Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

cforms contact form by delicious:days

The Miracle Mile is a must see for all ages, which Sacramento Magazine highlighted in their April 2008 edition and can be found at http://www.sacmag.com/media/Sacramento-Magazine/April-2008/1-Day-Getaway-/.  My day in Stockton was a great escape that didn’t break the bank.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

For more information on Verna Dunshee Trail visit www.parks.ca.gov or www.mttam.net.

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Crust:
    11/2 cups flour
    magarine
    1 tbsp maple syrup
 
Cut magarine into flour add enough until crumbly and like dough
Add maple syrup
Mix well and press into Pam sprayed pie dish. set aside.

Filling:
    1 container tofutti cream cheese
    1 cup maple syrup
    1/2 can plain coconut milk
    about 3/4 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
    1 tsp coconut extract
    dried unsweetened diced pineapple
    (Enough to lightly cover bottom of pie dish, reconstitute with hot water and drain)

Blend cream cheese and maple syrup together. Then fold in coconut milk, coconut flakes and coconut extract. Stir well.  Take pineapple spread around prepared pie dish.  Pour filling over top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until top seems to have set.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

1-Chop as much onion as you like

2-Heat med to large non stick skillet with a small amount of oil or non stick spray

3-Add onion to heated skillet

4-Crumble portion of firm tofu (not silken) in skillet

5-Season as desireed.  I personally use SPIKE (found in the natural food dept), garlic salt and salsa, but you can experiment with whatever you wish

6-Break egg into skillet and combine with tofu (optional)
**I add pinquitos (seasoned beans) and avacado, which adds even more substance

7-Finish with a small portion of cheddar cheese (optional)

8-Serve with tortilla chips or toast and potatoes

The entire process takes less than 10 minutes.  The Vegan Tofu Scramble / Vegetarian Tofu Scramble is full of protein, so it won’t leave you hungry and will be sure to satisfy.  Happpy Eats

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

There are some simple steps to start the process of becoming a donor, as follows:

1-Sign up with your State’s Organ and Tissue Registry and get typed

4-Put a declaration in your medical file and discuss your decision with your doctor

Over 92,000 people are waiting on the U.S. organ transplant list for the gift of life. Each day, about 74 people receive transplants. Due to the shortage of donated organs in 2005 nearly 6,500 people died waiting for an organ transplant. That translates to 19 people dying each day.

Additional Organ Donation Statistics

• Nearly 93,000 men, women and children are currently waiting for life-saving transplants.
• Every 12 minutes another name is added to the UNOS National Transplant Waiting List.
• In 2005, there were 21,215 deceased organ donors and 6,895 living organ donors for a total of 28,110 organ transplants.
• In 2005, 44,000 grafts were made available for transplant by U.S. transplant banks.
• Approximately 1,000,000 tissue transplants are performed each year.

Current Organ Donations Statistics

• Waiting List Candidates: 92,925 as of 9/17/06 2:50 pm
• Transplants Done: From January - June 2006 14,697
• Donors: From January - June 2006 7,461

Sources:
Donate Life America. Donation Statistics. At: http://www.donatelife.net/facts_stats.html
UNOS. 2006. Data. Statistics updated by the Minute. At: http://www.unos.org/
Organdonor.gov Home Page. At: http://organdonor.gov/
Mayo Clinic Staff. 2006. Organ donation: Don’t let myths stand in your way. At: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organ-donation/FL00077

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

Every now and then all home owners are looking for a face lift for their dwelling, without breaking the bank, so I’ve compiled my personal list of frugal home remodel ideas.

Let me say that I used to only consider solid wood options, but over time I’ve found that it’s just not practical, since options aren’t readily avalable or affordable. Having said that you’ll probably have the best luck at garage sales, thrift stores and swap meets and moreover laminate isn’t all bad and there are a lot of great options, like at Ikea.

One great option is changing the paint color to a room can be just the pick up a space needs, however I like to keep the walls white and infuse color and texture in my accessories. On that note, I like unique accessories, as such I usually use shells, stones and other pieces from trips I’ve taken. You’ll also see this in the memory frames I’ve compiled, as well as the decor in our guest room shown here. I’ve also chosen to use an old bedroom drawer of my husband’s that I repurposed for storage and the upside is that it didn’t cost a cent, other than some paint and upgraded hardware (cost: < $10).

Some other Frugal Home Remodel Ideas, include:

-Buying a new shower curtain and exchange items from other rooms. I did this today and dyed an existing throw rug and it looks great.

-Making an extra room into a multi purpose room. I did this to my husband’s office/studio, as you’ll see in the pics herein. We put an inexpensive futon in, so it makes for a great sitting area or a quick place to crash in a pinch and we placed a throw rug on top to add some character.

Kitchens and bathrooms are quite often the most expensive ventures you’ll make, if you wish to do a complete remodel visit Ikea Kitchen Secrets; you’ll find a lot of help for a lot less than your normal remodel. However, I have a few Frugal Home Remodel Ideas to suggest.  For example, floors can be quite expensive, but I have used and love Traffic Master Lino Tiles (see pic <insert>).  The next step up is ceramic or stone tile, which will take more time and money, but it will definitely increase the value and appearance of your space.  You can visit your local Lowe’s, Home Depot or other hardware stores for advice and their personal expertise, but the key is not to be affraid.

Other do it yourself projects include refinishing cabinets on your own, either with stain or paint and upgrading the hardware will often improve the appearance of just about any piece, quickly and with little money, as you saw in the pics of the bedroom dresser in our guest room. 

Hopefully, this has been of some help, but please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

This is a healthier option to the regular flour based version, but still plenty yummy.

