Acer Aspire One - A Review

Are you thinking about purchasing a netbook? Fabulously Broke in the City and I want to help you decide which one to get. After exhaustively researching all the possibilities, FB bought an HP Mini 1000 and her boyfriend purchased a Toshiba NB100. We decided to post concurrent reviews so you’d have all the information. Go read her HP Mini review and her Toshiba NB100 review on her fabulous blog. My sister just got an Asus EEE pc and I talked her into writing a review as well. You can read that one here! Aren’t we helpful? What else do you need to know?

My primary client, who must have every new gadget, saw the Acer Aspire One in a store one day, soon after they came out. He travels a lot and was so taken with the low price and the small size that he immediately bought one. He called me and raved about it and said he'd get me one if I wanted it. Having recently acquired a 13” Dell Vostro laptop, I thanked him but said I couldn't see why I'd ever need anything else. I looked at it the next time I saw him and had to admit, it was cute.

At some point I began seeing and hearing about netbooks everywhere. People were raving about them and they were flying off the shelves. My sister got an Asus EEE pc for Christmas and loved it. (Read a review of her Asus here.) Hmm...maybe there was something to this new toy after all. I started thinking about how handy it would be to have a really little laptop to take on trips. Although my Vostro is pretty small, it can get weighty when you're dragging it through the airport. This thing would actually fit in my purse! In spite of my initial hesitation, a netbook became the top item on my “want” list.

I started to do my research. Keeping in mind that my primary use for this thing was probably going to be writing, it was important that the keyboard be comfortable. Everywhere I looked the Acer got high marks. Some of the netbooks scored better in certain areas but were also more expensive. My choice came down to the Asus or the Acer and, because I'd had the opportunity to try out the one my client has (and frankly, I loved the metallic blue color), I decided to go with the Acer. My client renewed his willingness to pay for it and the deal was done. Now, he says, I can take my work anywhere!

I love my little Acer. Because I already have a 13” laptop, and my major concern was portability, I decided not to go with the newly released 10” model and stuck with the 8.9”. I also decided that the extra battery life (from 5 to 7 hours) of the 6-cell battery was worth the extra weight that came along with it. All told, it weighs 3.2 lbs. I bought my Acer Aspire One AOA150-1784 8.9-Inch Netbook - Sapphire Blue from Amazon and, with the 6-cell battery, the total price was $330.00 and included a little USB mouse but no sort of sleeve or case.

One of the complaints I frequently read about this model regarded the sensitivity of the touch pad and it's attendant right and left click buttons. When I tried out the touch pad on my client's Acer I could get neither the right and left click buttons to work nor the tap on the touch pad. He always uses a mouse and was unconcerned about it but for me, that was pretty major as I generally don't use a mouse. I can report that my Acer touch pad and buttons work perfectly. The placement of the right and left click buttons, to either side of the touchpad, takes a little getting used to.

The display is clear and bright and I had no trouble adjusting to the smaller-sized screen. It is very shiny so, in the right light, glare could be a problem. The sound system is pretty weak, as is the case with most laptop-style computers. I understand that the Acer's speakers are actually located on the bottom of the system, making them pretty muffled. It does have an earphone jack. I plugged some earbuds into it and the sound was fine. I'll be traveling next month and plan to download and watch a movie on the plane and don't think I'll have any trouble.

The Acer comes with 1.0 GB of RAM, 0.5 GB of which is actually soldered to the systemboard. The other 0.5 GB can be replaced with a 1.0GB chip, bringing the total to a 1.5GB maximum. The process for changing out the memory on this netbook is ludicrous. I watched a video on the process on YouTube and it basically consists of dismantling the entire machine, which also voids the warranty. It is my understanding that this piece of poor design has been rectified on the 10” model so that in order to access the memory all one has to do is open a little door on the back and pop out the chip. In the week or so that I've had my netbook I haven't felt the lack of more memory so, for the time being, I intend to leave things as they are. As an aside, the Asus has very easy-to-upgrade memory.

My 8.9” Aspire One came with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 160GB hard drive, a built-in webcam and microphone and had Windows XP Home SP3 pre-installed. Alternatively, you can chose an 8GB SSD harddrive, which, although much smaller, is a lot faster, and Linux Lite as the operating system. Like the other netbooks, it has no built-in CD or DVD Rom drive. You can purchase an external drive. I shared a drive across my network from one of my other computers and will use that if the need arises.

I purchased a very cool cover from CarryMobile and am looking forward to a happy mobile computing experience. I definitely recommend the 8.9” Acer Aspire One.

Asus EEE PC Netbook - A Review

(One of my sisters recently acquired the little Asus netbook and I asked her to write a review as a companion piece to the one I wrote about my Acer and the ones Fabulously Broke in the City wrote about her HP Mini 1000 and her boyfriend's Toshiba NB100. Now you have good information on four of these little treasures!)

I bought an Asus Eee PC in January and I’ve been very pleased so far. I chose the 900HA 8.9-Inch Netbook , which weighs about 3.5 pounds with the 6–cell battery attached. My reason for buying a netbook was simple; I didn’t have a laptop, and after spending the money to replace my desktop, I didn’t have the funds to also purchase a full-size laptop. At a little over $300, the netbook was the perfect solution; it’s fast, efficient, capable of almost everything that a regular laptop is, and it’s also small enough and light enough to pop into a large purse or totebag and carry it with me anywhere.

This handy little laptop was easy to use straight out of the box; it came partially charged and booted up quickly on the first try. I was setting up a new wireless network in my home through a router, and between the router and the Eee PC, I had everything I needed for a fast and effortless setup. The netbook found the wireless network immediately, and I was online within minutes. I had heard that one of the downsides of these little netbooks was the lack of a cd-rom drive, making it difficult to load or use programs from a disk. That drawback was quickly overcome by setting the netbook up to share the cd/dvd drive from my desktop pc over the network. I was able to do that very easily with some over-the-phone help from my computer consultant. (That would be me - lol!)

The size of the netbook is perfect for me. The screen is big enough to see without difficulty and has good, clear graphics. Although I’m used to my desktop’s 19” monitor, I have no trouble viewing documents and webpages on this little machine. I was able to transition from my full-size keyboard to the netbook’s compact version with the same ease. The only complaint I have about the keyboard is the placement of the right shift key. In order to fit all the necessary keys into the smaller space, the designers decided to make the right shift key smaller, the size of a single letter key, and although it’s still below the enter key, it shares that space with the page up key. Worst of all, it’s located to the outside of the page up, so my finger tends to automatically hit the page up when I’m reaching for the right shift. After several weeks of use I am getting used to it and making fewer mistakes. If I decide it’s really a problem I’d like to fix, I have read that there are several free applications available on the web that will allow me to swap the function of those two keys and put the right shift back within easy reach.

