I swear to goodness, I cannot go ANYWHERE in this town without getting in to a conversation with someone. I can't tell if I just look very approachable, but whether I'm in line at the grocery store, pumping gas or sifting through piles of junk at the thrift store- someone always makes a comment in my direction.
Today, when I came out of DMH Thrift Shop, I got on my bike. A nice older black woman said something about me wearing high heels while riding. We ended up talking for a few moments and were promptly joined by another woman who had come out of the store. It was a pleasant conversation, as most of these random encounters are.
I think that Decatur is just small enough that man people feel neighborly enough to chat, but large enough that you don't know everyone and everyone's business. I haven't been that many places in my life, but of the places I have been, Decatur is by far the friendliest.
Only in Decatur!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Benefits of Bicycling
A few months ago, I purchased a bike for $30 at a thrift store. When I rode away from the store, I was wobbly and nervous, this having been the first time in about 10 years since I had ridden a bike. I was sure that I would fall in to traffic and die, or even worse- live and be incredibly embarrassed.
But I made it home and have been riding that bike to work on a pretty regular basis. I only live 12 blocks from work, so it is the perfect commute.
Here are a few reasons I LOVE riding to work.
1. MONEY! I save $.70+ a day on parking. Not to mention gas money and the wear and tear of city driving.
2. Exercise! My ride is about 5-10 minutes, depending on how late I am. You can burn about 50 calories for every 10 minutes of riding. So- in riding to work, home for lunch, back from lunch and home again- I can burn up to 200 calories!
3. Toning! Since riding my bike to work, I've noticed that my butt is perkier!
4. Cardio! I haven't been exercising much lately, but my commute give me just enough cardio to help keep my metabolism going and my heart pumping.
5. Its good for the environment! It's hard to call myself much of an environmentalist if I drive my car 12 blocks out of laziness.
6. Greeting the morning! Morning is the most beautiful time of the day. There is nothing better than a brisk morning ride on a sunny day. Today's ride was perfect. I love waving to people and saying good morning. Beautiful.
7. Endorphines! Bicycling work is the best way to get a natural high that helps keep away "The Mondays" and help to stay positive throughout the day.
8. Bragging Rights! I love to tell people that I ride my bike to work. And it feels good to hear people say "Good for you!" or "I wish I could do that." Hopefully I will inspire people to start commuting my bicycle as well.
I cannot lie- sometimes there are some downsides to biking to work.
Downsides:
1. Sweat. Its a bit gross to ride your bike in 95 degree weather and arrive at work all sweaty.
2. Rain. Sometimes it rains unexpectedly.
3. Drivers. Drivers have bicyclists. Bicyclists hate drivers.
But I made it home and have been riding that bike to work on a pretty regular basis. I only live 12 blocks from work, so it is the perfect commute.
Here are a few reasons I LOVE riding to work.
1. MONEY! I save $.70+ a day on parking. Not to mention gas money and the wear and tear of city driving.
2. Exercise! My ride is about 5-10 minutes, depending on how late I am. You can burn about 50 calories for every 10 minutes of riding. So- in riding to work, home for lunch, back from lunch and home again- I can burn up to 200 calories!
3. Toning! Since riding my bike to work, I've noticed that my butt is perkier!
4. Cardio! I haven't been exercising much lately, but my commute give me just enough cardio to help keep my metabolism going and my heart pumping.
5. Its good for the environment! It's hard to call myself much of an environmentalist if I drive my car 12 blocks out of laziness.
6. Greeting the morning! Morning is the most beautiful time of the day. There is nothing better than a brisk morning ride on a sunny day. Today's ride was perfect. I love waving to people and saying good morning. Beautiful.
7. Endorphines! Bicycling work is the best way to get a natural high that helps keep away "The Mondays" and help to stay positive throughout the day.
8. Bragging Rights! I love to tell people that I ride my bike to work. And it feels good to hear people say "Good for you!" or "I wish I could do that." Hopefully I will inspire people to start commuting my bicycle as well.
I cannot lie- sometimes there are some downsides to biking to work.
Downsides:
1. Sweat. Its a bit gross to ride your bike in 95 degree weather and arrive at work all sweaty.
2. Rain. Sometimes it rains unexpectedly.
3. Drivers. Drivers have bicyclists. Bicyclists hate drivers.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Second Hand Sally
My name is Alli Williams and I am an addict. I refer to it as a hobby, but really its gone past that point. I find it hard to drive past a resale shop or a garage sale without stopping. I hoard books and craft supplies and strange knick knacks and wall hangings. I find it difficult to pay full price, even when shopping at the dollar store. When I look at items in my home that I paid full price for in my past life before thrifting, I feel disgusted at myself. I pride myself on how LITTLE I paid for something. I refer to myself as a professional thrifter, an expert bargain hunter and a second hand slut.