½ Pound (2 Sticks) Softened Margarine or Butter
1 ½ Cup of Brown Sugar
¼ Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
Splash of Vanilla
1 ½ Cups of Flour
Dash of Baking Powder
3 Cups Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned
1 Bag of Chocolate Chips 

1. Heat Oven to 350
2. Beat Margarine and Sugars
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla
4. Add Flour and Baking Powder Mixture
5. Stir in Oats
6. Add Chocolate Chips
7. Drop Mixture by the Spoonful onto a Cookie Sheet
8. Bake 10 to 12 Minutes Until Golden Brown
9. Makes about 4 Dozen

We then moved to Calistoga, which is only a 15 minute drive from Angwin and there you can find several eateries and boutiques around every corner.  I personally recommend Main Element for art and unusual jewelry, they are located at 1333A Lincoln Avenue and their phone number is 707-942-6347, as well as   The Calistoga Inn, www.calistogainn.com, 1250 Lincoln Avenue, 707-942-4101 which is located directly off a creek, and makes for a great place to have lunch or for an overnight stay.

There are a lot of great parks and places to just relax, so you can even pick up a quick sandwich and still make a great day out of it.  Last, but not least Calistoga is home to the famous hot springs, as well as the several day spas and mud baths.

Spending a day in the California wine country is a great getaway that won’t leave you disappointed.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

You will need to replace the protein you were getting from chicken, fish, and meat to feel good and stay healthy. Subsequently, I eat a lot of beans, nuts and tofu (the other white meat), and supplement it with a limited of vegetarian meat. A lot of people, women in particular eliminate essentials like nuts and eggs, because they are higher fat foods, but they are good fats and eating them in moderation is essential to good health. Everyone should eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, but these are a main stay for vegetarians and should comprise a large portion of your diet. I eat salads with non fat dressing at least two to three times a week and I incorporate vegetables into everything.

Following up on the matter of vegetarian meats, there are a lot of great out there, but I only eat a limited amount of it since it’s often expensive and high in fat. Here’s a snapshot of items I personally eat and like:

• Cedar Lake Chops (Canned) 0 grams of fat
• Morning Star Chick Patties (Frozen) 5 grams of fat. Super Yummy
• Loma Linda Big Franks (Canned) 6 grams of fat

There are other factors to eating healthy, while living vegetarian, for example eat less processed foods and more whole foods. Here are some personal suggestions:

Breakfast

Whole Grain Cereal, like oatmeal and shredded wheat

Fresh fruit, not juice. Whole fruit has greater volume and fills you up more than juice

Lunch

Avocado sandwich on whole wheat bread with all the veggies you want.

Snack Options

Fruit-preferably apple, orange, grapefruit

Veggies (no dressing)-Celery, Jicama, Cucumbers

Dinner

Whole Wheat Pasta

¼ Head of Broccoli- Separate & Steam. Stems first

3-4 Cloves of Garlic (Crushed)

Portion of Canned Beans (Cannelloni or your choice)

Sun Dried Tomatoes (Soak in warm water)

Can of Artichoke Hearts

Can of Mushroom Pieces

-Cook pasta, until soft but not overdone and set aside

-Steam Brocoli

-Put crushed cloves into separate skillet and sauté with table spoon of Olive Oil

-Add presoaked Sun Dried Tomatoes

-Add broccoli, artichoke hearts & mushrooms

-Cook together on low until ready to serve

**I personally do not use sauce per say, but you may use the sauce of your choice, if you’d like

These are merely suggestions and you will really have to explore options on your own.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

Franchise Tax Board

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/

The department that collects state personal income taxes and bank and corporation taxes for the State of California.

Board of Equalization

http://www.boe.ca.gov/

The Board of Equalization collects California state sales and use tax, as well as fuel, alcohol, and tobacco taxes and fees that provide revenue for state government and essential funding for counties, cities, and special districts. You will have to forward taxes collected at the end or your fiscal year

Secretary of State

http://www.sos.ca.gov/
**For incorporating your company, does not apply to every company

Business Entities (Forms, Samples & Fees)
Filing requirements, name availability, status requests, copies/certificates

Internal Revenue Service

**Does not apply to every company, more so for corporations or if you have employees. The IRS issues Employer ID Numbers, which is required for all entities with staff.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/index.html

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99336,00.html

Employment Development Department

http://www.edd.ca.gov/

**Does not apply to every company, only for those with employees. EDD collects disability and other employee based taxes

Local (City or County)

** For Sacramento City, you will need to look in the area that applies to you.

http://www.finance.saccounty.net/Tax/BusLicGeneral.asp (Online Form)

You will receive a tax bill at the end of each fiscal year, which will be based on your total sales and combined with your renewal fee which is the lowest of all fees you have to pay.

Lastly, don’t get discouraged there are several steps to start a business in California, but I am happy to help.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

1. Remember you are in the minority or in other words there are fewer males than females
2. Do the things you like to start, but maybe in a club or a group you haven’t frequented in the past. Groups are great for meeting people and you are guaranteed to have common interests, which is essential.
3. Try new things that have interested you. Perhaps take a cooking or painting class.
4. If you go somewhere and see someone more than once that interests you arrange a next meeting. This is probably the most important
5. Stay true to yourself and don’t become something you’re not, since you won’t be happy long term and you’ll end up resenting the person you end up with

After you’ve met someone of interest

1. Be confident, but not cocky. After all everyone’s good at something and it’s okay to be proud of it.
2. Be intuitive or what my husband has coined as mind reading.
3. Surprise her and it doesn’t have to be with flowers or jewelry. Just show her that she is important to you
4. Set aside personal time and don’t let her smother or absorb you and vice versa.
5. Don’t look for Ms. Right. Just open yourself up and make yourself available to meet as many woman as possible

In closing, I am 33 years old and have been married for twelve years. I met my husband while I was working at a hardware store and finishing up college. He’s a techie programmer and I am a blonde Barbie type. Meeting & getting the woman/women you want is within your reach.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

Rule one is to have some basic knowledge on these things, so for starters most new cars today need oil changes less frequently than before. For example, did you know that newer Honda Civics only require a change approximately every 8000 miles, if in doubt you can consult your owner’s manual.

