Shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store

In these trying economic times, the smart shopper will explore every money-saving avenue she (or he) can find. Some of my favorite places to shop are thrift stores, and one of the best is the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I think most people will recognize the Salvation Army musicians that can be seen and heard around the holiday season, but there is more to the organization than that. Not only does the Salvation Army do wonderful work by helping humanity all over the world, but it runs stores where good clothing and household items are available in just about anyone's price range. My family and I have donated gently-used things to the Salvation Army's stores many times, and we encourage others to do the same.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store in my town is one of the most caring and community-supportive places I've ever seen. For example, if a family loses their home to fire, the Salvation Army Thrift Store will give them clothing, furniture, and household supplies to start again. This organization will assist those in need in any way it can. They also have a shelter for homeless folks. Their goal is obviously to help, not to make big profits. That's one of the reasons I love to support them. They operate from the heart, not from the pocketbook.

Today, my mother and I went on a fun little Salvation Army shopping adventure. Between the two of us, we purchased several clothing items--mostly pants and shirts, a few cookbooks and two novels, three ceramic potpourri containers, a basket or two (one of my weaknesses), some bedding, and a few miscellaneous items. And together, our total was just a little over $39.00! Although you can often find things with the original store tags still attached, none of today's purchases did. However, they all were in excellent condition. (Regardless, I still wash everything before we wear or use it. I think that's just a safe practice and do it no matter where I purchase anything.)

So I recommend that you check out and support your local Salvation Army. Shopping at the Thrift Store just makes good economic sense, and donating to it helps both you and those in need.

Micky Dolenz Concert

Guess what?!! I saw Micky Dolenz in concert! What a treat! He was the headliner at our town's summer festival, Summer Motion.

For those of you who are too young to remember the 1960's, Micky Dolenz is a former member of a fabulous group called The Monkees. The Monkees were four young men--Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith--who were, basically, the original "boy band", I suppose you could call them. The group was actually created to be America's answer to the Beatles, so I've heard. However, The Monkees started with a TV show of the same name, and their music hit the radios at about the same time. The show and the group became the center of a major merchandising campaign with everything from collector cards to lunch boxes available for fans to purchase. Although the show lasted only a couple of years or so, The Monkees as a group continued making hits and staging concerts for several years after that. There was a reunion tour or two over the decades since, and individual members of the group still tour and perform. Some of the guys have branched out into other branches of the industry (Micky included. He is also a successful director and actor.). Some of their songs have even been covered by contemporary groups.

I think I was the queen of Monkee-mania in my neighborhood, even though I was only about eight years old when they first came to the public's attention. I've been a major fan since day one, and I can't imagine that ever changing. I was never able to see any of them live until Micky came to our corner of the world this past Thursday night, and I was thrilled to see him.

My son and new daughter-in-law went with me, and I believe they had as good a time as I did. Micky may be 61 years old now, but...the man has still "got it"! He's still the same funny, energetic, mesmerizing, and talented entertainer he always was. He and his band did many of the old Monkee songs (anyone remember "I'm a Believer"?), plus a couple more that blew the crowd away (and there was a major crowd!). It was his drummer's birthday, so we all sung Happy Birthday to him with Micky. For about 90 minutes, he had us on our feet dancing, clapping, and singing along, and it was over way too soon!

I was fortunate enough to get an autographed photo, even though it meant standing in line for quite a while. He was very pleasant and approachable as he signed autographs, even though he must have been exhausted after his performance. But...what was really cool happened afterward. I went home (dummy me!), and my son, daughter-in-law, and a friend went to a local diner for an after-concert snack. They'd been there just a few minutes, when who should walk in but Micky Dolenz and his band! Stephen (my son) said Micky had his hat and sunglasses on and sort of slipped in quickly and sat down, so no one else seemed to recognize him. Stephen debated for a minute about speaking to him because he really hated to bother him when he obviously didn't really want to be noticed. However, how often do you get a chance to speak with a legend?

So, Stephen quietly went up to him, tapped him on the shoulder, and spoke with him. Micky was actually very warm and welcoming and not put off at all by a fan interrupting his time. They had a brief conversation, Stephen told the drummer (a friendly, talented guy named Sandy) Happy Birthday again, Micky let Stephen take three pictures with he and Stephen together, and then Stephen left him in peace. Stephen called me later and told me all about it. He was so sad that I hadn't gotten to be there, but...that's okay. I'm just happy that he got to have that special moment.

