The First Annual Budget Smart Girl Valentine’s Gift Guide February 5, 2010
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Budget Smart Girl's Guide, Uncategorized.Tags: Animoto, Facebook, gifts on a budget, Harlequin, Inexpensive Valentine's Day Gifts, Lusausa, Partylite, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates
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While I try to keep gifts for Valentine’s Day within a tight budget, I do think it’s still nice to receive something to chase away the mid winter blues. Next week I’ll have some last minute and inexpensive ideas to share with you, but if you’re looking for something special, here are some suggestions-
Lush Does It Again
I can always count on the folks at LUSH to send me gift ideas that not only look good, but they’re prices are great too. www.lushusa.com
Here are a few ideas-
LUSH Love Soap ($3.95). And better than a bouquet of roses, LUSH Be Mine Gift ($24.95) is filled with pampering goodies. It contains three products. Flying Fox Shower Gel soothes skin and sets the mood, Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar massages away the stresses of the day and Honey Trap Lip Balm leaves lips soft.
Tea for Two
I’m a tea fan and can’t start my day until I’ve had my first cup. Here’s a tea just for Valentine’s Day and it’s called Sweet Love! Created by Kusmi Tea, it’s a blend of Black China tea, licorice roots, spices, guarana seeds and pink pepper. It’s packaged in classic tins or individual muslin tea bag and costs $18.40. You can find additional information at http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/wellness-tea/sweet-love/c6/p77/product_info.html
Gifts and Cards Etc.
Check out www.katespaperie.com. I love the roses and boxes on the landing page of this site, but click on Valentine’s Day and you’ll find gifts, paper, cards. Oh, and while you’re on the site visit their sale and clearance section too, some great bargains to be had!
The Holidays Might Be Over But…
I know it’s not fair, you’ve just started a diet and now there are goodies to tempt you once again. Check out Junior’s world famous cheesecake. Some classic Valentine’s Day favorites include their Heart Cheesecake. Baked in the sweetheart shape, and covered in chocolate ganache and red stripes. Or their homemade moist Red Velvet Cheesecake which is layered with original New York Cheesecake and Junior’s famous cream cheese icing. It is then adorned with even more icing and cake crumbs. Also, a tasty bright red twist to the original cheesecake is the Strawberry Cheesecake, which I’m told remains a loyal fan favorite. All flavors are available through the website at www.juniorscheesecake.com
More Goodies
I know lots of people who have food allergies so this might be something just for them, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates has created a line of delicious, gourmet, nut free chocolates from solid chocolate heart pops, truffles and baskets of goodies with prices starting as low as $1.85! All the chocolates are handmade. http://www.vermontnutfree.com/.
A Book That Says It All
I love giving and receiving books so this one got my attention. It’s HOW I LOVE YOU: A Journal of My Affection by Aimee Chase (Harlequin Nonfiction/January 2010/$13.95) which offers an opportunity for couples to chronicle their love story. This journal comes with six chapters of essays, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple choice questions, check it out at www.eharlequin.com
eBillme
Thought I’d share this will you, eBillme’s Debt Free Mall (http://Shop.eBillme.com).
This year they want to encourage you to say ‘I Love You’ without credit card debt. eBillme features many reasonably priced gifts on their Valentine’s Day 2010 page – http://shop.ebillme.com/occasions/valentine/.
Here are a few of their suggestions-
Under $20:
For Her – Heart-Shaped Fondue Set for Two ($14.95).
Under $50:
For Him – USB Silver Web Cam ($34.99).
