Bento and Bento Tips

Here are my bento from last week! I've also come up with a few tips if you're trying to get started packing lunches :). I'm trying to stay away from microwavable foods because the microwave at school is a bit moody, so I'd love some no-heat food suggestions if you can think of any!




























This had to last me the day since I had to work right after school, so it's a bit more food than usual.

Top tier: Pita bread, homegrown cherry tomatoes, carrots, Babybel cheese.

Bottom tier: Ham roll ups (ham, cream cheese, and green onion).

Extras: Candy, chocolate/Pocky, gum (to combat the onions! haha), small plum. The white container has roaster red pepper hummus.




























I thought I was being clever and made this one all dipping foods haha xD.

Top tier: Chicken nuggets, apple slices.

Bottom tier: Cucumber, carrots, cauliflower.

Extras: Mini candybars, ketchup, caramel, spinach dip, Babybel cheese.

Drink: Santa Cruz organic raspberry lemonade.





























Leftovers, yum!

Top tier: Steamed pork dumplings from my favorite Chinese joint.

Bottom tier: Dried dates, edamame (frozen, this photo is from the night before. I warmed them and ate them with salt come lunch time).

Extras: Hard candy, mini organic chocolate bar, Babybel cheese, teriyaki sauce.

So here are some money saving/bento packing tips:

1. I think planning is important when you want to start packing lunches everyday. At the end of each week, I try to come up with a list of 5-7 ingredients that can be used a lot of different ways. This way I don’t have to have the same thing 3 days a week. For instance dips or spreads (cream cheese, hummus, spinach dip…). You can pair them with vegetables, pita, lunchmeat, anything! I also like it because I usually end up using everything up and nothing goes to waste.

2. Buy bottled water in bulk. Or drink tap/water cooler water from school or work. Sometimes I allow myself one (overpriced!) coffee or vending machine drink per week. You could also use a thermos and take iced tea, orange juice, or whatever else you have in the fridge from home.

3. Freeze, freeze, freeze. For example, I‘ve bought frozen veggie nuggets, edamame, etc. That means I can also use them the next week if I only wanted to have these items once this week. I think it keeps your menu from being boring! But, I try to limit to one frozen food per bento.

4. Buy in bulk. I get my dried fruit and nuts from bulk bins. That way, it’s cheaper because I only want to use a small amount for the week.

5. Use leftovers. This one is kind of self-explanatory… ;)

6. Invest in one of those little ice packs for your lunch box! They’re only a couple bucks and you can use them over and over. It’s an essential for me, because the a/c in my car doesn‘t work, so my lunch sits in my hot car for an hour on the way to school, yikes :P

7. If you want to buy take out, buy appetizers or a small amount. Or even split a main course in half and eat one for dinner, and one for lunch the next day.

So...what do you do for lunch :D?

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Business edition.

One of the greatest things I’ve enjoyed about blogging is discovering what wonderful business talent ladies have out there. Personally, I really don’t enjoy working for someone else and dream of the day I’ll be able to quit my day job (I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but if not I work at Borders Books & Café). No co-workers, no silly rules, cranky customers, no rejected time off! So if that’s your dream, too, I figure I can give you a few tips I’ve learned so far on this journey to help you along as well! But first I’m going to share what two successful ladies had to say about the subject (who you probably have already heard of!) They were both super sweet and I really think the world of them for taking some time to answer my questions! I interviewed Rhiannon of Liebemarlene and Anja of Clever Nettle. Check out their wise words!


1. When did you start selling things online?

Rhiannon: I first started selling things on Etsy in 2006, I think , sort of just to get rid of some of the old dresses I had around that didn't really fit me or look good on me. I never thought I could making a living off of it, and I just got excited whenever I'd actually sell something!

Anja: I've been selling things online ever since I was in high school. Right before and after I graduated (in 2001) I was selling commissioned drawings to a girl in Minnesota, and one time I even sold a magazine ad for the tv show Trading Spaces on ebay for ten bucks! Who would buy that? It was pretty weird. I started on Etsy in 2005 and left Ebay behind not too long after that.


2. Rhiannon, what kind of jobs did you hold before opening your own online store?

Rhiannon: Oh, not-great ones. Different secretary jobs, and a job at a sort-of orphanage taking care of kids, and I loved the kids, but I had to be an authoritarian with them, which I was awful at. The only thing I was good at was teaching them how to knit.