Rule two is to identify a Mr. Fix It who is mechanically inclined. They will most always be willing to show off their skills and believe me it’s a lot less expensive than going to a repair shop. If your mechanically inclined guy isn’t willing to do the work ask him to act on your behalf and take your car in for you, because at least he’ll understand what the repair shop is saying.

Rule three is that you can usually take care of some things your own, or with a little help, such as the following:

• Oil / Filter Change
• Replacement of Fuses
• Replacement of Burned Out Bulbs / Lights
• Hose Replacement
• Anti-Freeze Refill and Flush

You may be asking why should I know any of this, I have enough money to pay to have this done? Well, it has been my personal experience that it’s hard to find an honest mechanic who won’t suggest a lot of unnecessary and costly repairs. So you have to know the basics.

Rule Four, if none of these options appeal to you then ask someone you trust, like your Mr. Fix It for a suggestion on a shop. As a side note, the dealer isn’t usually your best bet for honesty, so proceed with caution. Lastly, always ask for the used parts they replaced and take them with you; this way you can always have your Mr. Fix It see if they really needed to be replaced.

Essentially, the same thing goes with home repair, the more you know the better. However, usually home repairs are simpler than car repairs, like painting, patching holes, refinishing wood, installing linoleum tiles, grouting and there’s “how to books” on most everything out there. So go forth fearlessly, with the exception of electrical and plumbing, since you don’t want to get electrocuted or flooded out of your space, then please refer to rule four from above. Take my Girl’s Guide to Car and Home Repair to heart and proceed with caution; there are sharks out there.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

 Personal Safety Tips

1. Use common sense.
2. Always let someone know where you are.  Let someone close to you know your traditional schedule and to expect contact from you at an approximate time.  This will insure someone will look for you if something goes wrong
3. Consider taking some personal defense classes
4. Live in safer neighborhoods.  This is especially for ladies
5. Don’t ever go into areas you know or sense to be sketchy
6. Don’t go anywhere that you know you shouldn’t be after dark.
7. Drive with your doors locked
8. Have the number to your local police department stored in your phone
   (response time is quicker than 911)
9. Keep you cel phone accessible at all times
10. Drive to a police or fire department if you are being followed or are approached. 
    DON’T GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
11. Park in well lit areas
12. Freely give anything a perpetrator may want if you are mugged, because your life is more important than anything material.

By David Watts Barton | From From Sacramento Magazine

Everyone loves a bargain. Here’s our indispensable guide to saving money when you head out to shop.

Sacramento magazine ransacked the racks and prowled the sales floors of dozens of local retailers for the best deals on everything from electronics to wedding gowns. From tried-and-trues (Folsom Premium Outlets, Tuesday Morning) to surprise sources (Nordstrom’s children’s shoe department), we present a roundup of places where you can save some serious dough.

Light Fixtures—At Lumens Annex—the outlet store operated by high-end lighting retailer Lumens Light + Living in midtown—prices are reduced 30, 40, even 50 percent. Recently, a retro-styled pendant lamp from Italian manufacturer Kartell was priced at $119, down from the original $269, and a lacquered torchiere by Spain’s Vibia was reduced from $2,000 to $795. Lumens’ stylish home accessories, from wine holders to place mats, also show up at the Annex for up to 60 percent off. Lumens Annex, 1906 L St., Sacramento; (916) 444-5585; lumens.com

Bed linens—Tuesday Morning stores are the place to find high-quality sheet sets that are marked down substantially. For instance, a sea-foam green set of 500-thread-count Barbara Barry “Dream” percale sheets was recently priced at $120, down from the original $362. An even better deal was a set of 500-thread-count sheets by Italia, marked down from $780 to $169. Tuesday Morning, six area locations; tuesdaymorning.com

Women’s fashion accessories—Nordstrom is known for its high-quality, pricey goods. But if you’re willing to shop in the juniors department (known as Brass Plum), you can snag some great deals on handbags, jewelry and accessories. Recent finds included a chunky pearl-and-ribbon necklace for $16, a slouchy white-pleather hobo bag for $28 and a stylish watch with a faux-croc band and diamanté bezel for $14. And an assortment of fashion-forward Jackie O-style sunglasses were just $10. Who knew Nordstrom could be so affordable? Nordstrom, two area locations; nordstrom.com

Electronics—It’s not the Apple Store—in fact, Fry’s Electronics is the polar opposite of hand-holding, customer-centric Apple. But next to going online, Fry’s may be the best place to get deals on just about anything electronic, from raw motherboards to home-theater systems. And aside from its generally low prices, Fry’s offers some substantial discounts on open-box items (returns and floor samples). One recent example: a Samsung 46-inch high-definition TV, marked down from $2,799 to $1,999. Fry’s Electronics, two area locations; frys.com

* Cheap Tip—At Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in the old Army Depot, you can pick up new and used building supplies, furniture, lighting and other home-related items, donated by local builders and retailers, at 30 to 70 percent off. All proceeds benefit Sacramento Habitat for Humanity. 8351 Umbria Ave., Building 5, Bay 1, Sacramento; (916) 440-1215

