Budget Martha (I)

So I threw my good friend Jen a graduation party a few weeks ago and was on a very tight budget. Overall I spent less than three hundred dollars to accomodate about twenty people. I decided that this frugal Franny should share with the world some sure-to-please party ideas.

#1. The Drink

I figured that buying several types of beers, wines, spirits, etc would set me back a little so I decided to stick with one staple for the night and make a lovely summer sangria.

Summer Sangria How-To (serves about 8)

What you'll need:

-A big bowl
-Wooden spoon
-Three oranges
-Some sugar
-A little bit of brandy
-Wine (1 bottle; very dry, red & chilled)
-Two lemons
-A few pineapple rings
-Some club soda
-Ice
-About $25-35 depending on how fancy of brandy and wine you chose. I used the generics because the fruits are really the stars in this and will outshine the alcoholic ingredients.


Step one. Slice two oranges into halves and juice 'em.

Step two. Scoop up about 1/2 a cup of sugar and pour (along with the juice and 1/4 a cup of brandy) into your big bowl.

Step three. Mix and stir with your wooden spoon until sugar has dissolved all the way.

Step four. Add wine.

Step five. Slice lemons & orange very, very thinly. Watch those pretty fingers!

Step six. Add lemon and orange slices along with pineapple rings into your big bowl.

Last step. Let your potent potion marinate for six to twelve hours and chill. Before serving, add 2 cups of club soda and ice. Voila!



Okay, stay tuned for recipes for budget party eats.

R.I.P.

I love the idea of play cameras. I'm no advanced photographer by any means but last summer I found a passion for Lomography's Fish Eye camera. Too bad it croaked two months ago on my trip to Yosemite. The little winding 'majig that advances the film decided to retire from advancing to the next frame altogether. It's literally stuck. If anyone knows how to fix this other than buying another one of these hipster cameras, please let me know. The roll of film is still in the thing half-used and depressed.

Pictured here: Markie, Cass, Brett, Martin

Sunrays, Sunflowers, Sunspiration

California has about four or five months of real summer, if not more now due to the yucky state of our atmosphere. It's already May (can you believe?) and just like every other American consumer, these past few days (as the temperature is creeping up the thermometer) I have been searching around for a new bathing suit. Of course, it doesn't matter if I already own about five or six suits, I desperately want another beauty to sun bathe in these upcoming months.




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