Snowy Owl Spotted at South Shore!

A snowy owl has been spotted at South Shore. South Shore has a large variety of birds which stop over throughout the year including many ducks and other water birds and it is a good place for bird watchers and photographers.  The snowy owl is a visitor from the Artic Tundra. They migrate down to the Great Lakes area to winter every few years. This is a good year with sightings of several birds in the Milwaukee area.

These birds are about 2 feet tall with a 4 1/2 foot wing span (our largest locally seen owl) . They migrate here when food is short in the Artic, otherwise they remain in Northern Canada for the winter. This is a young bird. They hunt both day and night and feed on mice, rats ,rabbits, ducks, gulls and pigeons. They are relatively unafraid of humans as they have had little contact in the Artic . If no one pesters it, It may stay around until spring.

Our thanks to Bruce Schultz for sharing his photo. If you would like a quality print or have interest in other birds at South Shore, he has a large assortment of photos taken over the last few years. You can contact him at bschultz26@wi.rr.com or 414-543-1090.

From the Helm

Isaac Newton once said (in a letter to Robert Hooke in 1676): "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."  As I enter my term as Commodore, I must thank those who have come before me, and have placed this club in the position it is in.  We have an excellent facility, a group of members with exceptional talents (who are willing to use them to the benefit of the club) and we are financially sound.  Few commodores can say that today. 

Attention to detail will keep us on this path.

I have asked a few of the directors to take on new roles as committee chairman.  They have done so with great enthusiasm.  A complete list follows:

Audit	Bob Aring
By-Laws	Jim Peterson
Entertainment	Tom Gale
Finance (Budget)	Bob Aring
Grounds	George Artka
House	Luke Radomski
Insurance	Jerry Kedziora
Junior Advisory	Cookie Mueller
Membership	Bruce Nason
Nominating	Bruce Nason
Powerboat	Russ Berg
Public Rel. / Publications	Pete Engel
Sail Race	Rick Trisco
Slip	Nello Copen
Special Events	Ken Dziubek
Waterfront	Jerry Rakowski

By the time you read this you will have received an invitation to the December general membership meeting, which included a copy of the 2012 budget.  The Finance Committee, Pat Nora and the entire Board of Directors have worked hard to put this budget together.  We expect to meet next year’s goals without a dues increase or increases in fees of any kind, even though inflation is squeezing our finances.  The budget does not contain any “wiggle room”.  This will not be the case in 2013 unless we are able to increase the number of dues paying members.  It is incumbent on all of us to invite those who enjoy the club with us to consider joining.  Most people don’t realize how economical SSYC actually is.  Rosemary and I pay more on a monthly basis to be members of the Wisconsin Athletic Club!

Even though the boats are all stored for the winter, the Club has been a busy place.  Everyone had great food and plenty of fun at the Winners Dinner and the Powerboater’s Ball.  And we continue to enjoy potlucks at each of the Packer games.  (Can they go all the way?)  The New Year’s Eve party is just weeks away.  Please consider joining us for what I expect will be a very enjoyable evening.

We hope to keep the Club as vibrant in the First Quarter of 2012 as it has been these last few months.  Tacos, wings, pizza and “three dogs” make it a good place to enjoy a quick meal.  Karaoke adds to the fun on the occasional Saturday evening.  So come on down, enjoy the food and drinks, and make a new friend each time you’re there. 

January is a month in which the club usually shuts down for a while to allow the staff to do a thorough cleaning of the kitchen and bar areas.  Our goal is to accomplish those tasks this winter while still allowing you to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan from the Commodore’s Cove and Lakeside Lounge, while enjoying tacos, wings and weekly restaurant specials.  Please watch your E-mail and the website’s calendar for information on when the club will be open or closed, as we’ll be adjusting to accommodate the Badgers and the Packers.

As we move into the new year, the club will be turning 99.  In 2013, South Shore Yacht Club celebrates it's centennial year.  Bruce Nason has assumed the chairmanship of a committee to plan for this milestone.  Please help us with your ideas of what we should do to make it a special year at SSYC.  Fundraising ideas are especially welcome.

I am honored to serve you as Commodore in 2012.