Kitchenware—While East Bay Restaurant Supply serves the restaurant trade, it also caters to the home cook looking for a bargain. How does a Le Creuset 2.75-quart soup pot, regularly $129 in most stores, sound at $83? Or how about a nine-piece, stainless steel All-Clad cookware set, list price $900, for $445? There are similar deals on products by Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Waring and other brands in this 17,000-square-foot store. East Bay also holds regular sales, particularly its Summer Expo during the first week in August, when prices drop even more. East Bay Restaurant Supply, 522 N. 12th St., Sacramento; (916) 440-0620; eastbayrestaurantsupply.com

Eyeglasses—A good place to spy a bargain on spectacles is Site for Sore Eyes, a Berkeley-based retailer with three locations in the Sacramento region. You’ll find a selection of half-price frames from lesser-known designers Modo, Elle and Charmant at $99. When you throw in occasional promotions such as a free eye exam and a second pair free, or a storewide, half-off frames sale, the savings can really add up. Site for Sore Eyes, three area locations; siteforsoreeyes.com

Major home appliances—This past winter, Standards of Excellence, the retailer of high-end home appliances, opened a clearance center within its Del Paso Road showroom. There, you can buy floor models, “scratch-and-dents” and products that were used in live demos in the showroom. You have to ask a salesperson to take you back, and it’s a small area, but there are some real bargains to be had. We saw a Bosch stainless steel double oven marked down from $3,149 to $1,735 and a Frigidaire microwave down from $299 to $189. Standards of Excellence, 1200 Del Paso Road, Suite 150, Sacramento; (916) 515-0525; standardsofexcellence.com

Kitchen cabinets—The biggest-ticket item in a kitchen remodel is likely to be the cabinets, especially if you have them custom-made. But if you’re willing to work with stock dimensions, Ikea’s modular, easy-to-hang cabinets will save you 50 percent or more—much more—off custom cabinets. Added bonus: Ikea’s cabinets come in a variety of styles, colors and finishes, and you can put them up yourself, which can save you cabinets-full of money. They have hidden hinges that move smoothly, and they feel surprisingly solid. The cost depends on what you want, and the quality isn’t on a par with custom cabinetry. But with one of Ikea’s Akurum base cabinets for a cooktop coming in between $100 and $200, the prices are unbeatable. Ikea, 700 Ikea Court, West Sacramento; (916) 371-4532; ikea.com

* Cheap Tip—Custom granite countertops can bust a hole in your kitchen-remodeling budget. Opt instead for prefabbed counters from Medimer Marble & Granite. The 25 1/4- by-96-inch-long granite counters come in 13 colors, with side and back splash, and a bull-nose edge. Prices range from $100 to $400 per ready-to-use counter. 3979 N. Freeway Blvd., Sac-ramento; (916) 387-1000; medimermarble.com* Cheap Tip—Fleet Feet Sports, the sports footwear and apparel retailer, offers a frequent-flyer program: For every $250 you spend at one store, you get a $25 store voucher. four area locations; fleetfeetsports.com

Health club membership—There are a bazillion gyms, but the best deal in town has to be at 24 Hour Fitness, with 13 gyms in the Sacramento region. They’re not the best gyms, but they’re also not the worst, and you just can’t beat the price: A year’s membership can cost as little as $100. It depends on what kind of deal you strike and what promotion they’re offering, but if you come up with the first three years’ dues at a higher rate (say, $24 a month), in the fourth year your rate drops to $99 a year. It’s a commitment, but that’s exercise, right? And 24 Hour offers a perk few other gyms can: You can use your membership at most of the chain’s locations around the country, finishing off a day hike in, say, the Marin Headlands with a hot tub and a shower before heading off to dinner in San Francisco. 24 Hour Fitness, 13 area locations; 24hourfitness.com

Women’s shoes—One of the best-kept shopping secrets around is the Nordstrom children’s shoe department, which carries some of the same styles found in the adult shoe department at a fraction of the price. For instance, a pair of Juicy Couture ballerina flats is $225 for women, but $99.95 for girls. Ugg suede boots are $134 for women, $89.95 for girls. You also can find cute kids’-only styles that work for women, too, like Kenneth Cole’s kicky polka-dot wedge sandals, just $38.95. One caveat: You’ll have to have dainty pinkies to shop here; most styles are available only up to women’s size 6 or 8. Nordstrom, two area locations; nordstrom.com

Diamond jewelry—You can find some great deals at the Zales Outlet in Folsom, where solitaires are 20 percent off, and wedding bands and other rings can be reduced as much as 40 percent. And at the back of the store, there’s a case with some lovely rings and earrings that are marked down 60 percent. One flower diamond-cluster ring, with a total of two carats of diamonds, originally $4,720, recently was priced at $1,699. Zales Outlet, Folsom Premium Outlets, 13000 Folsom Blvd., Suite 605, Folsom; (916) 351-1918

Men’s and women’s shoes—Nordstrom Rack is the place to score deals on designer shoes for both women and men. You’ll find bargains like a Michael Kors patent-leather wedge, discounted from $100 to $36.90, or Anne Klein casual heels cut from $79.90 to $36.90. Men get good deals, too: Ecco sneakers, originally $110, were recently priced at $49.90, and a pair of Nike Airs was reduced from $119 to $49. Nordstrom Rack, two area locations; nordstrom.com

Kids’ clothes—For deep discounts, try the clearance racks at the OshKosh B’Gosh outlet at the Folsom Premium Outlets, where a 30 percent discount is taken off already-marked-down items. A pair of pink floral shorts for girls, originally $28, were marked down to $5.99, then got an additional 30 percent off, making them roughly $4—a fraction of the original price. And blue jeans, originally $38, then $9.99, were $6.66 on the clearance racks. OshKosh B’Gosh, Folsom Premium Outlets, 13000 Folsom Blvd., Suite 1530, Folsom; (916) 985-4406

* Cheap Tip—The OshKosh B’Gosh outlet takes an additional 15 percent off if you’re buying for twins, triplets or other multiples.