Battery life has been excellent with the 6-cell battery that came standard on the 904HA. At 100% charge, it shows about 5 hours of battery time available, and that’s been pretty accurate so far. Because I’ve mostly been using the netbook around my house, I haven’t bothered to adjust the screen settings, etc. to extend battery life to its reported potential of 7 hours, but I’ll probably try that when I have an opportunity to use it on a longer trip away from home. The battery recharges very quickly.

Having the Asus Eee PC has allowed me to experience the ease and flexibility of life with a laptop without a huge outlay of cash, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice.

Chinati Hot Springs

I spent last weekend at Chinati Hot Springs, Texas, with three of my girlfriends. I thought if I listened closely I might come away with a few ideas for my column. As it turned out, I did not come away with a single translatable thought! What did we do down there? We talked, we laughed, we soaked in the hot springs, we drank, we cooked and we ate. We hiked and visited and met some interesting new people. What didn't we do? Get serious about anything, wear makeup, talk on the phone, surf the internet or check our e-mail.

Chinati Hot Springs is a very rustic place located in the Big Bend area of Texas just a bit north of the Texas - Mexico border. To get there, you take a beautiful, if rough, two hour drive down through Pinto Canyon, south of Marfa, Texas. You must bring in all your own food as there are no restaurants, nor much of anything else. There is a large communal kitchen with two refrigerators and signs warning you to put your name on all your supplies. Everyone gets a little cabin-like room with a half-bath. Some of the rooms come with attached hot springs-fed tubs and outdoor showers and some do not. There are two enclosed, individual, public baths and one large outdoor communal bath. There is also a cold pool. This is hot country and Chinati Hot Springs is designed for maximum comfort in hot weather. They weren't quite as well equipped for the cooler weather of February. Having said that, we were pretty comfortable.

Well known Santa Fe artist, David Loren Bass had a room there, having just ended a two-week stint of painting in Pinto Canyon and he fit right in with our little group. He had some beautiful Texas landscapes with him and some of my friends were lucky enough to be able to purchase one. We counted ourselves fortunate to have made his acquaintance. If you ever have a chance to see his work, jump on it! I'll certainly look him up the next time I'm in Santa Fe.

What a great girl's weekend. I was sorry I wasn't in Austin this week to join in WomenBloom's social mixer, where I know I would have made some good new friends, but I was glad to have a chance to run off and share a couple of days with my old friends. There is something so restorative about getting away from technology and having absolutely nothing to do but relax!

Strategies for Single Travel

Are you a single person who loves to travel? Are you part of a couple but your significant other is a home body? At some point you will find that you have run out of travel companions and then what? Do you stay home? Do you forgo your dream to one day see Paris because no one will go with you? If you are not comfortable traveling alone, you might try one of these strategies to make single travel do able for you.

Special Interest Travel

Finding a trip designed around a particular interest or hobby may be just the ticket. Do you like to cook? There are trips to destinations all around the world that include cooking classes. Many of these trips consist of a half or three-quarter day cooking lesson with afternoons free. Cooking on alternate days is also a common schedule. Sharing an interest is a great way to befriend other people. Generally participants are housed at the same accommodation and the class is held there or transportation is provided. Cooking classes tend to be made up of couples, singles or men and women whose other half is off doing something else. You get to know each other during the class and then make plans to spend the free time together. Don't like to eat alone? Lots of these trips have planned meals where the whole group goes together. Smaller classes of a dozen participants or less work especially well. Having a partially structured and partially free itinerary is ideal.

Cooking's not your bag? There are trips built around all sorts of interests. Hiking, biking, knitting, weaving, walking, music, wine; the list is endless. The destinations are almost unlimited. A great source of special interest travel is National Geographic Expeditions. Several special interest tour companies have signed up with National Geographic and are listed on Nat Geo's page. You can search by destination, special interest and/or departure date.

Singles Travel

If you would like to enhance the possibility of finding that special someone on your trip, there are many companies that specialize in singles travel for men and women. Most trips are arranged around specific age groups and/or sexual orientation. Pay careful attention to this aspect of the tour. If you are forty-something you may not be interested in traveling with twenty or eighty-somethings. Obviously, if you are searching, the sexual orientation of the participants is also important. These trips tend to consist of structured activities as well as free time. Experienced travel companies will have built-in ice breakers and mixers designed to help people overcome the awkwardness of initial meetings.

There are also companies that are designed to match people up who are not looking for romance. You give them your gender, age and various likes and dislikes and they will try and find someone with whom you can travel.

Things to remember about single travel:

Whether it's a tour or a hotel room, prices are commonly listed as per person double. If you have two people going, each person will pay the listed price. If you are traveling alone, you will frequently have to pay what is known as a single supplement. This is because a tour operator counts on getting a certain amount of money for each room booked. If only one person is staying in the room, they won't get as much for it. Single supplements are generally less than twice the per person double rate so you are paying a little more but the tour company is getting a little less.

Many tour companies will arrange shares if they have another same-sex single booking. If you are willing to share, let your tour company know. If they can find you a share, you will not have to pay the single supplement. Always ask if the listed price applies for single travel.

Be careful. Don't lock yourself up in your room in fear but be alert and aware when you travel alone. It's always a good idea to give your itinerary to someone who is not on the trip. Make plans to check in with them at regular intervals via phone, text and/or e-mail.

Travel with a good attitude! This is an adventure. Be open to whatever happens. Don't expect to make your new best friend for life or meet your soul mate. Do expect to have a great time, meet some interesting people and have a lot of good stories to tell when you get back home.

Consider buying trip insurance and, if you do, make sure you know what is covered and what is not. Also familiarize yourself with the cancellation policy of whatever trip you book.

Have you figured out a way to make yourself comfortable when traveling alone? Leave a comment and share your strategy!

Make It From Scratch

Projects


Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt

A Keeper’s Jackpot has a very clever plan for Creating a Reversible Fleece Blanket without a Sewing Machine.

Don’t have the exact size of box you need? Craft Stew offers a Reconstructed Box Tutorial to teach us how to make our own custom-sized boxes.

Although she offers it up as a Valentine’s project, Sagescript Institute & Colorado Aromatics’ instructions for Scented & Decorated Paper would be fun for any occasion needing special paper. I’m thinking about ladies’ garden brunch invitations!

Are you starting to think about Spring projects? Lighter Side has some fun ideas for Attracting Birds and recycling at the same time.

Again, a little late for Valentine’s Day, Real Words’ hints for 17 Things You Can Write for Valentine’s Day are easily adaptable for anytime you want to share your feelings with your special someone.

It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop. - Confucius

Plenty of time to get this craft done in advance! Home Life Weekly generously provides us with some Printable Mother’s Day Cards. Don’t forget - Mother’s Day is May 10th. I downloaded the last one!

Recycle Cindy has her most clever project yet with a Recycled Plastic Baseball Cap. I haven’t crocheted in years but I may have to dust off my hook and give this one a try!

Have an ugly HDTV antennae? How to Disguise an HDTV antennae at How-To Me might be just the project you are seeking.

