Hidden Treasures at the Street Fair

One of my favorite things about Tucson is the 4th Avenue Street Fair that comes to Tucson every spring. It is fun to walk down 4th Avenue and browse the tents full of fresh, fun, and funky arts, crafts, and goods for sale. It's always a good time with friends!


The 4th Street Fair is free entertainment! Plus, you get the chance to be outside as spring hits and catch a bit of a tan. It's kind of like a big treasure hunt, and provides hours of fun and entertainment for free (that is, if you pack your own food & water). And don't forget the people-watching.

Ashley and I bring some cash for food, the kind of greasy fair food that really only tastes good when it is sold out of a stall window, you know, fry bread, kettle corn and pulled-pork sandwiches!


Oh yeah, and we look for one or two unique items to bring home.

This year, I stumbled upon two new vendors that were my favorite at this year's street fair, both for totally different reasons:

• Black Canyon Restorations
  Black Canyon Restorations, in their own words, "try to salvage as much material as possible before it goes to the landfill. We use old windows, molding, glass, hardware, stove parts, bed frames, barn wood, railings and many other materials that are incorporated into the design and assembly of our products." Reduce, reuse, recycle, and look good doing it!
  
  Perfect! Black Canyon Restorations has artsy, unique pieces that we just fell in love with!Plus, they were reasonably priced! We bought a shelf to display my small collection of tea cups and saucers. I loved that the hooks were made from old silverware. It's unique, fun, and okay, it did make me feel a little heroic to support such a creative and environmental effort.

• Golden Designs
  With an event like the 4th Avenue Street Fair, there is a plethora of tie dye. It lured me in as I got lost in all the music and art. But after browsing through a number of tents exploding with tie dye, I finally found a vendor who tie dyed on clothing made in the U.S.A. Sold! I came out proudly with a tank top that was made in the U.S.A. and dyed by a small business owner!

We mark that off as a good day with a couple fun treasures!

Making Progress

I am celebrating one small victory this week.

Old Navy classically has their "Item of the Week," and once in a while it is a deal that will stop you in your tracks. Actually, it won't stop you in your tracks; it will make you rush straight to the mall to purchase the item that I didn't need 5 minutes ago, but now suddenly can't live without. That is how I ended with a $12 pair of skinny jeans in my closet this past October.

And now, temptation began to settle in again. Summer dresses for $15 at Old Navy, and endless commercials to remind me of this amazing deal.

I looked up the dress online and saw that it this fabulous summer fashion item was not made in the U.S.A., so I passed on it. I looked through Buffalo Exchange and American Apparel, and could not find a similar dress.

So at the end of the day, I ended up not purchasing a dress that I didn't need to start with. After all, there are 3 skirts and 4 dresses hanging in my closet at the moment.

I call this...progress.

Skip the Restaurant & Cook with Friends

So many of our social gatherings happen around food. We go out for coffee, for lunch, for dessert, for dinner. I looked back on a couple months of bank statements just to see what I spent on food other than groceries and I was surprised to find that I could make a car payment and one month of car insurance with all the money I spent at coffee shops, restaurants, and fast food joints.

It begins to feel like, "If I want to see my friends, I am going to spend a load of dough on going to restaurants."

And of course, it might seem weird if you continually suggest going on a picnic just so you can brown bag your lunch.

So is my only option to just become a hermit, a social pariah, so I can eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches of shame huddled in the corner of my living room?

My New Habit: instead of always meeting at a restaurant, invite friends over to make meals together.

However, cooking together is a whole new adventure! I have experienced so much more joy with my friends by trying a new recipe in the kitchen rather than ordering a new dish at the latest vogue bistro.

The perks of cooking together:

• Cooking together provides a shared experience that is unique to whoever is sharing it. You can't help but bond when you cook together
  
• The kitchen fills with laughter-wearing silly aprons and figure out what chopping a carrot julienne means


• It is a more cost-effective way to eat meal
  
• Cooking a meal together provides a natural conversation outlet
  
• There is someone who can help you do the dishes when all is said and done


• You have the ability to make healthier meals in realistic portions

Ideas of how to make it an ongoing adventure with friends:

• You can split up the ingredients list between friends
  
• Even lunch can become a "build your own" salad or sandwich at home


• Make it a challenge to see how inexpensive you can make your meals


• Take turns with friends bringing the recipe
  

And when the meal is done being prepared, there is a greater enjoyment when it is time to eat. I feel like I have earned my meal! I love that sense of accomplishment!

I also think I tend to take more joy in eating when I prepare my own meal. I mean, I spent all that time cooking, I'm not going to wolf down my food, I'm going to savor every bite I slaved over. Eating slowly prevents overeating since your stomach has time to catch up with your mouth, all in all helping me to eat healthy portions.

And just for fun, here are a couple of my favorite recipes to cook with friends:

• Neopolitan Macaroni & Cheese


• Tarragon Chicken Paillards & Salad


• Weight Watchers Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie


• Shish Kababs (why not? just cut up red peppers, onions, pineapples, chicken, beef, or whatever else you like)