Women’s designer denim—If you have a problem forking over two benjamins for a pair of jeans, hit the twice-yearly sale at Serendipity Boutique in East Sacramento. Every January and July, the store slashes prices 40 percent on selected women’s designer jeans. During the recent sale, Citizens of Humanity jeans, regularly $189, went for $113, while Red Engine jeans were $92, down from $154. The store also cuts prices on designer fashions; you could have picked up a $537 Trina Turk boucle coat for $270. Serendipity Boutique, 5362 H St., Sacramento; (916) 454-2900; serendipityboutique.com

Women’s everyday jeans—Anybody can look good in a pair of $200 jeans. The trick is to find jeans that flatter your figure without costing an arm and a leg. The Gap’s best-selling Long & Lean jeans do the trick—and at just $49.50 to $59.50 a pair. Made with a hint of Spandex for a slimming look, they’re so good that even Oprah, who could afford 100 pairs of the priciest jeans, swears by ’em. Gap, five area locations; gap.com

CDs—If you’re looking for something besides the new best-selling CD, R5 Records in the old Tower building at 16th and Broadway has some great deals. Prices can dip below $10 a disc. A recent example: Joni Mitchell’s Shine at $12.99. R5 Records, 2500 16th St., Sacramento; (916) 441-2500; r5records.com

* Cheap Tip—The savviest spot to buy fresh flowers is at one of the area’s farmers markets, where you can pick up a bouquet of locally grown blossoms for just $3 to $5. For a list of farmers markets in the region, go to californiagrown.com.

Men’s clothing—At the Kenneth Cole Outlet at the Folsom Premium Outlets, you can find great deals on Cole’s cautiously fashionable dress shirts and slacks, coats and even some shoes, most at 30 percent off the original price. Recent deals included soft cashmere V-neck sweaters, marked down from $79 to $39.97, and zippered black leather ankle boots at $79.96, down from $175. For more savings, sign up for a birthday discount of 20 percent. Kenneth Cole Outlet, Folsom Premium Outlets, 13000 Folsom Blvd., Suite 1550, Folsom; (916) 351-1520

Cosmetics and hair products—At Ulta Beauty stores, you really get bang for your buck. If you buy one item, you often get another one free. Recent examples included hair care products by Sebastian and Redken, all Revlon lipsticks and Almay’s hypoallergenic makeup. Ulta’s 20-percent-off coupons appear almost monthly in the Sunday newspaper, and with a frequent-shopper card you can accumulate points that can be turned into free products or discounted services at the in-store beauty salon. Ulta also is a good source for gift packages all year long. A recent example: LookFusion Essentials kit of four products for lips and lashes—a $125 retail value for $86. Ulta Beauty, six area locations; ulta.com

Men’s business attire—Off 5th, the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet at Folsom Premium Outlets, has some great deals on men’s Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein suits, as well as a wide selection of Saks’ own line of ties, marked down from $85 to $39.99. Check out the Joseph Abboud linen shirts, reduced to $58.90 from $148. And the best recent deal: a camel-hair sport coat, originally $350, marked down to $99.98. Off 5th, Folsom Premium Outlets, 13000 Folsom Blvd., Suite 1100, Folsom; (916) 985-7114

Furniture—For great home furnishings at excellent prices, try Encore! A Builders Clearing House, a clearance center for model-home furnishings in Rancho Cordova. These are new and only slightly used furnishings that Encore’s owner, Kira Moore, has bought from model homes and resells at wholesale or below. “It’s at least 50 percent off retail,” Moore says. “And for art and accessories, it’s more like 70 percent off.” Furniture names include Universal, Broyhill, Lane and Lexington, although you’ll also find knockoffs and imports. Encore! A Builders Clearing House, 11092 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova; (916) 638-1410; 4modelhomefurnishings.com

* Cheap Tip—Pottery World Clearance Center in Sacramento carries discontinued, dinged, demo and overstock items from its Rocklin store. Fountains, pottery, patio furniture and interior furnishings are up to 60 percent off. 5800 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento;
(916) 334-1680; pwdecor.com

Women’s clothing—If you hate to pay retail (and who doesn’t?), shop Macy’s end-of-season sales. To make room for the new season’s fashions, the department store marks down unsold merchandise first 25 percent, then 50 percent and finally a whopping 75 percent. Recent bargains included a pair of Calvin Klein black satin trousers, reduced from $128 to $32, a $218 Tahari blazer, marked down to $54.50, and a New West belted denim jacket, originally $99, priced at $24.75. At those prices, they’re practically paying you to take the stuff off their hands. Macy’s, five area locations; macys.com

Skis and snowboards—This is the time of year to get great deals on ski gear. Sierra Snowboard & Ski comes up the winner in our unofficial poll of area snow bunnies. Because it buys in quantity—this place is Costco-huge—it gets deals that it passes on to customers. Recent examples: a Burton bonded fleece hoodie with built-in headphones, knocked down from $110 to $87, and Anon Majestic goggles with leather-wrapped frames, regularly priced at $150, on sale for $75. During the recent ski season, Sierra offered a selection of Burton’s 2008 factory-seconds snowboards, with slight blemishes in the graphics only, for 30 percent off. For example, Burton’s popular Vapor, which retails for $999, was $699. The only problem is, you get a deal now but have to wait until next winter to enjoy it. Sierra Snowboard & Ski, 5400 Date Ave., Sacramento; (916) 344-1800; sierrasnowboard.com

