Dime a Dozen

I was on Pinterest, as usual, when I found this pin where someone mentioned they wanted this top from Lululemon and they were going to use their $1 reward jar towards it. I don't know how their jar works, but it got me thinking.

What if I could curb my 'outlandish spending habits' as my mother says with my love of using a 'reward system' to help keep me on track for working out? Kill three birds with one stone? Why the hell not? So I decided I'd go to the bank and take $20 in dimes out. Crazy, I know. Next I found a container that will work as my collection bin for workouts received. And finally I found something I've been drooling over as my motivation.

Lululemon's Studio Pant II* No Liner has been on my radar for what seems like an eternity. I love these, they're soft, they're comfortable, they're cute. I just can't justify spending $100 on a pair of yoga pants. Well, I could if I worked out for them. And at $0.10 earned for every ten minutes working out I don't feel bad. I will have to pour a lot of sweat, blood and tears into my workouts to earn those pants, but they're worth it.

I'm sure you're thinking, this is a dumb idea. $0.10 for every ten minutes is ridiculous and how can that even motivate anyone? There's two reasons really. The first is that a 20 minute workout isn't worth $1 to me. I should get rewarded for my workouts based on my time. Every workout is different and the reward should be as well. If I were to give myself $1 per workout I'd only ever workout for 20 minutes a day. By making it by the time I spend I'm holding myself more accountable, I'm making myself *want* to run for that extra ten minutes, that extra mile, take that class that's a little bit longer than the normal one.

And the second reason? Well I have this thing called buyer's guilt. I'm not sure if it's even a real thing, I just know I don't have buyer's remorse. I don't ever *regret* buying what I bought, I just always get guilted by someone for buying it. I love what I buy, I wouldn't buy it if I didn't love it. But this new idea allows me to buy without guilt. How? Because I've not only saved for the item at a painstakingly slow rate, but I've also poured my energy, time, blood, sweat, tears, motivation and dedication into my reward. I truly feel like I've earned it. And to me, buying something without the guilt, well hell, that's worth it every time!

My Food Revolution: Great Harvest

There was something that was bothering me when I went to the grocery store. I had looked at the ingredients of many different breads and all of them had too many ingredients, and they all had either soy bean oil or canola oil. Oil, other than Extra Virgin Olive Oil, kind of skeeves me out. I've never been a margarine lover, even when it was in style. I can always taste when margarine is used, and my belief has been much like my grandfather Pop's "Don't feed me that crap!"

So when I find almost every package of bread with one of those two oils in them, I became a little disheartened. I'm not crazy, I promise, but the reason I don't like supporting soy bean oil and canola oil differ. Here's why. When Monsanto, the makers of Round Up, genetically modified the soy bean, a case appeared before the Supreme Court and it was ruled that the maker of a genetically modified seed owned that seed / product. With that ruling and majority opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas, Monsanto was able to go after any farmer who was cleaning their seed and claim that they were infringing on their product. Justice Thomas used to work as an attorney for Monsanto*, something which makes my gut kick. I don't like when justice is compromised, and I greatly feel that in that case it was indeed compromised. My beef with the canola oil is slightly different but applies to every oil other than Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Other oils use hydrogenated fats, science to get their product. Instead of using what nature gave us, butter / animal lard, we're using something man made. In recent years mother nature has shown us that our man made levies, buildings, etc. are no match for her. I believe the same to be true of food, why have food grown in pesticides when I can have food grown with soil, sunshine and water? The canola oil is from the rape seed, which they process and add hydrogenated oils to, before re-marketing it as canola oil. I don't know about you but that doesn't sound very appetizing to me.

So with all these breads on the market containing soy bean oil or canola oil, what is one to do? Using my Yelp! app on my iPhone and iPad, I typed in 'Farmers Market'. Along with the listing for all of the local farmers markets and their hours of operation there was a listing for a bread place. I hadn't thought much of it earlier today or the days prior when I had seen it on the list but remembering how the bread I have isn't what I wanted I decided to check it out. The bread company that was listed is called Great Harvest. Looking through the website I found a number of things I immediately liked, the first being that these are all franchises. I like that there are locations throughout the state where one or two people take full responsibility for the product they are offering. The second thing I really appreciated? On their website they list that they have been around for thirty years and making their bread the same way before whole grain was cool. I like that they don't give in to whatever nutritional fad is happening. And the third, and most important thing on the website? Huge free samples. Kidding, though they do offer those. The most important thing on the site was the listing of their five simple ingredients. No oils, bread made fresh daily, lasts for ten days. There's something so comforting reading that. I love that they're closed on Sundays because they are family run. It just feels right. So next week, once I've gotten rid of this bread with oils and too many ingredients to list, I'll be venturing over to try it out. Don't worry, I'll let you know my full opinion once I try it out.

