Wednesday, December 23, 2009

bart tip

need to get from cal state east bay's oakland camps to tully's on broadway?  go downstairs and walk the underground BART passage.  you avoid all the traffic lights!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

visa mastercard gift card tip

so we received a wells fargo giftcard for $60.  some was spent at food maxx and some was spent at pac n save.  i knew i had some money left on the card.  this weekend i went to the mall and tried to use the remainder of the money at hot dog on a stick.  huh.  declined.  ok.  a few minutes later i try using the card at auntie annie's and grain d'or.  declined and declined again.  wtf?  i KNOW there's money on the card!  i call the number on the back of the card and they tell me there's $1.25 remaining.  if you swipe the card for a purchase for more than the amount on the card ($1.25 in my case), it just declines the card.  later we went to trader joe's and i told them to charge $1.25 to the card and we would pay the rest on a different credit card. 
 
so the tip is:  know how much is on your gift card because it might just say "declined" and you might just throw the card away thinking you ran out of money, but in fact, you still have some amount on the card. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

spinach tip

learned this one from a new cookbook:  when you cook spinach, you can put in one handful at a time, let it wilt a little, then add another handful.  once all the spinach is in the pot, cook it for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.  before, i'd put all the spinach in at once and it was too poofy.  and two bunches of spinach shrinks down to NOTHING!

carrot peeling tip

first grasp the small end of the carrot and put your peeler half way on the carrot.  peel downwards towards the large end.  when you're done peeling the large half of the carrot, grab the large end and peel the smaller half of the carrot. 
 
an unpeeled carrot is a little "grippy" so it's easier hold the small end when it still has the skin on. 

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

warm tip

this is kind of a "duh" tip but here it is anyway:  when it's super cold outside, put on your earflap hat, scarf and mittens while you're still inside.

Friday, December 4, 2009

heat tip

will someone please invent the cellphone that can also be used as a handwarmer?

spell tip

it's spelt genealogy, NOT geneology. 

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

seriousness tip

nostril flaring at the altar will crack up your spouse to be.