Bizarre gifts of 2010

So, you have that person in your life that is just plain odd. (That’s probably why you like them.) Or perhaps your goal when buying gifts is for the recipient to open it and say “WTF?”

Well, here are the strangest gifts I’ve found on the internet that you can still get shipped in time for Christmas:

For the handlebar hipster: CARSTACHE

We might all be guilty of having a little hipster trapped inside of all of us. There are some people who push the boundaries though. You know the type, maxed out their credit card at Urban Outfitters, won’t stop playing the new Deerhunter album on vinyl, wears stupid ill-fitting sweaters because they’re “vintage”….
The carstache is the perfect subtle clue that they’re taking this fad just a little too far. And if they don’t get the hint they’ll probably enjoy the hell out of it. (They even come in different colors)

For the creepy cook: FETUS COOKIE CUTTER

What’s the one thing you want to think about when you’re eating? That’s right, fetuses. Maybe you have a disturbed cousin that listens to death metal, or an aunt that is an avid pro-life supporter… Either way, this cookie cutter is sure to be a hit. And I bet Santa would still gobble down the cookies no matter what they were shaped like. (He is a fattie after all.)

For the lazy college student: GUN ALARM CLOCK

Brilliant. This hands-on alarm clock won’t shut up until you shoot the target in the center. No more excuses for missing that 8 am class, or sleeping all day after an alcohol binge. Even better gift if they’re into violence or Sarah Palin. BANG!

For the ex-girlfriend: THE GIFT OF NOTHING

You know that there’s no one that gets under your skin more than an ex. Well, ’tis the season my friend. Instead of the passive anger this year be extra spiteful and go out of your way to get that not-so-special person absolutely nothing. Extra point if there’s an “I’m Sorry” card attached.

For Grandma: THE KNITTED FROG DISSECTION

Do you have that annoying Grandmother who is always trying to teach you how to knit? Well, give her this lovely craft and she’s sure to be off your case for a while. Also an option for a science geek. (And only 8 bucks!)

Some other favorites:
THE SNUGGIE-SUTRA
THE DICK TOWEL (As seen on Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
THE BACON WALLET
THE BREATHALYZER KEYCHAIN

Merry Christmas Weirdo!

Wake up and taste the vino

FREE wine tasting every Wednesday at West End Wine Bar.

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Try loads of good wine and it’s a great event to attend with friends.

Loacated at 450 W Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

We all scream for 31 cent ice cream!

It’s 31 cent scoop night!

Baskin Robbins is giving away 31 cent ice cream scoops tonight from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Enjoy an after dinner snack for next to nothing!

(My favorite flavor is Love Potion #31)

Find out more

“Join us for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins® and help us honor America’s firefighters. The Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation is donating $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation™ (NFFF).

Participating stores will reduce prices of ice cream scoops to 31 cents*. At some locations, you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to your local fire charities.”
It’s 31 cent scoop night!

Nearby Locations:

Baskin Robbins
2608 Erwin Rd
Durham, NC 2770

Baskin Robbins
8710 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC 27617

Baskin Robbins
2740 State Road 55
Cary, NC 27519

Baskin Robbins
3570 Davis Dr
Morrisville, NC 27560

UNC’s 1st Sustainable Fashion Show!! (FREE, of course)

CouturEvolution is putting on a Sustainable fashion show at Forest Theater on April 16th at 7 p.m.

It should be a great show, with many student designers and local professional designers.

Pillowcases as clothes! Lampshade hats! You will definitely see some sustainable, creative fashion.

The fashion show is completely free…but a ticket is required. 2 super easy ways to get them:

1) Stop by the PIT at UNC today through Thursday April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and pick up as many as you need

or

2) E-mail couturevolutiontickets@gmail.com to reserve tickets to pick up at the door. Just provide the names of who will attend and number of tickets needed.