To check out their website click here: http://www.greatharvest.com/index.html

*Taken from the 2008 documentary Food Inc. featuring Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser.
**Taken from the cooking book Skinny Italian by Teresa Guidice.

Not Money Saving But....

I love online shopping for items with free shipping, and I'm willing to bet that you do too. It's not a reduced price, but if you are a Northwest Airlines World Perks member you can get miles for every purchase you make.

Just check out these companies which offer miles for shopping at their site. To access simply go to www.nwa.com and sign in with your world perks frequent flyer number and then go to the skymall.

Need pet supplies like Chanel? Petco and PetSmart are both on there, and I believe Petco lets you use your PALS card to gain points.

Gotta get that song from iTunes? Might as well do it through the Apple Store at NWA to get miles while you get tunes.

Wanna try NetFlix and get an extra 1,000 miles for enrolling? Heck yes!

Even better deal? If you have the NWA World Perks credit card and use it while shopping at these sites I'm pretty sure you can get a mile for every dollar you spend in addition to the site's miles they give you.

Travel & Accessories MarketPlace		10 miles per $1 spent
Home Living MarketPlace		6 miles per $1 spent
Electronics MarketPlace		5 miles per $1 spent
Sports & Recreation MarketPlace		5 miles per $1 spent
1-800 FLOWERS.COM		10 miles per $1 spent + 350 Bonus Miles
800wine.com		10 miles per $1 spent
FTD		10 miles per $1 spent + 400 Bonus Miles
Rosetta Stone		10 miles per $1 spent
Teleflora's Flower Club		10 miles per $1 spent + 100 Bonus Miles
The Wall Street Journal		10 miles per $1 spent
Vinesse Wine Clubs		8 miles per $1 spent
Bagsbuy		7 miles per $1 spent
Shoebuy		6 miles per $1 spent
VistaPrint		6 miles per $1 spent
Zazzle.com		6 miles per $1 spent
Café Press		5 miles per $1 spent
Famous Footwear		5 miles per $1 spent
Fossil		5 miles per $1 spent
Gaiam		5 miles per $1 spent
GNC		5 miles per $1 spent
Hickory Farms		5 miles per $1 spent
Michigan Bulb Co.		5 miles per $1 spent
National Geographic		5 miles per $1 spent
SkyMall		5 miles per $1 spent
Snapfish		5 miles per $1 spent
Symantec		5 miles per $1 spent
Things Remembered		5 miles per $1 spent
Time Life		5 miles per $1 spent
TurboTax		5 miles per $1 spent
1-800-PetMeds		4 miles per $1 spent
AVON		4 miles per $1 spent
Big Dogs		4 miles per $1 spent
BuyCostumes		4 miles per $1 spent
Cross		4 miles per $1 spent
Dale & Thomas		4 miles per $1 spent
Dick Blick		4 miles per $1 spent
Endless.com		4 miles per $1 spent
figleaves.com		4 miles per $1 spent
GiftBaskets.com		4 miles per $1 spent
Hammacher Schlemmer		4 miles per $1 spent
Harry & David		4 miles per $1 spent
ICE.com		4 miles per $1 spent
Jos. A. Bank		4 miles per $1 spent
Kiehl's Since 1851		4 miles per $1 spent
Legal Sea Foods		4 miles per $1 spent
Magazines.com		4 miles per $1 spent
Musician's Friend		4 miles per $1 spent
Naturalizer		4 miles per $1 spent
RedEnvelope		4 miles per $1 spent
Ross Simons		4 miles per $1 spent
shoes.com		4 miles per $1 spent
Starbucks Store		4 miles per $1 spent
Stonewall Kitchen		4 miles per $1 spent
Sur La Table		4 miles per $1 spent
The Knot Wedding Shop		4 miles per $1 spent
The Walking Company		4 miles per $1 spent