Bridal gowns—With its splashy midtown showroom, House of Fashion is a Sacramento bridal landmark. But less than two miles away, in East Sacramento, House of Fashion II, the store’s outlet, sells “samples”—dresses that are tried on before an order is made—for about 50 percent off. House of Fashion II carries major designers from Mori Lee and Jim Hjelm to Paloma Blanca and Lazaro. Recent buys included a Scassi gown, originally $2,710, marked down to $1,500, and a $2,900 Lazaro dress with minor, easily fixable damage reduced to $900. You can find wedding gowns here for as little as $50, as well as sample bridesmaid dresses for a jaw-dropping $5. (Sure, they’re stamped with the word sample, but a seamstress can easily fix that.) House of Fashion II has about 2,000 dresses in stock at any time, and inventory is refreshed every two months. House of Fashion II, 3801 J St., Sacramento; (916) 457-7618; hof-sac.com

House paint—You won’t have the infinite variety of choices you’d have if you picked and blended your own color, but if you’re looking to paint something small on the cheap, you can’t do better than The Home Depot’s “oops rack” at the store’s paint counter. There, rejected gallons and quarts of paint, deemed too hot pink or too military green by others, are marked way down. Gallons, normally $25 or more, are $5. Quarts are only a buck. But get there in the morning, say sales staffers, while there are still rejects to choose from. The Home Depot, 10 area locations; homedepot.com

Bikes and bike gear—If you’re looking for a bargain, check out Performance Bicycle. Recently, a $94.99 three-bike hitch rack by Thruway was marked down to $69.97, while a Hind Women’s Hydrator jersey, originally $49.99, was marked down by half, to $24.97. Don’t forget that bikes are considered a seasonal purchase, so fall is the best time to find a great deal. Performance Bicycle, two area locations; performancebike.com

Wine—Your best bet for a wine bargain is Total Wine & More, which opened in January in Roseville. The store offers great values on a huge inventory of wines—10,000 of them. Recent deals included Toasted Head Chardonnay for $7.77 and Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet for $6.97. Both usually run around $12. Total Wine & More, 5791 Five Star Drive, Roseville; (916) 791-2488; totalwine.com

* Cheap Tip—At restaurant.com, buy discounted gift certificates to about 50 local restaurants, from Original Pete’s Pizza to Chanterelle. Savings are substantial: a $25 certificate costs just $10.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

By Barry Wisdom | From Sacramento Magazine

Got too much stuff? Here’s how to donate it, dump it or sell it.

For more than 40 years, Pat Bruce was content to indulge husband Dick’s penchant for collecting—not just his prized model train layouts, but anything “he figured he could use later on.”

A retired Campbell Soup Company electrician, Dick also was a tool-crazy hobbyist/handyman who frequently volunteered to repair his Roseville neighbors’ lawn mowers, many of which ended up in pieces scattered about his home-based shop. Eventually, Dick’s “stuff” overflowed into the yard, giving it something of a salvage-yard feel.

“I felt like it was big, old junk heap,” says Bruce, 66. “I was a little embarrassed when people drove up, because it looked so junky and so messy. But it didn’t bother my husband, and as long as he was happy, that was all that mattered.”

After Dick died in September 2007, however, Bruce was ready for an early spring-cleaning.

“You can only hold onto things so long before they become an eyesore and a pain in the neck,” says Bruce. “I didn’t want to put up with it anymore.”

But how best to make that clean sweep?

“My kids wanted me to have a garage sale, but I hate garage sales and didn’t want to deal with it,” says Bruce, who just wanted to trash her trash. But she soon discovered that doing so is harder than you might think.

“First of all, you have to separate everything, and they’re so darn particular about what you can and can’t do with it,” she sighs. “When my dad disposed of things, he just crushed it up and buried it, and burned what could be burned. You didn’t have to worry about identity theft and all that.”

Despite the challenges proper disposal presented, Bruce tried to jettison the junk herself.

“My son and I hauled a couple of loads out in his pickup,” she says. “Then I decided it was ridiculous.” There simply was too much stuff.

Based on a tip from a friend, Bruce contacted 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a company that specializes in the removal of rubbish. She readily paid to have it all hauled away.

“I thought it would be better to have someone who knew what the heck they were doing to get it done, rather than do it myself,” she says.

While Pat Bruce was able to solve her clutter quandary, she hardly was alone in facing a seemingly insurmountable pile of unwanted stuff: Californians produce 92 million tons of municipal solid waste annually.

“There are three things that will be around forever: death, taxes and junk,” quips Chris Heffington, owner of one the area’s two 1-800-Got-Junk? franchises (and Bruce’s eventual savior).

We may not be able to beat the tax man or the Grim Reaper, and the accumulation of junk may be inevitable. But thanks to ever-improving public residential waste and recycling programs, online venues to sell and give away your stuff, and companies like Heffington’s, there is real hope for recovering pack rats. Here’s how to clean up your act.

Do It Yourself—With Help From Public Services

Pat Bruce had it right: Your friendly neighborhood department of refuse is pretty particular about what it does and doesn’t want tossed into your city- or county-supplied bins. Some of the forbidden household hazardous materials (motor oil, hypodermic needles and syringes, bullets, plutonium) may be obvious, others (items containing lead, mercury switches and thermometers, chlorofluorocarbons) less so.

Fully aware that not everyone follows the rules or even knows about them, the city is “always looking for ways to help our residents dispose of waste properly . . . to keep it out of the landfill,” says Jessica Hess, spokeswoman for the city of Sacramento’s Department of Utilities.

The department’s latest offering is a free, appointment-based pickup service to recycle household batteries and fluorescent light bulbs, which shouldn’t be placed in the trash. You simply call (916-808-5454) for pickup on your next scheduled recycling day.

This new service joins similar pickup programs available through the city, including those for electronic waste (TVs, DVD and CD players, computers, disc drives), large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators), and used motor oil and filters.

