Uncluttering Christmas with Thoughtful Gifts... not just buying 'stuff' so you have something to give

Pumpkin bargain hunting at a craft store.

Yes, yes, I know, last year Columbia wrote a post on uncluttering gift ideas but I love that the topic is becoming more and more popular. Also, who can't use more ideas for thoughtful gifts that don't take up much space?

This is why I salivated all over Northern Cheapskate's post on 7 Gifts for People Who Have Everything. It's not just 7 gifts, by the way, it's 7 amazing ideas that don't just speak to buying for those hard-to-buy-for-friends-and-relatives but also elaborates on being especially thoughtful in your gift giving. It will not surprise you to know that Columbia and I are a big fan of #6: Experiences. This has always been a favorite gift to give each other. A night away to a B&B, a frugal but fun weekend in Boston, a 'Saturdate' with all the trimmings, or tickets to a favorite show or game have showed much more thoughtfulness than just a gift wrapped under the tree. I may have even liked them better than jewelry (Columbia, when you read this, know that this is true but I do absolutely love the above mentioned sparklies).

If you are finding yourself more and more drawn to DIY, then Sew, Mama, Sew has ideas for every person on your gift-giving list. Sew, Mama, Sew is also posting great ideas submitted by their readers, like this one on homemade Irish Cream (scroll down - Yum!), so check their site daily for more ideas.

I have been inspired so much this year that I am not sure how I am going to get to all of the projects I have planned. Putting up Christmas decorations might be a good start, though...

Free Museum Friday... and Saturday and Sunday and....

I was all set to post about the great free opportunities for visiting Museums on Friday evening, when lo and behold I discovered that there are museums offering free entrance everyday of the week!

NewYorkology posted a comprehensive list that you can access here, but I've posted the museums offering free Fridays below. We are taking Pumpkin to the Children's Museum of Manhattan tonight. While it's free for her until she's one, Columbia and I would have to pay $10 each if it weren't for there free hours the first Friday of every month.

Free Museum Entrance of Fridays

• Museum of Modern Art - Free from 4 to 8 p.m. (normally $20)
• Guggenheim - Pay-what-you-wish from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.; last admission at 7:15 p.m. (normally $18)
• Whitney Museum of American Art - Pay-what-you-wish from 6 to 9 p.m. (normally $15)
• International Center of Photography - “voluntary contribution” admission from 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $12)
• Morgan Library & Museum - Free from 7 to 9 p.m. (normally $12)
• NY Hall of Science - Free 2 to 5 p.m., but only September through June (normally $11)
• New-York Historical Society - Free from 6 to 8 p.m. (normally $10)
• Rubin Museum of Art - Free from 7 to 10 p.m. (normally $10)
• South Street Seaport Museum - Free Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month, sometimes with free harbor sails (museum admission normally $10)
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan - Free the first Friday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m. (normally $10)
• The Noguchi Museum - Pay-what-you-wish on the first Friday of each month, all day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (normally $10)
• Asia Society - Free 6 to 9 p.m., but free Fridays are suspended July 4 to Labor Day. (normally $10)
• Folk Art Museum - Free from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (normally $9)
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free all day every Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but only from Nov. 20 - Feb. 29 (normally $8)
• Bronx Museum - Free 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (normally $5 suggested)
• Museum of the Moving Image is closed for renovations, except for the “Behind the Screen” exhibition which is free with an “optional contribution of $5”

Keeping your Math Skills Sharp and Your Waist Thin... or attempting to, anyway

Last night Columbia was jonesing for some cookies. Trying to please (appease?) my DH and avoid him running to Duane Reade to splurge, I checked out the cupboard. It occurred to me that a quarter batch of oatmeal raisin cookies wouldn't ruin our efforts at losing the last of the baby weight (8 1/2 months later...) or take too much time.

As any dieter knows, 1/2 an egg is one egg white. Making my own baby food for Pumpkin has taught me that 2 tbsps is 1/8 cup and 3 tsps equals 1 tbsp. And my former 2nd graders would have been proud to hear me realizing, If a quarter cup is one fourth of a cup then 3 of those would be one fourth of 3 cups! Math skills, I've still got 'em!

The batch made 9 cookies: 3 for both Columbia and I last night, and 3 for Columbia's lunch today. This is definitely a trick I'll use in the future... but hopefully not again tonight.

Photo used under creative commons license from Flickr user Ruthieki.

Anyone still remember Thanksgiving?

Is Christmas coming earlier than ever this year? I don't ever remember hearing holiday music before Thanksgiving, but it's being piped in already. It's a shame that Thanksgiving kind of gets overlooked.



One of the most fun things about living where we do, is waking up Thanksgiving morning, grabbing a bagel and heading out to the Macy's parade. Since it starts at 77th and Central Park West (which is 40 blocks or about 2 miles) from Macy's, the event is still exciting but a little less "showy" than what you see on TV. The stars don't sing, but the floats go past, the dancers and musicians are giving it their all, and of course, the balloons are the stars of the show. It makes me feel like a little kid each year, and it's so exciting to see and hear the (um, actual) children voice their amazement.

Our locals' tips:

1. Bring a knosh. Bagel, coffee, egg sammie... gotta fuel up before hand.
2. Don't even try for the park-side of Central Park West -- in fact, I have no idea how to get there if I wanted to.
3. Go to a wider street -- 72nd has always been good to me. Because the street is wider, you get to see the balloons for a longer period of time, and it helps alleviate any claustrophobia...
4. Get there at least 15 minutes before start time on a cold morning, a little earlier if it's unseasonably warm. Although one rainy year, we showed up at go-time and walked up to the street.
5. Go the day before.

What?? What does that mean, "go the day before?". Watch the balloons get blown up on 77th and 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus (the side streets to the American Museum of Natural History). The earlier you show up, the better, as it gets PACKED just after work. It is one of those wonderful things we found out about by accident. Take someone who's never gone to the Macy's Parade "behind the scenes."


