Hi Everyone! Thanks for being so patient with me! I have been underground for a few days for good reason. I am going indie. I have launched thefrugalista.com, my own blog. I have had an AWESOME time blogging for the Miami Herald, but now is the time for me to strike on my own.
The party isn't ending...it's going to a new place so please visit me at thefrugalista.com and update your blogrolls and add yourself to my RSS feed! My email is the same, for those who know. :)
Much love to the Miami Herald for letting me have a wonderful ride here!
Gobble up, my Frugalistas. I'm not doing Thanksgiving this year. There, I said it. Normally, I'm at a friend's house or flying to Chicago to visit my family. But this year, I am underground and THANKFUL for a day off to focus on my writing and me. They are one in the same these days.
A few things factored into my decision to un-Thanksgiving. I didn't want to spend money flying for the holidays. I didn't want to be responsible for bringing a dish to another person's home. My home is not in condition to have guests over. I have to work the Friday after the holiday.
I just want to watch television, write my book and talk on the phone. I just want the REALLY simple life because these days, my life is a tad hectic.
I don't really bring up the holidays around my friends because I don't want to be cajoled or pitied into a T-giving celebration.
I am thankful for friends, my health, a bank account, opportunities, Body Magic shape wear. I am thankful for my new hairdresser, Kenny.
I will be thankful for a low key day.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Do the holidays stress you? I will have some black Friday specials posted tomorrow.
Wow! Despite being known as the discount retailer for affluent people, Costco is now accepting food stamps. People are saying it's a sign that the economy is still shaky despite reports that the recession is over. I think that there are a lot of people on food stamps these days who USED to be affluent, or at least stable and now their fortunes have changed. The thing about stores like Costco, is that they make it really easy to buy in bulk. Costco tested the program out in New York and it was a success.
What do you think about Costco accepting food stamps? Have you ever used food stamps?
Greetings, Frugalistas! So I got back last night from a MARHHHVELOUS weekend at the first Blogalicious conference, a networking event for women bloggers of different ethnicities. I laughed. I cried. I networked at the W hotel in midtown Atlanta. :) I had so much fun.
The thing about blogging conferences (or any conference for that matter) is that they are rife with sponsors who are looking to get their products in front of tastemakers and influencers.
The swag (stuff we all get) was plentiful. Our registration bag was the size of a small village. At the different sessions and meetings, registrants were offered free lotion, hair care products, eyelashes, blankets and Barbie dolls. I had oodles and oodles of stuff.
So leaving the conference, I had an extra bag of "stuff." I filtered some of the swag, giving it off to the local bloggers. I know Shameeka, who blogs at The Broke Socialite, is doing a shelter run, donating some of the lotion and blankets to the less fortunate in Atlanta.
When I got to the airport, I ran into a swag dilemma. An airline agent made it clear I would have to check my luggage or get rid of some swag. I had no intention of paying $25 to check a bag due to the stuff I accumulated at the conference.
I thought about giving the swag away to someone at the airport, but for security reasons, I nixed that idea. I didn't want to be put "under watch" for the suspicious activity of giving way items at the airport. I did the unthinkable. I tossed some of the swag in the trash. I had free rice and other snacks in my swag bag. I was able to save the Barbie doll, make up and some hair care products. *Le sigh*
I feel pretty bad about being wasteful but I was up against the wall. I'm not a swag hag. It's just that the registration bag for the conference was filled to the top.
Should I have spent the $25 to check my luggage to keep the swag? Should I have not taken any of the swag? Am I a swag hag? Do I need to practice the "Swag Surfing" dance to get my swagger back? I can still shake it!
There's a new site on the world wide web, cheapism. It's a product review of cheap products. Here at The Frugalista Files, the word cheap is not in our vocabulary, but I wanted to shout out a growing blog. :)
I say the blog is worth a click and a gander. The site does the heavy lifting. I hate buying items that stink. It's better to read the reviews. Go cheapism!
So a few weeks back, I got contacted by a Chinese journalist named Fu. Apparently, I'm known as the "Frugal Queen" in the Far East! Fancy that! As a Frugalista, I am a citizen of the world, even though my passport may need a few more stamps. :( One day! Anyway, here's the article that the China Youth Daily wrote about me. The article is written in Chinese, in case you aren't fluent, but it included some of my party photos.
Life is good. Frugal living is great!
Thanks to Fu for writing about this American girl,
BlogHer is an online community for women who blog and it holds an annual convention.
I know a lot of people have approached me about starting a blog and what the blogging experience is like, so the chat tonight will cover all that ground.
For me, blogging as a woman has been a life changing experience, so I am Team Blogger. The BlogHer experience was eye opening. I was lucky enough to be a panelist the first time there!
So Frugalistas, if you are thinking about blogging, the social media game, or frugal and fabulous living (heheh) check us out tonight!
Over 160 nominees were selected for this honor by political, business and organizational leaders in South Florida. The final 40 honorees were then hand-picked by an advisory committee composed of business leaders in the fields of banking, media, politics, and medicine and community/non-profit leadership. Chosen for their professional accomplishments and tireless efforts to support our community, the 40 award recipients will be honored at a VIP reception.
I'm wearing a dress from my closet to the event. My one business dress will be taken out of retirement and to the reception!
Anyway, I was pretty captivated by Pollan, Food Inc. and the Meatless Monday movement. I am not a vegetarian, for the record, but I'm sure I could try one day without meat.
Frugalistas, what do you think? Are you a big meat fan? Could you go a day without meat? What do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle? Do you put pork on your fork? Is meat too expensive?
