The start of graduation season is just weeks away. Graduation gifts are a nice way to help the graduate start the new chapter in their life, whether that is entering the working world or going to college. Yes, graduates might have ideas on what would be the perfect graduation gift, such as money for a backpacking trip across Europe, a new car, computer, etc., but there are less grandiose gifts that can be given that will still have meaning and go a long way. Below is a list of gift ideas for the graduate in your life.
1.) Sheets and towels – not very exciting, but practical
2.) A portable filing case – great to file bills and important documents in and ideal for those that live with limited space, such as a dorm room or apartment
3.) Journal
4.) Phone cards or prepaid phone
5.) Books – related to study area or field/hobby of interest
6.) Photo Albums of friends and family
7.) Certificates to clothing stores
8.) Gift certificates to electronic stores
9.) Gift cards to home decorating stores
10.) Certificates to restaurants
11.) Cash – This is a gift that you can’t go wrong with. The gift may not seem personal, but it will be appreciated and can go a long way.
An idea if you do want to give your graduate a "big ticket" gift is to go in on the gift with multiple people or families.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Dear Just Be: I am having a dinner party with some girl friends this weekend and need a light supper salad recipe.
Tuna Nicoise Salad is a classic recipe, and one your girlfriends are sure to be awed by. In addition to it sounding and appearing a little fancy it only has 109 calories. (Serves 4)
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 lb new potatoes
4 oz small green beans, trimmed and halved
2 tuna steaks (6oz each)
6tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 Boston or Bibb lettuces
7 oz of cherry tomatoes, halved
6 oz cucumber, peeled, cut in half, and sliced
2 oz pitted black olives
2 oz canned anchovies in olive oil, drained
Salt and pepper
Bring a small pan of water to a boil. Add the eggs and then cook for 7-9 minutes from when the water returns to boil-7 minutes for a soft center and 9 minutes for a firm center. Drain and refresh under cold running water and set aside.
Cook the potatoes in lightly salted boiling water for 10-12 minutes, until tender, Add the beans 3 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Drain both vegetables well and refresh under cold water. Drain well again.
Wash and dry the tuna steaks. Brush with a little olive oil and season to taste. Cook on a preheated ridged griddle for 2-3 minutes each side, until just tender but still slightly pink in the center. Set aside to rest.
To assemble the salad, break apart the lettuces and tear into large pieces. Divide among individual serving plates. Next, add the potatoes and beans, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives. Toss lightly together. Shell the eggs and cut into fourths lengthwise. Arrange on top of salad. Scatter the anchovies over the top.
Flake the tuna steaks and arrange on the salad. Pour over the dressing and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Practical Summer Food by P3 pg.11
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 lb new potatoes
4 oz small green beans, trimmed and halved
2 tuna steaks (6oz each)
6tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 Boston or Bibb lettuces
7 oz of cherry tomatoes, halved
6 oz cucumber, peeled, cut in half, and sliced
2 oz pitted black olives
2 oz canned anchovies in olive oil, drained
Salt and pepper
Bring a small pan of water to a boil. Add the eggs and then cook for 7-9 minutes from when the water returns to boil-7 minutes for a soft center and 9 minutes for a firm center. Drain and refresh under cold running water and set aside.
Cook the potatoes in lightly salted boiling water for 10-12 minutes, until tender, Add the beans 3 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Drain both vegetables well and refresh under cold water. Drain well again.
Wash and dry the tuna steaks. Brush with a little olive oil and season to taste. Cook on a preheated ridged griddle for 2-3 minutes each side, until just tender but still slightly pink in the center. Set aside to rest.
To assemble the salad, break apart the lettuces and tear into large pieces. Divide among individual serving plates. Next, add the potatoes and beans, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives. Toss lightly together. Shell the eggs and cut into fourths lengthwise. Arrange on top of salad. Scatter the anchovies over the top.
Flake the tuna steaks and arrange on the salad. Pour over the dressing and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Practical Summer Food by P3 pg.11
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Dear Just Be: I am still working on preparing my taxes. What happens if I turn them in late?
Yes, its is the final hours before your taxes are technically due to the IRS. But don't fret. The IRS does allow for extensions, which will give you more time to complete your tax forms. Better to file completely and accurately through an extension, then to turn in faulty returns.
The nitty gritty of filing for a return is this:
You must complete and submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File on or before April 15 and the IRS will give you six more months, until Oct. 15, to fulfill your tax-filing duties. The form is only a half page in length and requires basic information, such as name, address and Social Security number. The IRS does not require a reason for filing an extension.
