Kumon tuition centers are becoming more and more popular in Asian countries now a days. The Kumons method was introduced by Toru Kumon, a Japanese teacher. He wanted to make his son to excel in Math. Seeing his son's success in school Mr.Kumon founded the Kumon Center to help other kids too. Now we can see many Kumon Centers.

They have a special method of giving assignments to kids. The admission is based on a placement test. It is free of charge. Then the child is placed in appropriate level. The teachers at Kumon give assignments for the kid to finish at home and to return for evaluation. As the child makes progress, the assignments also gets in to the advanced level. It is truly based on the individual's ability.

We all heard of stories of Americans saving money using coupons. I think, we Canadians are not getting as many coupons as the Americans. Now a days, I am seeing some coupons and deals especially for Canadians. 

I am using Save.ca for a long time now. But, many of the coupons available are not for the products I really want. The good thing about Save.ca is , they will send you coupons through the snail mail. If you don't have a printer to get the coupons printed, don't worry, use save.ca.

Then there is redflagdeals.com to give the up to date information about the current deals. I also like the smartcanucks.ca. They post new deals every day.  They usually post the deals available on Shoppers Drugmart and some times Costco, which I like. Then they will post links to free stuff also. Who don't like to receive free stuff, like a small bottle of shampoo? 

Thinkcoupon.ca is another one. They currently has $1 off for Kashi Cereal. You need to provide your email address to get the coupons. 

I will say, create a special email account only for the coupons and deals websites. So you will not be cluttering up your valuable email address with the ads and things like that.

Do you find any other coupon websites useful? Let me know.

These are the days of reusable bags. Everywhere you go, you can see reusable bags. Most of the stores sell them cheap. Remembering to take one with you is the difficult thing. I found a solution to that.

 

I keep my grocery bags in the car. After Sunday shopping, I pack them together and hang it on the door handle. So Monday morning, I will remember to give them to dear hubby to keep them in the car.

I was not going to write about reusable grocery bags, though. I wanted to write about my red bag, I got from Rogers. That was a free gift for taking their phone, cable and internet. The bag is cute and eye catchingly red. I love the color and style. It can be folded in like a purse and kept in my handbag to be used when I am in the shop. But, I don't wanted to do free advertising for Rogers. So I hide the "Rogers" with a Crocheted Flower

This is how it will look like in the purse form.

 

When I am ready to put things in it, I can unzip the bag and make it as a tote, like this:

. I took it out for a couple of times. I feel so proud. Now my kiddoo wants to get some customization on her tote too. Let me think, what I can do for that one!!

In this age and this year, can anyone live without a television? I thought, it was very hard to live without a TV. There is no news channels and no entertainment without the TV.I know, most of you will agree with me on that.

I am proud to announce that I survived one week without TV. Don't congratulate me on that one. The one I was using for last ten years conveniently stopped working on the day of my move. Before that, we were in double mind to take it or to buy a new flat screen one...The options for a new TV seemed so endless and confusing. Can we live with a plasma or do we need an LED LCD? Pondering on many websites and many friends, we decided to give the idea some rest and to take the old one for the time being. What happened is, the old TV decided to stop working on the day of my moving. So we ordered a new TV from the store.

Too bad for us...the Samsung LED LCD is in high demand and we are still waiting to get it delivered. That is why I was forced to live without television. The funny thing is, every time I call the customer service, my sales associate tells me a different date and today is the latest one. He didn't call me with the good news yet. So, I guess, I am not going to have my entertainment in a box today either.

After successfully living without TV, I think, I am not in a rush to get my TV. After all, I have a small place to think of and my Mahalo pages to write...

I am glad to be in my own place, which I call home. It is a small condo with 2 bed rooms and an open kitchen.  I love the view from the balcony. We moved in last Friday. It was a big project...just moving in. I didn't know I have this much books!!!. I am trying to settle down here. Still unpacking and arranging....

The view from balcony is very pleasing.  Don't you think so?

I am still not ready for company, because I am stuck with organizing things. My organizing skills are very bad. So it is taking a lot of time and energy to figure out where to put what. I started cooking already. It is fun to be in my small kitchen. The TV is still not here. So we can still do a lot of cleaning and fixing without being distracted.Have a peek of my kitchen now.


