Whoops!

Okay, that "small break" was not supposed to last nearly a month.  I had planned to update/post about the sewing convention and projects but then the temperatures jumped to 95+ degrees F (35+ degrees C) for days on end with little to no wind.  It had been the kind of heat that makes you pass out and become a the replacement bear rug.  ...I have every intention of getting back to all my projects and with any luck, doing something more with my time.  Like getting back to all those damn things I meant to do, despite the heat, and the reason for starting this blog.  And like most things, I am usually a couple of years behind trends, whether it be music, internet bursts/waves and technology, though the latter really isn't my fault since I do not have the money to keep up!  So I am thinking of doing the 101 in 1001, which is 101 accomplishments in a 1001 days, or 2.75 years.  That's not too hard, right?

Well while I am working on that list, here are some interesting things I learned today!

1. Bank of America and Visa actually want to help you save money. ...Well, have more money to invest with them but they do have some interesting ways to go about saving money via life hack ideas, or the way the grandparents did things before "time saving" products invaded our lives.  Some ideas seem worth trying:

• Don't buy dryer sheets.  Use a clean piece of aluminum foil crumpled into a 2-3 inch diameter ball instead.  Supposedly it works for up to six months; they do not say how many loads of laundry this equates to.  For that fresh smell of dryer sheets, read the rest of the article to learn more.
• Find out which items of clothing you wear most often and donate the rest by "turn the hanger around when placing an item back on the rack. After one year, the clothes that are still on backwards hangers can go, and then rest can stay."
• And not sure how to make a meal with those leftovers in the fridge?  They recommended this site: bigoven.com ...find recipes, create grocery lists and plan a menu.

2. You can search the internet, shop online and get "free" perks too.  This one I did for a while two years ago and have gotten back into it this summer: SwagBucks.  Totally free and sometimes addictive, this no-card-needed site allows you to all the things you shouldn't be doing at work or school and get free stuff in return, such as gift cards from Amazon, Target, Dominos, Mortons, Royal Carribean and the like.  If you just search the internet or watch some of the videos, it will take you a while to get any "bucks" worth redeeming.  The last time I did this, in an active month, one in which I was really trying to earn SwagBucks daily, I was able to redeem ~$35 in Amazon gift cards.  The lazy way of doing it takes a bit longer.
Anywho...should you find yourself inclinded, here is my referral link, which gets us both perks: swagbucks.com/refer/exlibros 

3. Another cool thing I found today, which can also score you major points with SwagBucks if you purchase through them, are Diamond Candles!  They are exactly what you think they might be: large scented candles that have baggy sealed diamond rings in them for only $25 plus S/H.  Now, the majority of the rings are worth $10 but there are a number of real diamond rings that value at $100 to $5000!  Apparently it only takes an hour of burning to get to the ring but you still have hours left on the candle to be in aroma heaven, in 27 different varieties.  Even if you do get a $10 ring, it is still a fun gift and a new way to surprise your significant on one of those major holidays or anniversaries.

This is their video.