The IMPORTANT thing to note though, is that this does not allow you to pay your taxes owed at that later date - only to complete all of the paperwork. Therefore, you need to figure out if you are going to owe or not. If you do owe taxes, you need to pay that amount, or a close estimate, along with your filing extension. And it pays to pay the amount owed now, as you will be subjected to nonfiling penalties and interest charges if you do not pay now.
If you owe more taxes than you were expecting to have to pay, you have several options available to you.
1. Pay at least part of the amount owed - as this will help minimize the interest and penalty charges that will accrue.
2. Arrange to pay in installments - use Form 9465.
3. You can charge any taxes due to your Visa, American Express, MasterCard or Discover credit card. Be forewarned though - you will be charged an additional service fee of 2.35% of your charge amount. Contact either of the two companies below to complete an electronic extension request and to give your credit card information:
a. Official Payments Corp. at 800-2PAYTAX (800-272-9829)
b. Link2Gov Corp. at (888) PAY1040 (800-729-1040)
Now if you are really running behind and filing for your extension, go online and file Form 4868 electronically - either by yourself or with a paid preparer.
And for you folks fortunate enough not to owe taxes this year, and will be receiving a refund, an extension request is not necessary and there isn't a penalty. However, until you actually file, you will not receive your refund.
Now get going...the clock is ticking!
The nitty gritty of filing for a return is this:
You must complete and submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File on or before April 15 and the IRS will give you six more months, until Oct. 15, to fulfill your tax-filing duties. The form is only a half page in length and requires basic information, such as name, address and Social Security number. The IRS does not require a reason for filing an extension.
The IMPORTANT thing to note though, is that this does not allow you to pay your taxes owed at that later date - only to complete all of the paperwork. Therefore, you need to figure out if you are going to owe or not. If you do owe taxes, you need to pay that amount, or a close estimate, along with your filing extension. And it pays to pay the amount owed now, as you will be subjected to nonfiling penalties and interest charges if you do not pay now.
If you owe more taxes than you were expecting to have to pay, you have several options available to you.
1. Pay at least part of the amount owed - as this will help minimize the interest and penalty charges that will accrue.
2. Arrange to pay in installments - use Form 9465.
3. You can charge any taxes due to your Visa, American Express, MasterCard or Discover credit card. Be forewarned though - you will be charged an additional service fee of 2.35% of your charge amount. Contact either of the two companies below to complete an electronic extension request and to give your credit card information:
a. Official Payments Corp. at 800-2PAYTAX (800-272-9829)
b. Link2Gov Corp. at (888) PAY1040 (800-729-1040)
Now if you are really running behind and filing for your extension, go online and file Form 4868 electronically - either by yourself or with a paid preparer.
And for you folks fortunate enough not to owe taxes this year, and will be receiving a refund, an extension request is not necessary and there isn't a penalty. However, until you actually file, you will not receive your refund.
Now get going...the clock is ticking!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dear Just Be: This is probably silly, but how do you sew on a button?
Sewing a button is not as hard as you might think. You only need three items to do this:
1.) A needle
2.) Thread
3.) A button or the button that fell off
Step 1:
Pick thread that matches the color of the thread that is used on the other buttons on the garment, the color of the button or color of the material you are sewing the button on to
Step 2:
Cut the thread to be 12 to 18 inches. That seems long, but you will see why that is in a second.
Step 3:
Pass the thread the through the eye hole of the needle (you may need some patience in this step as well as good eye site or glasses).
Step 4:
Move the needle to the middle of the thread and fold the thread in half. Tie a knot at the end where both ends of the thread meet. Tie a second knot, so that the end is secure.
Step 5:
Place the button on top of the material where you intend to sew it into place.
Step 6:
From under the material, push the needle up through the material and through one of the holes on the button. Pull all the way through until the knot is anchored against the material on the backside.
Step 7:
Push the needle down through the next hole on the button and through the material.
Step 8:
Repeat the last two steps (6 and &) three times, going up and down through the hole on the button and through the material, so that each hole is secure.
Step 9:
Wrap the thread between the button and the fabric three times.
Step 10:
Take a stitch from the backside of the material, pull to form a loop. Hold the loop and pull the remaining thread through. As you are making this tight, create another loop and pull the thread completely through. This will create a tight knot. (This is why you need so much thread.)
Step 11:
Cut the remaining thread so you are as close to the knot as possible.