If you ever get the chance to see Micky Dolenz in concert, go for it. He puts on a great show that even non-Monkee fans will get a kick out of, but Monkee-maniacs like me will be in heaven!

Now, if I can just get to see Davy, Peter, and Mike....
Sigh....

Those of us who love reading probably have a stockpile of books that we've purchased. Some, we've loved and want to read over and over again; some, we've read through once and felt that once was sufficient. Personally, I have more books than I know what to do with. I still have textbooks from college classes I took many years ago, classics like Dickens and Shakespeare, and even some old romance novels. I also collect old books, preferably from the early 1900's or older. I have just about every genre there is. Obviously, I am a voracious reader.

However, books are expensive, especially hardbacks. You can purchase from second-hand stores or garage sales, right? Of course, those aren't normally available until long after the book has been out in print for ages. It's easy (and free!) to borrow from the library or from friends, but what about books you want to own? And what do you do with those books you don't want anymore? Toss them into a landfill? (I don't think so!)

What's an environmentally conscious bookworm on a budget to do?

Happily, I've learned of an online option for those of us who want to own books but pass those we choose not to keep on to others. My future daughter-in-law, Andrea, told me about a book-sharing website called BookMooch. She uses the site frequently and has had good success with it. I looked at BookMooch and instantly signed up. I also decided to explore the "net for other such sites and share what I found with you. Different sites operate in different ways, so look at some of them and see if any appeal to you and meet your needs.

By the way, the sites I'm listing are all free book sites and strictly about "real" books, not online or digital versions. Most of them allow the exchange of both adult and children's books. And there are tons of book discussion websites and social networking sites for readers. Those are great, but I'm focusing on book exchange/sharing here.

BookMooch is a book exchange site. You can make a list of books you'd like to have and list those you have to give away. There are rules, of course, and you have to give in order to get. Joining is free. The only cost is what it takes to ship a book to someone. There is no cost to receive one.

Paperback Swap is rather amazing. It's a free book exchange site that has been featured in O Magazine, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping Magazine, and on the Today Show among many others. You can even print your own postage right on the site so you don't have to go to the post office to mail a book out.

BookCrossing is a little bit different. I've actually seen this one featured on television. It is a means of, as they say on the site, "making the whole world a library". There is no shipping involved. Basically, you choose a book you are finished with and don't want to keep, register it on BookCrossing where it is assigned a number, write the number inside the book cover, and then "release" it into the world by just leaving it someplace for someone to pick up. Hopefully, the finder will use the BookCrossing information you've printed inside the cover to go to the website and leave a note. You can track the book you are sharing.

Read It Swap It is a book exchange site based in the United Kingdom. It's a one-to-one type of swap: You find a book on a list that you'd like to have, the person who owns it looks at your list to see if there's one he/she'd like to have, and you swap books with that person.

SwapTree allows people to share books, movies, video games, and music--all for just the cost of shipping them to the other person. It looks fabulous. This one is definitely going to be added to my list of memberships.

And finally, there is a free alternate to the ridiculously overpriced textbooks for college students. Textbook Revolt has been given a positive review by CNet News and looks really neat. My son graduated from college in May. Wish we'd known about Textbook Revolt before!

Sharing a book is sharing a wonderful gift. I encourage you to join one of these sites, and teach your children to share books, too.

