Saving up for Vacation

Saving money is hard.

It's partially looking toward the future, holding out on purchasing that new purse, buying generic instead of brand name... and partially having enough to save in this economy.

If you're finally at the point that you can put away a few bucks every month, you're faced with the decision: what to do with it?

I found that with my bank, interest drawn from a savings account doesn't add up to much, but if I add it to my checking account, it'll be used to pay bills or buy groceries. The piggy bank is great for saving, but there's no interest at all.

I went on a search.

I searched for "saving money" in the google bar, and came across thedigeratilife.com - 55 best ways to save money. I clicked and started reading.

Tip #2 - Keep money in a hard-to-access, high interest savings account so that the funds are harder to spend. Use your checking account for your everyday expenses but “hide” the rest of your money elsewhere, where you’re not tempted to use it.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I clicked.

According to thedigeratilife.com, I could put away my money, and have it work for me, without investing in long term stocks and investments. This chart compares online banks, and sorts them by APY Rate. Some have minimum balances, some don't.

Online Bank APY Rate Min. Balance EverBank 2.25% $1,500 Smarty Pig 2.01% $25 Ally Bank 1.29% (Updated 04/06/10) $0 FNBO Direct 1.25% $1 WT Direct 1.16% $1 HSBC Direct 1.10% $1 ING Direct Savings 1.10% $1 ING Direct Checking .25% to 1.25% $1 E-Trade 0.40% $1 Bank of the Internet - $1 Dollar Savings Direct 1.30% $1,000 Citibank e-Savings 1.01% $100 VirtualBank Savings 1.01% $1,000

Of course, I wanted to use Everbank, the highest interest one, but didn't have a whopping $1500 to drop just yet. I clicked on SmartyPig to find out more info.

It took about 5 minutes to set up a new account, the interface was easy to navigate, and I put $100 in, and set up a recurring monthly deposit. SmartyPig even has a savings calculator where you can enter a goal date, how much you want to save, and they suggest a deposit amount to reach that goal in the time frame.

As I was entering my information, a screen popped up. I read that by May, they are RAISING the APY rate if your savings is under $50,000. Wow. That's me!

I'll keep you updated on how it's working for me, but do the research for yourself, you'll be happy you did.

Tuna Tacos - Any day recipe

The key to this amazing dinner or lunchtime treat is fresh ingredients.

What you'll need:
- Corn Tortillas (you could substitute flour tortillas)
- Tuna Steak
- Olive oil
- 1/2 Cucumber - finely diced
- Small avocado -finely diced
- 1 plum or roma tomato -finely diced
- 1/2 onion -finely diced
- 1/2 Green pepper -finely diced
- Cilantro (3-4 sprigs if you like cilantro, 5-6 if you love it like we do) finely diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Optional:
- Shredded Cabbage
- Coconut milk


- Cut tuna steak in big cubes
- In medium sized teflon coated pan, heat olive oil (about 2-3 turns of the pan) over medium heat.
- Wait til oil has fully heated, and sear both sides of tuna about 1-2 min on each side.
- Take off heat and allow the tuna to cool a bit.
- Once cooled, cut into smaller pieces


-In a medium mixing bowl, toss remaining ingredients, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon out mixture onto tortilla, add some tuna chunks, and serve!

New Domestic Goddess Items

There's a brand-spanking new shop that just opened down on the corner of http://www.cafepress.com/DomestikGoddess, and we just couldn't wait to show off some of the great items featured there!

There are plenty of really affordable items, and several different designs to suit your taste.

Domestic Goddess Retro Star Pattern Mug

Domestic Goddess 2010 Calendar Print

Domestic Goddess Colorful Mug set (4)

Our newest design: the skull and crossbones made from
a measuring cup, fork and spoon!

The back of the shirt features a punk typestyle in magenta and black.

And there's so much more! From aprons to bumperstickers, magnets to greeting cards. Stock up on your Domestic Goddess Gear today!