E-waste recycling is performed by Appliance Distribution (916-497-0274) and Advanced Computer Recycling (916-387-9988). The former offers free pickup within 10 miles of its North B Street location. The latter also collects appliances (a pickup fee may apply).

You can schedule a motor oil/filter pickup from the city (call 916-808-4800) or dispose of these items along with other household hazardous materials at the Sacramento County North Area Recovery Station (4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands; 916-875-5555) or the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station (8491 Fruitridge Road; 916-379-0500). Many auto parts stores, quick-lube shops and gas stations also are certified to accept used oil. Call (800-253-2687) for details.

Taking advantage of the city’s Neighborhood Cleanup Day program is another option for those looking to dispose of nonhazardous bulky items frugally (it’s free) and responsibly (50 percent is recycled). Appliances, e-waste, furniture, mattresses, carpeting, water heaters, lumber and fencing materials are all eligible for pickup. While downtown and midtown are on a city-set annual schedule, a pilot program for appointment-based pickups (free for the first call) was recently implemented for other areas. Call (916-848-5454) for more information.

If you can’t wait for your neighborhood cleanup date, there are drop-off locations to dump and recycle your nonhazardous refuse. The Kiefer Landfill (12701 Kiefer Blvd., Sloughhouse; 916-875-5555) is the primary municipal solid-waste disposal facility in Sacramento County and the only landfill facility in Sacramento County permitted to accept residential customers’ household waste. Also on the county’s list of disposal and recycling sites is the North Area Recovery Station.

Hire Help

Despite the growing number of public services available to help rid yourself of rubbish, sometimes it’s best left to the professionals, as Pat Bruce concluded after calling 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and answering their trademarked question with a big “Yes!”
Founded by Canadian Brian Scudamore in 1989, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? opened its first franchise in Vancouver, B.C., a decade later. Today, 324 outlets, including 10 in Northern California, have put a professional face on what used to be thought of as a, well, junky industry.

“Before, when you thought of trash hauling, you thought of ‘Sanford and Son,’” says Chris Heffington, a former Intel Corp. project manager who bought into the concept of a professional junk hauling company five years ago. “No one did it professionally with new trucks, professional employees and with a professional image.”

The combination of an untapped market and favorable national media attention has secured the success of both Heffington and West Sacramento-based John McNamara’s franchises. “There’s plenty of junk for both of us,” says Heffington, who notes another reason for the company’s growth is a lack of time on the part of their customers.

“People are more than willing to pay for convenience nowadays,” he says. “They don’t want to spend their weekends going to the dump.”

What a customer pays for are two staffers—all materials must be able to be lifted by them—and the actual space taken up by what’s being hauled away. Fees are based on volume, not weight. “You only pay for what we take,” says Heffington.

The firm’s minimum fee is $100, with a half-load in one of their 15.5-cubic-foot trucks costing $319 and a full load going for $498. Estimates are free and highly encouraged, says company spokeswoman Andrea Bava.

For Bruce, whose discards translated into several truckloads, the charge was about $3,000, but she says it was well worth it.
“I was pleased with how quickly and how efficiently they did it,” she says. “I just pointed to what I wanted out of there and they loaded it up and took it.”

Where they take it also is part of the feel-good story. Some 60 to 70 percent of what gets hauled away is recycled, says Heffington, with his staff also diverting as much as possible to local charities such as Goodwill. “We take pride in that,” he says.
What they don’t take: household hazardous waste, including combustible materials and paint.

Sell It

In pre-PC days, when a home reached critical mass, you stapled a few signs to neighborhood telephone poles and ran an ad in the local paper to announce that fair-weather tradition known as the garage sale.

But thanks to the Internet, those seeking cash for their clutter have gone global in pursuit of buyers for their faded Corelle ware and scratchy LPs.

With approximately 248 million registered users worldwide, the 13-year-old web-based phenomenon known as eBay has made passing along seemingly unsellable “junk” not just possible but profitable. Now anyone can export (and import) goods 24/7 from the comfort of his or her laptop.

And it seems almost everyone is. According to eBay spokeswoman Kim Rubey, at any given moment there are approximately 102 million listings worldwide, with some 6 million listings added every day.

For the time-challenged but auction-addicted, locally represented eBay drop-off chains such as iSold It and Goin’ Postal will list and sell items on the website for you.

While eBay is best known for its auction format, Rubey notes that users also can buy and sell in increasingly popular fixed-price formats.
For those eager to part with their junk but too cheap to pay eBay’s listing and transaction fees, Craigslist is an efficient, cost-free and increasingly popular alternative.

In 2007, private sellers looking to lighten their loads and fatten their wallets posted 102,176,454 listings at craigslist.org.
As with eBay, there are “dos” and “don’ts” for listing your items on Craigslist to make them more profitable, says Craigslist spokeswoman Susan MacTavish.

“Do use photos,” says MacTavish. “You’ll save yourself time by having good photos, and you’ll save your fellow users time, too. Do write a good description. You’re not limited by number of words, so be descriptive and have fun writing a creative ad that will get attention. Don’t use marketing speak. Don’t capitalize, i.e., “shout” at users. Craigslist users tend to find that annoying.”

Despite the popularity of eBay and Craigslist, garage sales and yard sales remain a mainstay for many looking to cash in on their clutter.

Thanks to such marketing tools as free garage-sale kits, 2,106 ads for these sales dominated the pages of the area’s 51 PennySaverUSA.com editions in 2007, proof that print is far from dead—at least for those who use the free, direct-mail publication to jump-start their weekend shopping expeditions. The Sacramento Bee also offers convenient hard-copy listings of area sales.

“There’s room for both Internet and print options,” says Bruce Potter, manager of media partnerships and statewide promotion for PennySaverUSA.com, whose Wednesday delivery reaches 710,000 Sacramento-area homes. “Despite being in the modern age, people just like to go through the paper version and see ads in print they can circle with a pen.”