Stephen and Andrea's Wedding

--> My son Stephen and his fiancée Andrea were married Saturday evening, June 13, at 6:30 PM in the ballroom of the Ashland Plaza Hotel. The reception was immediately following the ceremony at the same location. It was so amazing and beautiful and bittersweet and precious...all at the same time.
The whole day was hectic from start to finish. The bride, her mother Diane, and I were treated to a morning at a local spa by the father of the bride, Gary. That was sooooo awesome! Then there was the mad rush of having the rehearsal only 3 1/2 hours before the actual ceremony because some of the attendants couldn't get here from out of town until then. Gary and my sister-in-law Mae had to pick up the cake and bring it to the hotel (this bakery didn't deliver), plus he had to pick up the bride's bouquet and the men's boutonnières. I made two or three frantic trips home to get things and to change into my own mother-of-the-bridegroom clothes. Regardless, both families worked together as one great team!
The hotel was super. The staff was very helpful and accommodating, the room was a perfect size, and the food was excellent. Their involvement took a lot of the work and worries from the bride's family.
The rehearsal was fun, and the minister, George Steele, was awesome. He organized everything according to the wishes of the bride and groom, and he had a wealth of helpful suggestions when a little help was needed. His experience and sense of humor were invaluable.
The ceremony was incredible. The bride was lovely, the groom was handsome, and the attendants were perfect. George chose the best Bible verses to read and the prayers were just right. The bride and groom also wrote their own vows and shared them with each other. By 7:00 PM, surrounded by friends and family, they were pronounced husband and wife!
The reception was so much fun! Andrea and Stephen were toasted (and roasted!) by their maid of honor (her sister Christina) and best man (Stephen's cousin Chris). There was lots of good food, music, and dancing. There was even a Conga line at one point!
Around 11:00 PM, it was time for Stephen and Andrea to leave. The couple had to catch their plane to Florida for the honeymoon. It was difficult watching them leave, but it was a happy moment, too. It was very special knowing that they were starting their lives as a married couple with all the wonderful things that come with that beautiful bond.
It's also good knowing that both of them have joined families that love them. We love Andrea dearly, and her family adores Stephen. Both families mesh so well!
Soon they'll be returning to the real world and taking up the responsibilities of life. But, for now, Stephen and Andrea are enjoying themselves on the last week of their honeymoon. Thanks so much to all of you who have sent good thoughts, prayers, and wishes for them. I would also like to express my appreciation to all the wonderful family members and friends who took part in any way to help make Andrea and Stephen's wedding so successful. Many hugs to all!

Alternative Uses for Lemons and Lemon Juice

Alternative Uses for Lemons and Lemon Juice

I like the scent of lemons, and I really love the simplicity (not to mention the low calories) of ice cold water with lemon slices. More often than not, that's what I have with a meal in a restaurant. And there's nothing like good, cold lemonade in the summer, is there? How many of you spritz lemon juice on sea food? And lemons are loaded with vitamin C.

But a lemon and its juice are more than just basic food elements. You can do so much more with them! Plus, using something as cost-effective as lemons and lemon juice in place of more expensive products just makes good economic sense. Check out these ideas...

* In the Laundry: To brighten, whiten, and freshen your clothes, add a half cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang the wash outside to try. Ink can be lightened or even removed by soaking the spot in lemon juice before washing.

* In the Kitchen: To remove strong odors like onion from your counter tops and cutting boards, rub a lemon over the surface. This will work for your hands, too. You can also use to to freshen your drains. Just pour lemon juice in periodically to keep them smelling clean and fresh. Rubbing a lemon on your faucets (kitchen and bath) will help remove lime scale and grime. Lemon and salt is excellent for cleaning your stainless steel sinks, too. You can also freshen your garbage disposal by grinding up left-over lemon peel. To keep fruit from turning brown, spray it lightly with a solution of lemon juice and water.

* Around the house: Lemon is a wonderful glass cleaner. Rub a cut lemon over mirrors and windows, then scrub dry with newspaper. You can also use lemon to clean and shine many metals. Use straight lemon on copper and a paste of lemon and cream of tartar on aluminum and brass. One cup of olive oil mixed with one-half cup of lemon juice makes a super all-natural lemon furniture polish.

* Personal: Add highlights to your hair by streaking lemon through it and sitting in the sun. A weak lemon and water solution poured over your hair and scalp after shampooing will keep dandruff down. Lemon juice can be good for the skin--use it as an astringent to tighten pores or as a quick energizing facial. Lemon and honey combined to taste can ease a cough, soothe a sore throat, and help you relax if you aren't feeling well.

One word of caution: Be sure to check for color-fastness on fabrics and other surfaces before using lemon in an obvious area. Additionally, some people are allergic to lemon and other citrus fruits, so be aware of that when using lemon on your hair, skin, or if you take it internally.

Sherry C