And here is how I am so good at it:
1. Find 'em. Locate thrift stores in your area. It is pretty easy to search "thrift stores in ..." or try "resale." Go to them all to see which ones you like the best and which ones have the kind of things you are looking for. Many focus on clothes, others have large home sections, some have furniture, etc.
2. Get to know the pricing system. If you buy books, learn which stores have the best book deals. Some places price items individually. You are likely to find the best steals at stores that have general prices, like T-shirts for $1, Long-sleeves $1.50, etc.
3. Learn their regular sales. Some shops have monthly sales, others weekly. Some have sales on all items tagged with a certain color- these are the sales where you find deals on a great variety of items. Others have sales on certain items such as children's clothes, housewares, accessories, or books. Some shops create monthly calendars that list all of their special sales.
4. Be on the lookout for special sales. Often, shops will give out flyers for their upcoming blowout sales. Others will put adds in the newspapers or put up large signs in their windows.
5. Know what you want. Make a list of items that you want before you go. Keep a running list of items that you would buy if ever you found them at a decent price. I keep this list on my cell phone with the "notes" function.
6. Get past your apprehensions. Having trouble buying things that others have used? Start off small. Dishes can be washed. Buy a coffee cup or a utensil that you are missing. Used books are no big deal! You buy "pre-viewed" movies from movie store, why not the thrift store? You don't have to buy clothes from the thrift shop, but don't close yourself off to the idea. Some of my favorite clothes have been second hand finds. Make sure to wash everything first.
7. Don't be afraid to ask! Looking for something specific? Ask them if they have it. If they don't- see if they will call you if they DO get it in. Example: I found a thrift shop that sold bikes, but none of the ones they had were my size. I told them I've been looking for one and they wrote my name down and the approximate size I'd need. About 2 weeks later I got the call and ran down to pick up my $30 mountain bike that was in perfect condition (and its pink!). I've heard of people doing this with music instruments, exercise equipment or furniture.
8. Get by with a little help from your friends. Don't go alone! Its more fun to go with others. Keep your friends in mind, even if they can't come along. Do you hear your friend say "I wish I had a copy of The Grapes of Wrath" or "I should buy a wine rack"? Be on the look out for things your friends might like. It makes for a cheap gift and an easy way to say "I was thinking of you."
9. Know when to fold 'em. I tend to go overboard on my thrifting. I've bought more books than I could ever read and more craft supplies than I could ever use. There comes a point when you need to stop buying just because it is available, and start holding out for really special items.
10. Use your resources. Look on your local craigslist to find garage sales in your area! Or you can use this to find specific items you are looking for. Try freecycling. Shop in your grandmother's basement.
I am a thrifter! Say it loud, say it proud. Thrifting has helped me create a unique style and my home is certainly one-of-a-kind.
And here is how I am so good at it:
1. Find 'em. Locate thrift stores in your area. It is pretty easy to search "thrift stores in ..." or try "resale." Go to them all to see which ones you like the best and which ones have the kind of things you are looking for. Many focus on clothes, others have large home sections, some have furniture, etc.
2. Get to know the pricing system. If you buy books, learn which stores have the best book deals. Some places price items individually. You are likely to find the best steals at stores that have general prices, like T-shirts for $1, Long-sleeves $1.50, etc.
3. Learn their regular sales. Some shops have monthly sales, others weekly. Some have sales on all items tagged with a certain color- these are the sales where you find deals on a great variety of items. Others have sales on certain items such as children's clothes, housewares, accessories, or books. Some shops create monthly calendars that list all of their special sales.
4. Be on the lookout for special sales. Often, shops will give out flyers for their upcoming blowout sales. Others will put adds in the newspapers or put up large signs in their windows.
5. Know what you want. Make a list of items that you want before you go. Keep a running list of items that you would buy if ever you found them at a decent price. I keep this list on my cell phone with the "notes" function.
6. Get past your apprehensions. Having trouble buying things that others have used? Start off small. Dishes can be washed. Buy a coffee cup or a utensil that you are missing. Used books are no big deal! You buy "pre-viewed" movies from movie store, why not the thrift store? You don't have to buy clothes from the thrift shop, but don't close yourself off to the idea. Some of my favorite clothes have been second hand finds. Make sure to wash everything first.
