How to have a blackout party

When the lights go out you can either sit around in candlelight waiting for them to come back on or you can do what we did, make the best of the situation and have a blackout party.

Here's what you'll need:

• Mood lighting such as candles and battery operated paper lanterns.
• Fully charged laptop or battery operated radio/ipod dock; basically something to play music on which could include an acoustic guitar or other instruments for the musically inclined.
• BBQ with fuel/charcoal.
• Food that you have to eat so it doesn't go bad (our neighbors bought a bunch of meat minutes before the power went out).
• Flashlights or headlamp to actually see what you're doing.
• Neighbors or friends that are always down to party.
• Cash to buy any needed supplies from the local liquor store (ice, beer, batteries, etc.).  By the way, you need to do this ASAP before places close up shop for the night or they sell out of what you need.  
• Chairs to bring outdoors since now you can actually see the stars without the normal light pollution.
• Some form of entertainment.  For us this included a light-up frisbee and exercise ball.
• Sharing, cooperation, and a positive outlook (worrying about what will happen isn't any fun).

- Avoid driving if possible, many people were stuck in traffic for hours.

- Don't go to Target.  The only place with generators and open for people during the night  is not somewhere you want to be since that's where everyone else in the city will be.  

- Having a radio or a smartphone that connects to the internet can be important for getting those essential updates (a car charger for your phone can also come in handy).  

- Being prepared for any situation will leave you in a much better position than not and you'll be able to stay calm and maybe have some fun. 

- Ironically the massive southwest power outage occurred during National Preparedness Month and SDGE emailed out the electric bills that morning.

Lady Luck and Free Stuff

Custom Leather bracelet -LUCK with Hand of Hamsa charm

I consider myself a lucky person, although I don't necessarily believe in luck per say.  Rather I think that the energy that you put out into the world (including thoughts) you get back.  I would like to think of my recent lucky moment, winning a $500 gift card, as a reward for the hard work I've done the past year.  The gift card was for Lands End and I was able to use it at Sears on anything.  I bet you're wondering where I won this gift card.  I enter the Lucky Mag sweepstakes on a regular basis.  They have new ones every month and you can register and save your info so you just have to click through a couple pages to enter (make sure you click no for ordering the catalog, I also choose to not receive any emails).

Other ways I've won:
- Winning raffles for gift cards for helping fellow students on their dissertations which usually involve short surveys.  I also won a gift card for completing an Online Diversity Training.
- California Pizza Kitchen had a promotion going where you brought back a card for the manager to scratch.  We ended up getting 50% off.
- I have one other raffles...the kind where you put your name in a bag and they draw a winner.  One item I received was a high power water pump for a fish tank.
- Items from other magazine giveaways.
- I have also entered, but have yet to win from blog giveaways and surveys at the end of receipts from a variety of stores.

Winning - 12 x 24 inch felt pillow

You may have seen the extreme couponers on TLC, well I'm definitely not one of them.  I have, however, used coupons for items I buy normally although half the time I forget coupons at home.  I also go to http://www.allyou.com/ where you can get daily free samples.  http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ has a freebies section as well. There's a lot of overlap between these two, but not always.  I don't do any Facebook likes for free samples, but I am willing to fill out a short form to get free stuff. I also use an email that is mostly for spam/junk mail when I sign up. I only get samples that are completely free and pass on any that you have to pay for shipping and handling for.  Along with free samples you are bound to get really good coupons for those products.

Some free items I've gotten:
- A coupon for free coffee creamer (I love coffee so I go through creamer like crazy!).
- A coupon for a free bag of rice.
- A bunch of samples of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and so forth which is perfect for traveling or if you run out of your normal stuff.
- Emergen-C packs

Penny Saved 2x2 Tile

Even though I don't save a ton all at once every little bit counts and definitely makes a difference with my grad school budget!

Kid at Heart

Feel the grass under your toes.

Cross your arms, grab hands, lean back and spin.

Throw your head back and look up at the sky.

Watch the clouds turn into animals.

Listen to the sounds of the world.

Grab a handful of sand and let it slip through your fingers.

Swing higher than you are tall.

Jump and imagine you are flying. 

Laugh like nothing else matters but the joy in your heart.

C.Bennet

My Lovely Little Things

S.S.C. Photography & Prints

Rachel Pfeffer Designs

BangBangCrash

It's the little things...

I recently watched the French film Amélie whose main character becomes a self proclaimed do-gooder after returning a tin of childhood treasures to a stranger. Although her schemes are to bring joy to those around her, it reminded me of the power of random acts of kindness.  If you've been the receiver of such an act, whether it's someone paying for your cup of coffee,  a stranger offering a compliment, or whatever it may be, you know what I mean.  You can't help but smile in wonderment at the selflessness and thoughtfulness of a person who doesn't even know you. Once driving through the toll for the Bay Bridge my friend offered fruit snacks to the worker in the booth.  It's the little things like that that can turn even a bad day into a good one.

Being on the non-receiving, doing something for someone else is a pretty gratifying experience.  In high school my friend and I handmade Valentine's cards.  We carefully crafted each card to be unique with quotes from Shakespeare and such.  We then went into downtown and distributed our cards to complete strangers.  It was a lot of fun and I still remember the experience with fondness.  So this is my call to you: go be inspired and spread kindness to strangers and loved ones alike! 

(oh, and watch Amélie if you haven't yet)