The Daily Grommet
And this one also got my attention- www.DailyGrommet.com . Daily Grommet is an online marketplace and video review site that features a different product from a small product producer every day. Daily Grommet has identified the best-available products and gifts from innovative, “little guy” enterprises, and presents video reviews explaining what’s compelling about each product and the story behind its creation. It’s a great shopping site for anyone who wants to give their Valentine a gift with an interesting story, while also supporting the small businesses behind these products. Here are a few of their suggestions-
1. Pacific Shaving Oil ($17.85)
2. MixMyGranola Have breakfast in bed with a custom 16-ounce blend of granola mixed to your specifications. ($4.99 and up)
3.Jill-able Vase Say it with flowers … delivered in Jill-able vases that are unbreakable, collapsible and reusable. ($8.00)
Candlelight Dinner
And what would Valentine’s Day be without some candles? Check out www.partylite.com and see their Hugs and Kisses Gift Set – Red etched glass holder comes with 12 Pure Vanilla Crème scented tealights for $19.95. Or their Sweet Indulgence Gift Set – Blended with antioxidant-enriched Vitamin E, Body Escentials™ It contains 4 fl. oz. of Strawberry Rhubarb Body Escentials™ Body Wash, a 4 fl. oz of Body Lotion and one Strawberry Rhubarb Mini Barrel (25-35 hours burn time) for $24.95.
Just for a Budget Smart Girl
When I saw this ‘No need to clip coupons or search for discounts’ I knew I had to share it with you. On www.Pricefalls.com, shoppers simply name their price to bid on a variety of baskets and fresh flowers available from brick-and-mortar floral shops across the nation. Roses, daisies, whatever the bouquet of choice, Pricefalls offers consumers a great way to save money. The site also offers fresh bulk flowers for creative romantics who wish to arrange their own. Other Valentine items include name brand perfumes and designer jewelry
Some Freebies
Facebook users can send personalized video greetings to a select friend, group of friends or their entire network by simply recording a video with a webcam and microphone. The application is free and it’s a great way to stay in touch and send a customized message for the holiday. Check out http://apps.facebook.com/vpypebroadcaster/index.php/vgreeting
And Check Out
And if you want to send a video greeting, check out www.animoto.com
And finally…
I received this one in my e-mail yesterday and thought what a great gift it would be because it’s way to save money by packing our own lunch every day. VALENTINE PINK AND RED BENTO SETS: limited edition Laptop Lunches Valentine’s Day bento sets. They’re on sale for only $20.99—while supplies last. http://secure.laptoplunches.com/AMAZING/itemdesc.asp?ic=300020-PNKRED&eq=&Tp=
Parties for the Budget Minded December 11, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Budget Smart Cook, Uncategorized.Tags: low cost entertaining, Parties on a budget
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Being on a budget shouldn’t stop you from entertaining this holiday season. With a little planning and ingenuity you can throw a great together. Here are things I always keep in mind-
Serve Food You Can Eat Later
Okay, I’m guilty of this one, making too much food and ending up with leftovers. Not just any leftovers, but sometimes food that I can’t ‘recycle’. I know I’m never going to shake this habit so now I plan ahead. What could I serve that could be used for other meals after the party’s over? Cold cuts and things like baked chicken could be turned into sandwiches or even fillings for omelets.
How about the vegetable platter with the leftover carrots or celery, etc.? They can be added to soups, salads, even roasted, or turned into veggie stock, frozen and used in the New Year.
Leftover dips make ideal substitutes for things like butter and mayonnaise. And leftover chips and bread can be put into the blender to make homemade breadcrumbs. And if you’ve got flavored chips they make a tasty topping for casseroles and baked pasta dishes.
What’s On Sale? What Does Double Duty?
One of the best things about the holiday season is supermarkets slash prices on lots of things from crackers and chips to more expensive items like shrimp. Even things like fresh pineapple that you don’t usually think of as party food is on sale. My local store was selling them for $2.55. They work as a centerpiece and you can eat them after the festivities are over. Pick up the store flyer or go to their Web site and check out the specials of the week. Plan you menu around those items and save yourself some money.
Buy in Bulk
One way to save money is to serve a buffet. Something else that usually goes on sale in December is value packs of items like chicken wings, meatballs. All foods that can fill a buffet table for a lot less.
The Pasta Party
Just about every guest asks what he or she can bring along to a party? This idea takes care of your response and also takes a lot of pressure off you. Ask each guest to bring along his or her favorite pasta sauce. You supply three or four different pastas, a salad and bread and each guest arrives with the ready-made sauce.