7. Don't be afraid to ask! Looking for something specific? Ask them if they have it. If they don't- see if they will call you if they DO get it in. Example: I found a thrift shop that sold bikes, but none of the ones they had were my size. I told them I've been looking for one and they wrote my name down and the approximate size I'd need. About 2 weeks later I got the call and ran down to pick up my $30 mountain bike that was in perfect condition (and its pink!). I've heard of people doing this with music instruments, exercise equipment or furniture.
8. Get by with a little help from your friends. Don't go alone! Its more fun to go with others. Keep your friends in mind, even if they can't come along. Do you hear your friend say "I wish I had a copy of The Grapes of Wrath" or "I should buy a wine rack"? Be on the look out for things your friends might like. It makes for a cheap gift and an easy way to say "I was thinking of you."
9. Know when to fold 'em. I tend to go overboard on my thrifting. I've bought more books than I could ever read and more craft supplies than I could ever use. There comes a point when you need to stop buying just because it is available, and start holding out for really special items.
10. Use your resources. Look on your local craigslist to find garage sales in your area! Or you can use this to find specific items you are looking for. Try freecycling. Shop in your grandmother's basement.
I am a thrifter! Say it loud, say it proud. Thrifting has helped me create a unique style and my home is certainly one-of-a-kind.
Words I Live By, in no particular order
I read a lot of self-improvement stuff that I come across as I travel through the wonderful world wide web. But in my (almost) 24 years, I've collected some knowledge of my own. I stopped at twenty, but I bet I could have made it to One HUNDRED and twenty!
1. Take the saying "You learn something new every day" to heart. Don't think you've learned anything yet today? I like to stumble until I do. Or Wiki-surf: go to Wikipedia and read the featured article (or as much of it as you are interested in) and click on one of the links in the article. Do this several times over until you find yourself on a completely different topic.
2. Don't let clutter take over your life. Every time you notice that your living/work space has become messy, pick up 3 things. Sometimes this game turns in to 5 or 10 things, or an hour's worth of scrubbing when the mood hits.
3. Set small goals frequently. For example: do yoga every morning for a week, read 2 books this month, save $100 this month. Even if you never reach them, it helps to motivate you for a while.
4. Be shamelessly thrifty. Shop at yard sales, thrift stores and clearance racks. Why pay full price? Here is my own guide to thrifting.
5. Volunteer Regularly. When you volunteer with one organization on a regular basis, you form relationships that are just as rewarding as the work itself. Volunteer for a cause you believe in and the experience will be so much more than a "resume builder".
6. Cancel your cable TV for a year. Read a book. Cook a nice dinner for someone you love. Play board games with your family or friends. Cross something off the honey-do list. Go for a night walk. Learn an instrument. Pick up a hobby. Do a puzzle. Get that regular volunteering in. If there are shows you just can't miss, you can usually find them on Hulu. Once you've learned to survive without it, I doubt you'll be in a hurry to get the cable hooked back up.
7. Don't waste time worrying. Most of the time we worry about things that will never happen. Don't think about problems that haven't arisen yet, and spend your time solving the problems that do arise.
8. Be your own best friend. If you don't like yourself, how do you expect others to like you? Do what you can to improve yourself, but accept yourself for who you are, not who you'd like to be. Spend time alone to find out who you are when no one else is looking, for that is your truest self.
9. If you think you can't, you can't. Approach every task optimistically. Its amazing what you can do just by saying, "I can." You can run a mile. You can learn to knit. You can read War and Peace. But you can't if you never try.
10. Be good to others. We're all in it together. When someone is rude to you, try to think of what they may be going through that would make them act in such a manner.
11. Take pictures often. My mother always says "Life looks so fun in pictures." I always reply "My life IS fun. I take pictures to remember." It's always a treat to look through old Facebook photo albums and think about how I felt at that moment. Always be making memories, but don't forget to take a look at old ones every once in a while.
12. Try new things! Don't box yourself in and settle in to the life you have. Always reach for new things. Take a different route to work. Prepare a meal you've never tried before. Shake up your Saturday Night routine. Try on that skirt you think looks so great on the mannequin. Even if it doesn't work out, at least you will have learned something about yourself.
13. Spend big bucks on experiences, not things. Things break, get used up or get lost. Spend your money making memories. THINGS to invest in: a camera, a nice big bed and good walking shoes.
14. Stay humble and be grateful for what you have. In Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, Suzanne is always saying "Aren't we lucky?" This is a saying I've taken to heart. Be thankful for everything you have and everyone in your life.
15. People come in to your life for a reason. People come in and out of your life- some people stay longer than others. Learn what you can from them while they are there. Don't mourn lost relationships, but cherish the lessons learned from them.
16. Trust your gut. There are so many examples of this that I'm having trouble choosing. This works as good test advice, moral advice or dating advice. When you know, you know.