Greenhab:The Browns Go Green has a Crayon Roll Tutorial with instructions for a clever little roll that holds eight crayons. I know it’s only February but wouldn’t these make great little stocking stuffers?

Have you ever thought about having an aquarium? Surfer Sam Online answers all your questions with Enjoy a Home Aquarium, The Tropical Fish Tank Hobby.

Are you yearning for a gardening project? How to Make Seed Starter Pots out of Toilet Paper Rolls here at SimplyForties may be just the ticket!

Recipes

Here the currants red and white
In yon green bush at her sight
Peep through their shady leaves, and cry
Come eat me, as she passes by
-Robert Heath, Clarastella 1650

Christ’s Bridge has an easy and delicious Royal Strawberry Shortcake recipe. I’m filing this one for strawberry season.

Stephanie, queen of the Make It From Scratch carnival, thinks convenience and frugality are not mutually exclusive. She illustrates that belief with some Do It Yourself Microwave Popcorn. I love that her recipe doesn’t use any oil in the popping.

In another good money saving project, Growing Up Gabel, has some recipes for Making Your Own Spice Mixes.

I love Caesar Salad and am happy to have Happy to be at Home’s Caesar Salad dressing recipe. There’s nothing like homemade salad dressing.

Give me a little ham and egg
And let me be alone I beg
Give me my tea, hot, sweet and weak
Bring me “The Times” and do not speak
-A.P. Herbert, A Book of Ballads

On the wonderfully named, Cooking During Stolen Moments…an affair with my kitchen blog, there is a great recipe for Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit Cups. This would be a good one to file away for breakfast company.

Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect winter dish; warm, filling and comforting. I’ve Got A Little Space to Fill has a promising recipe for a good one! I know I’m going to give it a try. How about you?

Steak au Poivre was the first “fancy meal” I ever had. Thanks to The Thinking Mother for posting a link to Alton Brown’s recipe and allowing me a walk down memory lane!

Here at SimplyForties I'm sharing my recipe for Cauliflower Bistecche with Pancetta and Caper Berries. Bistecche means steak in Italian and this is a very hearty cauliflower dish.

Thank you for participating in this week's carnival. I hope you enjoy all the submissions and that you will give your fellow participants' articles a look! Don't forget to link to the carnival and to help spread the word through Twitter, Stumble, del.icio.us or whatever social networking sites you like.

Next week's carnival will be hosted by Applehead. Submit your articles here.

Cauliflower “bistecche” with pancetta and caper berries

If you are new here, thanks for stopping! I publish a recipe every Sunday to share my interest in food and cooking.


Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. - Mark Twain

Adapted from executive chef Carey Savona and former executive chef Kevin Garcia

Serves 4

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1⁄2 hr

For this recipe, it’s best to choose a head of cauliflower with a very dense crown so that the “steaks” will hold together during cooking. However, even if they separate a bit, the dish is still delicious.

½ cup salt-packed capers
5 (‰-inch-thick) slices pancetta (Italian unsmoked cured bacon; 5 oz), cut into 1/4-inch dice
½ cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small head cauliflower (1 3/4 lb)
2 extra-virgin olive oil
¾ stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
¼ teaspoon salt
2 pinches of sugar
2 tablespoons water
8 drained bottled caper berries, rinsed

special equipment: 2 (12-inch) ovenproof heavy skillets
garnish: coarse sea salt (preferably sel gris); chopped fresh chives

Rinse salt-packed capers in a sieve and transfer to a small bowl. Soak capers in water to cover by 2 inches for 30 minutes. Drain and repeat soaking. Drain again, then rinse and pat dry. While capers soak, put oven racks in upper and
lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.

Cook pancetta in 1 dry 12-inch skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off fat and wipe skillet clean.

Stir together raisins and lemon juice in a small bowl. Trim cauliflower stalk flush with base of crown, discarding stalk, then trim any leaves. Put cauliflower crown, stalk side down, on a cutting board. Cut a 1-inch slice from 2 opposite sides of crown and discard, then cut crown lengthwise into 4 “steaks,” each about ¾ to 1 inch wide.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon butter, ¾ teaspoon salt, and a pinch each of sugar and pepper in each 12-inch skillet over moderate heat, swirling skillets occasionally, until butter begins to brown. Add 2 cauliflower steaks to each skillet and lightly season with salt and pepper, then cook until undersides are golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer skillets to oven and roast cauliflower, without turning, switching position of skillets halfway through roasting, until cauliflower is just tender and undersides are golden brown, 8 to 15 minutes (depending on thickness).

While cauliflower roasts, bring water just to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, then stir in pancetta, capers, raisins with lemon juice, and caper berries. Add remaining ‚ stick butter and stir until incorporated. Remove from heat and season with pepper. Carefully invert cauliflower steaks with a spatula onto a platter and spoon sauce over them.

Cook's note: If your sea salt is very coarse, lightly crush it with a mortar and pestle or with bottom of a heavy skillet.

Note: This is a fanctastic way to prepare cauliflower. If you've never liked cauliflower, give this preparation a try. The topping has a very strong caper flavor. If you don't like capers, any sort of vegetable saute or ragout can be put over the roasted cauliflower.

Making Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Pots

This article is an Editor's Pick in the Festival of Frugality at Green Panda Treehouse. There are lots of good articles on a myriad of topics in the Festival, I suggest you head over there and check some of them out!

This time of year thoughts turn to the garden but it's much too early to be planting outside. Here's a recycling project that might help channel some of that frustrated gardening energy!

To make little seed starter pots from toilet paper rolls, first flatten the roll and then turn it and flatten it again. You will end up with four creases running the length of the cardboard roll. Cut each roll in half cross-wise.



Cut up about 1/2" from the bottom along each of the 4 creases creating 4 tabs.



Next, fold each tab in, overlapping them, like closing up a box. This creates the bottom of the seed pot.



Gather up your little pots and put them in some sort of tray for ease of handling. I use these foam vegetable trays.



Fill each seed pot with potting soil and dampen it.



Put one or two seeds in each pot, tamp them down, add a little more water and put them under the lights. I staple the torn off part of the seed packet with the variety name onto the front of the blue trays.



It's a tiny garden but it's something! When these little tomato plants are ready, it'll be time to put them outside. When you plant them in the garden, just stick the little pots right into the dirt. There is no need to remove the plants from the pots, which will degrade right into the garden soil.

2009 Tax Breaks for Going Green

I have a post up at 5 Minutes for Going Green on 2009 Tax Breaks for Going Green. Head over there and check it out. Maybe the tax incentives will make your project affordable enough to get it off the ground in 2009!

Google Earth's Street View; a little close for comfort.

(random home in Shreveport, LA)

Yesterday a friend sent me a photograph of my house that he got using Google Earth's street view. I found it very disconcerting. I like playing with Google Earth and frequently marvel at the clear views, in some places, of people’s roofs. It’s fun to put in addresses and get a close look at someone’s neighborhood. When my son first went away to college and was a little more naïve than he is now, I had him convinced that it was real time and that I could watch him and see if he was going to class. I told him to wave when he was outside because he’d never know if I were watching him. I’m pretty sure he believed me for awhile.