I suck at blogging.

For whatever reason, the more domestic goddess-y I've become, the less time I find to blog about it. So I'm gonna try harder.

A week and a half ago, I swore off doing freelance design work for a while. This self proclamation suddenly felt freeing and empowering. I'm now free to do whatever I want in my spare time. I can take care of laundry AND sew a potholder. I can make a purse. I can doodle and paint. I can take cute pictures of what I've accomplished. The sky is the limit, but I find myself lost in the clouds.

Christmas brought forth a never-ending supply of items to make: I knew just what I wanted to do, and how to do it. I organized my sewing room and went forth on my mission. I stitched, and glued, and painted, and pinned, and cut and did it until my fingers were falling off. Enjoying every minute of it. I would get in my car after work, and on the drive home I'd imagine all the things I could accomplish that day, and couldn't wait to get in the zone.

After Christmas passed, the projects were completed and the gifts were distributed. I felt so accomplished. The first year I've actually managed to MAKE the gifts. And then I relaxed into a dark, furry, soft place, and stayed there.

I'm ready for the project mojo to come back. Sure, I made a purse, but it took over 2 weeks to complete. I started a potholder, but currently, it's sitting on my piano bench with more pins than a voodoo doll. I'm customizing a munny for an art show in Feb, but anything that could go wrong, has. I'm not short on creativity, imagination or ideas, I have at least 10 pages in my sketchbook full of future projects waiting to be born.

I just need that mojo back.

It's finally October!

Ernst and Gilpin is throwing our 2nd annual halloween bash... scaled back from last year by quite a bit.  I pulled out all the halloween decor I own last week and was looking through it. I already had a few skulls and little bits out, but I felt that since October finally came, it was time to go all out and enjoy the decor for as long as possible.

Last year's party was a "Twisted Disney Mad Hatter" theme.  This year, it's just going to be creepy.  REALLY creepy.

Spooky Halloween Party Planning

If you're planning on throwing your own Spooky

 Halloween Party, the first thing you want to decide on is FOOD... yes, Food.  Why food first?  The food should take up around HALF of your budget!  Also, depending on the amount of Alcohol you want, it could be 3/4 of your budget.  Take careful consideration when planning the time of your party.  If you plan on opening your door before 7pm, plan on feeding people more than just cupcakes.

Decide First whether you're going to serve a buffet, appetizers, potluck, or a full course meal. That decision will factor into the INVITATIONS, especially if you're asking guests to bring food or drinks.

If you like a lighter fare, like appetizers and finger food, pick 3 items to make, but make enough to feed your crew. An easy way to creep up appetizers: add black, orange or red food coloring to dips, spreads and some of your water-based veggies, like celery will take on the color of choice if soaked in a shallow dish of cold water and food coloring for a few hours (it also keeps them crisp).

If you think coloring your food will ward off guests from sampling them, add non-edible decor to the serving platters, and use aged or festive bowls and plates.  Scour thrift stores for some fun finds like old silver platters.

Invitations

Once you have an idea of what the menu will consist of, make invitations, and send them out at least 3 or 4 weeks ahead, especially if you'll be asking guest to wear costumes.  Consider all things about the party when making invitations, and what you expect your guests to bring... or n

ot to bring.  Alcohol, children, costumes, food, wine, and games are all things to bring or leave at home.

There are some fantastic and easy ways to make your own invitations, and set the mood long before the party begins.  You could choose from a myriad of clip art, or go to your local craft store and get cardstock cutouts, stamps and decorative paper. Or buy a can of granite-look spray paint and paint tombstone-shaped cutouts, then write the info on them once they’re dry.  Make sure to include your address, the time of the party (and an end time if you like) and the name of the hosts.

If you have all the guests' e-mail addresses, you can skip the stamps and paper and use an e-invitation website to reach your guests.  Sites like evite.com have pre-designed templates for every occasion and style and are easy to fill in an

d hit send!