This is Columbus Avenue at 79th street, 8:30pm in 2005. Two blocks to go in these throngs before we see the first balloon (the yellow star in the distance, left).

I realize that the economy isn't necessarily driven by Thanksgiving, though it might help out the travel industry, and turkey (and tofurky) farmers. Any holiday where you're expected to eat stuffing seems deserving of my attention. Well, at least until International Bacon Day gets officially recognized.
(I had to look. Of course there is one, and of course I missed it this year. Rats.)

link: Thanksgiving Day Parade [on Macy's site]

Making the Economic Crisis Work for You

There is no denying that times are rough. Money is in short supply and everything (except gas?) is costing more. However, there are a few ways that all of this can be to your advantage.

1. Ebay
No, not to sell. To buy! Northern Cheapskate posted about Ebay being a buyers market. Everyone is trying to sell they excess and it's a great opportunity to get a few things you need for less.


2. Giveaways
Everyone is blogging now, and most are trying to make a few bucks doing it. One of the ways bloggers are trying to attract attention to their site is by offering giveaways. While I'm not willing to do much for the virtual equivalent to a raffle, I am willing to leave a comment. It only takes a few seconds and it is not as much a waste of my time as watching The View. Some blogs even host space for other bloggers to post their giveaways. You can access lists of giveaways here, here and here.

3. Door Busting Deals
My heart races with thought of those 2 magic words: Black Friday. We've had great success finding deals on tv's and when shopping for items for a large group or charity (if you've ever adopted an entire class of students to provide Christmas gifts for, you'll give me a big 'AMEN!' here). Many sites list Black Friday ads as they are released (or leaked), but here's one of my favorites. Toys R Us has had 2 day sales the past 4 weekends and each one gets a little bigger. With retailers hoping to stay afloat, deals are bountiful. If you need something, there's a great chance you can get it for a good price.

4. CDs
While many banks are going under, others are also looking for you to invest your cash to help them out - while paying you for it, of course. Citibank and AIG are both bouncing between 3-4% interest rates for a 6 month CD. If you aren't going to need all of your savings immediately, why not earn a little bit more off of it? Worst case scenario, you have to withdraw the money from the cd early and you loose a month's interest. Even if your money has been in the cd a month, you'll still at least break even. Check on the rules with your bank, and make sure your bank is FDIC insured.

5. Etsy

With a possible return to DIYing, many are trying to sell their handmade goods on Etsy. If you're looking for a special handmade gift, but don't have the skills (or time or desire or...) Etsy shops might be able to help you and your wallet out.

Have you found other ways to make the economic slump work for you? If so, let us all know!

The AMNH Climate Change Exhibit: become more educated & renew your personal commitment

I took Pumpkin to the American Museum of Natural History today on a whim. It's rainy here in nyc but I wanted to get out of the apt. We haven't been to the museum in quite a while so I björned up Pumpkin and headed off.

I also went to the Climate Change exhibit on a whim. It's free for members (one of the 2 special exhibits that are and I was not impressed with the other previously...), since Columbia and I are members, I decided it was at least worth a walk-through.

I wasn't expecting what I saw. Not only is the exhibit extremely well crafted visually, but it's chalked full of information for all types of learners and personalities. It also doesn't dwell purely on the negative (of which many already know a lot about because of Al Gore), but offers a multitude of ways to improve the current problem both globally and personally. Seeing so many ways in which I can make a difference renewed my desire to live a greener life.

One 'greener' idea that I've been toying with for a while is getting some drying racks and having Columbia rig a clothes line in the bedrooms. It will save us a lot of money, add humidity to a very dry area of the apartment and save energy. How can we go wrong? In fact, I've decided that this is what I'm going to put on my Christmas list!

JC's Christmas Wishlist

1 - laundry rope

2 - two drying racks

3 - a large bag of wooden clothespins

4 - hooks to rig up the clothesline and a willing husband to execute said rigging

While the exhibit is free for members, it's a pretty penny otherwise. If you plan on visiting the AMNH frequently in the next year, I'd highly recommend a membership as it's mostly tax deductible and full of great perks - this exhibit being on of them.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular... if only there was an even better word to describe it

I love, love, love the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Go ahead and call me cheesy and sentimental. Or mental. It really is wonderful, though, and guaranteed to give you chills and put a smile on your face. It might even be responsible for making NYC a kinder and gentler place during the holiday season.

"Okay, okay", you say "But why blog about it today? There are still 47 days until Christmas." Today is the first show for the 2008 season! Really. And as any savvy New Yorker knows, it's the early bird that gets the good deals. Check out their schedule and use promotion code 54ORCHWEB to get 25% off. This may only apply to non-peak days (those whose lowest price seats start at $42). If we find another code we'll let you know. If you know of one, please email us or leave the info in the comments section.

I can't wait until Pumpkin is old enough to enjoy this! It really is one of those New York City musts.

UPDATE!!! (12/3/08)
I just got an email with a code for 50% off tickets! Use code DECBOGO and you can find the elligible perfomances here.

Amazon takes away your pain, gives you money.

Amazon has launched a "Frustration-Free Packaging" initiative to save you frustration and money. Get a load of this: In the spirit of the lazy environmentalist (“I'll be green, just don't expect me to alter my habits”), Amazon worked with manufacturers and has found a way to:

• ...give you the same great quality products
• ...let you order the same (same shipping, same process)
  
• ...deliver these products in packaging that results in less waste
• ...get rid of "did-they-make-this-barbie-%#@$%ing-secure-enough!?" twisty-ties
• ...get rid of "I-need-a-boxcutter-to-open-this-boxcutter" blisterpacks
• ...even save you a few pennies at the same time

Check out this video that shows two adults who have pirate ship fetishes. The time savings is less motivating to me than the savings in sanity (I hate blisterpacks) and the reduction of waste. Saving money is never a bad thing either!



