Alittle Simple Living in...Hawaii! :)

We're back from our trip and I have to say it was so nice to go on vacation and spend time with family while we were gone too. My sister and her husband, and Martin and I all met at Honolulu airport after a long 10 hour flight across the country and the ocean. Now that I look back on it, and for next time we (hopefully there is a next time!) go, it is probably cheaper to take a flight from NY to LA, and then another from LA straight to the Big Island instead of traveling one long flight to Honlulu and then jumping on a very short inter island flight to Kona, on the Big Island. If you are traveling to Big Island, definetly try to do this, its the same amount of stops, but costs less as you are only paying for 1 flight (in total with one stop) instead of another inter island flight on top of the regular flight. Flights have gotten so expensive, but I'll make sure to go into that more on this weeks Frugal Tip Friday! Our first agenda, once we got there, go for some drinks! So we went to the hotels over priced bar, we were so sleepy and jet lagged I think we were too out of it to think frugally, well I certianly was, and got some pina coladas to start the vacation off! We met this wonderful girl who is a single mom and aspiring author living on the Big Island. It was so great to meet her and talk with her about blogging and how great it is to help start you writing, she may be starting her own blog soon hopefully!  If she's reading this, please write and we can talk more!  After way too many pina coladas, we went back to the room and passed out. Hawaii is 6 hours behind us, so staying up late was okay but then, afterwards not so good when trying to walk and hike!  The first day we stayed at the hotel lagoon, which was relaxing and very cool to see the different fish swim. We even saw some turtles swimming! The next day we went to Hilo, which is on the eastern side of the island, Kona where we were staying was on the west side. It was interesting because on our way over there we stopped at the island's acupuncture school. Great to meet a new person there and interesting. She let us know that on the East side of the island, where the volcano is always flowing, there is a constant state of energy that can be erratic coming up from Pele the volcano goddess there, this can stir people in some weird ways. We were alittle nervous going over, but it seemed alright, until (and maybe this was the lack of sleep) my sister and I started laughing histerically and deliriously as the guys were trying to finding there way around Hilo! We went out to eat at a little place called Coqui where we had our first experience with a noodle soup called Pho. It was yummy! There were noodles, sprouts, veggies and lots of herbs, not to mention that the prices were very reasonable compared to other places on the island.

After that crazy day of driving and exploring in Hilo, we stopped at a place called Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls on our way back. It was a beautiful drive up to the falls, with a fruit cart left out on a farm asking for buyers to leave the money and take what they wanted! We bought a pinneapple, some avocados that tasted like butter and some mangos. The falls were beautiful and only costed 1$ each person to go up.

The next day we went to one of my favorite places, the Green Sand Beach at the south point of the island. There were surprisingly very few people there, one guy sat on a rock in the shade playing his flute the whole time, it was beautiful and felt so euphoric with the flute playing to the dancing waves! The hike is a big one, 5 miles in total, and we all brought water and had our sneakers and sunblock on. The little trek down the rocks onto the beach isn't for everyone. You have to make sure you go slow and climb down one step at a time, but when you get down there to the water...its just heaven. The water is bluer than the sky with a tinge of green and so warm. Well worth it!! I definetly recommend it, and it is free if you hike it! There were guys with cars at the beginning asking people if they wanted rides for cash, but we decided to save our $ and go for it.

(first pic is a cliff on the way to green sand beach where locals fish)

The next day we went to one of Travelers Magazine's most beautiful beaches called Hapuna Beach and I can totally see why it was rated this, it was not a very long beach for walking, but was gorgeous and encircled by lava rocks on both sides, with nothing under our feet but the soft white ground sand, not a shell, not a stone, not a crab. The water might as well have been bath water it was so warm! My sister who isn't so much of a water person even went in and swam! I haven't swam really in the ocean in awhile like this, where you could body surf, you could float, you could dive into the waves or you could jump ontop of the waves. So much fun! I don't have pics of this beach yet, my sister has those, but I'll post as soon as I do. The best part of this beach...ITS FREE!!! No charge to get in, no charge to park, no charge!

A little place that we found by chance called Laupohoe Harbor, no swimming but really pretty and free to stop in at!

