another pinterest challenge, saving money

this morning i came across this pin...



i have been using cash lately, to monitor my spending. i highly recommend it. it forces you to be aware of what you are buying.
i quickly rushed to my wallet to pull out all my $5 bills. $10 exactly. yay! i hope to report back in about (give or take) three months from now. maybe you should try this challenge and see how much you have saved up! if you do try this pinterest challenge, please do share your progress!

today i decided to try a pin i have been dying to try out.


1 cup arm and hammer washing soda ($5.99 at ACE hardware)
1 cup borax ($3.49 at TARGET)
1 bar of fels naptha ($1.79 at ACE hardware)

i have been using it for the past two weeks now, the verdict, i love it!
it takes all the stubborn stains out. i had a shirt that i was ready to throw out with stubborn wine stains. voila...presto change-o, stain is out. all it took was one tablespoon! yes! one tablespoon! amazing!!! it does not suds up like regular laundry detergents. i used both a regular machine and the high efficiency machines and the soap was fine. for real hard stains, i recommend maybe a tablespoon and a half. or maybe even two.
the scent. it smells like a clean citrus summer day. if you get a chance, grab a bar of fels naptha and smell it. your laundry will come out with that fresh smell. i use bounce fabric sheets in the dryer. my laundry smells like bounce.
oh that reminds me, i hope to take fabric sheets out of the equation too and perhaps save some cash on that! but that will be another post. ;)
the prices here in san francisco, are a bit higher. i went out to mountain view to look at the walmart pricing. amazingly cheaper. you can get a bar of fels naptha for $0.79! you save a whole dollar there! the borax was the same in price but the arm and hammer washing soda was $3.99. $2 savings there too! nonetheless, it is still cheaper to use this home concoction than to buy TIDE again. i am sorry TIDE, i grew up with you, but i am all grown up now with no job at the moment. i need to penny pinch anywhere and everywhere i can...
my next project, taking away the paper towel rolls...
is it possible??

long overdue

i sometimes forget that i have a blog. my blog is for my own purposes to remember things. i no longer write in my journal so i thought blogging would keep that aspect of my life in "check" apparently, not, so...much.
so i've been busy making little things here and there...here are some hair pins i made...


my awesome friend alfred had a birthday!


my friends from the good ol days came for a visit!

loving those fish eye lens!!!

finally got a chance to eat at
the stinking rose


visited my cousin at the polynesian fair in foster city

she would paddle you out into the water!!

do we look a like?! a lot of people think we are sisters. i agree that we "sound" alike.

my bestie from eons ago acquired milo!


my miu has a strange obsession with bubble wrap...


and i really want to get this for her...maybe if i placed some bubble wrap in it!

i guess that is about it...for now

AIDS LIFECYCLE

in the past i have been into animal rescue, but after a loss of a great person...i have been focusing on AIDS/HIV awareness and to stop the epidemic.

most times i donate funds from my sales on etsy to some worthy cause.
two friends are riding this year and i'd like to help them out.

kevin morgan and tommy shaw. they will endure 545 miles of hills, winds, and obstacles from san francisco to los angeles.




Tommy Shaw and his link
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE11/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=2811364&pg=personal&fr_id=1440

Kevin Morgan and his link
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR?px=2523790&pg=personal&fr_id=1440&et=dNIYcloILhDtryfDnIfR9Q&s_tafId=46591

uh oh

i am trying some new looks on the blog front. changing the color theme...
i think i am outgrowing my typical black "look"
going for an "easy" on the eye look. less eye strain when reading, kinda look...
i shall see how long this will last. hehe

update of sorts

i have been slacking on the blog front...
i attended two beautiful weddings this year...one in hawaii and another here in san francisco...




i had an amazing dinner in orinda? crap i have no idea where i was...i fell asleep in the car ride. but it was amazing. i am never home for the holidays. it sure was a treat.
after thanksgiving. we met up with the yaks best friend and his girlfriend for a road trip to los angeles. i got food poisoning and did not remember much of the car ride. all two days at disney i was sick to my stomach but that did not stop me. i took tons of pills and many visits to the restrooms. i rode practically everything! i love disney!!!





i received my first advent calendar. yes, i was super excited about this...


and recently i returned from frankfurt..


i really would like a cuckoo clock...



i tasted the most amazing beer, EVER!!! i honestly dont think it is considered a beer. it was a refreshing explosion in my mouth!



til the next update...

my donations...

donations has been made...


as you may know, or not know....
i try and like to help out non profit organizations. majority of my donations go towards the animals in need. they can't help themselves since the human owners abandoned them. but after a very close friend passed, i am starting to focus on AIDS/HIV non profits...
a friend of mine is riding for



so until then, i will be raising funds for tommy!

so come on by my etsy shop and shop away!!!



if you read this here...please use coupon code CAFFEINE for 25% off your purchase!!!