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Yum - free cheesecake makes Thursday bearable

It's time to celebrate dessert! National Cheesecake Day is Thursday and our local cheesecake institution is celebrating with a free treat! 

Eli's Cheesecake World, 6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive, Chicago, will be offering entertainment and a free slice of their delicious dessert from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. They limit one piece per person. Think of the flavor you want beforehand - there will be 20 to choose from!

Here are some other activities you can participate in free of charge any day - no coupon required:

* Laugh. The eyes-watering, stomach-aching, wheezing kind of laugh. It's good for the soul.

* Walk along the lake. Watch out for bikers and runners - they don't stop - but if you make your way past the exercisers to the harbor, it's breath-taking. It offers the peace of mind and relaxation achieved from a day at the spa or a beach vacation ... and you don't have to save money to go!

* Send e-mails. A cute one that lifts someone's spirit. Tell a friend how great she is, offer your dad an e-hug or give someone encouragement. It's just one click away.

* Cross something off that to-do list. You know you want to. Every time I cross something off - as little as the task may be - I feel victorious.

* Take a bath. Don't just run the water and plop in. Light a candle, get out a good book or magazine and soak. Turn on some relaxing music for added flare. I heard some Bob Dylan this morning and as I listened, the tension in my shoulders dropped and the running to-do list in my head halted. Music does wonders.

* Write out a list of goals. Sit down with a pen and paper - old-school style - and write out long-term goals. Promise yourself that you won't be disappointed if you don't fully achieve them, but also promise yourself that you'll try your darndest to make your wildest dreams come true. If you have extra time, plot ways to achieve your goals and accent the paper with markers and other embellishments. Add career goals, financial goals and fun ones, like I would like to visit all 50 states before I turn 65.

* Volunteer. There are so many fabulous options. This has been on my to-do list for quite some time and this week I'm following through with it. I've always had a special place in my heart for community service and I especially want to work with children and teenagers. There's nothing better than helping a good cause.  

What did I miss?! Share your favorite freebies!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

You've brought home the bacon ... now what?

If you're one of the lucky ones out there with a job, chances are, especially in today's world, you're trying to find ways to save some of the money you're earning.

Saving isn't always easy with gas prices climbing, the cost of living going up, and paying $10 just to see a movie (I'm not sure I'll ever be OK with this) all while you may have given up hope for a raise and are just focusing on keeping your job.

I've found it easier to save money when I either have a goal to put it toward, or when I have a small amount that I vow to set aside each week until I've met my goal.

Motivation and planning are the best support to reaching your goal amount. Another help ... knowing exactly how long you need to work until you hit your goal ... and that's where Dinkytown.net comes in.

The Website has an array of financial calculators that can tell you everything from how long it will take you to save a certain amount of money, to how much longer you have to work until you can retire!

Sometimes seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is all you need to get in gear!

Mortgage, taxes, retirement savings and planing, business, investment, personal, credit and debit, auto, and loan calculators are some of the many available. Even if you don't have a great amount to set aside, go ahead and play around and see how long it may taken until you can retire!

What are you saving your money for? Do you have a long-term goal? Maybe a quick-fix?

And how are you making sure you meet your goal?

I'm putting aside $10 a day until I can afford a trip to Ireland! I'm almost there! And it was helpful to calculate just how long it would take me to save the cash ... now I know I just have a little more to go!

Can't wait to hear your financial goals!

Kate

I'm not afraid to admit ...

Instead of going to the doctor for every ache, pain and hypochondriac fear, my girls from home and myself rely on our friend, now lovingly referred to as Dr. Donna, to ease our minds and fix our ailments. Dr. Donna isn't technically a doctor, you see - she's a physician's assistant - but she's trained just the same and she's a great resource for our worries and common ailments. Of course, she won't hesitate to tell us to head to the doctor if need be, but from ear aches to leg cramps and other scares, it pays to have a "doctor" friend!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Can you get cash for your "clunker?"

Happy Saturday!

I'm going to "cheat" on this post because 1) I'm going to visit my grandparents (!) and 2) I have my cousin's birthday party (!!) so I'm limited on time (and my family generally teases me for taking a long bit of time to get ready, so I like to prove them wrong!).

Congress recently passed a stimulus package for the car industry that benefits consumers, too. The incentive, Car Allowance Rebate System, was passed to increase auto sales and rid the environment of less-than-efficient automobiles.

Instead of explaining the program to you in detail (here's when my "cheating" takes place), I've found an Associated Press Q & A to answer all your burning questions. Also, the CARS link above will lead you to the government's site for the program, which explains it in further detail.

The incentive program ends Nov. 1 or when the $1 billion in funding has been doled out.

