Favorite Freebie: Book Club

Any book lovers out there?

I admit it.
Guilty as charged.
Wholeheartedly.

One thing I've done consistently in my life
is make sure I'm involved in a
book club.

Can't find one?
Start one.

Meet at someone's house.
Meet at your favorite coffee shop.
Meet at you fave place for a quick sammie
or a long lunch.

This is what I know about
Book Clubs.

They make you read.
Knowing you have a "must be read" deadline
lights the book-reading
fire under you.

It's a good thing.

Book Clubs open doors to books
you wouldn't normally chose for yourself.

Another good thing.

Chat with the ladies.
Commiserate.
Connect.
Use your brain.

This is our book pick this month.
Bossypants
Tina Fey

Just started it.
Found myself laughing out loud
waiting for my daughters next track event
while others looked on
wondering who the crazy lady was.

I didn't care.
It was that funny.

Oh goodie.
I've only just begun the book.
I know I've got more laughing to do.

Got a good book club?
Would love to hear about it...

Favorite Freebie - PICNIK

Just discovered this.
Love.

I think you will, too!

Peeps, meet Picnik

This website allows you to do really nifty,
cool things with your photos.

Oh.
And it's absolutely FREE.
Who doesn't love FREE?

Check it out...

Original Photo

After applying 'BOOST'
(what did I tell ya?)

*Home pics of our pad left behind in San Diego

Original Photo

After applying 'HDR-ish' effect

Original Photo

After applying 'CinemaScope'

Cool, huh?

One more for the road...
Original Photo

After applying 'Cross Process'

You can even add text and symbols.

Makes me a better "photographer".
Don't you think?

Do we not love modern technology?

Take a sec.
Stop on by and play around a bit.

Let me know what you think.

Fellow Bloggers...Check This Out!

SHUTTERFLY

EXTRAVAGANZA!

50 FREE
holiday cards
to all bloggers in blogger land?

Yes, it's true.

I checked it out.

Write +150 words in a blog post
boasting of your favorite
SHUTTERFLY
Holiday Card.
Post some of your favs
and, hello,
50 free holiday cards.

With all the expenses of the Holiday season this is one you
will not have to worry about.

Order your favorite Holiday Product.
They deliver it to your home.
Easy, Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.

Say no more.
Done.

How's that for a Favorite Freebie?

Even if you aren't a blogger...
take advantage of this great
online, photo sharing website.

I know you've heard of SHUTTERFLY?

Here is some of what
they offer this season:

Flat Photo Cards
You can get this one for as little as
$.44 a card
This one even allows you to offer a small family update

Personalized Calendars
$19.99
Perfect for Grandma and Grandpa

Even Photo Books
For Around $11.00
Perfect gift for the person who has everything!

This is a great offer for bloggers and even non-bloggers.
Check out their website.

Let me know if you find anything!

As always,


for visiting...

Walking into Winter

Not sure about you but it's been a bit chilly around here...
Temperatures have been hanging around the 40's.
That's pretty cold for this California girl.

With the height of fall now behind us, I watch leaves drop leaving trees
looking more bare as we walk into winter.

This is the view from my morning walk.

Enjoy...





Ha. Had to snap this shot.
This is what they do to the trees to prevent electrical injury.

As always, thanks for visiting.

New York City Inspiration

We are headed up to NYC for the first time.

I can't wait to get inspired with street fashion only found in New York.

You can't deny the individual style going on here.

Images found from
The Sartorialist

One of my fav blogs to get inspired by.

What inspires you?

And don't forget one important factor...
Inspiration is absolutely FREE!

As always, thanks for visiting.

Miss Frugality Shares Her tips

Do you ever run out of money
before you run out of month?

Requested by a Simply Brookes fan
(yeah for fans!)

I decided to post some of my personal favorite
money saving tips when the budget gets tight.

Here are a few things I do when I don't want to zip the credit card,
but use what limited budget is actually in the bank account, however small.