For one of our last adventures, we went to a place called Kealekekuhua Bay, where there are supposed to be lots of wild dolphins! Here you can rent a kayak for 50$ for two and kayak across the Bay to Captain Cook's monument and what used to be the Queens Bath, where there is amazing snorkling.  The waves looked alittle too strong for my sister so we decided to hike down. Well, half way down she said she would rather go and kayak lol. This was a rough hike, much rougher than we thought it would be. In the book where I learned about things to do on the Big Island, it says that this spot is kept hard to get too to keep away casual visitors. Well did it ever! It took 4 miles total, 2 miles there and 2 miles back, hiking literally down a mountain, and my poor sister only had flip flops on! We had to go super slow and finally made it down luckily without any broken ankles, thank God! We hiked through sloping lava rock, dirt, high grass (made me comfortable with bugs at least!) and finally made it to the Queens Bath. My sisters husband John went in first to snorkle, then Martin then me. I pleaded with my sister to come in (as you ca see in the pic below) but to no success. It was the most beautiful I've ever seen down in that water. Different shades of pastel coral, rainbow fish swimming in schools, bright yellow fish eating the coral, black fish with glowing purple tails, I felt like I was in a storybook of every underwater book I've ever read! It was well worth the hike. I only wish we had flippers so we could go out further! The hike back up was no joke, we were huffing and puffing and the bugs starting to come out. On the big island there are wild boar, we got alittle nervous as we saw holes in the high grasses to the left and right of us. John even made some kind of loud noise to scare one off if they were around. We got back up at about 3:30pm and on our way up we saw a family of four, 2 parents and 2 little kids, all in flip flops hiking down. They asked us about it, both Martin and I warned them, about the steep hike and the flip flops but they kept on. I hope they were okay!! I wouldn't want to be hiking down there as it was starting to get dark!

One restaurant we went to was really awesome. It was very low key and in Honokohau Harbor. It is this beautiful laid back Harbor off of Highway 19 with picnic tables and awesome fish. A local spot with really amaaaa--zzzzing fish. We had the fish of the day which was swordfish. I don't usually eat swordfish because its so tough, but this melted in my mouth and was so tender and flaky, it fell off my fork. It was delicious and marinated in a tomato salsa. I will never be able to eat swordfish or fish again without comparing it to this. And the prices weren't bad either, it came to 16$ for the special, which includes 2 veggies.

On Friday we waved and gave hugs bye to Stef and John as they left earlier than us on their flight home. To be honest I almost felt like we were staying for good! That night we went on a nice romantic dinner at the hotel and said goodbye to our vacation.

It was a great one:) If you ever head over to the Big Island Hawaii, definetly check some of these places out. They are inexpensive and so much fun!

Regifting: a Taboo with Rules to Gift by

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Regifting can be a great way to save money while giving someone a gift that you might not love but that someone else would! especially after the holidays!

This is a difficult topic to tackle as its often a taboo subject. But why should it be? As long as a few rules of etiquette are followed, I think regifting could really become a great way to give gifts! Just think about that shirt that just isn't your color, but your sister would love, or that book that you already have one of, that your best friend would love!  You are, in a sense, acting as a vessel for their gift receiving happiness! As for the "rules" that I think are important when regifting, here are a few that I use that I thought you  might like!

1- Make sure to rewrap the gift with fresh wrapping paper. Even if it only requires a little piece of tape, its important because this is a new gift from you and so deserves your special wrapping touch.

2 - Check to see if there are any inscriptions or personalized notes on the gift before giving to someone else. This can be particularly embarressing if the receiver finds a note to you from someone else! If it is a book, there is really no way to regift this one, but you can donate to a used book store!

3 - If you are giving clothing, make sure the size of the piece matches the person you are giving it too! There's nothing worse than receiving way too small or way too large clothing, especially from someone who knows your size!

 4- Make sure to do your research first and ask the person who gave you the gift where they got it from in case the person you give the gift too asks where to find another!

5- Check to make sure price tags are off of the gift. Just because the person who gave you the gift left it on, doesn't mean you have to!

6- If regifting becomes a habit, make sure you keep track of who gives you what gift, so you don't give the same gift a person gave you back to them!

7- Make sure the item looks new. If it looks like its been used or dirty, its really not the kind of gift you want to regift (unless the person you're giving it to knows you are regifting it and doesn't mind the dirty or the used, which in case more power to you!)

With todays financial world the way it is, regifting is a wonderful idea to never forget anyone during the Holidays! Please are even having regifting parties I've heard.  hmmm maybe next year!

Happy Regifting!!!

(just think twice before regifting Aunt Zelda's fruit cake from last year)

Want to go Ice Skating for Free!? in a gorgeous background?