There are also volunteer opportunities. If interested contact Brittney Jenkins at brittney@email.unc.edu

Visit the show blog at http://uncsustainsfashion.wordpress.com/

Check it out

So you’re broke and pastey…

As tanning salons in the triangle compete to win the loyalty of bronze-addicted sorority girls, almost all offer first-timer deals can be easily manipulated to get a few weeks of free tanning or a bomb spray tan for next-to-nothing.

If you are willing to trek to Raleigh, Cabana Tan has a great deal on spray tanning. I’m from a Swedish and English background so the spray tan method is better for me and similar skin types that don’t tan easily.

First time visitors can get a free lay-down session or a $10 spray tan (usually about $50 or $60 dollars). Print out the coupon before going.

YOU WON’T TURN ORANGE! I promise. This golden color is air brushed on by a real human being… not a machine so it looks far more natural. They even tan a little darker in areas to flatter you figure, and the guy who did mine gave me abs! Very exciting for someone who loathes working out.

There are usually a guy and girl there so you can choose what you are comfortable with. Exfoliate before hand, wear a bathing suit bottom (top is optional) and put cheap lotion (aka the kind that contains petroleum) on your knuckles and feet to keep from getting that “dirty” look.

Closer to home, Planet Beach Tanning off Highway 54 offers first-time visitors a free week of tanning to try out different beds and intensities to see what you like. LA Tan a little ways down the road offers a free $50 tanning value to new customers in April. You can also get 3 spray tans this month for $33 but it’s the machine automated kind.

Happy tanning! Remember to not go overboard…

A little sun is good for you, tanorexics are gross.

Free show in Raleigh

Free show tonight starting at 8:30 p.m.!

Great line-up: The Catch Fire, Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies and Mitch Easter.

 

 

 

 

At Tir Na Nog in Raleigh.

Fall break and free stuff

FALL BREAK

UNC students are out of class for Fall break (October 22nd through the 25th).

If you are planning to travel for your break, save money by carpooling!

Cragslist rideshare is a good place to start. Relevant postings can be buried pages in, so use the search tools on the top of the page to help sort.

There is also a rideshare board in the Student Union (and in residence halls).

Still not sure what you’re doing?

Whether you’re using the time to finish papers or looking forward to a worry-free weekend, here are some ways to pass the time:

Catch up on TV Shows– Academics frequently takes away from treasured TV-watching time. Take some of your free time over the break to catch up on favorites you have been missing out on, like “Always Sunny in Philidelphia” or “Glee.”

You can watch many shows for free at Hulu.com or many full episode’s are available on the network’s website. The hilarious new episode of Parks and Recreation, for instance, is available along with many others on NBC’s website.

Take a hike– There are many places to hike around the triangle area. It’s free, fun to do with a friend, and makes you feel like you’ve done something besides sitting on the couch watching TV Shows. If you’re feeling really outdoorsy, camping is great afterwards. Invite friends for a bonfire and enjoy getting up when the sun does.

Take out pent up aggression– Buy cheap items from a thrift shop or get things from Craigslist freelist (see below) like lamps, TVs, vases, etc. Use your back yard, junkyard or other place that is not illegal. Grab sledgehammar, take out aggression by smashing said items to bits. Then put the cherry on top by kicking them off of a cliff (optional).

FREE STUFF

Craigslist also has postings for free stuff. Local residents give away everything from pianos to mulch! I got a great table from someone this week.

These things may be free but they aren’t necessarily easy. That table, for instance, required three e-mails, two phone calls, getting lost for about 20 minutes, scheduling hassle and responsibility for transportation and pick up. Saving $60 was worth it for me, but that is just something to keep in mind.

Also note that things get taken quickly, so I would not recommend answering posts over 3 days old.

Get the postings quickly and easily by following @FreeListRaleigh on Twitter.

Homemade Halloween costumes!

Halloween is just around the corner and those cliche pre-packaged costumes are overdone and overpriced.

This year, save money and be creative by making your own costume.