I'm off for a day of family fun! Hope you have a lovely Saturday, too!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

No plans tonight? Jam at the Zoo!

There's good news for those of you who haven't made plans for tonight yet!

Lincoln Park Zoo and 101.9 FM the Mix are both hosting "Jammin' at the Zoo."

Tonight, the radio station and Lincoln Park Zoo present Matt Nathanson, Brett Dennen and Pat McGee in a fun, local concert that you can see three artists for the price of half of one! It's too bad if you missed the first of this concert series but take advantage of the offer while it still lasts!

The concert starts at 6:15 today at Lincoln Park Zoo and to purchase the cheap, $23 tickets, go here.

Located on the South Lawn, the concert kicks off with Pat McGee at 6:15 p.m. followed by a 7:45 p.m. performance by Brett Dennen. And to bring the night to a close, Matt Nathanson will perform starting at 9 p.m.

For $23 you just can't say no to such talented singers and song writers! If you've already made plans for tonight, don't fret. Five for Fighting and Angel Taylor will be back for an affordable concert Aug. 28th!

How are you spending your Friday?

Kate

Worth a read: Details finds man who lives on $0

Simply put, Daniel Suelo is homeless. But it's a life he chooses and Details writer Christopher Ketcham wrote a thought-provoking article on Suelo's lifestyle, which makes me think giving up my cable isn't such a noble feat.

My favorite quote: "Hardship is a good thing. We need the challenge. Our bodies need it. Our immune systems need it. My hardships are simple, right at hand—they're manageable."

A "homeless" man whose life is simple? That's a feat.

It's a must-read: Could You Survive Without Money? Meet The Guy Who Does

And a post-read question: are you going to take any steps to rid your life of some extras? What is top on your list?

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... OK, I'm lying. I'm a little afraid to admit ... that I'm sometimes a victim of the No. 1 fashion DON'T: visible panty lines. And the other day, I felt like a summer fashion DO in my seersucker pants until I noticed that not only were my panty lines visible - gasp! - my underwear also were visible. Apparently the pants were a little more see-through than I thought. At least I wore conservative brown chonies instead of bright pink skivvies. Opps!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Tuesday brings free Starbucks treat, local fashion show

Looks like Tuesday's going to be a good day.

To celebrate their new line of "real food" - no artificial anything or high-fructose corn syrup - Starbucks is offering a free pastry from opening to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with a beverage purchase. Muffins, scones, bagels, cakes, danishes and more, and they all contain "real" ingredients. It scares me to think of what we were eating before, but it looks like they're making a change for the better. Don't forget to print out the coupon above (click on the link - thanks, Linds)!

And if you're free from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday, head over to Daley Plaza, 50 Washington St., for a free fashion show! The third annual Chicago Sidewalk Sale (!) will feature shoes, clothes and jewelry from local designers. In addition to viewing the latest runway looks by local designers, items also will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

The event is hosted by Fashion Focus Chicago and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, who both support and promote local designers. A free pastry in the morning and a free fashion show during lunchtime - I love our city more and more every day.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Garage sales rock - hurry over to CLMA's community sale!

Garage sale season is in full bloom and today the Central Lakeview Merchants Association is hosting a community garage sale 'til 6 p.m.

Located in the parking lot next to Blum Animal Hospital, 3219 N. Clark, entry is free and there are a smattering of stores, residents and community organizations setup to offer goods. There's the usual garage sale fare: clothes, shoes, jewelry and home decorations, but my favorite booth is selling holiday cards to benefit Chicago Lights, a tutoring and scholarship program for inner-city children.

The cards are designed by students and usually retail for $15, but at the garage sale they cost $6 a piece or two for $10. There are 16 cards per package and the two men selling the cards are incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about the cause - it's catching.

You can help the community and cross one more thing off that to-do list - your holiday cards are purchased months ahead of time! I hit up the after-holiday sales to find cards ridiculously cheap and already have my cards for 2009, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to help out a good cause - plus, now I have Christmas cards for 2010!

If you can't make it to the garage sale but want to donate time or money to Chicago Lights, visit their Web site. You also can purchase holiday cards on the site for full price. The cards available at the garage sale are 2008's collection - the 2009 cards will be available for purchase in October.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... that I'm beating the system tonight ... and Tuesday. And you should, too! Rascal Flatts (the country band at left) is playing at Wrigley Field tonight and Billy Joel and Elton John will be playing a concert at the stadium Tuesday, as well.

It turns out the concert's big screen can be seen from the street on Waveland! My friends and I watched Thursday's Billy Joel and Elton John concert from right in front of the firehouse and had a blast!

You can see the whole concert and hear it perfectly for FREE! So come on out, I'll be out there tonight and again Tuesday!

Hope to see you there for a fun and free night out!

Kate