WMLM Takes on Global Warming

The Frugal Hostess is currently rethinking her entire video strategy for 2011, based on this work of art.  Subscribe on YouTube so you never miss an episode.  (If you're reading in an RSS Reader, you will really want to click through for the full video).

The Frugal Hostess insists that you come hang out on Facebook. What? Like you don't already spend three hours there a day.

The Word "Swap" Sounds Funny

The word "swap" sounds funny.  It carries with it a vague film of slapping and dirt and saliva.  At least, in The Frugal Hostess's mind it does.  However, she still decided to participate in an ornament swap this year.  That kind of ended up being a stupid decision, based the amount of travel she had planned in December (19 out of 31 days, as it turned out).

However, FruHo had designed and planned her contribution before the trip, so it was relatively easy to make them when she started receiving examples in the mail and realized she was WAY behind.  TFH has been a little obsessed with quilling lately.  Quilling is like the sushi of paper crafts -- beautiful no matter how simple.  So, she decided to make these quilled ornaments.

 Here are some of the others she received.

And here is the coolest one of all.

Next year, TFH will be doing something a little more sustainable, maybe using upcycled fabric.  Until then, she'll be wishing she was cool enough to have made that paper star!

(Apologies to those ornaments that didn't get photographed before FruHo lost her camera and thanks to everyone!)

Ghetto Sledding

Frugal fun in the snow.  This "sled" is the plastic pan from the bottom of a dog kennel.

The Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

Visited the Napa Valley.  Missed a mortgage payment.  Gave a keynote speech.  Filmed a TV show.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

At this time last year, FruPa was very, very sick, and TFH's resolution was to never eat, drink, or talk again as long as he got well.  He got well, and FruHo has been eating, drinking, and talking like a champ (so watch your back, FruPa).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Two old friends had babies and made The Frugal Hostess wish she and her sister were pregnant at the same time. 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Maya, the Pie-Making Carpenter's dog, passed away.  Very sad. 

5. What countries did you visit?

USA only.  Which was fun.  But France in 2011!  (Must prepare to emigrate in case Sara Palin is elected in 2012).

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you didn’t have in 2010?

A baby.  A trip to France.  A new blog design.

7. What dates from 2010 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

January (whole month), FruPa sick.  March 5, FruTV.  September 22, the day TFH left for Napa.  November 8-12, Social Media Atlanta.  December 7, CLIA speech.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Going from poor to less poor in 365 days.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Finishing the book.  Maybe this year!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

New Blackberry.  Sorry, Droid, you aren't for FruHo.  And bangs!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

San Francisco Giants!!!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

British Petroleum and everyone connected with the disaster in the Gulf.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Food (ergo, ass)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Travel.  Having never been a fan of traveling in the past, The Frugal Hostess finds herself planning trips during every spare moment now.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

Edwin Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home."  Yes, it was released in 2009.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a.) Happier

b.) Slightly thinner.  Like six pounds, maybe.

c.) Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

None of your beeswax.  Exercise.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Argue with FruHubs.  Peace is the word for 2011.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

California and Florida

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

Yes, with taking pictures of everything in the known world.  Not good pictures, just photographic evidence of every move.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Bones & Modern Family

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Yep.

24. What was the best book you read?

Oh good lord.   TFH read more than 100 books this year.  Hard to pick a favorite. 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

The complete innate ability to play oboe with no lessons.  A miracle.

26. What did you want and get?

Napa.

27. What did you want and not get?

40 pounds weight loss overnight.

28. What was your favorite film of 2010?

The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Had a party.  26.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A lottery win?  Nothing, really.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2010?

The Frugal Hostess finally got some non-thrift clothes and new bras that fit!  Miracles do happen!

32. What kept you sane?

Confidence.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Oil spill, totally.  What a depressing bunch of crap.

34. Who did you miss?

Liza, for the second half of the year.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

All of the new friends in Napa.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Karma rules!

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"Home is wherever I'm with you." 

[Thanks to Sarawara for the idea and questions for this post.]

FruHo's New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year!  Hey, are you calling this year Twenty-Eleven or Two Thousand Eleven?  Or something else?  What are the cool kids doing?

The Frugal Hostess probably has the same resolution as every other blogger in the world: to write more and better posts.  She has also made a few extra resolutions, inspired by some of her favorite blogs:

 

- To post often and to befriend everyone she meets, like Patti from Anatomy of a Dinner Party.