3. Anja, is Clever Nettle your full time job? (I knew it was Rhiannon’s ;D)

Anja: Yes, and it has been since November of 2007 when I was happily fired from my last job at a cookie store. At first I thought about trying to get a part-time job in addition to selling on etsy, but things have progressed and my business has grown enough that I don't need an extra job, nor would I have time for one. Vintage has been taking up most of my time but I want to start working more on art too.


4. Rhiannon, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of Ebay and Etsy?

Rhiannon: I've sold on both and I probably prefer Ebay, if only because I'm used to it. I like that an Ebay store can be customized . . . As a whole, Etsy looks nicer, but it's harder to give an Etsy shop its own individual look, but you can load your Ebay shop up with all sorts of HTML. Etsy is nice because it just looks more streamlined and organized.

5. Rhiannon, about how long was it before you were successful enough to work for yourself?

Rhiannon: I was working at a part-time job, selling vintage clothing on Ebay on the side for about 4 months before I decided to drop the job and do Ebay full-time.

6. Any advice on how to market your business?

Rhiannon: I think the very best thing you can do is set up a blog--you'll be able to give customers a better idea of who you are and what kinds of things you sell, and it's probably the best marketing tool as well. Advertising on other blogs and in online magazines seems to work well too though I've never done it myself. But I've seen brand new Etsy shops explode in popularity after just one or two well-placed ads.

Anja: I don't know a lot about marketing, but I always try to be conscious of the line between putting your business out there respectably and annoying people with constant reminders that you have a shop. I've had online journals for a really long time so starting a blog was an easy step to take, and I think that blogging (and being linked from other blogs that I like) has been the best way of marketing my shop without really having to try very hard or go overboard with promotions. The internet is big and once you find your online crew things sort of fall into place. The vintage blogging community is just awesome! I think we support each other in a cool way, I'm always happy to see photos of the dresses I've sold in outfit photos on someone else's blog, and I love to show off what I buy from my favorite etsy shops too, which in turn hopefully helps them sell more too!

7. What do you think are some of the most important things to do when you start selling?

Rhiannon: I think it's best to build up an online shop and fill it with the sorts of things you like best, rather than what you think will be good sellers. And find a way to display the things you sell in a way that stands out from the others . . .

Anja: I think it's important to really sit down and think about what you want your shop to be. If you can start with a clear, cohesive plan (what will my photos look like? what will I sell? what will my shop name be? how can I be different than other shops?), you'll be doing yourself a lot of favors. I didn't really think about that stuff when I started my vintage shop on etsy, but I've learned a lot and am working backwards from mismatched clutter into a neat, tidy shop.


8. Any last bits of advice?

Rhiannon: I guess, to only get into the business if it's something you really love and will have fun with! It's a lot of work, and there are definitely boring, everyday job aspects to it, but if you love hunting down vintage (or making things to sell on Etsy) then it will be worth it.

Anja: Make sure you are starting a shop based on a true love or interest, because that love is what will keep you going when you're feeling worn out. My brain spends a ridiculous amount of time thinking about vintage clothing and if I didn't love it so much, I'd probably be feeling just as crazy as I used to at the "real" jobs that I hated. Also, set little goals and develop tricks that you can use to keep yourself motivated and on task, because there's no one around else to tell you that maybe it's time to wrap up packages instead of watching the newest episode of Australia's Next Top Model, haha.

A few additional tips from my personal experience:

1. Always buy delivery confirmation. Just trust me!

2. When selling on Etsy and you’re having a sale, send a few messages to people who have added you to their favorites letting them know.

3. Do start a blog. And comment on others! But try to refrain from being pushy about having them visit or link to you. Just leave honest, thoughtful comments where you think they’re deserved! And try to comment back, it’s always very appreciated.

4. Join social networking sites. This is something I’ve been working on lately. I sort of hate Facebook and Myspace, but I did join Twitter today! Try Flickr, Livejournal communities, Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, Modepass, the list goes on…

5. Post pictures. An all-text blog is really just not as appealing.

6. Use photoshop or another editing program. I don't do anything terribly complicated, but it's good for simple things like adjusting image size or sharpening, etc! If you can keep a secret, I downloaded mine at Isohunt.com :P But if you don't want to fool with any of that, consider paying someone who can! Aya of Strawberry Koi did my header and she's very reasonable!