2012 Wednesday Evening Programs

By Helen “Cookie” Mueller, PC

Wednesday evening programs will be held at South Shore Yacht Club throughout the winter months.  All programs begin at 7:00 pm in the upstairs dining room. The 2012 Schedule includes:

January 25^th – “Cosmic Sights & Scenes for 2012”
Bob Bonadurer, director of the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum will be the guest speaker.  Join Bob as he explores the solar events for 2012: the Venus Transit, a solar eclipse, a Martian landing and the end of the world on December 21, 2012.

February 29^th – “Amateur Shipwreck Archeology offMilwaukee”
Kimm Stabelfeldt from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation will share information about shipwreck field work that has been done in the Milwaukee area.  Details about two current shipwreck projects will also be discussed.

March 28^th – “Journeys in theBering Sea”
Club member Mary Richter will share the adventures of her 800 mile boat delivery from Alaska to the Aleutian Islands and then to the Bering Sea.  Her adventures in the commercial fishing industry will also be explored. 

A Junior Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser will be served from 5:00 – 6:30 before the March 28^th program.  $7 for all you can eat spaghetti.  Join us and help support the Juniors.

2nd Annual Midwest Women's Sailing Conference - Save the Day!

By: Helen "Cookie" Mueller

The 2nd Annual Midwest Women's Sailing Conference will be held on Saturday, May 19th at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. The conference will feature women teaching women.

Women sailors from throughout the midwest will conduct sailing and boating related workshops throughout the day. Workshops will discuss a variety of topics ranging from diesel engine repair to on the water safety. Don't miss this opportunity to network with other women sailors and find out more about boating, sailing and racing.

Details and the registration form will be available in January 2012. Watch for us at Strictly Sail in Chicago on January 26-29, 2012.

Contact us at info@womenssailing.org for more information or check out our web site at www.womenssailing.org
 

Compass Sponsors

Membership Committee News & Needs

By Bruce Nason PC, Corresponding Secretary

South Shore Yacht Club is again going to have a booth at the Milwaukee Boat Show this year.  It’s another one of the Membership Committee’s efforts to recruit new members.  Recruiting new members is what all clubs like SSYC need to survive and grow, and it’s up to all of us to work toward that effort. 

At a sparsely attended committee meeting last week several ideas and programs were discussed to work toward full membership again, but we’re going to need everyone’s help.  

We will be looking for volunteer adult members as well as SSYC Juniors to staff our booth and tell the SSYC story.  Rick Trisco will have a sign up schedule, or you can contact the office if you’d like to help out.  We will also be receiving promotional materials for the boat show which we will be distributing.

The membership committee is also discussing other actions to increase membership.  We need your ideas, as well as your individual efforts to bring us back to full membership.  Plan to attend the Membership Committee.

Welcome to our 3 newest members, Jeff Amich, Tom & Beth Neary and John Slotten!
    

2012 Entertainment Looking Good

Happy New Year fellow Club members and hopefully you all had a wonderful holiday.  The Club was busy with Packer and Badger parties and our annual New Years Eve Party.  In the tradition of the last couple of years, it was again a formal event with about half in Black Tie. It was effectively a “sold out” event reaching our max attendance of 100 people.  After dinner, we kept the Lilly E room open to allow for the over-flow crowd to have a place to sit and have dessert.  This seemed to alleviate the lack of seating issue of years past in the lower level, and will likely be a part of all future NYE Parties.  Music for party was provided by a great band called “Ain’t Misbehavin”.  Given that the dance floor was always crowded, I guess we picked a good band.  It was also great to have many additional members stop by through out the evening to enjoy the Club, and toast old friends.

  

The next meeting for the Entertainment Committee to help plan for spring and summer will be Wednesday, January 11^th at 7pm.  This is a “Social Committee” and anyone from the Club can serve on the Committee, which means spouses are welcome to take an active part in helping to plan the Club’s Socials for 2012.  We want to talk about a Mardi Gras/ Seafood Buffet in February, St Patty’s Party in March, Nautical Art Auction, Jack Daniels themed Bourbon recipe Beef/Chicken/desserts, Mmmmmmm!   And how about a Cognac/Brandy tasting? Please bring your ideas.

