YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Blog Posts by Melissa Tosetti

    • Savvy Fourth of July Celebrations

      By Melissa Tosetti | Fourth of July – Tue, Jun 14, 2011 8:56 PM EDT

      The Fourth of July is one of the least commercial holidays in America. You don't need fancy clothes, food or gifts to celebrate. All you have to do is find a parade, a night-time fireworks show and some simple All-American barbeque. I've always enjoyed the Fourth, because, no matter where I am, in a big city or a small town, I can find a neighborhood celebration that makes me feel like part of an extended family. You can make your Independence Day celebrations as fancy or simple as you want. Here are some of our favorite ways to spend a glorious summer day.

      Find a Small-Town Parade and Party

      Watching the spectacle of a New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco parade can be impressive, but if you have not attended a small town parade in a few years, give it a try. There is something very "American" about seeing the local school bands, celebrities and political figures marching or riding down the street and hearing spectators calling out to the participants. Everybody is much more

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    • Are You Ready to Take the Pantry Challenge?

      By Melissa Tosetti | Shine Food – Fri, Feb 25, 2011 6:45 PM EST

      by Kevin Gibbons & Melissa Tosetti

      Ask any small businesswoman and she will tell you one of the most important factors in managing a business is inventory control. Unsold inventory is captive money locked up on her shelf. Just like that businesswoman's warehouse, or back room, unused food in your kitchen pantry is your money held prisoner. Take a look at your kitchen pantry. Do you have cans of soup, bags or boxes of pasta and rice, or the stray jar of olives that have been there for longer than you can remember? The Savvy Life issues this challenge to you: Once every three months, at the end of each season, commit to living out of your pantry. Except for fresh consumables like milk, pledge to prepare all of your meals using the ingredients you already have, until you have used up all of the food in your pantry.

      Why do we ask you to do this exercise? There are several benefits to periodically "cleaning house" in this fashion. The most expensive food it the food we throw

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    • 6 Savvy Holiday Shopping Tips

      By Melissa Tosetti | Work + Money – Thu, Dec 16, 2010 7:10 PM EST

      By Melissa Tosetti & Kevin Gibbons

    • 8 Affordable Holiday Decorating Ideas

      By Melissa Tosetti | Holiday Moments – Wed, Dec 15, 2010 7:25 PM EST

      By Melissa Tosetti & Kevin Gibbons

      It's not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on decorations - especially when prices will be drastically reduced after the holidays. A little money and a lot of creativity go a long way. Here are 8 affordable ideas for holiday decorations:

      Nature

      Pour pine cones into a basket and wrap the handle with ribbon.

      Toys

      Surround the tree with stuffed animals and other childhood toys.

      Holiday Cards

      As you receive holiday cards, place them on the mantle or tack them to the door.

      Winter Wear

      Hang mittens from your door knob and place ice skates beneath the tree.

      Ribbon

      Buy a spool of wire ribbon and wrap door knobs and other ordinary items.

      Candles

      Candlelight does wonders for ambience!

      Holiday Music

      More great ambience.

      Poinsettias
      Poinsettias can be picked up rather inexpensively and add instant holiday cheer. (Note: If you are a pet owner or have small children, you may want to skip the Poinsettia as

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    • Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas

      By Melissa Tosetti | Work + Money – Tue, Dec 14, 2010 6:42 PM EST

      By Melissa Tosetti & Kevin Gibbons



      Presents are always appreciated, but gifts that show the thought put in them are remembered! Need ideas



      Photos


      Would your friend like a framed photo of the two of you on your last vacation together? Go through your old photo albums and see if there are any gems there for members of your family. A copy of an old photo and a new frame is a very thoughtful gift.



      Baked Goods


      Never underestimate the power of baked goods. To some, baking is a secret art form unknown to them. If you have a kick-butt recipe that everyone raves about - go for it!

      Books


      Books are great gifts for the bookworm, the occasional reader or the enthusiast. From novels to biographies, cookbooks to do-it-yourself guides, there is something for just about everyone.



      Christmas Ornaments


      Ornaments are great gifts for those who are just starting out. Your gift will be remembered year after year.



      Movies


      Giving the gift of someone's favorite movie tells them just how well you

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    • Enjoy the Holidays with Savvy Scheduling

      By Melissa Tosetti | Work + Money – Mon, Dec 13, 2010 6:15 PM EST

      By Melissa Tosetti & Kevin Gibbons

    • The Joys of Anticipation

      By Melissa Tosetti | Work + Money – Tue, Jul 27, 2010 6:28 PM EDT

      When you were a child, do you remember how excited you got at the thought of your birthday or the holidays? Looking forward to celebrating or opening presents was sweet torture.

      When was the last time you got excited about a purchase? When was the last time you bought something and it really made you happy for hours, days or even weeks?

      As adults, we have the ability to buy what we want, when we want, whether we can afford it or not. A sad byproduct of this type of consumerism is the lack of anticipation. You no longer look forward to making a purchase. You just buy it on credit. Instead of the joys of anticipation, you often experience the dread of your credit card bill.

      The items you purchase, outside the genre of toilet bowl cleaner and gas, should bring you happiness. It is possible to bring this type of joy back into your life. In fact, there are many positive side effects to using anticipation as a way to make purchases.

      Even if you can afford an item right away,

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    • Don't Buy Groceries - Buy Ingredients

      By Melissa Tosetti | Shine Food – Wed, Feb 24, 2010 7:01 PM EST

      How many times have you gone to the grocery store, left $100 with the cashier, come home, put everything away and felt like you have no food in the house?

      One of the problems we have when it comes to visiting the grocery store is that we go with no plan, purchase random items and then try to make something of them when we get home.

      There is a simple reason why the most efficient kitchens are restaurant kitchens. Chefs don't just buy groceries and then figure out what to make from there. They create a menu and then purchase the ingredients needed to make those dishes.

      So, run your own kitchen like a restaurant kitchen and make a plan. Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with your grocery store's weekly sales ad. Start by reviewing the meat or fish items that are on sale (unless you are a vegetarian). Write down a few meals you can cook based on those meat items. Then, go through the rest of the ad and decide what side dishes you can create out of the other items on sale.

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