Cheap Date: The Metropolitan Opera for $10

Coming to a movie theater near you!  Carmen is one of the first productions of 2010 in The Met: Live in HD series.  You can see it tomorrow and only tomorrow, February 3rd at 6:30pm, playing at your local movie theater.  Carmen was filmed live on January 16th at the Metropolitan Opera House so it will be just like you flew to NYC and you're sitting in the loge at the Opera House, except for only $10! This sounds like a formal occasion.  I might have to break out a full-length gown.  This is definitely what I'll be wearing...

To find a theater near you and to buy tickets:

Click here, enter in your zip code next to your chosen event in the box on the left and click 'buy tickets'.  A list of theaters showing your event will appear.

Here is the official Metropolitan Opera website. Other operas showing this year include Simon Boccanegra, Hamlet, and Armida.

I will be going to the opera tomorrow at the Palo Alto CinéArts theater, maybe with my husband, and maybe not.

To get you excited, here is a clip from the 1984 film version of Carmen, directed by Francesco Rosi...
 

DIY Bangs Trim: Not Necessarily Recommended

not recommended for the weak at heart, but totally worth it if you're looking to save $10 to million bucks at a hair salon.

p.s.  isn't Scout cute looking out the window in the background? its his favorite watchdog perch.

Hidden Gem #5: Wooden Wall Clock

$2.00!!!

Little Sis and I dropped in on an old favorite on Friday - The Thrift Station in Danville.  Generations of Sisters have shopped here.  So it is a tried and true classic.  It's hard to come in here and not find something that you love.  Sister Spend almost bought a huge bag of royal blue yarn for $11 to fuel her new knitting hobby, but decided (against her better judgement) to keep looking for a better deal.  I mean, where else are you going to find a huge bag of royal blue yarn for less than $11?

Other great things about the Thrift Station include:

• Being right next to El Balazo. Great Mexican food!
• And once a month(?) they have a day where you get to stuff as many items as you can fit into a grocery bag for only $7.  

The Thrift Station
486 San Ramon Valley Blvd
Danville, CA

Dinner Tonight? Currylicious

This $8 recipe has been contributed by acclaimed guest chef, W.B. Withrow, who would like to assure you that when you make it your home will be filled with a delicious aroma.  It's pretty tasty, and works great if you have a crock pot, but is not needed.  Most importantly, you can use the cheapest meat available. Yes!

Currylicious
1 can of coconut milk, warmed
1 onion, chopped
1 pkg. Golden Curry
1 can of chick peas
2 cups cauliflower, chopped
Stew meat, cut into 1.5 in cubes (or substitute tofu)
Rice

In a bowl, stir together warmed coconut milk and the Golden Curry (for those of  you, like me, who had never heard of this Golden Curry, this is what it looks like). Add chopped onion and stir together until the curry dissolves. Add meat or tofu and marinate for 5-6 hours.

After the meat or tofu has marinated, move to the crock pot or large pot.  Add chickpeas and simmer on low heat, covered, for 1 hour. Add cauliflower and simmer until cauliflower is tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm over rice.

Now that sounds satisfyingly economical!  Many thanks to the chef for his contribution!

Groupons Hooray!

I just bought a $30 groupon for $80 worth of salon services at Nirvana, an Aveda concept salon in Los Gatos. So worth it! I got my hair cut by a senior stylist, a head and hand massage and aromatherapy hair treatment. The lovely Michelle Williams and Zooey Deschanel were my inspiration for the cut...

The groupon plus $10 worth of amonia-free "darkest warm brown" hair dye from the beauty supply store = the cheapest most satisfying hair make over I've ever had!