Monday, April 09, 2007

DIY, ASAP

Abbreviations...shortening things up. Sort of a metaphor for deals and steals.

Anyway, if you know me, you know I love to try and make whatever it is I need/want before caving and buying it. If you don't know me, but have read even one of my entries, this likely doesn't surprise you! So, here is a list of my fav sites to gather diy (do it yourself) ideas/patterns/directions:

DIY Network - www.diynet.com - There is A TON to deal w/ on this site, but everything is pretty cool.

Martha Stewart Living - www.marthastewart.com - Even if you are not a Martha fan (I am), you must admit, at the very least, that the colors on this site are AWESOME.

Lion Brand - www.lionbrand.com - LB is a brand of yarn and other craft "stuff". I love the section for free patterns.

Purl Soho - www.purlsoho.com - The next time I am in Soho, I am so going to this store! The blog on this site, called The Purl Bee, has some great project ideas.

Ask - www.ask.com - Remember when this site was called "Ask Jeeves"? Anyway, type in your how to question ("How to create and organic garden...") and the options are plentiful.

Etsy - www.etsy.com - Loooove this site. It's a shopping site for 100% hand made products. You name it, someone has made it. It's sort of like ebay, but not really. Your place to buy diy goodies and to sell your diy treasures once you've completed that next big thing.

That's enough to get you started...

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Shampoo Mystery

I'm torn when it comes to shampoo. Do you get what you pay for? I have used Suave for 99 cents (remember when it was 99 cents?) and I have used Aveda for a lot more for a lot less. I don't believe my hair has looked any different, either way. As I've mentioned before, I make no claim to be any skills in the hair styling department. So what will the $15 tube of shampoo do for me that the $3 bottle won't? And another burning question I have always had...if I buy Paul Mitchell at Shopko (Midwest department store) or Walgreens, is it really NOT the real thing? It's priced like it's the real thing, but I have seen salons post warnings that products purchased anywhere but the salon are not real...such important things to contemplate on this Monday morning (NOT!).

I have discovered a shampoo and conditioner that I really really like. It's sort of like the little bears story...it's not too cheap and it's not too pricey. I learned about it in Good Housekeeping Mag, and it's called Paves. The name is for Ken Paves, who apparently is a hair stylist to the stars a la Jessica Simpson. $5+ at Walgreens for the shampoo and the same price for the conditioner. It smells like a salon product. Doesn't lather much, but according to Paves, lather isn't all that necessary anyway. If this is a salon guy selling his wears at pharmacy prices, it sounds like the best of both worlds...count me in!

I Can't Stress Enough...It Pays to Ask!

Once again, this weekend I encountered an opportunity to save money for my family. Actually, it's something I have posted about previously, with a twist. I have previously noted that Direct TV will turn off your service if you will be out of town more than 7 days. It's a very simple process that can be accomplished via their automated system.

Well, about 2 weeks ago I turned off our service via the automated system. This past Friday, when I turned on our tv, POOF, we had service. Not a good sign. I called D TV and was informed that my request 2 weeks ago never processed. Now, I could have left it at that, but I didn't. I explained that I turned off our service via the automated system. I was told they do not have a tracking system for requests made that way, and if I would hold a few minutes, they would credit my account the said number of days I had wished to not have service. Just. Like. That. After about 10 minutes (can't say D TV is lightening quick in the customer service department), my account was credited $20.

Maybe you don't have satellite tv. Maybe you don't have a tv. Really, it doesn't matter. The point is that if you keep track of your expenses, you will find areas to save...stretch those dollars just as far as they will go!