After NYE, the next party is the Great Chili Festival on Saturday, January 21^st.  But this year there is no need to bring any Chili.  Do to health concerns over uncertain and uneven preparation, chef Peter and his crew will be preparing five different kinds of Chili.  Besides beef, chicken, and vegetarian, we will also have Bison and Venison for the more exotic tastes.  For the incredibly venturesome, Chef Peter will also be serving his world famous South American Brazilian Fire Chili.  This secret recipe is so serious, only the most healthy attendees over 21 will be allowed to sample this delicacy after signing a medical waiver form.  If the chili doesn’t fire you up, the music will.  We’re very excited to welcome back the very popular “Twin Tones” who always get everyone on the dance floor.  A modest charge of $10 will admit you to this “All You Can Eat” buffet with all the Chili fixings’.  You won’t leave hungry!

The next two Karaoke parties are already scheduled for Saturday, January 28^th and February 25^th at 8pm.   We have expanded our library of and now have nearly 11,000 songs in our play list.  Also, back with us as our Klub Karaoke hostess is the very talented Bridget Lenz.  Besides having a beautiful voice, Bridget will occasionally jump in to help a nervous performer find the melody.  Wife of member Larry Lenz, Bridget has volunteered her voice and talent since the first karaoke night early last winter.  She makes everyone feel like a rock star!

Also, don’t forget the Super Bowl Party on Sunday, February 5^th featuring the defending World Champion Green Bay Packers and….

PHRF Fleet News

by Andrew Gawin, Fleet Captain

By now most of you know that I'll be the PHRF Fleet Captain for 2012.  Rick Trisco has moved on to be the Race Committee Chairman, and Ken Dziubek is now the Special Events Chairman.  I'd like to thank both Rick and Ken for the wonderful jobs they did in 2011.  

We had the Fleet Fall Meeting at the end of November.  I'll be sending out detailed minutes soon, but here are a couple of the highlights:

• A draft schedule of races was handed out.  Since then we have finalized the schedule.  It will be posted on the SSYC Website calendar over the next couple of days.  I have also created a Google iCal feed for those that can "subscribe" to additional calendars on their computers, smart phones, and tablets.  The URL for that feed is https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/e7omk565236tme6iep8kvj4bro%40group.calendar.google.com/private-d1b19f9c6ae30143f2d20b00491a245b/basic.ics 
• Registration will remain the same at $130 for the year.  Additionally, we expect to have on-line registrations available for 2012.
• Last year we did a lot to get race results out faster.  This year we will continue that trend.  Both SSYC and MYC will use the same software for better consistency.  I'll also be posting season standings soon after each race.
• We expect to try rolling starts this year so the boats aren't sitting around waiting for everyone to finish before they can start their next race.  This should get many sections back to their clubs earlier.  The "M" course is also being adjusted to reduce any confusion.

We also had a good discussion about getting more boats involved in the weekend racing program, and how to generally make things better.  Some of those suggestions include:

• Having overall awards for more races than just the Tanger.  
• Offering a double-handed fleet for some of the distance races.
• Having a monthly fleet get together during the off-season.
• A general request to have actual flags to hand out after the races.

We are looking at these and a number of other suggestions and will have more information at the spring fleet meeting.  The key here is to get your feedback and additional suggestions.  To make that easier we now have a dedicated email address, phrf@ssyc.org.  I'll be monitoring that address on a daily basis for your questions, suggestions, and comments.

Rick has passed on the list of email addresses from last year.  I'll be sending the detailed meeting minutes to that list of addressees.  If you would like to be added to that list, or have changed your email address, please send me a note at the phrf@ssyc.org address. (Members should also notify the Club of any contact information changes.)

Compass Sponsors

Special Events Update

She Circled the Globe with an All Women Crew!

By Phyllis McDonald

The Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference is proud to announce the keynote speaker and guest instructor for our upcoming conference.  Hear  Milwaukee native Nancy Erley speak about circumnavigating with an all women crew - twice. 

 

Spend the day learning and sharing with fabulous women. Find workshops to fit your needs from beginner to advanced!

Welcome all Cruisers, racers, sailing spouses and women dreaming of fair seas.  Mark your calendars for the Second Annual Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference on May 19, 2012!

Midwest Women’s Sailing Conference 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Milwaukee Community Sailing Center
1450 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Cost $125.00
Visit http://womenssailing.org for more information.

Don’t forget to visit our booth at Strictly Sail at Navy Pier Chicago January 26-29
for more details and early-bird registration!