Give It Away

If you just want to give your stuff to a good home rather than sell it, PennySaverUSA.com and Craigslist both offer free listings to market your goods.

In 2007, Craigslist’s “free” category (incongruously found under its “for sale” banner) featured 2,582,920 postings.

Another site to check out is freecycle.org. The Freecycle Network, an Internet-based grassroots “community gifting movement,” found its voice five years ago as a means to promote waste reduction in Tucson, Ariz.

Since then, the nonprofit has taken its “changing the world one gift at a time” motto global, with 75 countries now hosting some 4,200 free regional websites (including more than a dozen in the Sacramento area) that connect haves with have-nots.

At 4,431,000 members and growing (at a reported rate of 25,000 members per week), the movement has obviously struck a chord with those who either want to go green, save some green or both.

A recent spate of listings on the Sacramento (North) site showed members offering everything from silver Christmas tree candleholders to queen-size box springs to parenting books. The only restrictions: Items must “free, legal and appropriate for all ages,” according to freecycle.org.

Donate It

Donating unwanted odds and ends to social-service organizations is a nifty way to clear clutter while banking good karma—and a tax deduction. Some even pick up your items: The Salvation Army, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Society of St. Vincent de Paul do; Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada, Loaves & Fishes and Volunteers of America do not.

Keep in mind, however, that not every agency is set up to accept any and all in-kind donations due to operational, manpower and legal constraints. Whether a nonprofit can put used household and clothing items to good use, either by forwarding them to clients in need or by selling them in thrift stores and to recyclers, should be confirmed by phone or by checking online.

“We’ll take anything we can sell,” says Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada’s director of operations Mark Klingler, who says the nonprofit follows a three-step sales chain, starting with its 14 area retail stores. Donations that aren’t sold at its stores move to its outlets, where goods are sold to the public by weight, and finally, to recyclers and textile-sorting houses.

Goodwill, the self-described leading nonprofit donation collector in the Sacramento area, was able to sell 34 percent of its 13 million pounds of local donations in 2006 to recyclers, says Klingler. But he notes the agency also has to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 per month on disposal fees for unusable discards left at its stores and eight
Donation Express sites.

Please do not assume what agencies will and won’t take, reiterates Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ Margaret Carpenter. Though SFBFS is best known for providing food to the underprivileged, it also gave away 411,000 pieces of clothing in 2007, says Carpenter, coordinator of the agency’s clothes closet. Used furniture in good condition also is needed for the nonprofit’s two-year transitional housing program, she says.

Good condition is a key phrase to keep in mind when giving away used items. As a donation guideline, Carpenter repeats the words told to her by SFBFS founder Father Dan Madigan: “Just because people are poor doesn’t mean they don’t have dignity and pride. When donating clothing, ask yourself if you would wear it; would you let your children wear it?”

“We really try to discourage things that are essentially household garbage,” says Klingler, who also puts large appliances, hazardous materials and chemical waste on the nonprofit’s “thanks, but no thanks” list.

“For the most part, people’s hearts are in the right place, though some probably want to avoid going to the dump,” he says.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

cforms contact form by delicious:days

It is also important that you make a physical list of things you want in a partner and then categorize these by level of need or want. For example, if you want a doctor then list it. If you want an Asian or black man, then add that. Don’t forget personality traits, social circles, personality, sexual charisma, authenticity and anything else that you may require, want or just would like to have. Be sure to address your position on having kids, since not everyone wants to have them. Keep your list tucked away and then compare your suitors to this list.

Next, you will need to put yourself in situations to meet people (men or women).
Start with religious or professional organizations, mix in special interest groups like those for pet owners and don’t forget places you go to on a regular basis, like the grocery store, gym, etc. Casually talk to as many people as possible, even if you don’t know them directly. Also, let anyone that you’re close to that you are looking to meet someone. Moreover, don’t be afraid to go out by yourself; going solo sometimes can make you more approachable.

Now for the record, I met my Mr. Right over twelve years ago and I too had a list. We met at Lumberjack and we were married nine months after that.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this post or if there’s a certain subject that you’d like highlighted and I’ll do the research and post it to http://help.loreals.com

Also this recipe makes enough for two dishes, so you can even freeze the second for later.

Ingredients:
1 Full Head of Cauliflower
1 1/2 Cup of Cooked Brown Rice
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
Cheddar Cheese (pre-grated cheese is the easiest, but you can also just cut slices)

Directions:

1. Cook Rice. I usually do this the night before to save time.
2. Seperate Cauliflower into Med-Large Pieces
3. Blanche Cauliflower (usually for about 5 minutes, treat like you would brocoli. MAKE SURE NOT TO OVERCOOK)
4. Select Casserole Dish (I usually use 2 rounds**Now you’re ready to start layering the ingredients
5. Start by oiling your dish with either PAM or regular olive oil, lightly spead with a paper towel to avoid sticking
6. Next place a layer of rice
7. Cover Rice with about ½ a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom. I’ve tried other brands and lowfat options, but it just doesn’t turn out the same.
8. Place Cheese, as desired to bind the layers
9. Now it’s time for the Cauliflower (remember that you’ll probably only use 2/3’s of the Cauliflower, since there’s enough for a small second)
10. Place a little more Cream of Mushroom Soup on top of the Cauliflower
11. Finish it with any additional cheese
12. Finally, bake for 20-30 minutes at 350. Cheese should be bubbling.

1. Stirring Until Smooth and Continuing Until Thickened
2. Refrigerate Until Cooled, then Garnish with Berries of Choice. 
3. You May also Use Frozen Berries by Creating a Compote by Heating Berries