Category Archives: Uncategorized

Follow Me!

Screen shot of PinterestOne of the things that came out of the survey is the fact that I’ve never mentioned that you can follow me on social media. I guess it felt kind of weird and maybe a little narcissistic. But I need to get over it. Self-promotion is key in this business of life.

Speaking of life, some people like the more “life-ie” aspects of my blog and that’s totally cool. You can get yo’ fill of the life stuff by following me on social media. I have follow me buttons on the right sidebar on this page, but I know some of you read this blog in a RSS reader and may not see the buttons. So here are all the ways you can stalk follow muah!

Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
Google+

I’m most active on Instagram and Pinterest. I’d also suggest following me in your favorite RSS reader. The one I personally use is Bloglovin’.

See you on the interwebz.

love,
melanie

Thank You!

Photo c/o John Ashcroft on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theilluminated/

Photo c/o John Ashcroft on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theilluminated/

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out my survey. I’m incredibly grateful. You all are so positive and encouraging. After a doozy of a weekend, it was such a treat to read your lovely comments. I’ve got so many ideas swimming around in my noggin’ and ya’ll made some great suggestions for this little square of the blogosphere. I’ll keep the survey open until Friday (3/21) in case anyone out there still wants to take it.

Thanks again! I’d give everyone out there an ice-cream cone if I could.

love, love, love,
melanie

The Gardener’s Reading List

Is it too early to call myself a gardener? Probably. But I’ve been researching like it’s my job. Well, really, research is my job. It’s my day job… or my night job. I’m technically the evening librarian. Whatever works.

I recently took the Myers-Briggs personality test for work and it said that I’m a sensor which can mean that I like to give too much details and ramble. I need to control that. So without further ado, here’s what I’ve been reading in preparation for warm weather!

Growing Veggies

514EATQNkWL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible
The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible gets great reviews on Amazon and was written with beginning gardeners as the intended audience. That’s me. And it claims to be the bible for vegetable gardener’s so I’m relying on this one heavily for a beginner’s reference guide.

 

 

 

The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast51E7ayNJ7IL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_
I’m still very much the novice gardener, but I know that growing veggies in the Southeast will be very different than growing veggies elsewhere. This guide should help me with regionally specific information based on weather and climate.

 

 

 

Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening51Me-evQWIL
What interested me about this book is how plants can naturally benefit from each other. Symbiosis is so exciting!

 

 

 

 

 

Grow Cook Eat: A Food Lover’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening including 50 recipes, plus harvesting and storage tips 51YcjpN6V4L._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_

Grow Cook Eat has an ambitious scope; it covers gardening, recipes and storage of vegetables. I love ambition and I love that this book takes readers through the entire process of growing and eating your own food.

 

 

 

Preserving Veggies
I’m just as excited about growing veggies as I am about preserving them!

Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving A17ENc0DoGL._SY450_
Many of my beautiful readers recommended this book as the go-to guide to canning staples. As much as I love my library books, I think I’ll end up purchasing this one for reference.

 

 

 

 

51JZjm2LTsL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_

Canning For a New Generation
Canning for a New Generation is an absolutely gorgeous book. The pictures alone make my mouth water! Something that isn’t always the case with canned food. The Ball book is more for classic canning recipes and I’m hoping this one provides something a little more exotic!

 

 

 

Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches Year-Round51nywEGQJoL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_
I would love to can 20 pounds of pickles, but that just won’t work with my small space. I also love that this book emphasizes year-round canning. The author even explains how to can nut butters! I hope this book will carry my enthusiasm for canning through even the winter months!

 

 

 

 

 

I want to thank everyone for their kind gardening tips and book recommendations. I’m off to read and dream about spring!

love,
melanie

How to Make Doughnuts from Canned Biscuits!

Canned Biscuit Doughnuts with Powdered SugarShopping with my mom is always an adventure. She’s a couponer, so the excursion always involves a lot of math and ends in exhaustion. By the end of the trip, I’m a certified shopping sherpa. Last time we went shopping with my mom, George spotted a doughnut maker that with a coupon was a whopping $5. It was a steal, but we have no room for a doughnut maker the size of a George Foreman Grill. To pry George away from the doughnut maker, I had to promise to make real, glutenous doughnuts.

Biscuit DoughnutsI could have baked up the doughnuts from scratch, but sometimes you just need to take the easy way out. And believe it or not, this is the way my grandma used to make doughnuts, homemade, straight from the can.

Canned Biscuit DoughnutsIngredients:
1 can of pop and bake biscuits
Vegetable oil or the oil of your choice
1 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 tsp of milk

Heat approximately 1/2 inch of oil on medium-low in a cast iron pan. Pop the can of biscuits. Separate the biscuits from each other and each biscuit top from the bottom. This creates a thinner doughnut that will fry easier. At this point you can cut a hole in the middle of the doughnut or leave it au natural. George insisted that they weren’t real doughnuts without the hole.

Once the oil is bubbling slightly around the edges, drop the doughnuts gently into the oil. When they puff up and start turning golden brown, flip them over and cook the other side.