Unbeatable Sale		4 miles per $1 spent
1-800 CONTACTS		3 miles per $1 spent
adidas		3 miles per $1 spent
Babies R Us		3 miles per $1 spent
Black Forest		3 miles per $1 spent
Blair		3 miles per $1 spent
Blue Fly		3 miles per $1 spent
Boden		3 miles per $1 spent
Bowflex		3 miles per $1 spent
Brookstone		3 miles per $1 spent
Charles Tyrwhitt		3 miles per $1 spent
Cheryl & Co		3 miles per $1 spent
Coldwater Creek		3 miles per $1 spent
Cooking.com		3 miles per $1 spent
Danskin.com		3 miles per $1 spent
Discovery Store		3 miles per $1 spent
Drs. Foster & Smith		3 miles per $1 spent
drugstore.com		3 miles per $1 spent
eBags		3 miles per $1 spent
Eddie Bauer		3 miles per $1 spent
ESPNShop.com		3 miles per $1 spent
Finish Line		3 miles per $1 spent
FranklinCovey		3 miles per $1 spent
Gardeners Supply		3 miles per $1 spent
Gevalia		3 miles per $1 spent
Godiva		3 miles per $1 spent
Golf Galaxy		3 miles per $1 spent
Golfsmith		3 miles per $1 spent
Gourmet GiftBaskets.com		3 miles per $1 spent
H2O Plus		3 miles per $1 spent
Home Decorators Collection		3 miles per $1 spent
JC Whitney		3 miles per $1 spent
Jo-Ann		3 miles per $1 spent
Kodak Gallery		3 miles per $1 spent
Lobster Gram		3 miles per $1 spent
Magellan's		3 miles per $1 spent
Mrs. Beasley's Bakery		3 miles per $1 spent
Nike		3 miles per $1 spent
Oakley		3 miles per $1 spent
OfficeMax.com		3 miles per $1 spent
Omaha Steaks		3 miles per $1 spent
Orvis		3 miles per $1 spent
Paul Fredrick Menstyle		3 miles per $1 spent
Payless		3 miles per $1 spent
Perfumania		3 miles per $1 spent
PETCO.com		3 miles per $1 spent
PETsMART		3 miles per $1 spent
Plow & Hearth		3 miles per $1 spent
REI		3 miles per $1 spent
Shopbop.com		3 miles per $1 spent
Sierra Trading Post		3 miles per $1 spent
Spa Finder		3 miles per $1 spent
Timberland		3 miles per $1 spent
TravelSmith		3 miles per $1 spent
Tumi		3 miles per $1 spent
Under Armour		3 miles per $1 spent
Vision Direct		3 miles per $1 spent
World of Watches		3 miles per $1 spent
AbeBooks		2 miles per $1 spent
Adobe		2 miles per $1 spent
American Eagle Outfitters		2 miles per $1 spent
Ann Taylor		2 miles per $1 spent
Ann Taylor Loft		2 miles per $1 spent
Aéropostale		2 miles per $1 spent
Baby Gap		2 miles per $1 spent
Back country.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Banana Republic		2 miles per $1 spent
Barnes & Noble.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Bass Pro Shops		2 miles per $1 spent
Beauty.com		2 miles per $1 spent
bebe		2 miles per $1 spent
Best Buy		2 miles per $1 spent
Bliss		2 miles per $1 spent
Borders		2 miles per $1 spent
Bose		2 miles per $1 spent
Boston Proper		2 miles per $1 spent
Cabela's		2 miles per $1 spent
Callaway Golf.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Chadwicks		2 miles per $1 spent
Charlotte Russe		2 miles per $1 spent
CHEFS		2 miles per $1 spent
Clinique		2 miles per $1 spent
Converse		2 miles per $1 spent
Diamond.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Dick's Sporting Goods		2 miles per $1 spent
Disney Shopping		2 miles per $1 spent
FAO Schwarz		2 miles per $1 spent
Footlocker		2 miles per $1 spent
Gap Maternity		2 miles per $1 spent
gap.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Gift Certificates.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Home Decorators Outlet		2 miles per $1 spent
