Thinking Outside the Box Yet Again

Desperate times call for desperate measures as the saying goes. I could say that I have begun feeling a bit of desperation creeping into my life. For the last year or more, I have sensed my creative side had been on the wane. In an attempt to refresh or reboot my creativity, I read a half dozen books on the topic. Still, my creative mind was as sharp as an overripe cantaloupe.

Without having university courses to prepare for has given me much time for exploration. With this in mind, after investigating print on demand companies, I decided to contract with Zazzle. The concept is easy. After creating a design, it gets uploaded to my virtual store where I then apply it to any number of products running the full range - A to Z. When someone orders from my site, Zazzle creates the final product, delivers it, and guarantees your satisfaction. Then, I get a small commission. 

This may not make me rich, but it has helped my creative side. In order to showcase the line of products, I have created a different blog BudgetNomad World Store which you can find here. Do start with the Global Shopping page to find the URL in or closest to your country to reduce shipping costs.

There are other money making ideas in the works revolving around shopping, so keep tuned.

Pin It Now!

Custom Wedding Band Designer

Okay, I need suggestions . Many years ago, I had a design for a wedding band that was basically a row of oak leaves alternating with pomegranates, two things very significant to me personally and our relationship. The design was never created due to lack of funds. I want the ring made now and need some design advice and jeweler to create it. The original design is sitting in storage in NJ. Not really accessible.

Pin It Now!

Websites by Nigel

My friend Nigel Hancock, who was a tremendous help and guide with my own websites, has set up business developing websites in general.

If you need a website or just want to have your current website updated with a fresh new look, here are some of the sites he has created. His rates are more than competitive; they are a bargain for the work he puts into them. You can reach him here. Each name below is a hyperlink. Click on it to see the site.

Accommodations 
BudaBaB B&B
Inn on the Moor
Lake District Walking Holidays
Villa Casasonana
Lyndale Guesthouse
Highgate Hotel
North Berwick Vacation Apartment

Shopping
Can We Dance - Shoe Shopping
Lenora Winery -  Wine Shopping 
Simply Pout - Women's Fashion Shopping
Tbox Media Centre - Technology Shopping

Professional Services
Go Fast Forward - Management Training Company
Kostrinsky Solutions - Professional Fund Raising
Tenacity Targeted Marketing - Marketing Services
Hotel and Leisure Solutions - Marketing Services
ANITP - Association of Nigerian IT Professionals
TLB Technology - Home and Business Computer Tech Support
The Family Practice - Family Dentistry
Baker Legal Company - Solicitors 


Personal Needs
Personal Wedding 
Fancy A Hand - Concierge Services
GRG Storage - Self Storage Solutions
Gronroos Dry Cleaners - Dry Cleaning
Renovation of a Life - Life Coaching and Mental Health Therapy

Miscellaneous 
Visit With Me - Interactive Advertising site
GRG Packaging - Packing Materials
GRG Offices - Office Rental Space
GRG Courier - Courier Services
New Forest Equestrian Association - Horseback Riding

Pin It Now!

Potty Training

For the last week, I have been in potty training all over again. It seems that I have to train myself to like the new potty tiles. Though it is not what I wanted had I had the time to shop the limitations of choices, but I have to admit it doesn't look half bad. 

When our tile man told us we could not hold off on the wall tiles, they had to be done at the same time as the shower tile, we flew from store to store. Six weeks ordering time here, eight weeks before delivery there, so we bit the bullet and went to the over-sized hardware stores. They keep stock on hand. After deciding on the least of all evils at one store, having bought a sample for 500 Huf, we went to the next. There I found tile that would have been perfect. Notice the conditional "would". Of seventy-two different tiles, this was the only one they did not have in stock. This bathroom is a curse and cursed. Settling for the same design in a lighter color, we were set. Delivery charges - 10,000 Huf about $60. There is no way we could have hauled the boxes home on the tram.

Sandor our tile person has been working like a champ. He knew I don't like the tiles, so he has been trying to persuade me they are not so bad after all.  We decided to repaint the ceiling too. Sandor has a friend...not expensive either. I think that will help with an attitude shift.


The plumber returned today and put in the shower floor so Sandor could finish the surrounding tiles and reinstall our glass block wall on one side. Tomorrow, the painter comes to paint the ceiling and Sandor will finish all of the grouting. On Friday, the plumbers will come one last time to reinstall everything associated with water. Sunday, we have a cabinet maker coming to show us colors for a custom medicine cabinet I designed.


Tuesday, we have four B and B guests arriving. Biting my nails to the quick over timing, I am able to relax a bit now. With so many workmen in and out of the place every day, it will take some time before I get over my expectations of  guests of doing something constructive like slap some tiles on the wall, put in an new electric outlet, or coat something with paint.

Pin It Now!

Lottery Week

I feel like I won the lottery, it has been an incredible week. On Tuesday, I had my eye surgery. All went well, thank you for asking. It turns out it was 105 Euros LESS than I had been initially quoted and that was not because I only had one eye done. The quote was per eye. Not knowing better, I had planned on having both eyes done, so I saved a whopper amount of Euros there too.

Then our guests from Austin gave me the Windows 7 as a gift! I still cannot believe their generosity. 

You know how things come in threes? Well, I had sent an e-mail to Zack, the owner of Tipton Eyeware to tell him I had left a "Recommended by Frommer's 2010" sticker at the store, but I don't think they understood why and may have ditched it. While I was at it, I had to share that I had brought my friend Kim in there, not knowing we would be there for over an hour while she tried on and modeled frames for me, before settling on a pair. Another thing I mentioned was that due to the surgery, I needed good sunglasses without a Rx, but with 100UV protection. Zack zipped back an e-mail asking me to come in, meet him, and look over the collection. This time it was my turn to try on and model. 

The wowser part about these frames is that they are made from recycled 45 and 33 1/3 vinyl records. The designs are original and not the run of the mill off of the rack kind. When you wear Tipton glasses, you are making a statement. After a few different eyeglass changes, Zack suggested I try one of his newer line of eye wear. All of the temples are made of old, but genuine celluloid cinema film strips. The one Zack gave me to try was from an old 'adult' movie, risqué but tasteful still. 

They looked great, felt wonderful, but could I really splurge on sunglasses? Of course I can! I am worth it. However, Zack would not hear of it. They were a gift with his thanks for putting his wares in both of my books and bringing a eyeglass-a-holic friend to the store. Now, let me be upfront. If I did not like the product, they would never have made it into the first book, let alone the second book. The truth is, I love them and think others will too, so I am going to do my best to direct people to Orange Optika at Király utca 38 in Budapest. But hey, if you are not heading to Budapest, don't despair, there are plenty of other stores on their website.

Pin It Now!