A Recipe Swap Party
And speaking of homemade recipes, you’ve heard of cookie swap parties during the holidays, how about throwing a recipe swap one? Each person arrives with a homemade dish along with copies of the recipe. Everyone gets to take home leftovers and recipes for their favorites of the evening.
The Blog-Leftover Mashed Potatoes… August 31, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Uncategorized.Tags: mashed potatoes, Pillsbury, Pillsbury pot pies and casseroles, salmon fishcakes
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I hate wasting food and sometimes I find a container of leftover mashed potatoes sitting in the fridge. I usually just reheat them for another meal, but the other week I put them to better use. While we were sorting through my mom’s pantry, we found lots of cans of salmon. Yes, salmon makes great sandwiches, but combine it with leftover mashed potatoes and you have salmon fishcakes. A delicious meal that doesn’t cost that much. Best of all, they use ingredients you have sitting around the house. I combined a 15 ounce can of salmon with the mashed potatoes…I had about two cups. I added a tablespoon of fresh dill and some black pepper. I made them into patties and then rolled them in breadcrumbs to which I added a lemon black pepper mix. I lightly sautéed them on both sides for a couple of minutes until they were golden brown. I served them with fresh green beans I’d bought from a nearby farmer’s market stand. I have some leftover mashed potatoes yet again and yes, more salmon, so I’m going to make another batch for the freezer.
And speaking of easy and delicious recipes, I was sent a copy of the new Pillsbury Pot Pies and Casseroles cookbook that you can find at most supermarket checkouts. Each recipe has a color photo and you can tear your favorite ones to put in your recipe box. I haven’t tried any of them yet, but I’m going to. The book also features a section of budget slow cooker meals and a bonus one featuring Halloween treats.
The cookbook costs $4.99 and has two pages of coupons totaling $6.
This week on Budget Smart Girl. In too much of a hurry for breakfast each morning? Tips on making breakfasts that won’t take too much time or a bite out of your budget. Cold weather’s on its way, we’re heading back indoors. I’ve been checking out places to take free classes and free resources if you want to learn a new craft or two.
And upcoming…what clothes should you buy this fall/winter? Halloween on a budget, sites that can save you money. Lots of good stuff to look forward to this fall.
Have a good week and a safe Labor Day weekend.
The Blog- Good Finds August 17, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Uncategorized.Tags: All You, All You Magazine, coupons, Kelloggs cereal, movie offer, Walmart
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Anyone try the recipes I included in last week’s Preserving Summer Produce? I made some of the strawberry jam. While I was at the store on Friday I noticed a sale on strawberries and stocked up. Now I have two jars of strawberry jam sitting in the freezer ready for winter.
We have a grapevine growing over an arbor near our patio. Most years the bounty’s been so-so and what does grow is usually eaten by raccoons looking for a bedtime snack. However, this year we cut down some trees and the vine’s getting more sun, hence a bumper crop. I checked it this morning and so far, the grapes are untouched. Now I’m thinking about making some grape jelly.
One thing that seems to go missing in my house is hangers. I saw that Walmart had a good deal…, a pack of 10 for $2. Seems the deal was even better than that. When I stopped there this morning, it was a pack of 10 for just $1.17. And while I was there I also picked up a copy of All You magazine. I’ve never read it before but the front cover said $72 worth of coupons inside. You know me, I love coupons. Seems there are coupons for just about everything, not just food. And if you go to www.allyou.com, they have more coupons. I haven’t read all the magazine yet, but it looks like it’s packed with good stuff.
And if you like cereal and movies, check out www.kelloggsmovies.com Buy specially marked boxes, collect five tokens and you get a free movie.
This week on Budget Smart Girl, things to buy in August and how cooking with herbs can make any meal taste gourmet.
Have a good week.
Budget Smart Girl Will Be Back Next Month July 31, 2009
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Hello everyone,
Budget Smart Girl will be back to its regular schedule beginning the week of August 6th. Thanks for sticking with me and for all your kind words. They’ve been much appreciated.
See you soon.
