Gifts Women Love

Gifts women love is the focus for our 15% off Halloween sale at Hubcaps and Gravy .com. We are also giving away a free gift with every order! Hurry this storewide sale ends November 1st 2010. Gifts women love make great Christmas or anytime gifts.

Procrastination…Why Do We Do It?

We know we need to take care of “it”; but we put it off. Why? Procrastination is defined as putting off doing something out of habitual carelessness or laziness. Some psychologists say it’s a way to cope with anxiety associated with starting or completing a task. Aside from the obvious lack of productivity, other problems associated with procrastinating are extra stress and guilt in our lives. So, what do we do about it? The following tips may just help you be less of a procrastinator than you thought possible.

Own your procrastination. Admit you are a chronic procrastinator. The first step to changing any bad habit is to admit your guilt. Don’t be too hard on yourself; just say “I am a procrastinator; and I don’t want to be anymore”. You may be in denial; however, deep down you know if you consistently put off tasks. Acceptance is powerful. Once you admit to yourself you have a problem, you can begin to take steps to resolve it.

Take the blame. Believe it or not, we all make a choice to procrastinate. It’s easy to be defensive; and put blame where it doesn’t belong by always claiming someone else is at fault. Some of us even blame it on our parents by saying things like “My mother was a procrastinator, too”. Taking responsibility for your own actions; and realizing your procrastination lies squarely on your own doorstep is very important.

Identify the problem areas. Write down all the ways in which you procrastinate. Making a list helps us clearly identify where we need to focus. Do you put off paying bills, returning phone calls, cleaning the house? How about postponing dentist or doctor appointments? Do you Christmas shop on Christmas Eve? All the tasks you put off need to go on the list. When you have your list you will know where you need to improve.

Set clear cut goals. We need to have a well defined goal in mind. Saying “I will not procrastinate anymore” is not as powerful as “I will not procrastinate on cleaning the house today”. Saying that you will not procrastinate anymore sounds like a daunting task that can make you feel helpless. Making a plan for yourself by defining the task and the time frame gives you control; and also, makes you feel powerful.

Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Procrastination like all bad habits can be eliminated from your life with dedication and time. If you falter, don’t beat yourself up; just start again. Each time you complete a task that you would have put off in the past you will feel good about yourself. That feeling will give you the power to eliminate procrastination from your life once and for all.

For more useful information read Procrastination: Ten Things To Know

How Can I Afford Christmas Gifts?

Budgeting is mandatory in hard times. Running up credit card debt this Holiday Season is not the answer. Creative ideas and smart budgeting will make for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year WITHOUT ADDED DEBT!

There are easy ways to stay within your weekly budget and still give everyone a gift; BUT, you need to start today. We are going to show you two easy things to start doing today; and also, show you gift ideas that will help you stay within your budget.

1)Skip Starbucks or your local coffee shop twice a week (or two cups of coffee). With savings of $7 to $8, in just eight weeks that’s $56 to $64 in gifts.

2)Take your lunch to work twice a week. That’s a savings of $10 to $20 a week. In just eight weeks that’s another $80 to $160 in gifts.

With just two easy steps you have between $136 to $224 to spend on Christmas gifts without increasing your budget 1 penny. For you it might be skipping the movies a few times or going out to dinner. A few sacrafices now will save you a lot later. One more very important point; do Not run out at the last minute to buy gifts. Procrastination will kill a budget with panic buying!

$80.00 Shoestring Budget Gift Ideas
Gift for a Toddler: Pound-A-Peg by Melissa and Doug $9.98 Sold Out

Gift for a Girl: Melissa and Doug Decorate-Your-Own Piggy Bank $6.98

Gift for a Girlfriend or Wife: Gold Oval In and Out Crystal Hoop Earrings $22.98

Gift for a Female Friend: Cranberry Pearl Earrings with Swarovski Crystals $6.98 Sold Out

Gift for a Male Friend : Celtic Knot Pendant Leather Cord Necklace $8.98 Sold Out

Gift for a Computer User: USB 2.0 Hub Robot $17.98

Total $73.88

Great Gifts for the $140.00 Budget
Gift for a Boy or Girl: Turbospoke Bike Toy $18.98

Gift for a Girl: Melissa and Doug Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set $19.98

Gift for a Girlfriend or Wife: Peridot and Sterling Silver Necklace and matching Stud Earrings $43.96

Gift for a Female Friend: Pearl Necklace with Pearl Earrings $16.98

Gift for a Male Friend: USB Travel Shaver $19.98

Gift for a Computer User: USB LED Lamp and Fan $19.98

Total $139.86

A little sacrifice and a few good ideas will help you have a more relaxing enjoyable holiday season without adding credit card debt or increasing your budget. Remember, DO NOT procrastinate! Start using these guidelines today. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

How to Make Leftovers into a Taste Tempting Dish

Many of us are constantly looking for useful tips to stretch our food dollar. One thing we can all do is limit food waste by using leftovers. Okay, okay. We know that many of you reading this article think you don’t like leftovers; and we agree that a plate full of last night's dinner popped into the microwave usually comes out less than appetizing. There are ways to make leftovers into tasty dishes; and no one will know they are eating the dreaded leftovers.