Check out Amazon's full list of frustration-free packaging. I'm telling you, one of these days I'm going to come home and find that Amazon.com has sent me some cookies and a homemade blanket. What a sweet bunch of folks...

Will the Economic Climate Lead to Your DIY Renaissance?

Lifehacker posted recently about how The "Greater Depression" Can be a DIY Renaissance and referenced 2 bloggers who are seeing and living this trend. While Columbia and I have been feeling the pinch, it is not solely because of the ecomonic problems facing our nation. I chose to stay home with Pumpkin and cut our income in half. This makes our financial struggles self-imposed, but they are still real.

While we have always enjoyed the idea of diy projects in the past, we have definitely kicked it up a notch these past 2 months. A limited income has actually made us appreciate what can come from out hands and encourages us to diy more often, and in more adventurous ways. Here are a few examples:

1. We make our own bread. I tried it to see if I could do it. Then I realized how easy it is with a kitchen aid mixer. We keep meaning to break it down into 'cost per loaf' but haven't yet. This has expanded into making pizza dough, bread sticks and french bread.

The first loaf - my shaping ability has improved, as has the taste of the bread! Practice really does make perfect in the case.

2. We make Pumpkins baby food. Part of it is cost, but most of it is knowing what she's eating (other than stuff on the floor that is). There is so much enjoyment in making it for her, too.

A sampling of food from the freezer - 1 cube ends up being tbsp so we know eactly how much she's getting.

3. I made Pumpkins Halloween Costume. I posted about it here. It has really encouraged me to attempt to make more of her clothes... as soon as I get a chance!

At the end of her first Halloween - What else could Our Little Pumpkin be but a pumpkin?


Has the economic situation made you think more about DIY projects? If so, we'd love to hear about it... or see it!

Chewed Up and Spit Out Before the Election

...As seen in Times Square last weekend. I love the idea of the sign by itself, but the willingness of people to participate is what I love most!

Visit the site behind the poster at gumelection.com, and see how people around the world are casting their votes.

Pier of Fears and the NY Marathon... free, free, free fun

If you're not Halloween-ed out and are still on that sugar high from all of the candy, you might want to check out Pier of Fears at Hudson River Park's Pier 54 (west 14th st).  There are many free activities, including the largest free haunted house in the city, from 12 - 9 today and tomorrow.

Tomorrow (Nov 2, 2008) is the ING NYC Marathon.  Anywhere along the route is an amazing spot to cheer on the runners.  We don't know anyone running it this year to track, but we'll watch the beginning on tv at 9 before going out to cheer on the finishers.  The UWS is always filled with such energy as the race is ending up.  Nearly enough to make one start training for next year... nearly.

Pumkin's Costume Revealed!

Pumpkin finally got her day in the sun -- And what a sunny day it was! Shee really got lucky for a first Halloween. We hit the library, the park, and a few family-friendly blocks (West 69th, West 78th) to let Pumpkin get her treat on. As promised, here are some pics of the finished costume. JC even put together a hat last night to make sure Pumkpin stayed warm!








We can't wait until next year -- wherever we end up next October, we'll make every effort to revisit the UWS. I was reminded today how much it really feels like home.

I Made Pumpkin's Halloween Costume *blush*

It wasn't really about the money. I would like to think the time I put into it is worth more than the $10 we would have spent on a costume during a sale or craigslist find. There was just something in me that wanted to try it. To see if I could.

The other part was knowing that I had this great orange fabric from a previous project. We made a cat sack that the cats couldn't have cared less about and that I was never brave enough to put straps on and use as a bag. Orange satin and faux fur are fantastic together!

We have a sewing machine (several years ago I was incensed that I had to pay $12 for a pair of pants to be poorly hemmed and bought a reasonably priced machine on amazon) and basic notion so it wasn't a matter or not having the resources. I had an idea in my head about how to make the body. Columbia gave me a little bit of free time last weekend and I just did it. It's far from perfect but it's made. Pumpkin has a costume for Halloween and we get the satisfaction of knowing that it came from my loving hands. That's a pretty sweet treat.

Here are the steps as they unfolded:



Planning out the body - getting the ideas in my head into a form that might allow me to construct it for her dimensions.




Trying the body of the pumpkin on Pumpkin with the pants. Don't you love the fabric?!? The pants are from a pair of pjs my mom bought her.




Trying on the collar. Making this little piece took much longer than the body of the pumpkin! I didn't have any green material, but I did have a green shirt of my grandfathers. When I was little I use to like to sit on his lap and play with the collar of the green shirts he always wore. When he passed my grandmother gave me 2 of them. I thought it would be extra meaningful to use one to make the collar. My only regret is how much material I wasted trying to get the collar to work.


The final shot - that one you'll have to wait for. You know, the one where she's in all of the pieces and ready for some Halloween fun. I have never been quite this excited for Halloween. =)


We did end up spending just over a dollar on a pair of Halloween socks from Toys R Us. They were on sale and we had a gift card. Plus, Pumpkin would need something to keep her feet warm.

We'll hopefully post that final shot tomorrow. Our Halloween treat for you. It's much better for you than candy anyway. ;)


Despite what the post might say, it was actually written by JC. Columbia is probably very capable of making a costume but did not attempt it... this year.

The Great Pumpkin and our little pumpkin

Yahoo! "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is on tv tonight at 8:00 on ABC. I was just thinking that this dreary, rainy day was proving too wicked for my Halloween preference. This classic cartoon was just what the day called for... of course, I could always just watch it on YouTube.



Here's the first third to tantalize you!

