<img src=”{filedir_1}The_Outsiders_2.jpg” alt=”The Outsiders ” height=”480″ width=”720″ /><em>The Outsiders</em>, one of my all-time favorite novels which I have read many times and passed down to both my boys to read, was made in to a movie and released 30 years ago this month. March 25, 1983, the world got to see Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and Cherry up on the big screen.

The cast of <em>The Outsiders </em>included many famous names such as Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio and others who went on to have very successful careers . What an amazing cast fit to an incredible story that after re-reading so many times I still find relevant.

The novel was written by S.E. Hinton and published in 1967. S.E. Hinton was only 18 years old when the book was published but had done most of the writing when she was just 16 and a junior in high school. The book follows two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs (short for Socials), who are divided by their social status in society.

What brilliance on the part of S.E. Hinton to write about this timeless topic, in such a way to reach so many people and to have such an impact on so many readers. At such a young age herself, to be able to write something to which so many people can relate, is incredible.

Other movies of my generation come to mind, <em>The Breakfast Club </em>or <em>Pretty in Pink</em>, again, movies about teens divided by social status.

Check out <em>The Outsiders</em>, the book or the movie….and remember, <strong>“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.”</strong>

Have you ever heard of the blog <a href=”http://www.hip2save.com”>Hip2Save</a>? I believe they are sponsored by the TODAY show, and have loads awesome savings on this site! The blog was started by a mom and has expanded rapidly since she started it ni 2008. Typically, the site has at least 3-4 pages of deal postings per day. Furthermore, they have guides to begin your couponing journey.

Every Wednesday they also feature Jill’s Steals and Deals segment from the TODAY show, and will link you to all of the offers. Another sweet reward is the “comment fairy” who will grant small gifts for those participants who have especially helpful additions to the posts. You can even sign up for their daily newsletter to get all the newest savings info, and automatically be entered into their weekly $50 amazon.com gift card sweepstakes

The posting subjects range from books to grocery items to jewelry, clothing and so much more! You can sort by freebies, coupons, stores and even by reward clubs. I’m only disappointed I didn’t stumble upon this earlier – it’s more addictive than Pintrest!

Even though March has only just arrived, the first thoughts of spring are starting to creep in. As spring approaches I start to think about warm days out at the Farmers Market on a sunny Saturday morning and seeing our friends at Maple Springs Farms. Jena and I have, for the last couple of years, have been getting fresh fruits, vegetables and more from Mark Hiedmann, the owner and farmer at Maple Springs farm as part of a CSA that we purchase each yeah.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is program that one can participate in by prepaying at the beginning of the season in order to get discounted produce though out the growing season. For example, one could provide a $300 payment at this time of year to the grower of your choice and when their crops are ready that $300 will become credit that you may use at that grower in exchange for produce. Farmers get money early in the season in order to get their crops up and running and then the supporters get the same dollar amount in amazing fresh produce. Usually, there is also an additional discount for CSA share holders as well, so that $300 will go even further that it would if you just came to the Farmer’s Market with cash. It’s terrific to be able to just go to the market and grab what you need without opening your wallet.

This is a great program that allows growers and consumers to meet and interact, so that each learns from the other about the product, how it’s grown and ways it is best used. You can pick up a lot of ideas from just a short conversation with a farmer.

Check out the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association website at the link below for more info about CSA’s and finding a grower near you!

http://www.mofga.net/Directories/CommunitySupportedAgricultureinMaine/tabid/268/Default.aspx

Earlier this week during one of our marketing meetings I was asked to do a market study of how much it costs to move these days. After the meeting I did some light research on it and quickly realized what a big decision it is to move. I put myself in the shoes of a person that is relocating and started doing the math on how much it would cost if I wanted to move. As a leasing consultant we only go over the rental costs with our perspective residents we don’t factor in all other costs. Not only do you have to come up with a security deposit and first month’s rent but you must purchase boxes, protective wrapping for your fragile items, rent a u-haul and find friends or relatives willing to do some manual labor if that’s an option. It all quickly adds up to a few thousand dollars. I got a price quote from a moving company and for a 2.5 mile in town move they quoted me $1,649.00 I can’t even imagine an out of state move. Transferring cable service from Comcast will cost $50. National Grid does not charge for a transfer of service. This market study was a big eye opener and it gave me a different perspective on my role as a Leasing Consultant. Before this study I thought of moving as new and exciting though I still feel this way about it I now realize not everyone sees it for all it’s positive changes. For some people a simple move may take them months to recover from financially on top of adjusting to their new surroundings. As much as I value my new move ins this made me want to be even more compassionate towards them for making such a big decision.

Today is the last day of February! That means tomorrow is March 1. I know what you are thinking, “Wow, Sheri, you’re pretty observant!” 😉

Well, here’s the thing. It’s been a long, cold and snowy winter and I am ready for spring! And, in my mind, once the calendar changes over to March, it is purely just a matter of time before the trees start budding, the mercury on the thermometer starts going up (and staying up!), the birds start chirping and the winter clothes start finding their way back into the closet!

In March we spring ahead one hour (yay!) and for all of you college basketball fans, March means only one thing – it’s bracket time for March Madness!

This year, March is chock-full of days to mark on the calendar! http://www.wincalendar.com/March-Calendar/March-2013-Calendar.html

So as you “March forward”, think spring! Sunny days are a’coming, people! Hang in there! 🙂

Do you love to read? I do! Personally, I love the library, but sometime you just have to buy the book. And then slowly, your home is covered in books and you have more coming in!