 

Boating Safety - Digital Selective Calling Radio

By Gerry Hussin

Is your radio a - Digital Selective Calling Radio

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio is the latest in marine radio technology. Digital Selective Calling is part of a global upgrade in maritime distress communications. Satellite and digital technology used for several years on commercial ships is now available to the recreational boater. DSC radios allow boaters to make ship-to-ship private calls and the DSC distress channel is currently being monitored by commercial ships.

Since 1996 recreational boaters were no longer required to have a ship's station license issued by the FCC in order to operate a VHF radio. The new DSC radios however have to be registered to work properly in emergency situations. They are also encoded with a unique nine digit FCC identification number that allows the ship-to-ship calling feature. This unique number called a Maritime Mobile Service Identity or MMSI, is much like your cell phone number. Once the radio is registered with the FCC, that information and your boat's information is entered in the US Coast Guard's national distress database.

The major advantage of the DSC radio is its ability to send an automatic "mayday" that identifies the vessel and also, when connected to a GPS, can send the vessels location. The DSC radio operates much like an EPIRB that sends encoded "maydays" directly to satellites. The DSC radio will also continue sending the emergency signal if the skipper is disabled.

Another feature of the DSC radio is the ability to place private ship-to-ship calls to other vessels equipped with DSC radio. Basically if you know the MMSI number of the radio you are calling only that vessel will receive you message. Just like using your cell phone.

Although commercial ships over 300 tons are now required to monitor the DSC Radio reserved Channel 70 for distress calls, the US Coast Guard is still monitoring Channel 16.

The Coast Guard has updated their equipment, so that they monitoring DSC Channel 70. The USCG's equipment up grade  includes:

• DSC capability to send or receive calls on channel 70
• Eliminate the 65 gaps in current VHF coverage in the US
• Provide direction finding capability to trace a garbled radio signal
• Provide playback of VHF voice or digital calls
• Provide automatic tracking of USCG ships and aircraft on search and rescue missions

There have been recent incidences where commercial ships have picked up the "mayday" calls on Channel 70 and relayed them to the USCG.

The DSC radio feature is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This system was put in place by international treaty in 1988 and all seagoing nations including the US is GMDSS compliant.

T-10 Fleet News

By Pat McGuinnis, T-10 Fleet Captain

The Tartan 10 Fleet had a 2011 successful season. Congratulations to Blueprint (1), Snowball's Chance (2), and Bacchus (3).

We had a very successful T-10 North American Regatta - 4 days, 9 races, and 30 boats participated.  The regatta was a big success in terms of great racing, elevated racing prominence at SSYC, and a financial success for SSYC and the fleet.

A lot of people made it happen, and I'd like to thank:

• Chris Moll, 2011 Fleet Captain and Organizer in Chief
• John Strassman, PRO - thanks for volunteering your time and expertise
• Pat Nora, and Ed from behind the bar - Thanks for making all the meals, drinks and hospitality happen
• Kitchen Staff - The meals were excellent and timely
• Everyone from MYC who helped as judges and other
• The T-10 committee heads who organized various areas
• All volunteers from the T-10 Fleet and SSYC
• Race Committee volunteers, especially on Sunday - It was pretty nauseous out there
• All our great sponsors
• Our local sail makers keeping us fast
• And everyone else I have forgot or neglected to mention

The teamwork involved is a fine example of what it takes to keep clubs and fleets strong.  We could not have done it without everyone's help.

I can't wait to get back on the water - See you out there in 2012.

Compass Sponsors

Powerboaters' News

The Powerboater’s Ball was held on November 12^th. There were over 60 members in attendance. We enjoyed a great meal, and music, and dancing to “Heat”. You can see some of the elegant crowd in attendance in the picture below!

Following the Powerboater’s Ball, Gerry Hedtke ran a buffet brunch on the Voyager. The seas cooperated and it was a wonderful ride on Lake Michigan and the River. The temperature was in the 70’s and the sun came out just in time for our departure.

Our events that have made it to the 2012 calendar are:

• Our Powerboater’s planning meeting will be held on January 26^th at 7:00 p.m. Bring along new ideas and let’s get them on the calendar.
• The Super Bowl Party being planned by Doug and Pam Reading and Mike Gianinni.
• The Gambling Get Away is set for March 17 – 18, 2012 at Oneida. This fun weekend is being run by Dave and Nancy Tucholka and Ken and Sandy Dziubek. 
• As always, if you have any interest in running an event or new ideas for the ones we do please let me know. If you are new to the club, we really want to hear from you concerning your participation in the Powerboater’s activities. Call me personally on my cell at 414-397-4151. We want your participation.