- To always bring the funny, like Jen from Cake Wrecks.

- To stay positive and cheerful, like Becky from Glue and Glitter.  (That doesn't mean FruHo is knocking off the lefty politics, though, so look out.)

- To be incredibly inventive, like Cathe from Just Something I Made.

- To set an example of tolerance and "being the change," like Cop's Wife from Nerdy Apple Bottom.

- And to save money and find the humor in adversity, like Katherine from Save Money You Cheapskate.

Despite having been abandoned for long stretches at a time, this blog has brought more happiness to The Frugal Hostess than you could ever imagine.  Thank you for reading.  The blogs above are also worthy of your eyeballs, so give 'em a visit.
  

If you write a blog or have a favorite, leave it in the comments.  FruHo just cleaned out her RSS Reader and needs some fresh ideas.

You Say You Wanna Be a Documentary Star

The Frugal Hostess hasn't reviewed this book yet, because she is still reading it, but Off the Grid by Nick Rosen is an interesting look at the power grid in the US and the people who choose to live outside its reaches.  Well, as it turns out, the creator is planning to make a documentary about people who are just beginning their off the grid lifestyles, and he needs subjects to feature.

As Rosen said in a recent email, "Hundreds of Americans every day are choosing to move off the grid.  Some are motivated by money (or the lack of it), some by fear (of social or environmental collapse).  Others just want to get away from consumer society.  The film is about real people who have made the choice to move off the grid – it is not an experiment, or featuring someone who is just changing their life for a year to suit the film-makers."

If you are interested in being featured, you can contact him at nick@off-grid.net.  And TFH would love to know about you, too!

The Frugal Hostess insists that you come hang out on Facebook. What? Like you don't already spend three hours there a day.

Imagined Interview with Lucinda Scala Quinn

The Frugal Hostess was invited to interview Lucinda Scala Quinn today as part of the publicity around....well, around a few things, it seems.  Here's a (quite impressive) bio from the information her publicist sent:

"[Quinn is] author of MAD Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys, Lucinda's Rustic Italian Kitchen and an expert in Italian culinary traditions. Lucinda is currently the executive food director for Martha Stewart Living, co-host of "Everyday Food" on PBS and has her own show "EatDrink" on Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157."

Fun, right?

Know what else is fun?  A whirlwind eleven-day trip from Atlanta to Napa to San Francisco to Concord to Las Vegas back to Atlanta.  While fun, it made The Frugal Hostess so very, very tired.  So tired, in fact, that she slept right through the interview that was scheduled with Lucinda Scala Quinn.

Whoops.  Embarrassing and horribly unprofessional, right?

Well, TFH is going to try to make it up to you.  Lucinda Scala Quinn, on the other hand, will probably never forgive this indiscretion, but then again, LSQ may not have even noticed.  LSQ is probably so busy with her seven jobs (see above) that she could care less what FruHo does.  Anywho, here is The Frugal Hostess's imaginary interview with Lucinda Scala Quinn.

***

TFH: Lucinda Scala Quinn, thank you so much for your time!  My readers will be so interested in your tips for the holidays, so let's not waste any time.  In fact, I'm going to stop wasting my time repeating your three names - which do not roll off the tongue, BTW - and call you LSQ.  'Kay?

LSQ: [speaking to someone in the room] Why is this person talking to me?

TFH: LSQ, I see here that you have written two books.  Writing a book is my life's great dream, which I prefer to thwart by writing a blog that vascillates irresponsibly between cooking, crafting, and leftist politics.  How did you find a publisher for your books?  Could you give me her name?  What about your agent - will you make a virtual introduction for me?

LSQ: [laughing wryly] Are you seriously asking me for career help when you're supposed to be interviewing me?

TFH:  I watched the Thanksgiving episode of Mad Hungry on the Hallmark Channel.  It is totally obvious that Martha is taking over the Hallmark Channel in her bid to beat Oprah to total world domination.  You with me on that, LSQ?

LSQ: [picking up a cell phone and calling her publicist]  Who is this wack job I'm purportedly being interviewed by?  This is an outrage. 

TFH:  OK, LSQ, last question.  What is your favorite sweet specialty cake that is a holiday tradition in Italy, and is being introduced in the U.S this season?

LSQ: Bauducco Panettone.

Fini.

Please note: While this interview did not actually take place, the part where FruHo slept through it did.  LSQ, please accept The Frugal Hostess's sincere apology.