Monday, August 31, 2015

Money Monday - Taped in Advance

Tape refills seem to be getting more expensive.  And it is a lot of money to drop to get them as a package of four or more, especially when you just need one.  I discovered that regular disposable tape dispensers often go on sale for Back-To-School,  but rarely the refills.  And, most importantly, you can pop out the roll - it will fit the roller insert, and put it in your permanent desktop tape dispenser.   I easily saved more than half off the refill cost with the sales.  While they may not as large as the refill size, there's plenty enough on there to last for awhile.  (Plus you can recycle the plastic disposable dispensers.)

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Texas-Sized Moonflowers

With the Full Moon and lots of Miracle Grow, we had a bumper crop of moonflowers last night -- over 25 blooms, the fragrance was intoxicating.




Thursday, August 20, 2015

Thursday Tea Time - Trader Joe's Peppermint Tea

This week - Trader Joe's Peppermint Tea

Price:  Around $2
Size:  20 individually-wrapped tea bags
Caffeine:   No
Type of tea:   Herbal
Steeping time:  3 minutes
Mix ins:   A little bit of Pure Beeing honey
Fragrance:  Peppermint
Ingredients:  Peppermint leaves
Opinion:   This isn't like a candy cane peppermint.  It has a mint kick, with a nice warming aftertaste.  Not very strong, you may want to double up or brew a few extra minutes/leave the teabag in the mug like all the cool tea drinkers do.  ; )  Nice to soothe the tummy and your sinuses if you are feeling a bit congested from allergies or the remnants of a cold.
Rating: 3.5 only because of the delayed reaction mint flavor
Nice color for an herbal peppermint tea!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Raise your hand (or needle)

If you have used a Stretch & Sew pattern or still have a favorite in your stash.  Here is mine --

Per my note on the envelope,
Obviously they ran a little short!
Well-drafted, and versatile wardrobe patterns (a nod here to the stirrup pants of the late 80's/early 90's) - the skirt and the slim pants are still sewable and wearable today.  Beginning in the mid 60's, Ann Person wrote books about techniques on sewing on knits and designed patterns, sewing notions (Perky Bond!) in addition to opening stores and franchises.  She was probably the most instrumental in changing the Big 4 to offer multi-sized patterns and helping several generations learn to sew with knit fabrics.  She was inducted into the American Sewing Guild's Hall of Fame in 2004.  Sadly, Ann passed away on August 10 at the age of 90.