1. Rather than head to the mall, head to the walking trail.
This will kill time, it's good for you and it's free!
Free workout...no membership fees
$0

2. Rent a movie.
Rather than take your family to a movie theater and
pay exorbitant prices for tickets and snacks. Stay home,
order a movie OnDemand, watch in the comfort of your own home and
eat your favorite pantry snacks.
Entertainment at home.
$5

3. Eat in.
Pack your lunch when you leave for the day.
If you are running errands, come home to eat!
This one is a slippery slope.
Simply put...EAT AT HOME.
Hello PB&J.
$0

4. Clean a closet.
Take the time to sort through that utility closet you've been telling yourself
you need to go through. Better yet, actually MAKE MONEY by setting aside items
you can sell on craigslist or clothing you could sell at your local consignment shop.
Potential to actually make $$!

5. Catch up on your reading list.
Relax in your favorite reading nook and read that book you've been meaning to get to.
(Hopefully you even got it at the library...another money saver).
More entertainment at home.
$0

6. Take the family out for ice cream instead of dinner.
That's right. Eat at home (Top Roman, anyone?) and for a "treat" pack the kids in the car
and trek down to your nearest and dearest local Golden Arches. You can get sundaes or ice cream cones for less than $1.50...and that is all without even getting out of the car.
Cheap Treats.

7. Go to a FREE museum or monument.
Walk around, eat your sack lunch, go home.
Perfect day of no spending.
Entertainment for free.
$0

8. Wash the car.
No, I don't mean the kind you drive thru and let the guys hand dry.
Heck, you will burn calories doing this yourself.
Put some elbow grease into it.
Get out the vacuum and don't forget the Armor All.
$0

Hopefully that gave you some ideas or revived some oldies but goodies.
Tell me ways YOU stretch your budget at the end of the month.

I love this stuff...

As always, thanks for visiting.

Favorite Freebie...Being Gracious

This is one I'm constantly working on

BE GRACIOUS...DAILY

I have realized at my 40 plus years,
to live this
you will be rewarded many times over.

Here is what I know brings happiness:

1. Be slow to take credit...
quick to give praise
(who doesn't love the humble achiever?)

2. Thank those in your life, often.
(This is true for the grocery clerk or for your most loved ones,
put it in writing and it is even more home hitting)

3. Being gracious does not monopolize conversation.
(It's always nice to hear what others have to offer)

4. Pay attention to people
(People like to be "heard". It makes them feel important)

5. Be mindful of what comes out of your mouth...
(Think before you speak...I work on this daily and fail often)

6. Point out the good
(Even with the most difficult chapters in life, you can always find the good )


7. Have Positive Energy
(be the person people enjoy being around)


I pray to be this person daily.

I don't always succeed.

How are YOU GRACIOUS in your life?
Would love to hear how you do this...

As always, thanks for visiting.

*for more on tips on being a gracious person try this link

Favorite Freebie...Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering can actually add
up to 10 years to your life!


Whether your heart is motivated by

a charity,

your kid's school,

church,

a community running race,

local recreation sports,

or a non-profit organization...

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME!

Here is a bit about why this is my Favorite Freebie this week:


"volunteers maintain mental alertness, create a more positive outlook on life, benefit from increased social interaction, enjoy a sense of purpose and belonging, and increase brain endorphins that provide natural tranquilizing qualities we all need"

You can volunteer once a week, once a day or once a year.
Pinpoint your passion.
Give your time or your talent.
It makes you feel good.
It will give you reward that no amount of money can ever do.

Be the type of person who gives back...
Show your kids the benefit of giving back,
do it as a family, teach those habits.

If you are at a loss to where to start here are some ideas:
kidshealth.org
volunteeringinamerica
volunteermatch

Tell me how YOU give back, donate your time or donate your talent.

As always, thanks for visiting.

Favorite Freebie... A Reading List

As I spent this past week or so sightseeing and spending time with my family I got to enjoy life through the eyes of another. While my darling mother was being dragged on running trails, through the Tidal Basin and off to soccer tournaments she managed to steal away with enough time to read a book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I'd been raving about lately.