Halloween Updates on our little Pumpkin:
Update #1: Costume chosen, and in the process of being made. Yep, made. There's a good post about this coming up... as soon as the costume itself is finished.
Update #2: Still no pumpkin for Pumpkin. We may have to forgo cheaping out, umm... I mean, being frugal, if she's going to have a pumpkin for her first Halloween.

Attention Television Freeloaders!

Yes, you, the one avoiding the $100+ monthly snare of cable! Yes, you, the one who has heard something about the TV signal fading to black in February but isn't too sure how it will effect you. Yes, you who now watches all of your favorite shows on Hulu, CBS Video, NBC Video, Fox Video, WB Video... ummm, need me to go on? Anyway, if you're still plugged into an antenna or some rogue co-axial cable that dangles by your bedroom window, tomorrow you'll get the chance to see how bitterly lonely the month of Feburary might be.

The traditional analog cable signal will not be broadcasted after February 19th 2009. But tomorrow, October 28th 2008, you'll get a test run of what that will be like. From 5:58pm until 6:01pm, the analog signal will go black in New York City. If you have a new-ish TV, you're probably not in for much of a show. But if your TV set is even a few years old, it's worth testing it out.

Looking on the bright side, if you decide it's time to update the set, Black Friday is just around the corner.

Photo used under creative commons license from Flickr user mariantonia.

A Free Pumpkin - The Search Continues

For those who attempted to brave the rain for Saturday's Halloween Fest in Central Park, I hope that you made it out with a free pumpkin. We, on the other hand, waited for the rain to break a little, and arrived just in time to see street cleaners sucking up the last bits of straw from the "pumpkin patch." The early bird certainly got the worm. To add insult to injury, beautiful and fun jack-o-lanterns brilliantly lit up the walkways around the Mall, with volunteers scurrying to keep the flames alive.



It was a fun event, but alas, no free pumpkin for Columbia & Co.

Pumpkins have been given away for free at nearly every Halloween-themed event this year... Heck, it almost seems disrespectful to our fair city to pay for one. We, however, still don't have a pumpkin, and we can't find another event to score one of those hallowed gourds (or should it be hollowed?). If you know of any last-chance events, please tell us in the comments.

On the plus side, JC began work on a costume for Pumpkin. We'll post pictures on Halloween, but even in its early stages, she looks adorable in it!

The Divine Halloween Extravaganza

Creepy organ music, a smoke-filled room, incense filling your nostrils, ghostly shapes floating above as horrific creatures creep and crawl around you. Yep, it's nearly time for the Procession of the Ghouls at St. John the Divine! Attending the Halloween Extravaganza had been a Halloween tradition for Columbia and I, as did getting our pictures taken with the ghouls afterwards. When Pumpkin is old enough (and able to sit through the silent movie that begins the event...) we'll find a way to include it again. While not free, it is worth every cent of the $15 for admission. It's always the Friday leading up to Halloween, which is Halloween this year! Tickets are still available for both the 7pm and 10pm show, but won't be for long. So click on over to their site to get yours.

**Break out your phantom mask! The silent movie that starts the extravaganza is going to be "The Phantom of the Opera" this year. A bit long, but sooooooo good.

Last Day for Free Admission to Cooper-Hewitt

Target is sponsoring design week at the Cooper Hewitt this week, and tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day for free admission. The Cooper-Hewitt is a really fun museum to go to, and you don't have to get out your snobby glasses to enjoy it. Yeah, you know the ones I mean.

The Cooper Hewitt is a design museum, and they present shows that feature great design. I always enjoy the shows that look deeper into the industrial design of our culture -- think of a room with things designed more intuitively, beautifully and ergonomically than the ipod. Well, let's not get out of hand, but you get the idea.

There's currently an exhibit on the connection between Children's Wallpapers and Books, and another on Curators Select: Recent Acquisitions (2003–2008). The recent acquisitions features pieces "from all four of the museum's collecting departments: Product Design and Decorative Arts; Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design; Textiles; and Wallcoverings."

Admission is normally $15, so take a friend or that cutie you're trying to impress and enjoy good design for the price of two subway tokens. :)

Posted picture used under creative commons license from Flickr user Bwillen.

As if you needed a reason to eat cupcakes...

Eat your Cupcakes for a Cause! Until Sunday, October 26th, you can buy cupcakes at a participating bakery and part of the proceeds will go to CancerCare for Kids. If you'd like to choose a more healthful way to help out, you can send an e-cupcake to a friend and $1 gets donated to CancerCare for Kids. I sent one to Columbia with a pumpkin I drew on it... or at least it looked something like a pumpkin.



Find a bakery near you or look below for NYC bakeries.

Amy's Bread
672 Ninth Avenue
New York NY 10036

Amy's Bread
75 Ninth Avenue, Chelsea Market
New York NY 10011

Amy's Bread
250 Bleeker Street
New York NY 10014

Baked
359 Van Brunt Street
Brooklyn NY 11231

Buttercup Bake Shop
141 West 72nd Street
New York NY 10023

Crumbs
Upper East Side
1371 Third Avenue
New York NY 10075

Crumbs
Upper West Side
321 ½ Amsterdam Avenue
New York NY 10023

Crumbs
Wall Street
87 Beaver Street
New York NY 10005

Crumbs
Bryant Park
43 West 42nd Street
New York NY 10036

Crumbs
The Village
37 East 8th Street
New York NY 10003

Downtown Atlantic Bakery
364 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11217

Dylan's Candy Bar
New York City
1011 Third Avenue
New York NY 10021

Ivy Bakery
278 87th Street
Brooklyn NY 11209
Kumquat Cupcakery
190 S. 8th Street
Brooklyn NY 11211

LaGuli Pastry Shop
29-15 Ditmars Blvd
Astoria NY 11105

Little Cupcake Bakeshop
9102 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11209