When both sides are cooked, remove from the oil and place on a paper towel. While the doughnuts are cooling, mix up the glaze. Simply add the milk and vanilla to the powdered sugar and mix! Then dip the doughnuts in the glaze. If you really want to guild the lily, finish with more powdered sugar.

What are your favorite recipe hacks? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

The Dermatologist’s Cure for Dry Skin

The Dermatologist's Cure for Dry SkinI regularly call myself a dry, old corn cob. I have naturally dry skin, but I also love to sit directly in front of a heater. It’s one of my vices. What can I say. I’ve tried countless products for dry skin and all of them have failed. After putting up with my alligator skin for way too long, I decided to take a little trip to the dermatologist.

Thankfully I wasn’t diagnosed with Eczema, but I did spend an $80 specialist co-pay, so I was hoping to get some prescription lotion out of the deal. But instead, my dermatologist gave me the best over the counter cure for dry skin. It’s way better than any prescription because I can share it with you all!

Before you shower, brush your body (sounds weird, right?) with a dry brush. Dry brushing will brush that old, dry skin right off. Then, shower with moisturizing soap, like Dove. When you get out of the shower, blot yourself off with a towel and apply baby oil. I like the kind with aloe. Let the baby oil soak in a bit. Brush your teeth or do something to distract yourself for a few minutes. Just don’t rub on anything! Baby oil can stain walls. Again, blot yourself dry. And this is the most important part, apply Cetaphil RestoraDerm moisturizer. The regular brand Cetaphil doesn’t cut it. The RestoraDerm version really locks in the moisture.

This isn’t truly a budget way to cure dry skin, but it’s the only thing that’s worked for me. I usually try to use my drugstore coupons to buy the lotion which is the most expensive part of this cure.

I’m so glad to have kissed my alligator skin goodbye. Now if I could only find a lip balm this moisturizing!

love,
melanie

Snow Day!

Airstream in the snowy woodsI know that everyone in the Northeast is probably like “Yawn, we get 4 inches of snow every day.” But in the South, we can go the whole year without any snow. When we have even the threat of snow everyone runs out to get bread and milk and becomes meteorologists from watching the weather report so often. We’ve only had snow twice this year, so the novelty hasn’t worn off yet. Oh yeah and in the South, we get snow days for 4 inches of powder, so we’re all pretty excited.

Just a man in the snow

Airstream with icicles! Check out those icicles!

Pulling the sled Come on ya big oaf!I’m mushing as fast as I can!Sled boarding?A new extreme sport?

Snowy woodsThe woods are lovely dark and deep.

I’m a warm weather girl all the way but I sure am thankful for a snow day every now and again.

How’s the weather in your parts? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

 

 

16 Ways to Save Money on Booze

Save Money on BoozeOk, I know what you’re thinking: This girl is a lush. I’m not a lush, ya’ll. I’m just cheap. And I did happen to go one of the biggest party schools in America. But we don’t need to break a heel, fall in a bush and pee ourselves to save money on alcohol. We can be classy about it.

Here’s the best ways I’ve found to save money on alcohol and still save our dignity.

At home

  1. Shop at discount stores
    Discount grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Aldi are unbeatable for cheap wine. Trader Joe’s carries the infamous “3 buck Chuck” bottles of wine and Aldi carries the Winking Owl brand for a whopping $2.89. And if you are anything like me, you can’t tell much difference between a cheap bottle of wine and an expensive one.
  2. Alternative packaging
    No judging here, folks. Boxed wine doesn’t have to be trashy, pour it in a glass and keep it classy. Boxed wine is a huge money saver. At Trader Joe’s ounce for ounce, the boxed wine is cheaper than the bottles of 3 buck chuck. So check your ounces, check your prices and check your snobbery at the door.
  3. Buy wholesale
    If you have a membership to Costco or Sam’s Club you can rack up big savings on mid-range wine and beer. I’ve never seen prices as low as TJ’s or Aldi, but if you have more of a refined palate, buying wholesale at Costco or Sam’s could save you some big bucks.
  4. Buy airplane or single bottles to test
    I hate buying a whole bottle of something just to figure out that it tastes like shoe polish. Airplane bottles of alcohol are great for taste testing and many stores will now let you mix and match 4 or 6 packs of beer. Tasting party, anyone?
  5. Cook with it!
    Can’t stand that bottle of wine you bought? Cook with it! Pinterest has taught me oh-so-many wonderful things including the fact that you can make wine into candy! Unsavory beer can go into stew and tequila can marinate chicken!
  6. Learn how to make a proper drink
    If you are a budding mixologist, it can be difficult to get the right proportions in any mixed drink. Luckily, we have the magic of the Internet in our homes and there is free and helpful advice for making drinks right there at your fingertips. In fact, here’s a few recipes from your’s truly. Here. Here and here. 
  7. Don’t be brand-loyal
    Brand loyalty can crush your wallet and your dreams. Ok, that was dramatic, but brand loyalty isn’t going to help you save money. Often times just switching out your imported liquor for a domestic brand will cut costs. And 9 times out of 10 you won’t even be able to tell the difference.
  8. Home brew wine and beer
    Home brewing wine and beer is legal in the U.S. Homebrewing liquor, not so much. I’ve seen some super simple home brew set ups online and I think home brewing might just be my next big DIY project. Has anyone had luck with home brewing? As always, let me know in the comments.