Here is a great way to clean house, save money and get new books all at the same time: PaperBackSwap.com! This is a website you can join for free. Each book you swap earns you a credit towards getting a new book that someone else has listed to swap. As one of their users said, “Send your previous loved books in exchange for new books that you will now love. IT’S THAT SIMPLE!” They also have sister sites for CD swapping and DVD swapping as well.

So check it out! What could be better, clean home and new books! Enjoy!

Moving is a stressful process and sometimes it comes with unexpected and unwanted costs that we all forget about. Packing supplies, storage units, UHauls, movers…it all adds up leaving us wishing we just stayed put!

Here are some tips to limit your costs and save you an unwanted headache before moving into your apartment!

<strong>Time it right-</strong> A mid-month move will save you some money! Movers are busiest during the beginning and end of the month as leases turn over so they tend to increase their prices.

<strong>Save on boxes-</strong> You can purchase recycled boxes and pack small items up yourself to decrease the amount of time the movers will have to spend. You can then even sell your boxes back to the store you purchased them from!

<strong>Plan ahead-</strong> Label your boxes well and if you think of it, snap pictures of your next home and draw on them to show the movers in advance where each item goes. You’ll reduce the moving time quite a bit that way!

<strong>Snag a tax break-</strong> If you’re moving because of a job change, you may be able to deduct certain moving expenses, such as transportation and storage costs for household goods!

Winter in New England can be tough. Frigid temperatures, brutal snow storms, biting winds and shorter days leads many folks to hunker down and spend most of the season in the comfort of their homes. Every once in a while something comes along that helps pull people out of the funk of winter and brings them out and about again. One of those events, at least for me, is Maine Restaurant Week. This year Restaurant Week has expanded and will run from March 1st to March 10th, increasing the great opportunity to get some terrific bargains at some of the finest restaurants on Maine.

As some of you are sure to know, Restaurant Week started in 2009 as way for local business, from suppliers to purveyors, to get a much needed economic boost during the difficult winter season. This year there are 86 restaurants participating in Restaurant Week! During the week participating restaurants will feature set 3 course prix fixe (fixed price) menus, either $22, $32 or $42 depending on the restaurant. Most include a couple of appetizer choices, two or three entrée choices and desert, though some provide more options, all for the price that would usually only buy an entrée. This is a great way to eat at some of the higher end restaurants without breaking the bank!

The week begins and ends with a special event designed to provide a platform for local chefs to display their amazing wares. This years opening event is The Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off, where The Good Table will be defending its crown against all comers with its “Crème Brulee French Toast”. The week is capped off by the Maine Restaurant Week Signature Event, where local mixologists and pastry chefs with provide over two dozen samples of great original cocktails and deserts.

Even though it’s cold outside, there are still exciting places and tastes out there for everyone. Maine Restaurant Week is one of my favorite ways to break the winter doldrums and warm up for the spring that surely comes. Make it one of yours!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a hard time hanging photos and art on my walls. I always pull out my tape measure, my level and my hammer but somehow end up hammering 2 holes where only one should be because my measurements are off! Also, nothing is more frustrating than hanging a collage of photos only to step back and realize that one picture is about 3 inches higher than it should be, throwing off your whole design!

I’ve found a system that is easy and fool proof for tackling both of these tasks!

First, cut some scrap paper to the size of the frame (or frames) and mark the nail location on the paper. Using painter’s tape, move the paper templates around the wall until satisfied. Once you have your frames exactly where you want them, hammer the nails through the marks you’ve drawn on the paper. Finally, remove the tape and paper and hang your artwork! It may take a little longer this way but you’ll be much happier in the long run when your frames are level and beautiful on your wall!

After <a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/?ref_=sr_2″>”Sex and the City”</a> premiered in film form a few years ago, it seemed like the entire female population was yearning for the same thing: “A really big closet.” After perusing my favorite site for quirky & interesting stories – <a href=”http://www.yahoo.com/”>Yahoo!</a> – I found out that the desire for such a large storage space hasn’t abated; it’s actually getting worse. Case in point: the article titled <a href=”http://finance.yahoo.com/news/100-000-closet-021800975.html”>”The $100,000 Closet”</a>. Let me get this straight – people are willing to shell out $100k to build a room the size of their living rooms and with seemingly more features than your average hotel…just so they have somewhere to store all their stuff?! There’s so much about this idea that makes me crazy. First of all, who has an extra 1/10th of a million dollars to shell out on a room? Second, who has enough stuff to warrant <em>having</em> such a room?! There have got to be more frugal (and “frugal” is putting it lightly) ways to create extra storage space. If you’re on a budget – and who isn’t these days? – start your quest for organization by stocking up on baskets. Places like <a href=”http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm”>The Container Store</a> sell more varieties than you can imagine…though I’d have to recommend using this store strictly for inspiration simply because their prices can usually be beat. Roam the aisles and then head to <a href=”http://www.homegoods.com/”>HomeGoods</a>, <a href=”http://www.christmastreeshops.com/”>Christmas Tree Shops</a>, or <a href=”http://www.michaels.com/”>Michael’s</a> and find more affordable versions of what you need to get started. The great thing about the baskets is that they come in a variety of sizes <em>and</em> you can place them anywhere – in a closet, under the bed, on shelves – so they help to keep all your stuff corralled nicely. Worried about how your extensive wardrobe is going to fit in that too-small closet in your apartment? Skip the thick, plastic hangers and opt for the thinner wire ones that take up less space (relax – you can get them with protective material over the wire so you don’t end up with weird indentations jumping out of your shoulders). Not sure where your precious shoe collection’s going to fit? They make wonderful stacking shoe racks that can be placed right at the bottom of your closet; they take up very little space and they make it easier to see your selection. Have your own sneaky