LuxSugar
PO Box 3164
New York NY 10063

Make My Cake Bakery
121A St. Nicholas Avenue
New York NY 10026
Oxford Bake Shop
104-01 Liberty Avenue
Ozone Park NY 11417

Petite Treat
26 Farrell Court
Staten Island NY 10306

Sweet Revenge
62 Carmine Street
New York NY 10014

Tribeca Treats
94 Reade Street
New York NY 10013
Whole Foods
Bowery
95 East Houston St.
New York NY 10002

Whole Foods
Chelsea
250 Seventh Avenue
New York NY 10001

Whole Foods
Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle, Suite SC101
New York NY 10019

Whole Foods
Tribeca
270 Greenwich Street
New York NY 10016

Whole Foods
Union Square
4 Union Square South
New York NY 10003

William Greenberg Jr. Desserts
1100 Madison Avenue
New York NY 10028

When life gives you apples, make cake

Coming back from the Berkshires, we had two large bags of apples to contend with.  We made applesauce a-plenty for Pumpkin, ate apples plain, gave some away and... made applesauce two more times. :) But at some point, you need to throw in a little sugar and flour and see what happens. Columbia's mom hooked us up with this very tasty apple cake recipe from her archives, promising it was easy. Not only is it easy, but tasty as well!  So far, everyone has loved it. Umm... from both of the ones I made.  Yeah, it went quick.

Mom's apple cake
2 cup finely diced peeled apples

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 tsp vanilla

1. Put apples into a large bowl, then add sugar and let stand for about 15 minutes.

2. Put in oil and egg, stirring so that the apples, sugar, oil and egg mix together.

3. Pour the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt into the apple mixture and stir well.

4. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts.

5. Pour into well-greased and floured 8-inch square pan (or round pan, if that's what you have)

6. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 45-50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

(This is my favorite part; you have time to clean the dishes, tidy the house, check your email, read blogs...)

7. Cool for 10 minutes, then turn onto cake rack to finish cooling

To fancy it up, dust the top with powered sugar before serving.

So easy, so yummy and not too much to clean up.  This is my kind of recipe!

Photo taken by Columbia at Hilltop Orchards, Columbus Day weekend '08

If this is lunch, is there room for dinner?

You may have seen an ad like the one pictured here. There are 5 ads running on 1000 subway cars right now, and they make you stop and think. Of course, I say this as I gobble down some of JC's homemade apple cake... FOCUS, COLUMBIA!
View all 5 calorie education ads.

I've been watching my portion size increase ever so slightly recently, and am having trouble finding time and desire to walk for exercise. I'll hope the mental image of these ads watches over my craving like a guardian angel... like a guardian angel food cake.... ohhh, fluffy goodness -- what? Right... the ads.

The bottom left of the ads say "read 'em before you eat 'em," which refers to the new rules on calorie-posting. From the October 6th press release:

Under the New York City Health Code, chain restaurants are now required to post calorie counts for food items on menus and menu boards. The rule took effect this summer.
[...]
One poster shows an apple raisin muffin that looks harmless but carries a stout 470 calories – nearly a quarter of an adult’s daily allowance. “If you’re eating it as a snack,” said Cathy Nonas, director of the Health Department’s Physical Activity and Nutrition program, “you may want to split it with a friend.”

You've probably seen calorie counts showing up where you least want expect them. I've seen them in Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, and I guess they'll be showing up everywhere. I did avoid some sweet temptation at Starbucks noticing it was among the worst calorie offenders and went with something slightly less sinful. I don't think that 2,000 (calories) was a number I could make sense of, so this was helpful information for me. Hope it helps anyone else fighting the war at home.

Hmm... no more apple cake left?
*sigh*

Find out more about this program and other NYC health iniatives at the nyc.gov/health site.

Goodbye, Burritoville

Returning home late last night, we decided to have ourselves a quick order-in dinner. I was in the mood for a burritoville burrito (the vegetarian sloppy joe, or the mega soy, to be precise) so I dialed up menupages and my jaw hit the ground: all burritoville locations are now closed. I'm not sure when it happened, but it looks like they started closing in August. I literally sat there, getting more hungry, dumbfounded and unsure what to do next. I never even got to say goodbye.

Why, Buritoville? Why did you decide to go? Your reasonably priced burritos and free chips and salsa will not go silently into the night. Of course, they never did before, but that's another story. You were a hearty meal when I needed you most.

I'll miss you old friend...

CityScoops: Does your mail have cupcakes?

Oh please say you didn't throw this magazine out! I have absolutely no idea how this magazine comes into our house, but I usually thumb through its 11 pages and see what's going in. It has a couple of feature articles and some few mini reviews, what's hot, etc. Sometimes it goes right into the recycling bag, but JC decided to check out this issue. I see her going through some coupons (like the ones that come in the blue val-pak envelopes) and her eyes got moist and she said with a smile, "Columbia... you're never going to believe this..." Preparing myself for disbelief, I sat down and drew a deep breath. She holds up something more mighty than a wonka golden ticket -- a coupon for a free cupcake at the (recently mentioned) Buttercup Bake Shop on West 72nd street! If this magazine is in your house, tear off that plastic protective sheath, run (don't walk) to west 72 and thank me later.

Columbia recommends the Lemon or Chocolate Chocolate.
JC seconds the lemon recommendation and also suggests chocolate with vanilla icing.

Link: Buttercup Bake Shop
Link: City Scoops

Bein' a dad isn't so bad (except that you gotta feed em')

Friday morning I saw a subway ad for "New York City Dads." It's a city program designed for (surprise surprise) dads in New York City. I figured, "hey that's me!" so I checked it out. The site communicates a message that's more and more prominent lately (or perhaps I just pick up on it more now): Reminding men that they need to be daddies and not just babydaddies.