7. List often. I struggle with this one myself!

That’s all I can think of for now, but I hope this helps anyone thinking about starting an online shop. Good luck, gals!

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Plus size shopping edition.

How nice would it be to flip through this month’s issue of Vogue and, along with all things fashion
and beauty related - find a sewing pattern, a recipe, financial advice? From what I understand, women’s magazines aren’t what they used to be. Not that I haven’t bought my fair share of Vogues, Elle, and Cosmos, but to be honest with you I don’t think I bothered with 99% of the articles there. I guess the point of these types of publications is to communicate runway fashion and trends to the masses, and that’s all well and good, but for most of us it’s a “use once and discard” situation - look at the pictures and throw it away, save for a few inspiring photos to scrapbook or to cover your wall with if you’re 14. Some are catching on with blogger articles and such, as far as the fashion stuff goes, but there really isn’t as much practical advice as their used to be. Women’s magazines of the olden days valued practicality and thriftiness. What happened?

So I’ve decided to start a new regular feature, The Practical Lady According to Candybar. I hope you get at least a little something out of these “articles!” I’ve already sort of done something like this without realizing it when I posted about thrifting tips awhile back. So this time we’ll be talking about plus size shopping.

1. My first, and I figure my most important tip, is: do not settle. I struggle with this problem very often myself! I think it’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t fit and to just buy “the next best thing” because the piece you fell in love with didn’t fit/cost too much/etc. Save your money! It will be worth it when that thing you almost bought isn’t hanging in the back of your closet with the tags still attached.

2. KNOW YOUR SIZE. Even thin ladies do this :P If something is too small…it’s too freakin’ small. Don’t buy it for “when you get back to suchandsuch weight” or altering it to try and make it fit (unless you’re letting out a seam). I’m sure you are a creative goddess, but unless you are a skilled tailor and know what you’re doing, I say move on. When you try something on and it seems snug, or is the fabric is pulling or that last button doesn’t button…don’t you dare try to talk yourself into saying it fits. It’s okay to try things on that are a smaller size that look like they may fit (some brands run large, may have an elastic waist or any other number of forgiving features), but for goodness sake don’t keep picking up a 12 when a 16 would be much more flattering. You are not a number.

3. That being said, understand your body. My best friend and I agree that we’ve come to understand our shapes and what works for them. Not that there’s a uniform style you need to stick to, but certainly an idea of what is unflattering is helpful. In my case this means no low rise jeans (muffin top, ahoy!), strapless things (instant uni-boob), anything too high-waisted (darn my short torso!), and narrow shoes (wide feet, blame my mother :P!). You should also know your measurements and don’t be afraid to try things on that you think usually don’t work for you. No harm in trying!

4. Broaden your shopping horizons. Get creative with where you shop - if you keep heading to the same local shops, it only limits you. Don’t be snobby and ignore the plus shops, either! You never know what you’ll find. Try out maternity clothes, too. Get over any mental stigmas you have about clothes and where to get them. And by God - shop online! The whole world is your shopping mall. To start off…

Ballyhoovintage.com
Violetvillevintage.com
Heyviv.com
H&M
Delias.com
Torrid.com
OldNavy.com
Gap.com


5. Something I learned the hard way…Consider how the garment will fit after its been washed. Do you really want to hand wash and line dry that t-shirt every time? Will it still fit as well as it does now once its been washed and dried? Dry cleaning your thing?

6. Be thrifty. I get seriously annoyed when a plus vintage dress is marked up on Etsy or Ebay and I see the words “Rare large size!!” Glare! I hate to be a drag, but even if they are rare, it just doesn’t seem right. I find larger size vintage in thrift stores fairly often. I think the price should depend on other factors, like quality, age, style, etc. Also, some modern stores like to charge a few dollars extra on larger sizes. For what…a few more inches? I don’t think that’s very good customer service, if you ask me! (Yes, I’m talking to you, Alloy folks.)

7. I’m sure I could have easily grouped this one in with number 3, but I thought it deserved a proper mention on its own. Try to avoid “easy fashion.” It seems big retailers want to confine us to certain styles. Not that one wrap dress, weird flowy boho top, or some form of stretch geometric print will kill you, but let’s not get carried away like our friends at Faith21. You deserve choice, I tell you!