The Organized Kitchen…yes, it can save you money May 14, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Uncategorized.Tags: low cost organizing jars, Organizing your kitchen, saving money in the kitchen
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How many times has this happened to you? You go looking for something in your pantry but you can’t find it and head to the store to buy that item. A few days later you’re looking for something else and you find the first item. Hopefully, you can use both packages, jars, whatever before their sale by date. Yes, I’d love a professional organizer to stop by my house once a month to sort through everything and put cans and jars in perfect order. But until then here are some tips I’ve found that have kept me on track to having an organized kitchen.
When Do I Use It?
Look at each item in your kitchen and think about how often you use it. I used to keep my food processor on the countertop, but realized I was only using it maybe a couple of times a month so it got moved to a cupboard. Items that I use for just the holidays, like the carving board for the turkey, is now stored in a cupboard above the fridge that also stores other items that I don’t use that often.
Should You Toss It?
I know most professional organizers tell you to throw away items you haven’t used for six months to a year, but call me sentimental, but some items I just can’t even consider giving away. I have a whole selection of different shaped nozzles used for icing cakes. I haven’t done anything fancy like that for years, but I just can’t seem to part with them. I decided to compromise and bought a storage box just for them and placed it in a drawer. Now they’re not taking up valuable space, but should I ever want to do some fancy cake decorating again, I know I have them.
Set Aside a Day
Another tip that works for me is setting aside a specific day and time for organizing certain items in the kitchen. For example, at the end of each month I make sure I sort through the fridge and pantry and use up items that are getting close to their sale by date.
Use Jars
I’ve found I keep my pantry more organized if I put items into jars rather than keeping them in their original packages. It also extends their shelf life, so it’s a money saver too. You don’t need to use anything expensive. Many companies use Mason jars for their pasta sauces, so I just remove the label, put them in the dishwasher and they’re good to go. You can be as creative as you like, I recently bought some orange juice in a bottle that was so attractive I’m now using it to store split peas. And I keep packages of gravy and taco mix in containers from an old refrigerator.
Free Financial Planning for the First 250 Readers April 20, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Uncategorized.Tags: Simplifi
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I was sent information about Simplifi that’s a free and easy to use Web site that lets anyone plan for their financial future. It doesn’t launch until next week but they’re offering Budget Smart Girl readers a chance to give it a test run before it goes live. It’s limited to the first 250 people who log on.
Go to http://privatebeta.simplifi.net. The code is Dbxpaf5n
The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter February 21, 2009
Posted by budgetsmartgirl in Budget Smart Girl's Guide, Uncategorized.Tags: arts and crafts, Budget Smart, free stuff, freebies, saleawaywithme
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Issue 1, Number 2, February 2009
First up, this month’s giveaway. One subscriber will win a copy of Eating Between the Lines by Kimberly Lord Stewart. If you’re puzzled by all those food labels, this is the book for you. I’ll draw one subscriber’s name on Tuesday February 24th.
Getting the Lowest Prices
If there’s one good thing about this rotten economy, companies are now going to do whatever they can to make us happy customers. Last week I was listening to a newscast on this very topic and the guest said now’s the perfect time to get lower prices and rates on everything from your credit card to cable TV. So who you gonna call? Seems you just don’t call customer service and wait until you’re passed around to someone who might be able to give you a better deal. You ask for the ‘Customer Retention Department’. They’re in the position to lower the price, lower the rate and their goal is to make you happy. And if you’re not the type to phone and ask for a lower price, try it anyway. Like I always say, they can only say no. Let me know if anyone has any success using this tip.
Freebies
One of the mantras of the Budget Smart Girl is free is good. I did some roaming around the Web and found these sites offering some free goodies.
www.cozi.com free calendar, grocery and to do lists to keep everyone in the family organized.
www.printfree.com free printable cards and just about everything else.
And how about some tangible freebies?
www.get-free-samples.com Avon, Revlon products, can it get any better?
www.thefreesite.com Check out the ‘free family samples’ section.
And if you love romance novels, Harlequin turns 60 years old this year and is giving 16 free e-books, download them at www.harlequincelebrates.com
Do you live near an IHOP? To celebrate Pancake Day, February 24th, from 7 -10 a.m. they’re giving away a free short stack (that’s 3 buttermilk pancakes) for free. www.ihoppancakeday.com
For any of you who are grandparents, sign up for a newsletter at www.grandparents.com and they’ll give you the guide to 100 free things to do with your grandkid. Guess parents can sign up too!
