Using Shells

I like shells, but using them can be tricky.  You can buy shells at a craft store but they can be pricey and not that nice.  I live near the beach and sometimes I see a really nice shell in the sand - all wet and glistening in the sun - and I think, "That would be great in my home!"

So, I pick it up and bring it home (Note: Never take anything from a protected beach, never take any living things, and never take more than a few things.) Once I've got the shell at home, it never looks as nice as it did at the beach - it's all dried out and starting to smell!

Before using beach-gathered shells in crafts, you need to prepare them.  I start by soaking my shells in a solution of half vinegar [LINK], half hot water for about an hour.  Then, I soak them in plain hot water.  Then, I lay them out in the sun to dry. Once the shells are dry, I coat them in clear nail polish.  It returns them to their original shine of lying in the wet sand and traps any leftover smell.

If you want to make jewelry or hang the shells from something, take a tiny, tiny drill bit and make a tiny, tiny hole. I like to put the hole in one corner of the shell so it hangs on the diagonal. I also don't like to use a lot of shells.  I mix them up with something else or just use a few shells as an accent. Over-shelling can be bad for your style. Also, don't decorate a room in all shell - it's overwhelming. Shells should be used sparingly. Also, I find the best way to attach a shell to something is with hot glue, it smooshes into all the little nooks and crannies and holds your shell tight. Pretty shells - triumph!

Eat Good Cheap

I like fruit, but I am cheap. Luckily, I recently learned that at my local 99 Cents Only [http://www.99only.com/] store, produce is delivered on Tuesday night. Last Wednesday morning, I got a big bag of cherries, a cantaloupe, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwis, asparagus, a big package of salad, green onions, broccoflower, a big bag of plums, a big bag of peaches, and some other stuff too.  I like to buy organic and local, and some of the stuff at the 99 Cents Only store is organic and/or local.

Because it's sometimes packaged in very small quantities, the produce at the dollar store isn't always a great deal, but generally the quality is quite good - though I can't say the same for the other food.  Most of it is crap - full of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), MSG, etc. However, there are usually a few things that are worthwhile - including vinegar, baking soda and candy (it's bad for you anyway, so why not get it cheap).  And, in terms of non-food items, the dollar store is good for rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, aluminum foil, parchment paper, bobby pins, toothbrushes, toothpicks, batteries, funky socks, fun underwear, killer sunglasses, vases, wrapping paper, tissue paper, bags, balloons, party decorations, and stuff like ziploc bags and disposable plates, cups, napkins and silverware (for those odd times when I actually use throw away supplies).

Sometimes there are also yummy things that just happen to be at the dollar store. My favorites are POM teas, Milka chocolates, Almond Roca, Quaker oatmeal, and Pop Tarts. These aren't healthy things, but as long as they aren't regular things in your diet, why not buy 'em cheap. 99 cent food - a cheap triumph!