See me in action... I can't wait to start a new craft project.

Double crochet is a basic crochet stitch. It is a bit longer and more flexible than the single crochet stitch. Both the stitches have to start with the basic row of stitches. It is a faster stitch than single crochet to create a blanket or dish cloth. I like the double crochet stitch to make easy and faster gifts.

Most of the granny squares are made using the double crochet stitch. A little changes in the double crochet clusters and adding different colors will make interesting patterns for a beginner blanket. Once I made a scarf using only double crochet stitches. It was made lengthwise and made in red, green and black stripes.The colors were changed at the end of each row.

You can do embroider of a double crocheted piece to add interest and more texture to it. I haven't tried it yet. It is very important to have the same number of stitches on each row if you are creating a rectangle piece using double crochet.

To make a dish cloth, just create chains to the desired length of the dishcloth and start making double crochet in each of the chains in the foundation row. It will be easy to keep counting, if you can place a stitch marker at the 10th stitch. On the next row onwards, when you made a stitch on the of marked one just move the marker up. That way it is easier to keep the same number of stitches on each row.

To change colors it will be easier to do at the end of each row. Make sure the ends of the yarn are weaved in through the stitches to get the correct finish. Also, remember, the hanging threads can make the crocheted piece get unraveled. Here is a video to learn to do the double crochet.

I like to have a camera. I need it for my blog and to capture the priceless moments of life. When I bought the camera, I saw the camera covers there. They are just like little purses. Being crafty, I decided to make one instead of buying one. 

I crocheted one in twenty minutes. It is made of self patterning cotton using single crochet stitches. When I have time, I am going to make more. It is a fun and simple project to get the crafty satisfaction. 

 

 

The handle is just a length of chain weaved through the opening end.

I was not caring for Bindu Blogs for some time. I was busy with a part time job. You may be wondering how a part time job can take so much of my time... It is true, when I am going out, I feel more tired. I needed more sleep and then, there goes the crochet...It needs time to get projects finished , photographed and blogged. 

So, here, I am glad to be back. But I  have to agree that I missed my job. It was so fun to work at that place. I met a lot of people. Any way, back to the blogging, I can't wait to show off the new upcycled and crochet covered tomato cans I made. They are dressed up in spring colors.

< They are all made in single crochet. It was made as a rectangle and joined using buttons. See the other side. I have more ideas for these containers. I got them when I bought the crushed tomatoes. The edges are smoothed to avoid getting hurt. I think, I can keep my jewelery making tools, crochet hooks and the rulers, pencils, markers and other stuff in style. To make them hang on the wall, I need some more things and some help. For the time being, I am glad to finish a small project. Don't you think they are pretty?

I just want to share this information with Bindu blogs readers. Actually I saw it a couple of days before in the local newspaper. The article was suggesting about the valuable information you can keep in your cell phone in case of an emergency.

Most of us carry a cell phone with us all the time. We have all our important and not so important contacts are stored in the device too. When we are in an accident and cannot be conscious enough to operate the phone, what are going to do? The paramedics will be on the accident scene to help us and to take us to the hospital. They will definitely see the cell phone and will try to find our loved ones to let them know what is going on. There it is...a lot of names and numbers....How do they know whom they should inform about my accident, and the situation?

The article I read suggest to keep a number in the phone with I.C.E, which stands for In case of emergency. I urge all of my readers to keep a number under the name I.C.E, so some one will let our emergency contact know about the situation.

I was looking for things because, I had no idea what I wanted to do today. Then I remember, I can really make a belt from men's tie. But I needed two ties which can be some what matching in color and design. My hubby don't use tie bow. So the old ties I kept were fine to use. But the problem is I can't find the two that I needed. Then this black silk  one jumped to me begging to get something done. 

That is what I exactly did today. I cut the narrow end to fit around my beck.

 

I cut it in an angular way so I can make the ends look similar. To prevent the cut end from fraying I just stitched it with black thread. Then all I did was adding some sequins and beads. Then to get that extra punch, I added a rose flower, which happened to be in my craft box. Want to see the finished look? Here it is!!!