s not why we came.
N. had a deluxe cheese burger, I had a bacon cheese burger. We both split a chocolate milkshake. Our waitress (not server) was named Fluffy, and she was great. We got out of there for under $25 bucks with a tip. The perfect American Dining experience.
Actually Roman was too busy playing the snow so I used the random number generator.
Dawn M.
Billie
Nanette
Suellen
Jewel Oya
So I guess I need to get crafting now!