Google Earth's street view, in case you are not familiar with it, is a photograph of your house as if someone is standing in the street taking the picture. You can get almost a 360 degree view. The above photograph is just a random home that I captured using Google Earth. In the picture of my house, I can see my car parked in my driveway. My driveway is pretty long and my car is parked at the top of it. I wondered if I were parked at the street if my license plate number might be visible. I find it a little creepy.

We all make different decisions about how public or anonymous we are going to be on the internet. In my case, I’ve been pretty open about my first name and have chosen to post my photograph here on my site, but specifically don’t mention either my last name or the name of my town. I have lived in the same tiny little town for more than 30 years now and I suspect, if someone knew the name of my town they could flash my picture around and find me pretty easily. I’ve “met” a lot of really wonderful people online though SimplyForties and the blogging community in general, but I think we all know everyone out there is not so wonderful. I did finally decide to go on Facebook but I remain somewhat conflicted about it due to having to use my last name.

Although we’ve had the ability, through people finder, to get information, including street addresses on strangers for a long time, the addition of an easily attainable photograph of their house is disturbing to me. Because of the privacy choices she’s made, I know the full name and town of one of my blogging “friends”. In writing this article, I used that information to look her up on Yahoo’s people search, got her street address, entered it into Google Earth and now I know what her house looks like. I thought about e-mailing the picture to her to check my information but I didn’t want to scare her. The person who sent me the photo of my house said that when he checked his nieces’ house, there she was in the photograph, outside playing with her dog!

Several years ago I had a stalker and can testify to the invasiveness of that situation. It’s very disturbing. Wouldn’t it be creepy to receive a photograph of your home in an e-mail from someone you didn't know? These street level photographs are not available everywhere. I checked the addresses of all of my family members, most of who live in much bigger towns than I. Surprisingly, my son, one of my brothers and I were the only ones who’s houses had a street level view available. I suspect the database is growing and we’ll all be there sooner or later.

Wouldn’t these photographs help someone who was planning something nefarious? Although the photographs are not real time, I suspect mine was taken last winter, couldn’t they be studied by someone who was looking for places to hide and watch? What if you were robbing a bank or a home and looking for the best place to loiter unnoticed? Thanks to Google Earth's street view, you could study the setup at your leisure. I find the whole thing pretty disquieting.

Look up your house. Is it on there? What do you think? Am I overreacting or do you find these street level photographs particularly invasive?

The Martha Rules, Part Two

I recently read Martha Stewart’s 2005 book, The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business, and was really impressed. The book is divided into ten chapters based on Martha's rules. Yesterday I covered the first Five Rules. Read that post and then come back here and read Rules Six through Ten.

Rule #6 – Quality should be placed at the top of your list of priorities and it should remain there. Quality is something you should strive for in every decision, every day. In this chapter Stewart says, “your business goal should be to learn as much as possible about every factor that affects the quality of your products and services.” She also stresses that, in the same way you need to develop a culture of frugality, you need to develop a culture that embraces quality at every level. Always remember that the point of your business is to do something in a superior way.

Rule #7 – Seek out and hire employees who are brimming with talent, energy, integrity, optimism and generosity. Search for advisors and partners who complement your skills and understand your ideals. This chapter, which is devoted to hiring the right people to carry out your vision, stresses the importance of carefully choosing your team. When you make a mistake, act quickly and fairly. An unhappy person is not a team player and can bring down the entire group. As business-like in this as in everything, Stewart warns us to look long and hard at partnerships with friends. She stresses the need to be realistic and objective and not enter into any partnerships until all questions have been answered. If you choose poorly your friendship is doomed anyway, don’t let it take your business down too.

Rule #8 – When faced with a business challenge, evaluate or assess the situation, gather the Good Things in sight, abandon the Bad, clear your mind, and move on. Focus on the positive. Stay in control and never panic. Among other things, in this chapter Stewart talks about what she went through during her trial, incarceration and home confinement after her insider trading conviction. How, as the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Stewart says when bad things happen in business, it’s okay to overreact, just don’t panic. Take time to assess the situation and figure out what to cut and what to keep and remember that sometimes Good Things masquerade as troubles!

Rule #9 Take risks not chances. Business, says Stewart, is all about risks. Assessing risk and managing risk. Sometimes it is also about taking a deep breath and jumping in. If you have laid the groundwork you should find the confidence to separate reasonable risk from careless chance. Stewart makes an interesting observation in this chapter regarding her decision to do the television program The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She says she knows that had she turned this opportunity down, another would have come along. “Inexperienced business people sometimes make poor decisions because they are terrified that opportunity will pass them by and they will regret it for the rest of their lives.” That, she says, is rarely if ever true. She also quotes Warren Buffet on this theme, “There are no called strikes in investing.” What Buffet meant by this baseball analogy was that even if you let a terrific opportunity pass you by, you will never be called out of the game. That’s a good thing to remember in this fast moving, ever-changing world!

And finally

Rule #10 – Listen intently, learn new things every day, be willing to innovate, and become an authority your customers will trust. As an entrepreneur, you will find great joy and satisfaction in making your customers’ lives easier, more meaningful and more beautiful. Stewart says she makes lists for herself every morning and at the top of her list is always to “make life better”; for her customers, her colleagues, her shareholders, her family and her friends. “Ultimately”, Stewart says, “as an entrepreneur, I predict that your greatest joys will come from knowing that you are doing something good, something worthwhile, something useful and practical, something valuable and something beautiful.”

As I said in part one of my review, I picked up this book expecting to scoff at it. Instead I was inspired from page one. I was never a Martha Stewart fan and now I know I will look at her programs and her magazines with new eyes.

Regardless of whether you are following your dreams mostly alone, reading and writing in your office, like I do or are in charge of a large team of employees like she is, I highly recommend you read this book. It’s not new and you can currently buy it very inexpensively on Amazon or at your local bookshop. Or check your local library and read it for free! No matter how you spend your time, you will become inspired to spend it better!

Thank you, Martha Stewart, for making me a fan!

The Martha Rules, Part One

I picked this book up in a moment of boredom while doing my stint at the library bookstore last week. Although I have no good reason for it, I’m not a huge fan of Martha Stewart’s. I realize it’s probably a visceral reaction to her huge popularity, which is stupid, but there it is. I am, or was, an anti-Martha.

Imagine my surprise when I loved the book. The complete title is, The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business. The book is divided into 10 chapters, each illustrating a different rule. Stewart uses a lot of examples from her own journey. I found that a bit self-serving at first glance but then I realized she really does perfectly exemplify the lessons she is trying to teach. She also uses a lot of examples from other businesses and entrepreneurs she has encountered. I’m writing this review in two parts so that I can do it justice. Check back tomorrow for Part Two.