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I grew up in the suburbs. We had baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and ice skating/roller skating rinks all over the place. My sister and brother would go the local ice skating rink and get fries and hot chocolates and ice skate and hang out. I have fun memories of going when I was younger. When I moved to the city for awhile I didn't think the city had ice skating rinks. Besides that I just wasn't very well informed, I guess the city was so big and because I didn't see signs for them I didn't think they existed! I was so wrong! There is plenty of ice skating going on, and some that is actually affordable!  I've been to the locations where the ice skating takes place and they are all really pretty!  While its very different from a handcrafted ice skating rink on a local frozen lake, skating in the city is beautiful in its own way. With all this chilly weather, its getting me thinking about going ice skating:) I'm craving a skate in mittens and a scarf and some hot cocoa!

Here are a few locations where you can ice skate in New York City:

Citipond at Bryant Park - Citipond is a gorgeous picturesque skating rink in the middle of Bryant Park located at 42nd & 6th Avenues right outside of the NY Public Library. Christmas shops line the outside of the skating rink. And the best part about this rink? Its free!! Totally free to skate! You do have to pay for your skate rental (unless you bring your own skates) which costs 13$. The rink is open from last weekend October 29th until February 27th and is available for skate:

Sun-Thurs 8a-10p
Friday & Sat 8a-12a

Rockefeller Center - The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center is just beautiful. I've never been ice skating but I do make it a point for us to go every year to have a hot cocoa and walk around the shops and the big tree. Its just so lit up and warm but chilly at the same time, makes me feel like the holidays are definetly close. Where else can you ice skate to the right of the biggest Christmas tree in the world (excluding maybe the one in Christmas Vacation) and to the left of gorgeous bright gold holiday decorations?  Located in between the buildings at 47th - 50th Sts and 5th - 6th Avenues, the rink is open from October 9-April of the next year. To skate the cost is alittle pricey, but I guess you're paying for the scenery. Adults pay 10-19$, while children pay 7.50-12.50$. Rentals of ice skates are 8-9$. 

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is open from

Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 10:30pm
Friday - Saturday 8:30am - Midnight
Sunday 8:30am - 10:00pm

Wollman Skating Rink at Central Park - Nestled in the middle of Central Park, Wollman Skating Rink is a really nice getaway from the city. You can skate away from the crowds (unless they are gathered in the park) and away from the hustle and bustle. Wollman Rink opens every year in October and is open now! They close in April of the next year. To skate at Wollman the charge is Monday-Thursday (adults) $10.50 and (kids) $5.50. Friday through Sunday the price goes alittle higher and is (adults) $15 and (kids) $5.75. To rent ice skates, the charge is 6.25$. Wollman Rink is open

Monday & Tues - 10a-2:30p
Wed & Thurs - 10a-10p
Friday & Sat - 10a-11p
Sunday 10a-9p

By far the best value is Bryant Park with only 13$ to spend on a skate rental! Good Luck with your ice skating this season and remember your mittens!

Student Loan debt - It keeps going and going and going...

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Student loans are horrible. They follow you from college until, well until you let them! I've heard horror stories, stories about people who don't pay them off until they're in their 40's. There's nothing wrong with waiting to pay them off if thats what you have to do, but sometimes people with student loan debt just spend spend spend until its too late...and their interest has wracked up, and their principal hasn't gone down in years. Its a scary thing, especially because by the time you are mature enough and old enough to realize how much you've spent in school, you are faced with a monstrous bill reminder at the end of every month.  If you pay the minimum due, you're paying interest and not very much on your principal. If you pay the interest and extra so that you're paying down your principal, rent might not be paid that month. While college and education are invaluable I spent way too much on things I shouldn't have. Its a scary situation. I spent way too much in college, decorating my dorm, or my apartment room or on whatever else before I really had time to understand the value of what I was spending money on. Now I am focused, I'm on a plan, a countdown to 0$ in student loan debt. I loved going to school and learning and being a student but I'm determined to clear old student loan debt! Some of the ways that I can and you can work towards lowering your student loan debt is to:

1- If you are just entering college or in college now, get the minimum student loan that you can! Work a part time job so that you can pay for other things that you need. Think twice about decorating your dorm with expensive furniture/objects and go to IKEA.

2- Make inexpensive handmade holiday and birthday gifts for friends and family.

3- Make your own meals at home. Invest in lunch containers to take lunch to go when you are out of your apartment or house.

4- If you do not have a computer in your dorm or apartment, use the computer at your public library or at your university. In NYC there are great Internet Cafe's where you can use the internet for a pretty low price.
Here are a few:

ING Direct Internet Cafe
968 3rd Avenue, New York, NY

(212) 752-8432

Little Skips
941 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11221
(718) 484-0980

5- Instead of shopping a fancy stores that charge an arm and a leg, try a thrift store or a consignment shop! Sometimes they have great buys with cuter stuff than whats at the Gap or Banana Republic.

