Some $5-bargains-at-the-grocery-store you just can't resist...

Words by Chris Raschka
Pictures by Vladimir Radunsky

"Can dogs rap? Of course they can. We've all seen them throwing it down, tossing it up, hounding, pointing, beagling, and boxing in our back streets and front parks. Here's the story, told in his own words, of one rising dog star."  (inside-front flap)

Maybe my Christmas present to you will be to rap this book to you. Hahaha!

It's 11:46 PM...

And my pageviews counter says 29999 views.

Holy moley!! I'm amazed, thrilled and so grateful. I'll be even more grateful when that last person clicks and it says 30,000.

I'll be so thankful that I'll go out and run for 45 minutes tomorrow morning!

(I was planning on doing that anyway, especially since I have brand new running shoes--on sale-!-and will have shaved my legs. Did you know that it's lots easier to run when you know your legs are nice and smooth? I haven't proved this scientifically, but my heart tells me that it's so.)

What has your heart told you lately?

Crafts and Cooking.

Well, earlier this week I played with Mod Podge, cardboard, and magazines.

Last night I played with lard, flour, and molasses. And later today, I will play with pumpkin cake and cream cheese, because tonight, we're having a Harry Potter Dessert Party. (More on that later).

So let's just see what I've made this week (all pics taken with Photo Booth so excuse the quality):

CapriSun box, cardboard, recipes and pictures cut from magazines, 

and an oatmeal container...

And I've got a place to put extra long utensils and to put all my letter-writing supplies!

Here is a treacle tartlet for Harry Potter night.

(Yes. It's on a Chinese plate, on my purple bed. Whatcha gonna do 'bout it?)

You can find the recipe HERE at Bakingdom. I ate one. It's delish.

PS. Project Pen Pal is a great success folks! I got lots of requests for letters, and it's been wonderful. It's kind of amazing therapy. :) I'm sorry if it's a bit slow. I write a letter every other day or so, so as not to get burned out, but it's also really important to me to write something personal and with a lot of thought. I will get to everybody, I promise. So if anybody new wants to join the fun, shoot me your street address in an email, and you will get a letter from me! 

PPS. What do you think of my new header? I was bored, haha. I enjoy it, but I will admit, it's way stupid. :)

The Life Story -- Fred and Trudy: Part II (1/2)

Things you should know...

In case you didn't know them already. I don't think you do, which is why I'm telling you:

• I watched the last fifteen minutes of a really stupid movie called Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus the other night. I'm still embarrassed about it.
• I made a birthday cake and candle out of construction paper and I'm going to record myself singing a birthday song for somebody. I'm embarrassed in advance. More on that later. 
• I just woke up from a two hour nap. What am I, a teenager?
• I am avoiding packing up my stuff to go home. 
• There are a lot of clothes I just need to get rid of. 
• I wore leopard print high heels to church yesterday.
• I finished watching the last episode of Arrested Development on Saturday night. My friend and I rewatched the entire series this summer. Which means we stretched it out a lot, considering I watched the entire series last summer in less than two weeks. 
• My ringtone is now "It's Not Easy Bein' White." If you know, you understand. I will not explain myself on this one.  
• I have a black graduation cap and gown (for short people) that I would be happy to sell at a discounted price. Interested? Email me.
• You have the rest of today and tomorrow to enter my GIVEAWAYYYYYY! Do it, you have a pretty good chance of winning something, as not a huge number of people have entered. :)

5 Dollar Movies at Wally-World...

are my weakness.

I am $15.00 poor-er.

Sigh.

(Miss Congeniality, Edward Scissorhands, and She's the Man.)

:-)

So You're Probably Thinking I'm Dead...

Well, I'm not.

I'm back to provide you with ample opportunities to 

waste. your. time.

Isn't that awesome??!!

Where else will someone offer to do that for you?

And so cheerfully too!

You're welcome, Time-Wasters.

Hey guess what?

I have a job!

It's messy and sweaty, and sometimes people are rude.

My feet hurt, my legs hurt, and my back hurts a bit too.

But.....beggars can't be choosers.

Plus also, the pay is not too shabby.

Especially for a silly, all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant.

So I will suck it up.

However.

This brings me to the first ever edition of

Chester the Best-er's Bargain or Bust!!

Push PLAY. Seriously.

(and confetti)

Yesterday, I had to get some white, collared shirts for my work uniform. I'm thinking, "Blast, I don't have any money yet, how am I supposed to buy two shirts that look nice enough, without stabbing my wallet in the heart with a dagger?" Now I suppose you are thinking, "Hey doofy, you could always go to the thrift store and buy one." I'm all for secondhand in most cases, but here's why I say no to that bargain: If they're men's, then they're huge, and if they're women's, they seem too fancy-ish, and in both cases, they always seem to have questionable stains. 

But then I had a brilliant idea!! I remembered once that I bought a t-shirt at some touristy spot in this country, but I hadn't wanted to pay the adult price, so I bought the biggest one in the kids' sizes. Fit like a dream. (You know, the good kind of dream. Like where you're flying. Not the crappy, scary dreams. Or the ones where your teeth fall out.) So I said to myself, "Self. Why on earth would that NOT work in this situation?"

So I took myself to the store, headed over to the Little Boys' section, and bought TWO white, collared shirts in the extra-large size.

Grand Total: $17.10

Less than what I would've paid for ONE new women's shirt.

I know, right?!!

Niiiiice.

And yes. They fit perfectly.

Disclaimer: This tip is really only useful for people who are about 5'3" or shorter, and between a size 6 and 4. Because if you're taller, then the shirt will be too short, and if you're above a size 6-ish, then you'll probably have to buy regular sizes at regular prices. Also, you should be a girl. Sorry taller people and/or boys, I can't help you. Learn to shrink and turn female, and then maybe we can talk. Haha.