Written in 2005, Stewart relates that while she was in prison she was frequently approached by other inmates who wanted to discuss their business ideas. She gave a talk at the prison on starting a business and wrote the outline for this book while she was confined.

Martha’s Rule #1 is Build your business success around something that you love. Whether you are a baker, a blogger, a landscape designer or a farmer you will be most happy and most likely to succeed if you love what you are doing. Stewart advises to search until you find your passion. She relates how many different jobs she had until she found something about which she was passionate and started her own catering company. “In the freelance world”, says Stewart, “you start every day at zero.” She reminds us how important it is to be aware of all the hard work involved in owning your own business. Stewart shares an anecdote from a friend of hers who owns a plant nursery. He says the shovel and wheelbarrow, not the expensive backhoe, are the most important tools of his trade.

Rule #2 is Focus your attention and creativity on basic things. Things that people need and want. Then look for ways to enlarge, improve and enhance your Big Idea. Stewart advises us to walk in our customer’s shoes for awhile. Ask yourself if there is a place in their lives for your idea. She gives a lot of good examples from different entrepreneurs and businesses including Domino’s Pizza, who obviously did not invent pizza, but revolutionized the pizza delivery model. She lists seven necessities for assessing your business idea including asking yourself if your idea is better than the alternatives already on the market.

Rule #3 is Create a business plan that allows you to stay true to your Big Idea but helps you focus on the details. Stewart is nothing if not business-like. Unlike someone yearning to own an art gallery who only thinks about wine and cheese openings and hobnobbing with the cultural elite, Stewart wants us to understand, plan and be aware of the nuts and bolts of the business in which we think we want to involve ourselves. Take the time to learn everything about every aspect of your business. Stewart strongly urges “creating a frugal culture” at your workplace. Monitor spending and ensure your employees know you are doing it.

Rule #4 is Teach so you can learn. Stewart says, “by sharing your knowledge about your product or service with your customers, you create a deep connection that will help you learn how best to build and manage your business.” Great advice! People who hoard their knowledge in fear of the competition only limit themselves. Sharing information and getting information in return creates a connection with your customers or clients. Stewart reminds us that when you pay attention to your customers and truly care about them, they will pay attention to and truly care about you in return.

Rule #5 is Use smart, cost-effective promotional techniques that will arrest the eye, tug at the heart, and convey what is unique and special about your business or service. This chapter deals primarily with packaging and advertising your product or business. How many times have you seen an advertisement where you can’t figure out what the product is? Sometimes you can be too clever! Alternatively, no matter what your idea is, there are probably lots of similar ideas, products or businesses on the market and advertising helps your product stand out, so you have to be just clever enough. Positioning is important. Make sure you are advertising your product to your market. Is your stylish tailored leather iPod case going to be purchased by teenagers? Probably not, so don’t advertise to the teenage market. Stewart also discusses publicity, as opposed to advertising, and how to use it appropriately. Don’t forget to share a bit of yourself, which helps your customers make a connection.

Even though I was pre-determined to scoff at it, this book inspired and invigorated me. Check back tomorrow for Rules Six through Ten!

Roasted Peppers with Caper Dressing

If you are new here, thanks for stopping! I publish a recipe every Sunday to share my interest in food and cooking.




Quite a delicious, tangy and easy dish. Give it a try!

SERVES: 4

2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers (or any combination of colored peppers)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 1/2 teaspoons wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons drained capers

Directions

1. Roast the peppers over a gas flame or grill or broil them, turning with tongs, until charred all over, about 10 minutes. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, pull off the skin. Remove the stems, seeds, and ribs. Cut the peppers lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips.

2. In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, using a fork, stir together the lemon juice, anchovy paste, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir in the oil. Add the peppers and capers and toss.

Variations

Use halved and pitted olives in addition to or instead of the capers.
Add a sprinkling of chopped fresh basil.
Toss in a chopped tomato.
Use three chopped anchovy fillets instead of the paste.
Add a small can of drained tuna.

Lessons Learned from What Not To Wear

(Um...NO)
Do you watch What Not To Wear on TLC? Although I flatter myself that I would never be a candidate, I enjoy the show. Unlike 10 Years Younger, the participants on this transformative program receive no cosmetic procedures like Botox, lasik or teeth whitening. They get a new wardrobe, a good haircut and a makeup lesson. The main thing they receive, on almost every episode is a self-confidence makeover.

You can tell that some of these girls have chosen to dress in a manner that is so funky and so far out in response to their belief that they are not attractive. Somehow, somewhere in their past they were convinced that they could not be beautiful and so they became quirky. They wear their quirkiness like armor against the way they perceive that the world views them. Seeing themselves transformed by the end of the show into the beautiful women that they really are, never fails to move me.

Most of us will never get the opportunity to have two wardrobe experts take us shopping and teach us how to dress ourselves in the most flattering way and, as an added bonus, pay for it! On the show they teach some valuable lessons, which are repeated in almost every episode. One of the big ones is to dress the body we have, not the body we want. I’m with you, I don’t want to spend good money on a new outfit when I’m just about to lose ten pounds. How long have I been just about to lose those ten pounds? Okay, quite a while. Can’t bring yourself to buy a whole new wardrobe for THIS body? Buy one well-made, well-fitting outfit. You’ll probably decide that you look a lot better than you thought you did!

Buy quality as opposed to quantity. Better to have some good quality, timeless, mix and match separates than a whole closetful of cheap, trendy stuff. No reason not to grab an inexpensive blouse in the season’s hottest color but don’t make that sort of purchase be the backbone of your wardrobe. This rule applies to shoes, as well as clothes. I wish I were in a position to buy $300 shoes but I’m not. At the same time, those $10 black pumps from Payless, which are probably going to have to be replaced every season, aren’t such a bargain either. Buy the best quality you can afford. The other tip about quality shoes and clothes? Take care of them! Reattach loose buttons, re-stitch loose hems, polish shoes and get them re-heeled and re-soled as necessary. Good quality clothing and shoes that are well-taken care of will last for many years and in the long run, save you money. If you are fortunate enough to live in or near an affluent area, check out their consignment shops for good deals on higher-end wardrobe items.

Get rid of old, worn-out or non-flattering items taking up space in your closet. No matter how much you love the shirt you bought on that special trip to Hawaii twenty years ago, if it is tattered and coming apart at the seams, throw it out. Those clothes you wore when you were thirty pounds heavier? Donate them to Goodwill. Hanging on to them keeps you connected to the person you used to be. The same can be said for clothes you wore when you were thirty pounds lighter. There is nothing more depressing than looking at a bunch of clothes you can no longer fit into. If you ever do lose those thirty pounds, think how much fun you’ll have rewarding yourself with new clothes!

Buy well-fitting undergarments! Sad but true, gravity is not our friend. Well-fitting undergarments can reduce the look of all that sagging and bulging and make our bodies and the clothes we wear look a lot better.