I have loads of ideas for future topics, but is there anything in particular you might like to see? Not that I'm an expert on all matters, but maybe someone will benefit from my two cents!

P.S. Come back for a really awesome giveaway tomorrow :)!!

Thrifting 101

Here are two skirts I've thrifted for myself recently ^_^. The floral one on the left only just fits, and I happen to be eating a piece of coconut/pistachio/pineapple cake (my mom's specialty!) and I know I'm not helping matters! The one on the right was actually difficult to photograph (do excuse the wrinkles :P) but I love the color/pattern. I'll probably end up wearing both of these with boring white tshirts, but... we'll see.

So I was thinking about thrifting and all the little things I've learned through my adventures and I decided to write them down for you! Whether you're a novice or a thrift-spert or somewhere in between, I hope they help!

1. Learn to be selective. Only buy it if it’s amazing. Don’t just go around buying things willy-nilly because it’s vintage. A lot of vintage things are just plain ugly, and don’t get any more attractive just because they’re vintage!

2. Check carefully for damages. I learned this the hard way! There were a few times I brought home what I thought was the perfect find, only to discover it had stains, a botched hem, or some sort of tear (usually in the armpit!). There are things that can be mended, but if it’s in terrible shape, unfortunately it may just be best left behind, pennies saved for something else.

3. If you DO buy something that needs fixing up, make sure that you know how to do it, or at the very least, that you will find some way to do it. If you can’t stand sewing (like me!) the chances are that these projects are just going to pile up and be a waste of money in the end. But if you enjoy sewing and can make the time, by all means have at it!

4. Have a routine. I try to go the same thrift store at least once or twice a week. I’ve tried to go more frequently, but it’s easy to get frustrated when there’s barely anything new. Unless your store has a “new items” section, I think it’s better when there’s a little time between visits, because a week or so gives them enough time to put out new items. A good thing to do is ask when new things are put up, too!

5. Don’t always disregard sections that seem unappealing. We have a “Sportswear” section at my store that I tend to avoid, but occasionally I’ve found a vintage cardigan or blouse in there. Also check out the sleepwear section, since some of those housedresses can make really great cotton-y summer frocks!

6. Keep finding more stores. If you have the means - travel! I’ve often made it a day trip to visit several towns within an hour or two away. It’s nice to get away and refreshing to see new people and places. Here’s what I do when planning a thrift trip:

a. Use yellowpages.com to find stores around your area. You can also go to the official goodwill and salvation army sites for locations.

b. Use mapquest or a map to determine what the best route is - what makes the most sense driving-wise.

c. CALL BEFOREHAND. There is usually a telephone number in the listing, I highly recommend calling in advance to find out their hours, or if they are even still operating.

d. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions, and bring tools to help you navigate. Personally I have a little swiss army knife with a compass on it that’s helped immensely!

7. Haggle. I wouldn’t be my father’s daughter if I didn’t try to bargain with someone! If something has a hole, missing buttons, or any other damage, at least try to get a small discount. Or if you’re buying a lot of things. Most times, people are willing to take 10-50% off if you point these things out. This ain’t Macy’s, ladies!

8. Find out when they have sales going on. The Salvation Army stores in my area have their biggest sale on Wednesdays. A lot of times stores will have flyers that tell you what colors/items are discounted on what days - just ask if they have one!

9. Be friendly with the staff. Employees who recognize you might be willing to show you some of the more interesting items or even share their discount with you. Now, don't try to make friends just to get a discount! But it always helps to be nice and show appreciation, no matter where you are or what you're doing.




























I also thrifted this amazing vintage coral wallet and a lavender Stanley thermos. The wallet is in pristine condition, it even still has the original pen inside. It also has the owner's original last check in there! Apparently its come all the way from St. Louis, Missouri to be with me. The thermos will be nice in the winter time, and oh how I love feminine housewares!

Anyway, if you're determined to be a smart thrifter, you should also check out:

1. Rhiannon of Liebemarlene's 10 thrifting tips via Mademoiselle Robot
2. Rachael of The Life Aesthetic's second hand shopping guide
3. Diana of Painfully Hips' thrifting pointers
4. and Aya of Strawberry Koi's thrifting video!

Happy thrifting :D!