Here is Grandma in the favorite family reading spot.
(She's also going to kill me when she sees I posted this picture in her jim jams)

As I listened to her excitement throughout the story and each turn the plot took I thought about my own favorite reads. I have mentioned my favorite freebie, the library, before and still stand by it.

This is why having a reading list is my favorite freebie this week.

I do so love books and actually keep a "book book" (thank you Kim Stansel for letting me copy your bright idea) to record all that I have read and all that I want to read
(have I mentioned I have a terrible memory, hence, the "book book").


I am asking you, my loyal blog visitors, if you'd be so bold to leave your comments on favorite books YOU'VE read. I'd love to hear the titles of YOUR favorite 5 or even A favorite if you can't actually pin down THE favorite (impossible if you ask me).

Here is my humble attempt at nailing down five worthy favorites:

Favorite Five (...in no particular order)

1. Book Thief, By Markus Zusak


2. Angela's Ashes, By Frank McCourt


3. Outlander, By Diana Gabaldon
(*Beware, this one might be a bit racy)




4. Poisonwood Bible, By Barbara Kingsolver



5. The Kite Runner, By Khaled Hosseini


Again, this is just Five of my favorites from a long list of favorites. Any of these are definitely worth picking up if you haven't already done so. I am always looking for great reads and LOVE to hear about ones that will go on "my list".

As always, thank you for visiting.

PLEASE leave me your comments and add to my list of favorite reads...

Favorite Freebie...Love Your Moms

Love your mom.
Plain and simple.
Show your kids how to do this.

There are so many returns on this, I can't even begin.

It is free.
You will get back a million times what you put in...and then some.

This is MY beautiful mom
(Not bad for a senior citizen, eh?)

This is my mom with my family on our family trip to the happiest place on earth.
It wouldn't be the same without her to enjoy it with.
(Okay, maybe everyone doesn't take their moms with them on family vacations.
That's okay,too.)

I love my mom and try to show my kids that respect of a parent.
I'm lucky...I get that back a kazillion times over.
I already feel the tradition has caught on.
My kids take great care of me
(even when I embarrass them in front of their friends).

I am so lucky to have been blessed with the most positive, caring, loving
and well meaning mother in the world.

Here are some ways (another list) we show our love to grandma:

I call her every day

I cook her meals to thank her for all the meals she has made me

I am honest with her
(even when it might not be pretty)

I tell her I love her each opportunity I get

I say sorry when I should

I hold her hand

I respect her privacy

I send Facebook messages to her
(yes, she is my FB friend)

I play scrabble with her

I try to be a bragger not a nagger

I pray with her

I thank my mom for who she is



I not only love my mom, but I like her.

She let's me know every single day
she believes in me and is my biggest fan.

I want to be that kind of mom to my own children.

Love.
It is free.
It comes back to you.

It may be easier at times than others, but it is still a good thing.

Love your mom.

Please share with me the ways YOU show your family how you love YOUR mom.

(I love this stuff...)

Favorite Freebie...Get Moving!

waldenofaurora.com

blackstonedaily.com

activerain.com

cityofmelfort.ca

san-diego-beaches-and-adventures.com

expect-to-fly.blogspot.com

echotanc.com

Have you guessed it by now?

No membership fees...

No equipment required...

No start up costs...

You can usually find them within mere miles from your house,
sometimes just steps away.

You guessed it!
Walking paths, running paths, trails, whatever you want to call them.
They are everywhere.
And if you are lucky enough to live in a planned community they are usually built in!

This is free health, people.
All you need are sneakers.
Who doesn't have a pair of sneakers? Walking shoes?
Shoot, you could probably go in flip flops if you had to...
or even bare feet if your path is on the beach.

It's a great freebie with many many benefits.

Grab a friend.
Find your nearest walking trail, bike path, beach or running course.
They are out there.
All you need to do is find them.

Take 30-60 minutes a day (everyday) and walk, talk, run, roller blade, whatever.

Do it for your kids.
Do it for your life.
Do it for your future.

It's free. It's easy.

Just do it.

Share your story, if you have one,
of how you get in your exercise without gym memberships.