The most important lesson from What Not To Wear? Try to look at yourself with new eyes. That really is what the show is all about. Try something new. Try some different styles. Get a makeup makeover from a cross-product expert but don’t buy anything until you’ve had a chance to catch sight of yourself in several different lighting situations including natural light.

We are all beautiful women, no matter our age, and we need to learn to see ourselves and dress ourselves in the way that best flatters us and lets our light shine!

Weekly Roundup - February 11, 2009

(overlooking the Dordogne from Beynac Castle, Beynac-et-Cazenac, France)

I was just introduced to The Fabulous Geezersisters’ Weblog and I’m glad I was. This article, Remedy for a Bad Week, is a good little reminder of the value of friends. I’m definitely adding this blog to my already long list of reading.

Government Spending – Do We Get A Vote? appears in the Carnival of Personal Finance at Dollar Frugal. Smart Easy Money wonders Where You Draw The Line in terms of salary in this economy. Exactly how much would you cut your rate in order to get a job? Do you have cash? Steadfast Finances points out that the Joneses are selling and, if you have cash in hand, you could be buying their stuff at half price!

Sound Money Matters had an excellent article asking, “Is the Recession Good for the Environment?”

In an insighful article, Wall Street Jobs Pay Out Big Bonuses: The Investment Banker Defends His Salary, The Digerati Life says “If we’re living in a capitalistic society then we should all be riding the market down in the same way we rode it up.” A lot of us are riding it down, there’s no reason these guys should get to take government money and keep on living like it never happened.

Ruth Pennebaker, who writes at the aforementioned Fabulous Geezersisters, had a great article in The Texas Observer, They’re Just Not That Into Us Anymore. She's realizing that with W out of the White House, as Texans our little bit of infamy, our 15 minutes, is over. Pretty funny stuff.

Spicy Chickpea and Spinach Stew appears in the Make It From Scratch Carnival at I’ve Got a Little Space To Fill. Funny About Money has a good lesson in why, in some cases, it’s better to just do things yourself. Check out her post, Cleaning Lady Jamboree, for the details. This doesn’t sound too appetizing but it looks delicious! Eco Child’s Play has a recipe for black bean brownies that I’m going to try. Any excuse to pretend brownies are healthy is an excuse I want!

Jim at Bargaineering has a great article called “Understanding Your Financial Fortress”, where he creates a wonderful castle analogy, which he illustrates with some great photographs. It’s very clever!

JLP at All Financial Matters was reading Robert Wright’s One Nation Under Debt: Hamilton, Jefferson, and the History of What We Owe and decided to e-mail the author for his take on the current financial situation. Mr. Wright responded with a very concise explanation of his take on things. Fascinating stuff!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wants vs. Needs

In a purely intellectual sense, we all know the difference between wants and needs. We need a roof (any roof) over our heads, sustenance, utilities and transportation. Other wants and needs are defined differently by different people. Some of us would consider medical insurance to be a need. In 2007 18% of Americans under the age of 65 had no medical insurance so clearly, for some it is a want. Telecommuters and most freelancers need to have Internet at home in order to work. Others would classify home internet access as a want and suggest going to the library. Once our basic needs are met, and the tools we require in order to work are in place, the lines tend to blur. If we have a bit of a financial cushion, however small, the lines blur even more.

I’ve been thinking about this subject a lot lately. Yesterday I had an appointment to get my hair done. That appointment costs me $80. I used to go every eight weeks and then I stretched it to every ten weeks but that’s all I’m willing to give. On the surface, spending $80 on my hair seems a definite want. I could let it go to become whatever color it may be now. I could wash it with shampoo from the Dollar Store, braid it down my back and never give it another thought, saving me $416 a year, plus whatever I’m currently spending on hair products. If I were nearly homeless and struggling to put food on my table, that’s exactly the path I’d choose. Luckily, I’m neither and, although I did give up pedicures this year, I’m not quite ready to qualify my hair care as a want.

When I was reviewing articles for the Carnival of Debt Reduction I looked at one by a writer at The Happy Rock who calls himself the Debt Destroyer. The Destroyer shared his monthly expenses for January. He is working towards his goal of paying down his debt. One of his expenses was $180 that he spent on two memberships to the Pearl Jam fan club and a Pearl Jam anniversary edition CD set. As you might imagine, he was pretty roundly pilloried in the comment section for this particular expense. He justified it by explaining what a huge Pearl Jam fan he was. He finally allowed as how perhaps the CD set was a want but the fan club memberships were definitely a need.

I was amused by the seeming ridiculousness of his argument but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was no different than me justifying my beauty shop expenditures. Clearly these are gray areas for both of us. If we were really broke neither of us would be making these purchases but, since we’re not, we can choose. It slows down our debt repayment and our savings but, evidently, to us it’s worth it. I suspect most people have a similar dilemma in one area or another.

Although Dave Ramsey might not commend me for my “gazelle-like intensity”, I have managed to stave off my urges (so far) for a netbook and a Kindle, as well as countless other little wants. While I really am working hard to achieve my goals, is it so terrible that I don’t want to look like a bag lady while I’m doing it?!

I’m curious, what are your gray areas? What can you not quite give up even while you are trying to better your financial position?

Valentine's Day for Singles

Valentine’s Day, unlike every other holiday, is a holiday for couples. Christmas, Easter, birthdays, Thanksgiving, New Year's; all are holidays that can be celebrated easily with friends and/or family. Valentine’s Day is tough to enjoy when you’re single. There’s no help for it. If you’re unhappy about your lack of an “other”, it’s a miserable holiday. The whole week or two proceeding the holiday is one big reminder, everywhere you look.

What to do? If you’re single and unhappy about it, on Valentine’s Day you have a choice to make. You can choose to ignore the whole thing; a little difficult when there are hearts everywhere you look and every other television commercial is trumpeting lovey-dovey-ness. You can put on a brave public face and then hole up in your house with a bottle of wine and cry. You can relish the idea that on February 15th a lot of really good chocolate is going on sale. Or, you can redefine the holiday.

One of my very good girlfriends is doing just that. She decided that Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating the love of good friends. She has rented two houses in one of the little towns around here and has invited a bunch of friends to join her for the weekend. You have to be single to attend. The plan for Friday night is to try out a newly opened little bar. Saturday there is a fish fry and then a concert/dance to attend. I imagine the rest of the weekend will be spent telling stories and laughing.

There are men and women attending this little get-together; mostly all old friends. She’s not expecting anyone to fall in love, she says, just have a good time. I salute my friend for being proactive about this sometimes difficult holiday. I’ll probably run over and join them for dinner at least once.

Are you unhappily single? What are your plans for the weekend? Are you hunkering down or heading out into it?

177th Carnival of Debt Reduction - Friendship Edition

February is International Friendship Month. The support and understanding of friends can be invaluable when working towards your debt reduction goals.



A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away." – Arabian Proverb

Budgeting

(Editor's Pick) Budgeting really is inescapable, especially when you’re just starting on your debt reduction journey. Bible Money Matters gives a very comprehensive how-to guide in, “Jumpstart Your Economy: Doing Your First Budget”.

