FrugalAuburn Updated!

FrugalAuburn is being renewed!  I will start to slowly get this website up to par, going through and making sure information is still current, adding new information and keeping the calendar updated on a weekly basis.  I am also in the process of trying to change the way I update the calendar a bit.  There are a lot of activities that happen on an ongoing basis.  I think if I put these in a seperate location it will make it easier to see the new events as they come up.  So, keep watching the website and start referring to it for up to date information.  And, as always, email me frugality@frugalauburn.com with any comments or suggestions. 

Buy Local!

I recently received the following email from the Gnu's Room.  I hope everyone will attend their fundraiser on Feb 28th from 11am - 8pm...

The Gnu's Room, like many small businesses, has been struggling to
keep its doors open in the face of difficult economic times. A
business meeting at the end of January yielded a decision to close the
business at the end of February due to the greatly-reduced sales
experienced over the past nine months. As we began to inform our
regular customers of the decision, so many of them expressed their
sadness over the loss of a place they so deeply appreciated.

A small group of loyal customers, grad students from the Biology
Department, approached me about the possibility of their organizing a
benefit to raise funds for keeping the store open. Having resolved
myself to closing the store, the idea was interesting but didn't seem
realistic. I wondered how the public would respond to a fundraiser for
a used bookstore/coffee shop. Undaunted, the students met, recruited
others, planned, organized and are about to orchestrate a major
community-wide effort with the theme, "Spread the Gnu's: Buy Local."

The event will take place at the Gnu's Room on Saturday, February 28th
from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event will include a silent art
auction (local artists have donated paintings, photos and pottery), a
bake sale (items provided by student volunteers), local
musicians/bands playing for donations, and the Auburn Area Community
Theatre performing as well as professional actor, Doc Waller.

Local authors and poets will read and t-shirts will be sold. The
t-shirts, sponsored by twelve local businesses whose logos will appear
on the back of the shirt, will feature on the front the Gnu's Room
logo with the words "Coffee, Books, Community." The goal of the event
is to not only raise funds to continue operations, but to raise
awareness of the plight of all local businesses needing community
support to stay open.

The Gnu's Room has as its mission the promotion of reading and literacy, and
the support of local arts in all forms through the provision of a
forum for local poets and prose writers, artists, musicians, dancers
and actors. The Gnu's Room wants to foster a warm and accepting
atmosphere -- a place where people share real conversations and in
every sense of the word, experience a feeling of community.

We invite you to join us on the 28th. The proceeds raised will
hopefully enable the store to remain open through the difficult summer
months and beyond.

We are so deeply grateful to the students who have invested so much
time and effort into the planning of this event and who care so much
for our mission. We are also extremely humbled by the support of the
local businesses, artists, musicians, actors and writers who are
donating their time, talents and merchandise to help us. It will be an
exciting day and we hope to see you there!

Callaway Gardens Free Admission

Beginning January 1 through February 28, 2009, Callaway Gardens is inviting everyone to "Be Our Guest." Admission is complimentary for these two months providing guests with the opportunity to enjoy time with their friends and family reconnecting in nature.

PINE MOUNTAIN, GA – For those looking for a day getaway, Callaway Gardens^Ò – located only one hour southwest of Atlanta – invites all to Be Their Guest for the day with complimentary admission to the Gardens throughout January and February 2009. Once again voted by Southern Living readers in the January 2009 issue as the top Best Public Garden, visitors soak up Mother Nature at its finest throughout the 13,000 acres of Callaway Gardens.

At no cost, visitors experience one-of-a-kind exhibits such as the favored Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center with its 1,000 tropical butterflies fluttering freely, the educational Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2009 and Birds of Prey shows featuring free-flying raptors.

Target After Christmas Sale

I was told today that Target has put all there Christmas items on sale for 90% off. Check it out while it last!

Cloth Diapers and Why I Love Them

I am expecting a baby within the month and am planning on using cloth diapers. Does this mean diaper pins and baggy plastic pants and rinsing out poop in the toilet? Actually, no. I have found that the world of cloth diapering has jumped lightyears ahead of what it used to be and they have diapers out there that are so fancy it's as easy as using a disposable. Once, I started browsing online to see what my options are, I was amazed and yes, I admit it, even excited. Not only that, but after asking around a bit, I have found that there are quite a few moms here in Auburn who have joined the cloth diaper bandwagon, and love it.

Why? Might you ask, would anyone use cloth when disposables can just be thrown in the trash and forgotten? Well, for me, I can't stand the thought of all those disposables going to a landfill. My child alone could ruin the environment with the number of diapers that we go through. But on top of that, and more to the point of this website, IT'S CHEAPER! Now don't get me wrong, there is an initial investment that is kinda hefty, especially if you get some of the fancier all-in-ones, but over the course of two years (minimum) diapering a child you quickly get your money's worth. Also, if you let people know that is what you are interested in, you can get quite a few from those blessed baby showers & if you get gift cards for the baby Target in Opelika now carries BumGenius and you can order Kushies from www.Walmart.com.

To get a more detailed comparison of cost click here, but typically your cloth diapers will pay for themselves in about 6 months, and after that you are just saving money.

Build and Grow Workshop - Ant House

My daughters and I attended the Lowe's Build and Grow Workshop this past weekend, and had a great time. All of our experiences with Lowe's projects haven't always gone smoothly, but this one was well done. All of the pieces fit together nicely, the project wasn't too complicated, and the final result was a fun ant house. Of course, the next morning that meant going out with a shovel and tearing up some poor ant's bed to get dirt and ants to put in it...but that was just part of the adventure. So far, our ants are still alive and moving around...we'll see how it goes.

Aaron/Kawasaki/Park Trio

Last Friday night, it was my pleasure to attend the musical performance by a violin, cello, and piano trio at the Jule Collins Smith Museum. I called ahead on Wednesday and reserved a seat for myself and friend somewhat on a whim, without very high expectations of the evening. Boy was I in for a surprise. These were top-notch musicians who played a flawless and well put together performance. Not only did they play the notes perfectly, but they added their spirit to the music, you could almost feel it flowing through them.

All combinations of instruments were played, with solos, duets between the different instruments, and as a finale, the trio together. The entire audience was so taken with them that the applause continued even after they exited the stage, so they returned for an encore...after which they received a standing ovation.

I for one, did not want the music to end, and enjoyed every moment of the performance. I think it was a credit to the museum to have such a delightful group come to play. Afterwards, there was complimentary wine and snacks. All in all a very classy and enjoyable evening.