When dining out

  1. Taste test
    Some bars and restaurants will give you a small thimble-sized taste before ordering a drink to ensure that you will be happy with it. If your bar doesn’t offer that service get the server to describe the drink to you in detail. Be clear about what you want and if you aren’t happy, let someone know. Bad drinks can be saved or remade. Just remember to be super polite and tip well!
  2. Research happy hours
    Happy hour specials are made to lure people in before the crowds– usually 5pm-7pm. Happy hour doesn’t have a cover charge and often has great specials. The restaurant I worked at in college offered free appetizers and drinks at ridiculously low prices. There are happy hour deals to be found, people.
  3. Skip drinks when dining out
    If you really want to save some dough, skip the drinks when dining out. It’s lame. I know. But you can drink when you get home. Drinks are double, triple and even quadruple the price when you are dining out.
  4. Ask for water with your drink
    If you must drink with dinner, because yes, sometimes we must, ask for a water with your drink. Water will help you from guzzling and it will help with dehydration from alcohol. Wins all around.
  5. Ask for a double
    This one is a little risky. You’ll need to check with your bartender or server first, but at some  restaurants if you order a double, you’ll get it cheaper than ordering two drinks. If you know you’ll be partaking in more than one beverage that evening, ordering a double may be a tricky way to save some dough. Just make sure you sip and don’t treat it as a single! We don’t want any Sloppy Susans.
  6. Pre-game
    This is the oldest college rule in the book, but if you drink before you go out, you’ll end up spending less at the bar. I’m pretty sure I learned this in my freshman orientation class. Just make sure you have a D.D.!
  7. Order the house drink
    The house wine or beer is always going to be cheaper than the other stuff on the menu. Also make sure you ask about specials. Restaurants and bars will put deep discounts on drinks that they have too many of or may be reaching their expiration date.
  8. BYOB
    Many restaurants will let you bring your own beverage. Just make sure you call ahead for this service. Some restaurants will still charge a “corking fee,” but if their wine is incredibly expensive, it’ll still save you a few bucks.

I don’t think I have to say it, but always remember to drink responsibly and tip your bartender!

What tips and tricks do you have to save money on booze? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

Crustless Quiche

gluten free, dairy free quiche If there was an Olympics for taking on more than you can handle, I’d be winning the gold, silver and bronze. And it’s my fault, I know. I seek out the craziness. It’s one of my very few character faults. 🙂

I knew this week was going to be brutal, so I planned ahead. I’m also good like that. Here’s one of my favorite plan-ahead breakfasts. It’s great for those days when even making a smoothie is too time-consuming. Just grab, go and heat it up at work before your morning meeting. Or cram it in your mouth while changing lanes on your morning commute. 

crustless, gluten-free quicheIngredients
1 lb of ground sausage
Veggies of your choice (I used sautéed zucchini and topped with tomatoes)
6 eggs
1 cup of almond (or regular) milk
1/4 cup of nondairy liquid creamer (or half-and-half)

Brown sausage and sauté your veggies. Wisk eggs, milk and creamer together. Add sausage and veggies to egg mixture. Top with tomatoes if you want to make it look half-way presentable. If not, I won’t judge. This is a working (wo)man’s breakfast. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees until the center is set– about 30 minutes.

Easy as quiche.

love,
melanie

Guest Posting and Goals

 

Pic courtesy of andthenwesaved.com

Pic courtesy of andthenwesaved.com

So, did you guys know I’ve been doing a little guest posting on other blogs? No? How would you know? I haven’t told you! Well, I have been doing a little guest posting on AndThenWeSaved, a personal finance blog. My first guest post went live earlier this week. It was a piece on how to save money on textbooks– something I’m totally passionate about. I hate to see students spend their hard-earned beer money on textbooks!

One of my blogging goals is to get out there more, do more guest posting and get my name noticed. I recently read that you aren’t supposed to tell people your goals because it makes you feel more accomplished than you really are. But I call BS! I think people are too secretive about dumb things like goals. Let’s all share our goals, talk about our dreams, plan them out and then carry them out with intention. It’s about empowerment, not secretiveness. It’s about being honest with our struggles and helping others through honesty and love.

What are some of your goals? How can I help you achieve those goals?

with love, intention and honesty,
melanie

A New Look!

cropped-lovelibrarybannersmall.jpgThe blog got a new look! George designed this awesome new header and logo for me. The Airstream looks so cute and I think he really captured the spirit of what I’m trying to do here. I also updated the theme and changed a few features. Do you like it?

I’ve been trying for most of the summer to make the blog look a little more professional. I changed over to self-hosting and I’ve been trying to write more. It’s a work in progress, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I’m the kind of person who wants everything now, now, now, so it has been a definitely been a test of patience to redesign the blog on my own.

Now if I can only learn how to make those cute clickable social media icons we’ll be in business!

love and patience,
melanie