The Digerati Life has “How to Make a Budget in 10 Easy Steps”. Another excellent “how-to” if you’ve not been using a budget.

Trisha Wagner, writing as a guest poster on DebtKid, explains, “Why Budgets Don’t Work for Everyone”. In an interesting observation, she says one of the biggest blunders people make is to budget according to how you would like your finances to be instead of how your finances are in real life.

One of the writers at The Happy Rock who refers to himself as the Debt Destroyer shares his monthly expenses for January. It’s a good example of how we all define wants vs. needs differently!



"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with." –Mark Twain

Saving

(Editor's Pick) MasterYourCard gives a very comprehensive explanation of the different types of checking and savings accounts in, “The Difference Between Checking and Savings”. It’s a good review for people learning about banking.

Budgets Are Sexy tackles the very controversial idea that saving is hurting our economy in, “Americans Spending Less, Saving More – This is Bad?” I agree that spending our way out of recession is the wrong solution!

What if you want to save but, because of past errors in judgment, no bank wants to do business with you? Make Money/Save Money/Invest Money writes about the ChexSystem that keeps all its member banks informed about your bad deeds and gives some advice on how to get on with the business of banking in, “Second Chance Checking Accounts: Banks That Do Not Use ChexSystems”. Being unbanked definitely makes life harder.

It’s a fact. “American’s Are Saving More”. Wealth Junkies reports on this promising statistic but points out that money used for reducing debt is considered “saved” for the purpose of this government report. Well, okay, that’s still a good thing.


by Super Qatari

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." Albert Camus

Cutting Expenses

(Editor's Pick) In an excellent article, I Pick Up Pennies asks, “Are You A Frugal Fire Fighter?”. She’s wondering if perhaps we aren’t being just a little too hard on ourselves.

In “Money for a College Student”, The Liberal Artist, a college student at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, urges college students to watch their spending. Cutting down on bar bills might be a start!

In, “Lessons Learned from Being in Debt”, FSC lets us know some various pitfalls of spending more than we can afford.

Living Almost Large posts about a financial situation she read about on a message board and asks her readers for input in, “The Sinking Ship”. When one person loses a job, the couple must cut ALL unnecessary expenses. Sometimes that reality can be brutal!

Are you house hunting? Home/Own writes on how to minimize house hunting expenses. “House Hunting Expenses and How To Minimize Them” is the second in a two-part article.

In my opinion, tracking your spending is the most important part of getting a handle on your finances. M is for Money admits she struggles with this exercise in Part Three of her “Deliverance From Debt: Where Did My Money Go?” series.

Green Panda Treehouse is just about to pay off her car loan. She shares her excitement in “Car Loan Balance Update: $500 Balance!” Kudos to you Green Panda!

Are you really cutting all of your unnecessary expenses? No Debt Plan wants us to be ruthless. “Cut the Crap and Check Your Monthly Budget Commitments” poetically reminds us that, when we are in debt, nothing is sacred.


by Scott Cron

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." --Ecclesiastes

Raising Money

Surfer Sam takes an in-depth look at reverse mortgages in, “A Reverse Mortgage Pays You Cash and Let’s You Keep Your Home.” I find the reverse mortgage to be a scary concept and hope anyone contemplating it will do a lot of research!

Payday Loans Review writes about something called the Salary Advance Loan Program, which was designed to help serial payday loan users, in “A Low Cost Payday Loan Alternative”. Clearly it would be better not to need any sort of advance on your salary but, if you must, perhaps this would be a slightly better alternative.


(me and some of my friends!)

"Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it." - Cicero

Credit Cards

With so many people defaulting on their credit cards, Debt Reduction Formula explains, “Why the Best Borrowers Are Paying the Price”. Those of us who pay are subsidizing those who do not.

Apply 4 Credit reminds us of all the steps NOT to take when trying to deal with credit card problems in, “Bad Credit: Stop the Application”.

Credit card shopping? “Chase Platinum Credit Card”, is a review of Chase’s 0% interest card offered by Credit Card Offers IQ.

The Credit Toolbox reviews the “Basics of Snowballing”. Whether you chose lower balance or higher interest cards to pay off first, the debt snowball is an effective way to get your credit card debt under control.

Have you heard about credit card companies lowering people’s credit limits based on where they shop? The Sun’s Financial Diary reports on this trend with, “Where You Shop Could Hurt Your Credit Score and Credit Limits’. I’m afraid this sort of “profiling” is going to get more common as the economy stays tight.

Personal Finance Analyst suggests you pay your “bad” debt before you save. He’s basically working on the principal that paying high interest debt gives you a better return on your money than saving in a low interest savings account. “Pay Yourself Second, Pay Your Debts First”, explains the exceptions to his rule. Personally I think it’s important to be in the habit of savings, even if you only save a small amount.



"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures." Kahil Gibran

Other

(Editor's Pick) Although a stimulus check doesn’t seem to be part of the package, if we got a big one, what would you do with it? Money Blue Book muses on the value of just such a payout in, “Second Stimulus Check for Obama 2009 Economic Stimulus Package?”.

How To Sell Your Own Home suggests not using a realtor when you, “Sell Your Own Home Despite The Lousy Economy”. I’m not sure it’s the route I’d take but, if it works, you’d certainly save money on the realtor’s commission.

Are you familiar with the merchant cash advance system? It’s sort of like a payday loan for merchants. In, “Merchant Cash Advance”, Merchant Cash Advance Guide explains what it’s all about.

“Are You One Of the Lucky Ones With a Tax Refund Coming”? Destroy Debt wants you to have a plan for how to use it. As an aside, I would recommend that you adjust your deductions so you are paying fewer taxes next year. No reason to give Uncle Sam an interest free loan!

Manely Montana, like a lot of people, is worrying about April 15th. “The Tax Woman Cometh”, lists several links where you can find some help. Too stressed? She includes a recipe for some fried potatoes. Nothing like a little comfort food when under duress!

A few years ago My Dollar Plan helped her brother-in-law get out of debt. In Part Two of “Gettin’ Out of Debt” she examines rebuilding bad credit.

Ask Mr. Credit Card recently interviewed someone he refers to as a credit card “insider”. Part Two of that interview appears in, “Interview with an Insider, Part 2”.

Thank you for participating in the Carnival. Don’t forget to link to the carnival from your own sites and please help promote the carnival through your favorite social media sites. Check out the articles here and give their authors some of the attention you hope to receive.

Submit your article here for next week's carnival!

Chickpea and Spinach Stew

This recipe appears in the Make It From Scratch carnival at I've Got A Little Space to Fill. If you came from the carnival - welcome! I hope you will consider subscribing via RSS feed or e-mail.

If you are new here, thanks for stopping! I publish a recipe every Sunday to share my interest in food and cooking.