Become a master of disguise. Take elements from a previous meal; and turn them into something else. For instance, leftover roast beef is great for creating beef stew; or make open faced roast beef sandwiches topped with leftover mashed potatoes and gravy. Simply add shredded cheddar cheese to leftover mashed potatoes and bake for a scrumptious dish. Never throw out stale bread. Crumble any bread you might have leftover that is past its prime into a bowl. Then, add sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla, and cocoa. After combining the ingredients, bake into a wonderful bread pudding for a dessert that your family will love. You get the idea. Check out magazines or cookbooks for helpful hints; or just use your imagination.

To get you started here is a recipe that was developed when we were trying to find ways to keep from tossing leftover taco meat. We like this recipe so much that whenever we make tacos we try to have leftover beef just so we can have this the next day.

Burrito Pie

In a 9 inch square pan layer the following:
Crushed corn tortilla chips, enough to cover bottom of pan
One 15 oz. can pinto beans, pureed
About 2/3 to 1 cup of cooked ground beef seasoned with your favorite taco seasoning
black olives, sliced or crumbled– as many or as few as you like
2-3 T. medium salsa (You can use mild or hot salsa if you prefer.)
Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
Top with a dollop of sour cream; and serve with a salad and/or rice. Makes 4-6 servings.
The ingredient amounts in this recipe can be varied according to your own personal taste.

How to Make Your Relationship Last a Lifetime

You meet someone, start to date, fall in love, and get married. After about a year and a half, romantic love starts to fade. You wake up one morning; and realize that you don’t feel quite the sizzle you once felt for your spouse. You start to notice his big ears; and he begins making comments about the extra pounds you have put on. So, now what? How do you keep your relationship in tact? Here are some tips and things you should know that just may help.



Communicate-Communicate-Communicate! Good conversation is so important in any relationship that we can’t stress it enough. Being able to express how you feel about anything and everything will bring you closer than you ever imagined. Don’t forget part of good communication is being a great listener. If your spouse needs to talk, make sure you give them your undivided attention; and make sure you HEAR them. A good practice is to repeat what you thought you heard to be sure you are on the same page.

Honesty is the best policy. Once trust is lost, it is very difficult to get it back. Lying about anything or being deceptive in any way will put you on the road to failure.

Respect your spouse. Honor the excellence, abilities, and qualities that made you fall in love in the first place by holding your spouse in the highest esteem.

Be a team player. Working together to reach your goals will help you reach them easier and faster. Any problem, even the most daunting ones seem less troublesome if you attack together. Just knowing that someone always has your back provides a sense of security and comfort.

Fight Fair. In any relationship, it’s inevitable that there will be disagreements. If you are angry it’s always best to wait until you cool off and can discuss the issue calmly. Remember, blows below the belt and cheap shots are not relationship builders. Angry words can create a lot of pain that can linger and fester. Agreeing to never go to sleep angry will motivate you to work things out before bedtime.

You must compromise. There will be times when you and your spouse just can’t agree. No matter what it takes, you must find some common ground. Give and take is tremendously important. If you try hard enough you can always find an acceptable solution to you both.

Talk it up. As time passes we often forget to tell those we love how we feel. Just telling your spouse how great they look in the new outfit they just bought goes a long way towards keeping love alive. Be generous with praise for their accomplishments. Everyone likes a pat on the back, even your spouse. Always say thank you; and never take your spouse for granted. Treat each other like you did when you first met. Say “I love you” as often as you did when you first fell in love.

Don’t joke about what’s bothering you. If you have something on your mind, discuss it calmly. Don’t make snide remarks disguised as jokes. They are always hurtful; and will just make matters worse.

Little things matter the most. Making a grand gesture by buying your spouse an expensive gift is nice; but the little things you fill every day with matter the most. If your spouse always takes out the trash or always does the dishes; surprise him or her by doing it before he or she has a chance. Take turns bringing each other a cup of coffee in bed every morning. Hold hands and sit close together on the sofa like you did when you were dating.

There is no guarantee when it comes to long lasting love; but with a little work and dedication you can live happily ever after.