From the Manager

HolidayGreetings:

Well here we are in the New Year. A special thanks to Tom Gale and all those who volunteered to decorate the club for the holiday season.  The decorations look great!  Stop down and see for yourself.

Holiday events were a success,  including:
-          December 25^th, 2011 –Annual Tom & Jerry Party & open for the Packers vs. Bears
-          December 31^st, 2011 - New Year’s Eve Party
-       January 1^st, 2012 - Bloody Mary Bar & Packers vs. Lions

And don’t forget Friday evening dining in the Commodore’s Cove is a great way to entertain your friends and family in the New Year.

 

Auxiliary News - 2012 Officers & Directors

By: Jan-Marie Weiler

It’s January 2012 already! That means the Auxiliary has held elections and installation for the Officers and Directors for 2012. A special thank you goes out to the nominating committee for the work led by Fran Aring. Thank you to the retiring officers of auditor Nancy Nikolaus, and recording secretary Tracy Nikolaus.  Also retiring are board members Karen Schmidt, and Mary Berg. Our long standing ways and means committee members are retiring so a big thank you to Cookie Mueller, Pat Rakowski and Fran Aring.  All of these members have given years of work in various capacities and although they are not leaving the Auxiliary, they are transferring their energies to other areas of South Shore Yacht Club and the Auxiliary. Our organization is truly built on the volunteer work of all of the members. We are so much more collectively than we are individually. So again, a heartfelt thank you goes out to the work of these members.

Stepping up to the plate this coming year is Susie Hedtke as recording secretary, and Jodi Emery as auditor. The new board members are Peggy Eilers and Tove Case. Taking over the helm of the ways and means committee will be Joan Randa, Lynn Engel and Jan Weiler. Thank you to them for agreeing to fill the vacancies. A big thank you goes out to the members who are continuing yet another year of service to the Auxiliary. Many of our members continue to serve year after year in many capacities. I am very grateful for all of their efforts that make our organization so vital to the whole picture of our yacht club.

Auxiliary meetings are not held in January. So our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 3^rd at 7:00 p.m. We’ll run through the plan for the coming year, share fellowship with the hardy members who stick around these climes through the deep of winter and then play a couple rousing games of bingo!!! Sure hope you are able to join us. Watch the weather, and if by slim chance it turns ugly, we will cancel and the club office will send out notice.

Be safe and stay healthy. See you in 2012!!!

Cruising Club Update

By Don Doggett, Cruising Fleet Co-Captain

Hello Again South Shore Cruisers,

At our last meeting Thursday, November 10, 2011, we had a casual get together with plenty of pizza and beer to go around. We had a few new cruising couples attend, who are interested in next year’s cruising events. We hope to have a jolly fleet in preparation for next year’s cruising destinations.  Also, we’re putting together a cruising member directory to be shared with SSYC Cruising Club members. Find a new place to go, or discuss potential ports with others who have been there. Receive the directory when you submit your form. Need a form? Email Don Doggett (dondoggett@att.net).

Plan on attending our first monthly social of the New Year on Thursday, January 12^th, 2012 at 7PM,  where we plan to meet at SSYC for food, drinks and lots of good stories. Official details to come out soon. Bring a dish to share, magazines, videos, or DVDs or other sailing materials you think others might find interesting. You can swap or borrow from a fellow member or browse during the meeting, maybe we'll even watch a flick or two during the meeting.

We’ll be looking for you then. Happy Holidays!

Compass Sponsors

House Report

Seasons Greetings,

Here are a few updates as it relates to the House that I would like to pass along.  Recently, we were able to remove the old “can” cooler behind the lower bar and replace it with a brand new one that is much more efficient as well as larger.  This will allow us to keep a larger selection of cold canned beverages available for your boating enjoyment.  Also, the two VERY old, large and most importantly unusable beer coolers were removed from the basement.  The elimination of these Roosevelt era monstrosities coupled with the extensive cleaning and organization that our GM Pat and his staff will be undertaking in the coming weeks should help create some much needed storage space.