I'd like to think that I am there for Pumpkin as much as I can be, but I could always be doing more. The site has a lot of great suggestions, including 100 free or cheap things to do with your child in NYC, separated by age group. "The Ultimate Playground Tour" certainly piques my interest; a toddler version of the pub-crawl, trying to monkey around on 21 central park playgrounds in one day. Oh I am so there... with Pumpkin, of course. Obviously.

If you're a NYC dad or know one who is, please share the NYC Dads site with them. And here are a few PSAs from fatherhood.org. The second one is pretty much my goal when I come home each day. :)

NYC Dads: www.nyc.gov/nycdads

(Title from the Loudin Wainwright song, "Bein' a Dad". Thanks, Curtis!)

Get a Free Pumpkin (and other great free activities on Saturday)

I'm beginning to think you should never have to buy a Halloween pumpkin in New York City!  The other day I posted about Central Park's Halloween Celebrations where you can get a pumpkin at the Pumpkin Festival (next Saturday, the 25th).  Now I find they're giving away pumpkins at the Madison Square Park's Fall Kids Fest 2008 sponsored by Time Out New York Kids.  It's tomorrow (Saturday, October 18th) from 10:30 - 1:30 and there are tons of great activities planned, including clowns from the Big Apple Circus (um, and free pumpkins).

If you missed touring The Little Red Light House during Open House New York you have a second chance.  The Park Rangers are leading a tour tomorrow (Saturday, October 18th) from 1-4.  You can find out more details here.

I wish we were going to be here for the Pet Parade!  Our little Pumpkin would squeal with delight at all of the pets in their costumes.  It's at Hudson River Park's Pier 84 at 44th St tomorrow (Saturday, October 18th) from 1-4.  There's nothing like pets in clothes to bring a smile to your face and make you forget the chill in the air!

Posted picture used under creative commons license from Flickr user Brit.

Renting vs. Owning (part 2 of 2)

In Renting vs. Owning part 1, I referenced a Wise Bread article that reminded us that buying real estate is not (by default) the solid investment your mom and dad may have told you it was. However, done correctly, it can be a great vehicle for creating equity. In the state of our economy and the current housing debacle we're in, those of us who would like to own could be hearing opporunity knock in the next year.

CNN Money recently ran an interesting article titled "Manhattan real estate prices headed downward". It says that the average price of an apartment in Manhattan has not dropped (yet) but the number of buyers is certainly thinning out. For the past several years, JC and I have watched real estate sites for a 2-bedroom apartment (within a certain price range) in the upper west or upper east side. A year ago it was a laughable idea that anything might come up, though now that same search is yielding results. Since we're bringing in so much less income than a year ago, that price range is even more outlandish for us, but it's still encouraging and helps keep the dream alive. Manhattan real estate has historically been a safe investment, and this was the first I'd ever heard of prices dropping here.

One thought that keeps coming back to me in the past few months is, "has Manhattan seen it's heyday?" Giuliani did a lot to clean up the town. When I came here in 1995, it was already starting to change for the better. I vaguely remember "old times square" and its strips of closed theaters whose marqees told a story as you walked across 42nd street. Now, it's a Disney wonderland and filled with tourists willing to drop massive amounts of cash at Toys R Us, pop-music derived musicals and high-priced chain restaurants. My neighborhood has forced out a lot of smaller shops with gourmet chocolate shops, luxury apartment buildings, and banks at every corner. If the economy should slow down any more, there will be no one to shop at this red-carpet mall that NY is turning into. With a failing economy, crime will also resurface. I don't think we're in for an immediate return to 1970's NYC, but I also don't know how we'll fare in the wake of financial turmoil now that we've gotten rid of the little shops that are able to survive in tough times.

Even with Manhattan's financial future in limbo, we would like our next move to be to a home that we own rather than rent. Since our current financial situation is still new to us, our ability (or inability) to stay in the black will influence our chances of affording a home. Of course, if the market should turn suddenly upwards, our ability to afford staying in our safe nabe could be a moot point anyway.

Renting vs. Owning (part 1 of 2)

As renters, we've heard our share of "you're throwing away your money each year!" or "You pay how much? That's our mortgage!" We've been watching sales listings for years, but it hasn't been in the cards. It's easy to think that owning our own place would give us a magical sense of financial stability.

Wise bread posted an article listing 6 myths about real estate. If you've heard that sage advice, "you can't go wrong with real estate," this article lists six reasons you can indeed go wrong, such as point one:

Bricks & Mortar are as Solid as it Gets
While technically this is true (a hammer will prove this fact, albeit leaving a bit of a mess in your living room), real estate is not to be considered a solid investment that is impervious to market fluctuations. You can lose money investing in property – a lot of it.

When buying isn't in our cards, it's good to hear a friend tell us "don't worry, renters... we still love you."

Around these parts, it's common to hear that "you can't go wrong with real estate in Manhattan." Come back tomorrow for some news on that point in part 2 of this post.

Halloween in Central Park, a spooky good time

Central Park is offering fantastic Halloween events starting... well, yesterday.  Here's the line-up:

Halloween Crafts for Tots 

Thursday, October 23rd,  12-3pm at the Chess and Checkers House

Seasonal arts and crafts led by the Chess & Checkers House staff 

Pumpkin Festival

Saturday, October 25th, 3-8pm at Bethesda Fountain, the Bandshell, Cherry Hill AND the 72nd Street Travers (hay ride anyone?)

When Columbia and I went several years ago, sans children, it was definitely organized with kiddies in mind.  Now it has been revamped, and made later in the day, to include activities geared towards adults.  Events include a pumpkin patch (yep, with free pumpkins), haunted house and the popular Jack O'Lantern Tower.  If you still think you need to have kids to attend, why not volunteer instead?