17. Call your mom. On Hwy 20, there used to be a sign right outside Rockford that said "Call your mom." I never understood what the advertisement was for, but I always called my mom. I think it was good advice. You should tell her you love her too. Which reminds me....
18. Say "I love you" as often as you mean it. Love makes the world go 'round. All you need is love. Love conquers all. Cliche, cliche, cliche. But seriously. Don't YOU love it when someone says "I love you?" Doesn't it just make ya feel good? Well, others like to hear it too. There isn't enough in the love in the world. I bet terrorists would think twice if a few more people told them "I love you" every once in a while! HA!
19. Know what is going on in the world. You don't have to read the newspaper every day or watch the 6 o'clock news every night, but you should have some clue about major events happening locally, nationally and globally.
20. Wake up before you want to. Get plenty of sleep, but don't miss the best part of the day. Mornings are magical. Sunrise is the most peaceful time of day. Hitting snooze feels good for 10 minutes, but 10 minutes of yoga will wake you up better than a whole pot of coffee. Use extra morning time to relax before you start your day. Don't start your day in a hurry.
1. Take the saying "You learn something new every day" to heart. Don't think you've learned anything yet today? I like to stumble until I do. Or Wiki-surf: go to Wikipedia and read the featured article (or as much of it as you are interested in) and click on one of the links in the article. Do this several times over until you find yourself on a completely different topic.
2. Don't let clutter take over your life. Every time you notice that your living/work space has become messy, pick up 3 things. Sometimes this game turns in to 5 or 10 things, or an hour's worth of scrubbing when the mood hits.
3. Set small goals frequently. For example: do yoga every morning for a week, read 2 books this month, save $100 this month. Even if you never reach them, it helps to motivate you for a while.
4. Be shamelessly thrifty. Shop at yard sales, thrift stores and clearance racks. Why pay full price? Here is my own guide to thrifting.
5. Volunteer Regularly. When you volunteer with one organization on a regular basis, you form relationships that are just as rewarding as the work itself. Volunteer for a cause you believe in and the experience will be so much more than a "resume builder".
6. Cancel your cable TV for a year. Read a book. Cook a nice dinner for someone you love. Play board games with your family or friends. Cross something off the honey-do list. Go for a night walk. Learn an instrument. Pick up a hobby. Do a puzzle. Get that regular volunteering in. If there are shows you just can't miss, you can usually find them on Hulu. Once you've learned to survive without it, I doubt you'll be in a hurry to get the cable hooked back up.
7. Don't waste time worrying. Most of the time we worry about things that will never happen. Don't think about problems that haven't arisen yet, and spend your time solving the problems that do arise.
8. Be your own best friend. If you don't like yourself, how do you expect others to like you? Do what you can to improve yourself, but accept yourself for who you are, not who you'd like to be. Spend time alone to find out who you are when no one else is looking, for that is your truest self.
9. If you think you can't, you can't. Approach every task optimistically. Its amazing what you can do just by saying, "I can." You can run a mile. You can learn to knit. You can read War and Peace. But you can't if you never try.
10. Be good to others. We're all in it together. When someone is rude to you, try to think of what they may be going through that would make them act in such a manner.
11. Take pictures often. My mother always says "Life looks so fun in pictures." I always reply "My life IS fun. I take pictures to remember." It's always a treat to look through old Facebook photo albums and think about how I felt at that moment. Always be making memories, but don't forget to take a look at old ones every once in a while.
12. Try new things! Don't box yourself in and settle in to the life you have. Always reach for new things. Take a different route to work. Prepare a meal you've never tried before. Shake up your Saturday Night routine. Try on that skirt you think looks so great on the mannequin. Even if it doesn't work out, at least you will have learned something about yourself.
13. Spend big bucks on experiences, not things. Things break, get used up or get lost. Spend your money making memories. THINGS to invest in: a camera, a nice big bed and good walking shoes.
14. Stay humble and be grateful for what you have. In Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, Suzanne is always saying "Aren't we lucky?" This is a saying I've taken to heart. Be thankful for everything you have and everyone in your life.
15. People come in to your life for a reason. People come in and out of your life- some people stay longer than others. Learn what you can from them while they are there. Don't mourn lost relationships, but cherish the lessons learned from them.
16. Trust your gut. There are so many examples of this that I'm having trouble choosing. This works as good test advice, moral advice or dating advice. When you know, you know.
17. Call your mom. On Hwy 20, there used to be a sign right outside Rockford that said "Call your mom." I never understood what the advertisement was for, but I always called my mom. I think it was good advice. You should tell her you love her too. Which reminds me....