This delicious and healthy stew has some wonderful North African flavors. It's quick to make and oh so aromatic! Perfect for a winter day.

ingredients
1 cup water
10 ounces baby spinach
2 (or 3) large garlic cloves, crushed
Kosher salt
Pinch of saffron threads
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 whole cloves, ground
Pinch of freshly ground pepper
Two 15-ounce cans chickpeas with their liquid
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 large tomato—peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped (or 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes)
1 link spicy Italian sausage, casing removed, cut into small pieces (optional)
1/4 cup golden raisins
Crusty bread, for serving

Directions –

1. Pour the water into a large deep skillet and bring to a boil. Add the spinach leaves and cook over high heat, tossing frequently, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain the spinach in a colander, pressing hard on the leaves to extract the liquid. (Salad spinner works really well for this.) Coarsely chop the spinach.

2. Using the flat side of a large knife, mash the garlic to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the saffron. Transfer the garlic paste to a small bowl. Add the paprika, cumin, cloves and black pepper and mash until combined. Stir in 1/4 cup of the chickpea liquid. A mortar and pestle works very well for this part.

3. Wipe out the skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the skillet and heat until shimmering. Add the sausage, cook, stirring frequently, until brown. Add the onion and tomato and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the spiced garlic sauce to the onion and tomato in the skillet and cook for 1 minute.

4. Add the chickpeas and the remaining liquid to the skillet. Add the raisins and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Add the spinach, reduce the heat to moderate, and simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer the chickpea stew to 4 deep bowls, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil on top (optional), and serve.

This beautiful stew is so thick it could really be used as a side dish.

How to Replace a Wall Switch

Today’s DIY Saturday article was going to be about changing out a light fixture but a little situation in my home changed my plans. A couple of nights ago I flipped on the outside light to my backyard and saw it flickering. Much more alarming, I saw a flickering in the switch itself. Had it not been dark in the room I would never have seen those sparks and would have assumed I had a bad bulb. I immediately turned off the switch and then shut the power down to that circuit. Luckily, no fire started in my wall!

Since I have an old house I assumed there were some frayed wires in there, which were coming in contact with each other. I pulled the old switch out and discovered, to my surprise, that the wires were clean and in their right spots, meaning the trouble was in the switch itself. This morning I took myself off to the hardware store to purchase a replacement. My new double toggle switch cost $5.99 and took about 5 minutes to replace. Since an electrician charges anywhere from $50 an hour on up, knowing how to do this little fix yourself can save you a lot of money.

In addition to malfunctions, you might want to change a switch because you prefer a different color or type. If your house was not new when you moved in, your switches might be paint splattered from a previous owner’s poor paint job. A switch or outlet is easy to change and there is no reason you can’t do it yourself.

For this job you will need a Philips head screwdriver and a pair of needle nosed pliers.



Step One and most important, turn off the power to this circuit. If your fuses are not labeled, they should be! If you can’t figure out which one it is, you can always shut off the master switch. Put labeling the fuse box on your list of things to do! The safest way to test whether or not the power is off is to use a voltmeter. If you don’t have a voltmeter, flip your light switch and make sure the light doesn’t go on!

Step Two - remove the screw from the center of the switch plate cover and set the screw and the cover aside.



Step Three - you will see a screw at the top and the bottom of the switch. These screws hold the switch in the switch box. Remove these two screws and set them aside.



Step Four – pull the switch out of the box and note the position of the wires. The attached wires can (and should) be a fairly heavy gauge and may be pretty stiff.



Step Five – the ends of the wires are formed into little hooks, which are looped around the screws. After noting the position of the wires, unscrew these screws enough to unhook the wires from them. It’s okay if you have to unscrew them all the way because you are going to dispose of this switch. Although you can’t see it in this photograph, there is another wire going to another screw on the opposite side of this switch. If yours has two wires on the other side, don’t worry. Just note down which wire goes where and unhook all the wires. Set the old switch and screws aside.



Step Six – Get out the new switch and loosen the side screws enough to get the wire hooks over them. Try not to unscrew them all the way. Using your needle-nosed pliers, bend the wire loops out enough so that you can slip the hooks over the screws on the new switch. Hook the wire loops over the screws in exactly the same configuration as they were on the old switch. Using your needle-nosed pliers, crimp the ends of the hook together as much as you can to make a loop around the base of the screw. Tighten the screws down snuggly against the wire loops.

Make sure the wire hooks go over the screws in such a way that, when you are tightening the screws, the hooks are pulled around the screws as opposed to being forced back off the screws. This will make more sense when you are actually doing it but, in the following photograph the two visible screws will be tightened by turning clockwise. So, as you can see in the photograph, I put the loops on with the wire going over the top of the screw. When I tighten the screws, the loops will be naturally drawn around the screws. If I had put the wires on going from the bottom, when I tightened the screws the hooks would be unwound.



The wire on the opposite side of the switch goes the other way as that screw tightens counter-clockwise. Don’t worry, this will make perfect sense to you the first time you do it wrong and have a hard time keeping your loop around the screw as you tighten it!

Step Seven – push the wired switch back into the box, lining up the top and bottom screw with the holes at the top and bottom of the box. The wires are stiff so you may need to exert a little force. Tighten the top and bottom screws to secure the switch back into its box. Replace the switchplate cover. Turn the power back on and test your work. If the light comes on – hooray for you! You did it! Great job! Pay yourself that $50 you didn’t have to pay the electrician!

Replacing an outlet works basically the same way as a switch. Turn off the power; test by plugging something in to the outlet and turning it on; unscrew the cover; note the positioning of the wires; remove the old outlet; install the new one; turn the power back on and voila!

Weekly Roundup February 5, 2009

You may remember an article I wrote recently about the possibility of renting out a room in my house. Get Rich Slowly shared a question from a reader recently on this very subject. If you’re interested, check out the comments. There is some great information there!

Pie-Charting My Budget appears in the Carnival of Personal Finance at Funny About Money. Moogamoney wrote an excellent article, The Financial Lessons I’ve Learned From My Younger Self. It’s extremely well written and worth reading.

Creating a Price Book appears in the 176th Carnival of Debt Reduction at Rocket Finance.

The Loose Budget appears in the Carnival of Personal Development at HappinessIsBetter.com.

Granny Smith Apple and Brown Butter Custard Tart appears in the Make It From Scratch Carnival at Greenhab:The Browns Go Green. Check out this interesting recipe for making sprouted wheat bread in the crockpot at Pseudo Life, Real Mind. My Frugal Front Porch has an idea for how to get the egg in Egg Drop Soup to come out in the correct silky ribbons. I’m not sure this is how they do it in Chinese restaurants but whatever works!

Condo Blues has a great post about how to make one of those draft blocking door snakes. I’ve seen a lot of ads on TV lately for this product and I give kudos to CB for figuring out how to make her own.

Fabulously Broke in the City posted about a major want that I share. In fact I was going to write this post myself but now I don’t have to because Why Can’t I Buy This…?, pretty much says it all! It would be a foolish purchase and I don't plan to buy one but, boy am I lusting!