6- Instead of buying books at a bookstore, head to the library or go to a Barnes and Nobles and spend the day studying! This saves a bunch! I remember in college me and one of my best friends used to go to B&N and just spend so many hours there. I think it actually helped the studying because we were around so many books! :)

7- Make paying off your debt fun! Making yourself a reminder of how much you are borrowing in student loans is a great idea to help paying down debt fun. I think this helps alot. Its easy to spend and spend and forget about how much debt is accumulating. If you are out of school and paying off student loan debt, its a great idea to keep a ticker, like a little countdown that will go down everytime you make a payment. I have to tell you it feels wonderful whenever I make a payment and I can see the amount going lower!

8- If you are having alot of trouble paying off student loans, you can contact your student loan provider and ask about income based repayment, which bases your payments on the amount you receive in income. Its a great way to get through tough times.

Good Luck paying off your student loans! Do you have any special ways that help you pay off student debt? Please leave them in your comment!

Visit with Ted Allen from the Food Network & Simple Labor Day Tips!

Recently I attended a blogger event hosted by Cascade Complete Pacs where I ate some great food, met some other wonderful bloggers and had the chance to meet and talk with Ted Allen from the Food Network! It was a great time and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to attend and to learn some very interesting tips that Ted Allen recommends himself.  We were greeted with a Ted Allen's new cookbook of 100 smart, simple recipes called "The Food You Want to Eat".

I've been flipping through the cookbook and literally all the recipes are so simple! They are perfect for creating and cooking on a smaller budget with simple ingredients. He also had some great simple tips on ways to make your Labor Day party fun and enjoyable! I'm planning on using them too:)

Here are some of the tips Ted Allen recommends for your Labor Day:

1- BBQ'ing is a great idea! Helps to get out of the apartment.
2 - Need to get a glass of wine in someone's hand in the first 5 minutes they are there. (I'm assuming this means any type of drink, if someone doesn't drink alchohol). It says you're done working, welcome!
3- Playlists, you need to have some kind of music playing.
4- Dimmers are good, nothing sets an ambiance better than setting the lights.
5- Rolling clothes racks. They are a great way to hang coats, that way the keys don't fall out when they are thrown on the bed.


When I asked him what his favorite simple recipe was he chose page 102, and here it is for you!

Salmon with tomato vinegarette

You will need:
For salmon:
Olive Oil
2 pounds of salmon filet with skin (wild is the best in my opinion, thats me talking not Ted!)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

For tomato vinegarette:

1 medium shallot sliced

red wine vinegar (2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon drained capers
1 pint cherry tomatos (cut in half)
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup canola oil (I would just use another 1/3 cup olive oil, again me talking not from the book!)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped basil
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp ground pepper

Preheat Oven to 425.

Heat the 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large oven safe frying pan over a medium high flame. Sprinkle the salmon with the 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. When the oil is hot, add the fillets, skin side up and cook without messing with them at all, until they move easily when you shake the pan, about 3 minutes. If you pull them off before they're ready, the browned layer will stick to the pan and you'll lose the beautiful crust. Now turn the salmon and stick the pan in the oven. Roast until just cooked through, 6-8 minutes.

In medium bowl stir shallot, vinegar, capers, tomatos and salt. Let that stand while you cook the salmon, then add olive oil, canola oil, parsley, basil, cumin and pepper.

When the salmon is cooked, remove it to serving plates with a spatula. Add the vinegarette to the pan, put it over medium heat and bring just to a simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon to pick up the browned bits off the bottom. Cook around 2 minutes, until the tomatos are soft. Spoon over the salmon and serve.
(from Ted Allen's cookbook)

And when I asked Ted what his favorite frugal & simple recipe was, he recommended a classic, rice and beans!

He also said that he purees some foods and freezes them! We got to talking about tomatos and how great that is to be able to puree tomatos with spices and freeze them in bags! Great way to preserve the freshness for the winter!

A few restaurants in the city that I learned about that I really want to try now, are the "Brooklyn Flea" and "Bark". They are super into sustainability, being all natural and being cheap! Which I love! So hopefully we'll get to go there one of these days soon.

We were given some Cascade packs to try. Sometimes when I use a box of dishwasher cleaner, I put too much in, or not enough and have to fun the dishwasher again, with the little packs you won't lose any dishwasher powder, which in the end saves money!

Cascade is hosting Cascade Food Mergers where they host a collection of the tastiest and hardest meals to clean!  You can go and cast your vote if you'd like or get Ted Allens recipes for the messiest dish! We even got to try one, his macaroni and cheese! Yummy!!

It was great to attend the event and meet Ted and some new bloggers:)