Creepy or Cutesy?

Decide on a theme for your decor, and stick to it throughout your 

party-scape.  If you'll be utilizing your entire house, divide the areas into "scare zones" for an even creepier effect.  

For instance, you can purchase "bloody handprints" that cling onto shower doors and plastic curtains for a "PSYCHO" look in the bathroom.  The entryway (inside or out) could be filled with flying bats made from black construction paper.  The kitchen might be transformed into a dirty meat market, with body parts in the sink and sticking out of the oven.  Jello Brain Molds are easy to find and inexpensive at your local party store.

For more Halloween Decor ideas: Martha Stewart and many others offer DIY instructions for creating your own spooky decor, from super easy to advanced craftsman.  Take a gander...

But it's only September!

That's what Jason said to me.

Let me start at the beginning... We're moved into the new house, now known as Gilpin/Percy Manor, and Jason and I have been trying to unload all the piles of boxes that stretch across the garage.  (I have a lot of STUFF.)  So, last week I started making my way to the HALLOWEEN decor filled boxes (FUN!), and pulling out items for inspection.  I put out a few tombstones in the front entryway, skulls atop the bookshelves, and a creepy black wire tree and candles...  

Then I found one of my favorite pieces of decor - my flying demon.  He's so scary at night with the right lighting.  So I thought I'd catch Jason by surprise, walked in the house with the demon, and he loved it.  I started holding it up in different areas to see where it fit best.   

That's when Jason asked: "When do you want to start decorating for Halloween?"

I was stunned for a moment, and said: "I already have."

"But it's only September!!" he laughed.

I have been preparing for Halloween in my mind for at least a month or so.  And now that I have my own HOUSE, and can decorate it any way I see fit... it boggles the mind.  The options are endless.

There's just something about Halloween that makes me feel magical.  Not the same kind of magical that christmas offers.  A little darker brand of magic.

Life and other catastrophies.

Yes, goddesses, it's been a while.

Brooke and I keep experiencing life slam into us like a freight train, and something has to give.  Unfortunately, that's been Domestic Goddess for the past month or 2.  Interest seems to be on a decline, due to life happening to everyone else too.

I had a mini-breakdown-crisis yesterday, upon feeling the weight of the world and all its accessories, life started closing in on me like a garbage compactor.  It was a day of extreme ups, downs, frustrations, sadness and delight - pulverizing my nerves. I had to stop.  Just stop.  Stop thinking, stop doing, stop worrying, stop hoping, stop expecting, stop disappointment, stop obsessing. Just stop. 

And breathe.

I calmed down.  For about an hour, I just sat in front of the TV and watched it.  Didn't do anything else.  My mind was emptied.  I felt better, calmer, less on the edge of screaming.  And it happens to us all.  Things build up, especially when we aren't paying attention.  Soon we're choking out the goober coffee shop kid because he asked if we want whipped cream.

It occurred to me in writing this very blog, that there is a direct correlation to the weight of the world closing in, and the lack of me creating something just to create.  It is an outlet, a safe haven, and therapy for me.  I can so easily slide into the softness of it's womb, and keep my sanity by just creating.  The challenge is - doing something for a living that's creative = not being as willing to keep it up when I get off work, because sometimes it feels like work.

I've had my paints, canvases, beads, fabric and crafting stuff packed in boxes for 3 weeks now, since I'm moving in less than a month. I don't really have time to unpack what's been packed - I need to pack MORE.  And that, I feel, has partially led to my mini-breakdown-crisis. 

So I decided in all my enlightenment to dig into some stuff I've always wanted to do, and include the Domestic Goddesses in my projects.  So join me.  I'm planning to do one project a week. (until I move, and then start it up again.)  Please feel free to offer suggestions.  I've already come up with THIS WEEK's PROJECT: MAKE YOUR OWN SHAMPOO!