Arts and Crafts
According to news reports, we’re now repairing our clothes and shoes rather than buying new. And some of us are even making our own clothes and home furnishings too. If you fit into either category or just sew or knit for fun, here are two sites you might like to check out-
www.homesew.com You can shop online or through the mail. They have a great catalog of just about anything you need from knitting to making jewelry. Decent prices, quick service and if you order the catalog, they also have coupons for even more savings.
www.marymaxim.com has a sale going on and offering free patterns with the purchase of wool… skeins of wool are also greatly reduced. If you knit or crochet or even looking to get a head start on holiday gifts, they have some great stuff. And they’re also running a contest where you can submit an original afghan or holiday craft design with a $1500 Grand Prize.
Garden and Yard
Did you know the big trend this year is going to be growing your own food? I’m planting a veggie garden this spring and I’ll have more about that on the Budget Smart Girl site. But for now, check out www.agardenpatch.com. If you have a small garden, or live in an apartment, this could be the perfect solution. $29.95 plus shipping and handling. But wait, the best thing is they let you try it for a year. If you don’t like it, send it back for a full refund, yes, even the shipping and handling, no questions asked.
And if you want to get a head start on preparing that veggie garden, check out this informative article at
http://tinyurl.com/b9u5vu
Eco Friendly Dental Care and a free offer
One of my pet peeves is the amount of plastic we throw away when we’re done using something. Like all the wasted plastic on deodorant containers and toothbrushes. Can’t we just buy refills and save ourselves some money in the process? This company must have heard me whining. Check out www.radiustoothbrush.com. They claim their toothbrushes last longer and you can buy replacement heads…two great ways to save money. And here’s an added bonus, buy any two brushes or replacement heads and get a free subscription to organic gardening.
Saving Energy
I found this neat little site with plenty of ideas for saving energy around the house www.responsiblebynature.com.
In the Kitchen
Lots of people are telling me they’re cutting back on serving fruits and vegetables because of the cost. There is a way you can eat fruits and vegetables without going the fresh produce route and that’s to buy frozen and canned. Many years ago I used to feel so guilty about serving, say broccoli from the freezer, or peas from a can, but no more. All these vegetables are prepared at their peak of freshness so there’s no vitamin and mineral loss. In fact, you might lose more nutritional content if the produce sits in your fridge for a week or more. There’s less waste, no tough stalks or discolored leaves to toss away and less preparation time. After letting a container of mushrooms sit in the fridge a bit too long, yes, not a pretty image, I’m even going the canned mushroom route now. And if you’re worried about sodium content in the canned varieties, just rinse them or select ones with lower sodium. One brand I recently got to try was Del Monte Low Sodium line. Great taste and I hardly noticed they contained less salt.
The Taxman Cometh
Yes, we all hate the hassle of filing those tax returns and not to mention the cost of having someone prepare them. Check out this useful article about ways you might be able to file for free-
http://tinyurl.com/auxmnv
That’s Entertainment
Remember last month’s newsletter had a feature about family game night? Well, you need some snacks to keep your energy level high, and here’s a link to some tasty game night recipes.
http://tinyurl.com/cqo5uj
Book Review
Living Like Ed: A guide to Eco Friendly Life
Ed Begley Jr.
Clarkson Potter
$18
ISBN-978-0-304-39642-3
Okay, you’re saying how can this book possibly be about being Budget Smart? Believe me it is. Living green most often means saving green. I borrowed this book from the library and recommend it to you. Begley isn’t one of those let’s jump on the green bandwagon celebrities. He’s been a keen environmentalist since the days when it wasn’t cool to admit you were one. And that comes across in this book. He offers simple and sometimes completely free ways you can green your home, and yes, save yourself some money. Tips like cleaning the furnace filter to hanging the clothes to dry on a wooden rack. Yes, there are some projects that will cost you big time. However, he points out they won’t fit into most of our budgets and admits the only reason he got to say install solar panels was because he was working on a weekly TV show and had the funds to do it. Each suggestion is divided into categories such as easy changes, not so big changes, and big changes. After you’ve borrowed the book from the library, you might just want to buy your own copy because it has a wonderful resource section where you can jot down what you’ve done and the money it’s netted you.
