My Pier 1 Christmas Wishlist

This post brought to you by Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.
Dear Santa,
Now that my style has evolved away from "yard sale shabby" and moved closer to funky contemporary, we just need to get the husband on board.  I'll work on getting him to throw stuff out so that we don't end up on an episode of  Hoarders while you help me with this wish list of holiday gifts.  Santa, I've been very good this year!  So good that I think I deserve to read by the light of this set of Iron Rings Lamps, don't you?  Only at Pier 1, Santa, only at Pier 1!  Or if we don't get much decluttering done, why we can store stuff behind this lovely Semar Floor Screen available at Pier 1. So many choices, so few Christmases!

Don't forget, Santa, that you and all of the other holiday shoppers, during the months of November and December, can support Toys for Tots by dropping off an unwrapped toy and/or making a cash donation at the register while shopping at Pier 1.  Another way to spread holiday cheer is by liking Pier 1 Imports on Facebook. For every new fan they get, they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots.  Some win-win peace on Earth, goodwill to men, Santa! (and cool Pier 1 stuff for my house!) I know, I know: Cheer 1 Imports, Snow Time like the Present!

Heart of Haiti at Macys.com

Anyone who reads the news these days knows that many in the island nation of Haiti are still suffering the after-effects of the earthquake there.  This is where Macy's initiative is cool: the Heart of Haiti collection is helping to rebuild Haiti through "trade, not aid" and emphasizes lasting social change.  Instead of a one time or perpetual handout, Heart for Haiti allows artisans to earn an income and help them, their families and their communities get back on their feet.  The collection is truly helping the people of Haiti rebuild their lives and communities through commerce and culture.  It has already employed over 300 artisans and has assisted 4,000-5,000 Haitians financially. Products for sale in the Heart for Haiti collection include vases, candleholders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more, most falling into the $25-$60 range.  Check out Heart for Haiti at Macys.com--get some shopping and giving done at the same time! 

I am writing this post to spread the word about Heart of Haiti through a Mom Bloggers Club member program and I may received a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you.  Any and all opinions here are my own. 

EverStride Website Discount for Black Friday

EverStride, who recently sponsored a fabulous product giveaway here with three winners, emailed me a Black Friday discount code at their website for Moana Saves readers. Just enter SPOFF40 in the promo/redemption code box upon check out and you'll get 40% off your total order before shipping.  Check out my review again for info on EverStride High Performance SkinCare for Athletes. Happy Shopping!

Seriously, Store? Or the Irony of Shopping for Chocolate Chips

Last Monday I went to the store to get a few things.  Since we were having Family Night that night, I especially needed a treat for the kids (who throw a holy fit if we dare to plan family night without sugar). I try not to keep all the ingredients for baked treats in the house.  Who knows when I'm going to self-medicate with chocolate chips, know what I mean? They can't live in my house.  Neither can Doritos or Twizzlers. But I digress . . .

 At the store, this is what I saw: 

Chocolate chips were on sale, 12 oz for $3.00. Betty Crocker (BC) oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mix was on sale for $2.00.  This actually goes against frugal theory about how food made from scratch is cheaper than prepared mixes.  How many cookies did the recipe on the chocolate chips bag make?  Five dozen.  The BC mix made 3 dozen.  So is it still a good deal to buy the choc chips and make cookies from scratch? The recipe also asks for 2 sticks of butter (!!!) and the BC mix only needed one.  I have a hard time using a whole stick of butter in a recipe much less two.  Our arteries don't need that much saturated fat and cholesterol. Not only was the BC mix cheaper over all but it was a healthier option because it would make fewer cookies and use less butter.

In the end, I did end up buying the mix.  We had everything but the chips at home but, man, those two sticks of butter turned me off.  And did my family really need five dozen cookies?  No, we didn't.

This chocolate chip 'dilemma' illustrates the irony of food shopping in Hawai'i for me.  Some of the normal rules of savvy food shopping go out the window.  First of all, those chocolate chips were $3 on sale.  The regular price would have been more than $3 at any given time.  And you can just barely see it, but the BC cookie mix is regularly $3.99. 

Food is expensive here. Mostly because we have to pay for it to get shipped on Matson barges.  So while people (tourists and locals alike) might bemoan food prices, it helps to remember that you pay for the food's trip to Hawai'i.  This is a factor in food prices. I also realize that the BC mix was probably a loss leader sale and that the price was probably a deal struck between BC and Foodland.

So normal savvy shopping guidelines (like cooking from scratch rather than from mixes) sometimes just don't fit here because the ingredients for from scratch cooking can cost as much as prepared mixes.  Of course, the rules of the game totally change when I shop at Costco but that's a situation that deserves its own blog post. Later. Peace out!