Home Shopping Network		2 miles per $1 spent
HP Home and Home Office		2 miles per $1 spent
iRobot		2 miles per $1 spent
iTunes		2 miles per $1 spent
J&R Electronics		2 miles per $1 spent
Johnston & Murphy		2 miles per $1 spent
Kohl's		2 miles per $1 spent
Lab Series		2 miles per $1 spent
Lancome		2 miles per $1 spent
Land of Nod		2 miles per $1 spent
Lands' End		2 miles per $1 spent
Lane Bryant		2 miles per $1 spent
Leaps & Bounds		2 miles per $1 spent
Lego		2 miles per $1 spent
Lord & Taylor		2 miles per $1 spent
MacMall		2 miles per $1 spent
macys.com		2 miles per $1 spent
MetroStyle		2 miles per $1 spent
Microsoft Store		2 miles per $1 spent
Mrs. Fields		2 miles per $1 spent
Nautica		2 miles per $1 spent
New York & Co.		2 miles per $1 spent
Newport News		2 miles per $1 spent
Nordstrom.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Northern Tool & Equipment		2 miles per $1 spent
Office Depot		2 miles per $1 spent
oldnavy.com		2 miles per $1 spent
One Step Ahead		2 miles per $1 spent
Origins		2 miles per $1 spent
Overstock.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Pacific Sunwear		2 miles per $1 spent
Patagonia		2 miles per $1 spent
pcRUSH		2 miles per $1 spent
Piperlime		2 miles per $1 spent
Pottery Barn		2 miles per $1 spent
Pottery Barn Kids		2 miles per $1 spent
Pottery Barn Teen		2 miles per $1 spent
QuickBooks		2 miles per $1 spent
QVC		2 miles per $1 spent
RadioShack		2 miles per $1 spent
RalphLauren.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Roaman's		2 miles per $1 spent
Saks Fifth Avenue		2 miles per $1 spent
Sephora		2 miles per $1 spent
ShoeSteal.com		2 miles per $1 spent
ShopNBC		2 miles per $1 spent
Shutterfly		2 miles per $1 spent
Skechers		2 miles per $1 spent
Smart Bargains		2 miles per $1 spent
Smith & Hawken		2 miles per $1 spent
Smith + Noble		2 miles per $1 spent
Sony		2 miles per $1 spent
Spiegel		2 miles per $1 spent
StubHub		2 miles per $1 spent
Target.com		2 miles per $1 spent
Textbooks.com		2 miles per $1 spent
The A & E Shop		2 miles per $1 spent
The Body Shop		2 miles per $1 spent
The Container Store		2 miles per $1 spent
The House		2 miles per $1 spent
TicketsNow		2 miles per $1 spent
TigerDirect		2 miles per $1 spent
Urban Outfitters		2 miles per $1 spent
Vera Bradley Designs		2 miles per $1 spent
Williams-Sonoma		2 miles per $1 spent
Williams-Sonoma Home		2 miles per $1 spent
Apple Store		1 mile per $1 spent
Bloomingdales		1 mile per $1 spent
Brooks Brothers		1 mile per $1 spent
Buy.com		1 mile per $1 spent
Calumet Photographic		1 mile per $1 spent
Chico's		1 mile per $1 spent
dELIA's		1 mile per $1 spent
Dell Home		1 mile per $1 spent
Diapers.com		1 mile per $1 spent
Epson Store		1 mile per $1 spent
f.y.e.		1 mile per $1 spent
Guitar Center		1 mile per $1 spent
Home Depot		1 mile per $1 spent
JC Penney		1 mile per $1 spent
Kmart		1 mile per $1 spent
Kodak.com		1 mile per $1 spent
Lighting Universe		1 mile per $1 spent
PC Connection		1 mile per $1 spent
Sealy		miles with all purchases
Sears		1 mile per $1 spent
Staples.com		1 mile per $1 spent
The Children's Place		1 mile per $1 spent
The North Face		1 mile per $1 spent
Vans		1 mile per $1 spent
Victoria's Secret		1 mile per $1 spent
west elm		1 mile per $1 spent
Blockbuster		65 miles per enrollment
Gamefly		1,000 miles for new enrollment
Netflix		1,000 miles per enrollment