SOME COSTUME IDEAS:

LADIES – Try being a slutty costume parody. Make fun of those overdone “sexy fireman” or half-naked bumble bee costumes by being something ridiculous like sexy Ab Lincoln.

COUPLES – “College Grad” and “Debt” go together like peanut butter and jelly! Just slap some labels on for a quick and clever couple’s costume.

PLAY ON WORDS

• “White Trash” – Wear white and jump in a trash bag. Simple!
• “Freudian Slip” – wear a slip and write “FREUD” on it with magic marker
• “Mr. Smartie Pants” – Wear a plain white t-shirt and single color pants. Write “MR.” on the shirt and glue or staple Smarties candies all over the pants.

HIPSTER

To prepare: Go people-watching in Carrboro and play Hipster Bingo.

The how-to: Simply mix-or-match any of the following items:

• Ray-bans or cheap 80’s sunglasses (Yes, you keep wearing them at night)
• short shorts
• skinny jeans
• colored mid-length socks
• Keds
• Beard
• Black cardigan
• PBR can
• v-neck white tee
• road bike
• concert wristbands (loads of ’em)
• trucker hat
• bed hair

Go the extra mile and memorize some of these hipster pick-up lines. Who knows, a chick with straight-across bangs might just fall for it!

RUBIK’S CUBE

Items needed: Cardboard box, paint, black electrical tape, patience

The how-to: Cut the top and bottom out of the box. Section off squares with the electric tape on each side of the box. Paint each side one color or mix it up. Put the box over your head and make shoulder straps with the electric tape. Voila, Rubik’s Cube!

HANNAH MONTANA

Items needed: White t-shirt, jeans, marker, low intellectual capacity

The how-to: write “Pop Whore” on t-shirt.

SNAIL

Items needed: Yellow opague tights, stuffing of choice, cardboard, headband, hot glue, elastic, pipe cleaners, crafty mentality

Pretty darn cute!

The how-to: Cut one leg off of the yellow tights. Stuff the leg. Coil it and hot glue to secure. Glue the entire coil to a piece of cardboard to allow the “snail shell” to sit upright. Painting detail onto the coil is optional. Glue or tie on the elastic and wear like a backpack. Put the pipecleaners on a headband and arrange to look like the “feelers.” Go with a friend and use the other leg too!

MORE, MORE!

Duct Tape Halloween! Tons of ideas using duct tape, which almost every college student owns. I like the gum-on-the-shoe idea.

Another way to save money is to check out the kids costume section. They are often much cheaper than the adult costumes and can usually be modified to fit. The fact that they are ill-fitting also adds humor. (The costumes with built in muscles are always pretty funny too!)

Here are 46 pages more of homemade costume ideas. Get creative with household items or mimic characteristic celebrities for cheap. The possibilities are endless!

Be sure to give feedback with your costume ideas or send me pictures and I will post them!

Free beer Thursdays!

FREE BOOZE TONIGHT at the Library:

Free beer every Thursday 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Be sure to mention you are on the Entourage tab) $2 house wine and domestics all night.

Other drink specials include 1/2 off drinks at Carolina Coffee Shop, $3 well drinks at PT’s, 2$ shots at Top of the Hill and 2$ Bud Light at La Rez.

Getting there:

Chapel Hill bus systems are free!

There is also free valet parking on the west end of Franklin Street from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday until December 1st.

(Parking is always free downtown every Sunday!)

Carrboro free market celebrates five-year anniversary

What started as a community effort now marks a collaborative town tradition as Carrboro’s Town Commons morphs into a “really really free market” on the first Saturday of every month.

This past Saturday was the five year anniversary of the event. Locals celebrated with cake, puppets and some questionable-yet-hilarious performance art.

It’s a great place for local produce with an aftertaste of “anarchist resistance.” I try to bring something to give away every time that I go, but it is not a requirement. From boots to baked goods to bookshelves… it’s all really, really free.

Really!