For those of you that are visual learners, check out this fun video tutorial on how to sew a button by Threadbanger’s
1.) A needle
2.) Thread
3.) A button or the button that fell off
Step 1:
Pick thread that matches the color of the thread that is used on the other buttons on the garment, the color of the button or color of the material you are sewing the button on to
Step 2:
Cut the thread to be 12 to 18 inches. That seems long, but you will see why that is in a second.
Step 3:
Pass the thread the through the eye hole of the needle (you may need some patience in this step as well as good eye site or glasses).
Step 4:
Move the needle to the middle of the thread and fold the thread in half. Tie a knot at the end where both ends of the thread meet. Tie a second knot, so that the end is secure.
Step 5:
Place the button on top of the material where you intend to sew it into place.
Step 6:
From under the material, push the needle up through the material and through one of the holes on the button. Pull all the way through until the knot is anchored against the material on the backside.
Step 7:
Push the needle down through the next hole on the button and through the material.
Step 8:
Repeat the last two steps (6 and &) three times, going up and down through the hole on the button and through the material, so that each hole is secure.
Step 9:
Wrap the thread between the button and the fabric three times.
Step 10:
Take a stitch from the backside of the material, pull to form a loop. Hold the loop and pull the remaining thread through. As you are making this tight, create another loop and pull the thread completely through. This will create a tight knot. (This is why you need so much thread.)
Step 11:
Cut the remaining thread so you are as close to the knot as possible.
For those of you that are visual learners, check out this fun video tutorial on how to sew a button by Threadbanger’s
Monday, April 12, 2010
Dear Just Be: I'm getting into a new exercise routine and want to buy a new bike - any advice?
Congratulations! Bicycling is a great form of exercise that you can do alone, with friends, in riding groups and with your families! You will want to first determine which type of bike you will want; a mountain bike or a road bike.
First, you will want to ask yourself, what will be the main use of your bike? Commuting? Improving fitness? touring? How much time will you spend on your bike?
Think about where and when will you ride? Also, give consideration to your level of fitness when purchasing a bicycle.
Other things to consider when buying a bike is your preferred price point. Will you be OK with a simple design or would you prefer a state-of-the art bicycle? Do you plan on using this bike for the next 10 years or is there a decent chance as your riding improves, you will want to upgrade?
And while you are thinking of the price of the bike you are will to pay for, keep in mind the accessories you will need to buy to properly ride, such as a helmet, repair kit, bike pump, water bottle and cage, etc. These additional items can add up at the cash register.
You will have to conduct your own research to determine the right style of bike for you. We recommend reading biking magazines, searching the Internet, talking with bike shops around town and definitely test riding several models, brands and types of bikes before settling on your final purchase.
Other points to take into consideration:
* Buy once. It's less expensive to get the frame, wheels and components you want initially than to upgrade later.
* Proper fit is much more important than getting a good deal.
* Be wary if a deal sounds too good to be true. If a bike you're interested in has parts or features that appear to be uncharacteristic for its price, try to figure out what corners were cut.
* Pick out the features and components that best meet your needs, then see what the bike costs. This way you'll know if your performance expectations match your budget.
Happy shopping and riding!
First, you will want to ask yourself, what will be the main use of your bike? Commuting? Improving fitness? touring? How much time will you spend on your bike?
Think about where and when will you ride? Also, give consideration to your level of fitness when purchasing a bicycle.
Other things to consider when buying a bike is your preferred price point. Will you be OK with a simple design or would you prefer a state-of-the art bicycle? Do you plan on using this bike for the next 10 years or is there a decent chance as your riding improves, you will want to upgrade?
And while you are thinking of the price of the bike you are will to pay for, keep in mind the accessories you will need to buy to properly ride, such as a helmet, repair kit, bike pump, water bottle and cage, etc. These additional items can add up at the cash register.
You will have to conduct your own research to determine the right style of bike for you. We recommend reading biking magazines, searching the Internet, talking with bike shops around town and definitely test riding several models, brands and types of bikes before settling on your final purchase.
Other points to take into consideration:
* Buy once. It's less expensive to get the frame, wheels and components you want initially than to upgrade later.
* Proper fit is much more important than getting a good deal.
* Be wary if a deal sounds too good to be true. If a bike you're interested in has parts or features that appear to be uncharacteristic for its price, try to figure out what corners were cut.
* Pick out the features and components that best meet your needs, then see what the bike costs. This way you'll know if your performance expectations match your budget.
Happy shopping and riding!
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