Spooks at Belvedere

Saturday, October 25th, 4-8pm at Belvedere Castle

Belevedere Castle as a haunted house!?!  This we have to see!  Then we'll stay for the showing of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.  

Halloween Night Hike

Saturday, October 25th, 7pm starting at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center

The north woods at night?  Only with park Rangers leading the way and s'mores waiting for me at the end.  

Halloween Pumpkin Sail

Sunday, October 26th, 4-7pm at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away your pumpkin with me... and hundreds others.  There will also be storytelling, crafts, music and treats.  

All events are free!  Now if the Central Park Conservancy could just help me figure out Pumpkin's costume...

Refueling your wallet at the Pump (Cash vs Credit)

Driving back to New York yesterday, I kept bemoaning not having filled up the tank near where we were staying -- I saw it as low as $3.21 for the basic stuff. As we drove south, it crept higher ("Let's not stop at this one, we'll see one cheaper") until we crossed into Connecticut and it rocketed to the $3.50 range. So as I'm doing the responsible thing of driving on fumes, I see a Hess station in the distance with a sign for $3.17. Since this was lower than anywhere we'd seen, I expected to see it closed and boarded up. But sure enough there were people at it, so I pulled in. What gives? Aha -- a discounted price for paying with cash.



By giving us a reduced rate to pay in cash, the gas station avoided paying fees to the credit card companies, averaging 2.5% depending on the card (USA Today article covering the same topic). So if you spend $100 and pay by credit, the company sends $2.50 to MasterCard for the privilege. Perhaps people spend more freely with credit cards, and thus the fee is insignificant to business owners?

While I'd usually go with my trusty Amazon card, I opted for paper over plastic this time and saved. With my credit card, I get 1% back (in Amazon dollars). By paying cash here, I saved 2.45% vs. the credit price. This made using cash a good decision for me. But what about if credit rewards were a non-issue?

The gas station pays an average of 2.5% in fees for customers paying with credit. For customers paying with cash, the gas station parts with 2.45% of the price as a cash incentive. Either way the gas station is only receiving about $3.17 per gallon. So you think a gas business owner would rather pay 2.5% of their sales to Mastercard, or earn brownie points with the locals by offering them the same goods at a discounted price? Eliminating the credit card is a win-win for both business and customers, and makes me wonder if we are approaching a shift in how we as a culture spend our money.

Rough economic times call for giving up creature comforts first. If that means carrying a little cash around now in order to have more in the bank later, I can certainly live with a little bulge in my wallet.

Planning a Sundate

Columbia and I use to plan surprise outings for each other, calling them a Sundate or Saturdate depending on the day. These were not typically something elaborate, but a stroll to a place of significance for the 2 of us, an undiscovered (by us) local haunt or a free event going on in our neighborhood. It was a plan to show our affection for the other, making a ho-hum weekend fun and exciting with the uncertainty of the surprise ahead.

We still try to plan these on occasion, it just takes a bit more thought with Pumpkin. One of my favorite resources now is the blog Manhattan Street Project. The subtitle is "I walk the streets. All of them." Isn't that awesome?!? Mary Sargent, the genius behind the site, posts at least one picture from each walk and has labeled them beautifully so that you can search posts by street number/name and neighborhood. Because of the Manhattan Street Project, Columbia and I have found some great sites in a walkable distance like Joan of Arc Island.

Now if only I had been so clever as to think of that idea first. Then again, I'm not sure I'm up to walking every street in Manhattan. I'll keep relying on Mary to take me there in photographs, and help me plan our next Sundate.

Oh yeah, and if all your friends were using coupons, would you too?

Every few Sundays, depending on my mood and the amount of stockpiled meat in the house, I'll stop by the newsstand and browse the cheapest Sunday paper. If I see that shiny paper insert, I lay down my $1 and throw my arm up, waving that newspaper, and yell out, "that's right world! I am buying toilet paper this week, and I'm going to save 60¢ on any two rolls of charmin!" I usually don't visit the same newsstand twice, for obvious reasons.

JC is really good about finding coupons online too. Various blogs in our "stretching a buck" blogroll (in the column on the right) post links to the finest deals and coupons. Coupons.com also has coupons you can print at home. Check with your grocery store though, as some don't trust this whole "internet" thingamahoo.

CNN posted an article today that says coupon use is increasing as our economy continues to tank. The reason isn't hard. Let's say you buy a sunday paper for $1. If you get two mediocre coupons out of it that each save you 60¢, then you've already made a 20¢ profit. If you're looking to save some money, buying the things you were already going to buy for less isn't rocket science. Combine that with a sale (typically a couple of weeks after the coupons are out, but before they expire) and you're looking at rockbottom pricing.

Of course, if you need designer checks or patriotic commemorative plates, I can't think of a better resource than those very same SmartSource inserts. Look, it's win-win no matter how you cut it.

...Or clip it.

Link: Economic shock gives rise to coupon cutting [via CNN]

Kayak and See the Waterfalls... just not at the same time

This is the last weekend for 2 FREE water activities: kayaking on the Hudson River and the Waterfalls Exhibit.

NYC Waterfalls: The exhibit ends on Monday, October 13th. The hours have been greatly reduced due to the salt water spraying on the nearby trees (yes, I'm telling the truth). The falls are now only flowing from 12:30pm - 9pm (and maybe only 5:30pm-9pm on Monday). There are several prime viewing locations, including the free ferry to Governor's Island.

Kayaking on the Hudson - Columbia and I have longed to take advantage of this free opportunity... and have missed it again this year. This is the last weekend to take advantage: so if the weather is nice (you can call ahead at 646-613-0740), head to 72nd and Hudson River between 10am and 5pm for some kayaking fun. I'm sure you'll smell better than Kramer when it's through!

To Get Away or Stay: Celebrating Our Anniversary

Stella tries to be a stowaway in our honeymoon luggage.
October 6, 2005.