18. Say "I love you" as often as you mean it. Love makes the world go 'round. All you need is love. Love conquers all. Cliche, cliche, cliche. But seriously. Don't YOU love it when someone says "I love you?" Doesn't it just make ya feel good? Well, others like to hear it too. There isn't enough in the love in the world. I bet terrorists would think twice if a few more people told them "I love you" every once in a while! HA!
19. Know what is going on in the world. You don't have to read the newspaper every day or watch the 6 o'clock news every night, but you should have some clue about major events happening locally, nationally and globally.
20. Wake up before you want to. Get plenty of sleep, but don't miss the best part of the day. Mornings are magical. Sunrise is the most peaceful time of day. Hitting snooze feels good for 10 minutes, but 10 minutes of yoga will wake you up better than a whole pot of coffee. Use extra morning time to relax before you start your day. Don't start your day in a hurry.
Crafting 'Cause I Can
I was flipping through a Real Simple Magazine, again. I was inspired by this door organizer from the Container Store that sells for $12.You must understand that I am a craft supply hoarder. From my many trips to local thrift shops, I've collected quite a nice collection of fabrics, yarns and assorted odds and ends. (See: Alli's guide to thrifting). I dug through my toy chest full of supplies (the chest itself also a thrift shop find!).
Some felt, leftover cardboard and some embroidery thread did the job. I also found a nice tapestry needle so I could hand stitch my project easily. I didn't make a pattern, but this one is simple enough to wing it.
This version certainly looks a bit more folksy than the $12 version, but this one was probably a total of.... $.60! If I made a few more of these, I could sell them for $2 and still make a nice little profit.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Choc-ana Cupcakes with Nutella
I love baking cupcakes! In fact, one year for Christmas, my boyfriend-at-the-time's mother bought me 500 Cupcakes, a cupcake pan/ 2 tier carrier, a cupcake rack and other assorted cupcake tools.
I have modified a recipe from 500 cupcakes to make chocolate-banana cupcakes!
2 sticks butter/margarine (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup cocoa powder
Nutella (for frosting)
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease muffin tin (batter could yield 18-24 muffins) or use paper baking cups.
TIP: Grease the top of the pan, not only the cups. This helps the muffins slip out even if they grow above the rim of the cup.
Combine butter, sugar, flour and eggs until smooth. Stir in Banana. Add cocoa to taste. I estimate that I put about 1/3-1/2 cup in the batter.
Bake 15-20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Don't have toothpicks? I use a knife to the same purpose.
TIP: I've been known to burn my cupcakes by walking away and forgetting about them until I smell them burning. I found a great tip in Real Simple Magazine. Allow the muffins to cool, then use a grater to gently scrape off the burnt outer edger.
Frost with Nutella!!
TIP: Kroger Brand Hazelnut Spread also comes in a crunch version and it is DELICIOUS!
I have modified a recipe from 500 cupcakes to make chocolate-banana cupcakes!
2 sticks butter/margarine (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup cocoa powder
Nutella (for frosting)
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease muffin tin (batter could yield 18-24 muffins) or use paper baking cups.
TIP: Grease the top of the pan, not only the cups. This helps the muffins slip out even if they grow above the rim of the cup.
Combine butter, sugar, flour and eggs until smooth. Stir in Banana. Add cocoa to taste. I estimate that I put about 1/3-1/2 cup in the batter.
Bake 15-20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Don't have toothpicks? I use a knife to the same purpose.
TIP: I've been known to burn my cupcakes by walking away and forgetting about them until I smell them burning. I found a great tip in Real Simple Magazine. Allow the muffins to cool, then use a grater to gently scrape off the burnt outer edger.
Frost with Nutella!!
TIP: Kroger Brand Hazelnut Spread also comes in a crunch version and it is DELICIOUS!
Chai the Way I Like It
Tazo Chai mix
Vanilla Silk Almond Milk
1:1 + ice
Tazo Chai Concentrate is more of a spiced Chai. Oregon Chai is more sweet- also delicious.
Almond Milk makes the drink a bit thick. Sometimes I like to dilute it a bit by doing 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 skim milk.
One of these days I'll get around to mixing my own chai, but I'm not that ambitious. However, I'm sure it would save me some money! Dang this stuff is expensive!!!
Vanilla Silk Almond Milk
1:1 + ice
Tazo Chai Concentrate is more of a spiced Chai. Oregon Chai is more sweet- also delicious.
Almond Milk makes the drink a bit thick. Sometimes I like to dilute it a bit by doing 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 skim milk.
One of these days I'll get around to mixing my own chai, but I'm not that ambitious. However, I'm sure it would save me some money! Dang this stuff is expensive!!!
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