As we begin to close out 2011,  I would like to take this opportunity to mention that in 2012 the House Committee will begin looking at the feasibility of accomplishing two major projects.  I believe all would agree these are needed but, as usual, it’s the how, when and how too pay for it, that needs to be addressed.

• Both the men’s and women’s restrooms are in need of an update.  Not surprisingly the mens room is in worse shape then the womens.
•  We have also talked for some time about building a formal platform to showcase the history of SSYC.  The easterly wall of the conference room has been identified as the best place for this.  Building some type of presentation space would greatly assist us in preserving and protecting many of the important photos, articles, and other historical pieces that document the growth of SSYC through the years.

I would like to emphasize that beyond the location of the archive room/library and not infringing on anything that would trigger full compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, (the cost of compliance with ADA is extremely high) the scope of work on both of these projects is very wide. 

The nice thing about knowing that you don’t have the funds to pay for something is that it allows you to dream…(you should see the cost of some of the boats I could see myself on if …….).  I would like for the membership to begin thinking seriously about both of these projects and would greatly welcome any input on how to go about them both financially as well as for design. 

Bay View History….Beulah Brinton House

By  Sharon Cook

The Beulah Brinton House at 2590 is a part of our SSYC neighborhood. 

Built in 1872-73 by Milwaukee Iron Company employee Warren Brinton and his wife Beulah, the house served as a focal point for the community that was to become Bay View.  Beulah used her home to teach English and home making skills to the women who accompanied the immigrant workers at the Mill.  The house also had a 300 book library that was open to all.   Imagine a tennis court on that spacious lawn which was also open to the neighborhood children.  It’s no wonder the Beulah Brinton Recreation Center on Bay Street was named to honor the efforts she made to enhance our community residents.

The house is now home to the Bay View Historical Society and is open for tours on alternate Saturday afternoons. 

 Provided in cooperation with the Bay View Historical Society

Helping Hands

By Carolyn Nason

Here are a few helpful hints:

Can you guess how long, on average, it takes to reach a live customer-service agent on 1-800 numbers?

1 minute, 41 seconds. Sometimes it just seems like a lifetime.

Cold weather getting you down? Got the itch to travel? Check out Facebook, Twitter and Quikbook. They’re good sources for travel companies to announce sales. For overseas travel, don’t overlook EasyJet (UK based) which is not on Expedia or Orbitz. Also, Skyscanner http://www.skyscanner.com/  and Momondohttp://www.momondo.com/ are great if you’re going to smaller cities overseas.

While you’re at it, visit Seatguru   http://www.seatguru.com/   to give you the layout of your plane so you can pick the best seat available.

Oh, this is cool.  There’s a free Android app that lets you choose which numbers will ring on your cell even when it’s in silent mode. Pretty useful with a babysitter or if your wife is pregnant.

Ok, here’s a “you gotta be kidding.” It’s called a Makeup Eraser Stick. It looks just like a Q-tip but it has some kind of fluid inside. Snap the tip to dab away any makeup mistakes. Whatever happened to a regular ol’ Q-tip with a little spit on it?

Learn to negotiate.  Learning this skill is just like riding a bicycle. It takes practice. Start small, like when you buy something on Craigslist. Don’t pay full price. See If you can wrangle for a better deal. When you’re feeling ready, try calling your credit card or cable company for a lower rate. You just might be surprised.

Hey ladies, instead of applying your serum, moisturizer and foundation separately, just mix it all together in your hand and apply. How’s that for a time saver?

Internet shoppers here’s an amazing tool for you. Say you find a really great dress but it’s way out of your price range. Once you have a free account fromhttp://www.salemarked.com/ you can drag the “Salemarked”” bookmarklet. This little wonder gives you direct access on your toolbar. There are 11 participating e—tailers. Simply enter the amount you’re willing to pay and you’ll get an email when the price is right. How cool is that!

Go green. Can you give up paper towels? Try cloth towels and napkins. They’re durable, convenient, and better for the environment.

I hate it when that happens! Is this you? “I love to cinch my cardigan, but the end of the belt sticks out awkwardly.” Aside from tucking under the end of the belt (for free), you can spend $12, yes that’s right, $12 on a “Belt Loopy”. They even have a website. No kidding.

As always, keep your hints coming.