Columbia and I were married 3 years ago today. It was a wonderful day. To celebrate, each year we have gone to the Berkshires for the long Columbus Day weekend. We were not sure if we should go this year; we are trying to live on one income and vacationing is not so frugal. We thought there might be a way to pull it off. So we put our cheapskate hats on and came up with some ways to go away for our anniversary for only a little dough. Here's how we're doing it:

1. Renting a car from a cheaper location, even though it's not so convenient
   Columbia was debating where to rent a car in August when we visited my family in PA. The Enterprise in Yonkers is much cheaper than the rental car spots around here (and they except discount codes). While it's not the most convenient location (especially with an infant), we will save a lot of money by renting there. Columbia has off today for Yom Kippur (what a nice anniversary gift, no?) so we can get the car today. Pumpkin and I will pick up Columbia when he gets out of work tomorrow. While we're paying for an extra day to do this, the cost we are saving is significant. Plus, Columbia can pack up the trunk tonight so Pumpkin and I don't have to do it tomorrow. Sweet!
   
   
2. Staying 2 nights instead of 3
   We are not going away for the entire weekend. If we come back on Sunday evening we can return the car on Monday without rushing. It will still be a nice weekend and Columbia can have a day without driving a long distance before returning to work. We will save one night's accommodations plus meals for an entire day. It's a good way to save money and not need a vacation to rest after our vacation away.
   
   
3. Looking for free activities
   We could go to the petting zoo that charges $6 per adult or the one that is free! Pumpkin, in her 7 month old way, will not care if the $6 petting zoo would have been better. There are also tons of spots to go hiking and see the fall foliage. Free and good exercise!
   
   
4. Bringing some of our own meals
   Breakfast is included at the hotel and we are packing snacks and PBJs for the drive. We'll also bring water and some champagne to celebrate in our room... after our little girl goes to sleep. Food can be expensive, so the more we bring the less it will cost us in the end.
   
   
5. Utilizing the car and the location
   Living in NYC we find schlepping to be part of the package. We'll take advantage of having the car and get some item we wouldn't be able to carry easily, like kitty litter. It's bound to be cheaper at a discount chain than a local pet store. We'll also go to the fruit stands and markets to stock up on fresh produce.
   
   
6. Staying at a hotel, not a B&B
   We are not staying at the cheapest hotel possible. We thought about it, but we kept coming back to The Simple Dollar's post about saving money with a baby. There are some things not worth skimping on for the safety and welfare of your child. We thought a hotel fell into this category. We wanted a clean, safe place for Pumpkin. I didn't want to have to worry about bugs, or moldy tubs, or... . We found a moderately priced hotel that had excellent ratings and was very family friendly. There's even an indoor pool - it will be Pumpkin's first pool experience. The price is still cheaper than what we've paid the past 2 years to stay in a quaint Bed & Breakfast. And the hotel has a DIY waffle iron for breakfast!
   

While the anniversary weekend may not be as romantic as those in the past, it will still be a weekend away together. Knowing that we've found ways to make it more affordable will help us enjoy it more. Best of all, we will be together - all three of us - and that's worth celebrating!

Don't worry, we won't forget you! We've got several great posts scheduled for this weekend.

Warbler Photos

JC's first encounter with the Black-Throated Blue Warbler on Tuesday, shots taken via camera phone... unfortunately, there was no surprise in what you'd expect from a 2+ year old camera phone!


Yesterday morning, JC got another chance! She grabbed the camera and Pumpkin and darted outside to grab these shots. Success!




As I was coming home yesterday, JC told me to "see if our friend was still outside." I really expected to find a half-dressed homeless man. But instead I saw this gorgeous warbler! I grabbed the "big camera" out of hibernation and snapped off a few.

An Unusual Visitor

This is NOT outside our apt, you'll understand my difficulties with photography below...

Columbia and I used to be big time bird watchers. We even almost made it in with the Central Park Birders... almost. There was the day that Marie Winn remembered who we were, but that was also the day Columbia proposed. Thus ending our free time and bird watching. Mostly.

Yesterday, as Pumpkin and I were returning from running errands, a bird caught my attention. It wasn't 'just a sparrow' frolicking in the plants outside our building, but an unusual bird I hadn't seen before. It reminded me of a catbird, but was much too small. I tried to take a picture with my phone (note: people on one income do not have phones with cameras good enough to take a picture of a tiny bird hopping around a shady area) but realized I was going to have to rely on my eyes. Thin black beak, dark hood, white belly, white bar on it's wing. I thought it might be migrating and stopping over for a break near Central Park, as many birds do.

After Pumpkin was in bed for the night, I did a little research. I first looked at the Birds of New York Field Guide, as it's such an easy book to use. However, this doesn't account for many of the birds that migrate through. Next up Peterson's Guide. It's much more difficult to use but I began to narrow it down. Definitely a warbler... Hmmmm... Then I remembered the bird list. There's a list compiled every day of the birds seen in Central Park - people really do take birding seriously here. I located the list, looked at the warblers, cross references with Peterson, considered the possibility of color variation with the shaded plant area outside our apartment, and FOUND IT!

A black-throated blue warbler!

It occurred to me that this is what our cat was going bonkers for at the window earlier in the day. I'm glad it wasn't a 4 legged creature as it'd feared...


Posted picture used under creative commons license from Flickr user scubapup.

Educator's Week at Barnes & Noble

This Saturday begins Educator's Appreciation Week at Barnes & Noble, where pre-k to grade 12 educators (including homeschoolers) get 25% off their book purchases and 10% off of CDs and DVDs.  This includes items for personal use (educators can regularly save 20% on items for their classrooms at B&N).  Just bring id.

Oh, Columbia... I think Pumpkin could use another book. =)