Sale Away With Me
We all like to grab a bargain, but sometimes bargains are out there and we don’t even know it. I’d love to grab more bargains but I just don’t have the time to constantly surf the Web, but there’s a new service that can help me do just that. It’s free and can be delivered straight into your e-mail. Here I chat with Sumir Meghani, one of the founders of www.saleawaywithme.com who fills us in on just how the service works.
Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell me about yourself, Daniel and Janet, and how the three of you came to work on this idea together?
Sumir Meghani (SM)-The primary reason we started Saleawaywithme was that we were frustrated with the bad economy. I graduated from Harvard Business School in June and my friends and I would spend hours on the Internet looking for sales to buy gifts for birthdays, weddings, and baby showers. Often times we missed out on great sales or simply didn’t have the time to search through dozens of sites. We also noticed that our e-mail inbox was growing increasingly crowded with e-mails from different retailers, some of whom sent us several e-mails a week! We decided it would be great to build a simple site that would consolidate information on sales from across the Web. That way, users could reclaim their inbox and still not miss out on great deals across the Internet.
BSG-When was the site and service launched?
SM-The site launched in December 2008.
BSG-Could you explain how it works and what are some of the advantages of using it?
SM-The existing product is very simple. A user picks his or her favorite brands and retailers (such as Banana Republic, FAO Schwarz, and Macy’s), gives us his or her e-mail address, and we send them a weekly e-mail with a list of items they like from the sites they like. Registration for the site takes under 2 minutes (seriously, we’ve timed it!). Also, we don’t spam our users and value their privacy a great deal. Our product categories include not just clothes, but toys, personal care products, and electronics.
BSG- Can both online and brick and mortar stores be included in the list?
SM-Currently we only include online stores but are planning to work with physical retailers soon as well.
BSG-Any examples of current deals?
SM-Here are some great deals from this week:
Electronics-Amazon.com
Sony Cybershot Dsc-T77 Full Hd 1080I, 10.1 Mp Digital Camera URL: http://tinyurl.com/d5jkmt
Old Price $299.99 New Price: 199.99 Save 33%
Apparel-Ann Taylor
Mercerized Cotton Ribbed Long Cardigan URL: http://tinyurl.com/d8lk59
Old Price: 79.00 New Price: 29.99 Save 62%
BSG- What’s the key factor in grabbing a bargain?
SM-They key factor is speed – many offers get sold out quickly so people need to take advantage of sales by buying the stuff they like as quickly as possible. You should buy the item as soon as you find it.
If you bookmark it for later, it may not be in stock when you return.
BSG-What are the future plans for the site/service, anything you’ll be adding?
SM-We have a bunch of plans for the site going forward, many of which we can’t talk about. But obviously helping notify people of offline sales is important, as you mentioned earlier, as well as providing sale alerts through mediums other than e-mail. We’re very excited about the future and would love feedback from your users about what services they would like to see.
And if you’d like to keep up to date info on any of the bargains, follow Sale Away With Me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/saleawaywithme
Tip of the Month
The other day I was wearing a light blue workout top and decided to make some red grape juice from concentrate. I was in a hurry, and yes, wasn’t paying attention so when I opened the top, red grape juice splashed across the arms and front of the top. My first thought; it’s ruined and I’ll only be able to wear it when I garden. However, I remembered I’d bought a bar of Fels Naptha soap that everyone seems to love. I rubbed some of the soap onto each strain and they just disappeared. I’ve since washed the top and you’d never know it once had about 10 red grape juice splatters on it. The soap cost me less than $2 and I won’t be without it now.
Do you have a tip you’d like to share with fellow subscribers? Do you have a question or want to see something featured in the newsletter? Just drop me a line. And thank you to everyone who’s contacted me. Glad you’re enjoying being a subscriber. Until next time, take care.
