Getting free Itunes music for use in Mac Videos

I'm putting together a video using IMovie (a steep learning curve, but it's pretty awesome), and needed some music to add to it before uploading to Youtube.

Fearing copyright issues (dang those copyright trolls!) I did some googling and found out:

• Yes there is free music available for download on iTunes (iTunes Store > Quick Links > Free on iTunes, read PCworld's article for more info) 
• BUT if you're going to upload on Youtube, it's best to avoid using any of these. Reason being, some copyright troll is going to file a (wrongful) copyright infringement on your royalty-free audio, and you will have the awful hassle of countering that claim. (see Raoul's review)
• Free, royalty-free and downloadable music is available on Jamendo (all music genres) and Musopen (classical music). You can use this music on your Youtube videos, giving proper credit to the artist and for non-commercial purposes - this is a way for new artists to get their music out there.

xo Gracie 

p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Capture a Screen Shot with Mac

Capturing a screen shot (an image of my desktop or active window) is easy on the Mac. (On my PC it was Ctrl-Prntscrn). Got these tips from Sue Chastain's article on About.com. On the Mac:

1. To capture the whole desktop, it's Command-Shift-3. Then check the Desktop for the automatically saved PNG file.
2. To copy the whole desktop, it's Command-Control-Shift-3. Then you can paste the automatically saved screen shot from your clipboard to another program. (Note: to copy instead of capture, you'll add Control to the keyboard shortcuts for capture.)
3. To capture only a part of the desktop, it's Command-Shift-4. A magic cursor will appear that you can click, drag and select the area to capture. Releasing the mouse button will automatically save the screen shot on the desktop as a PNG file.
4. To capture a specific application window, it's Command-Shift-4-Spacebar. The cursor becomes a camera and you can move to to the application window (which will become highlighted), then click the mouse button to save the screen shot on your desktop as a PNG file. 
5. Use the Apple bundled utility 'Grab' (in the utilities folder) to include a cursor or menu in your screen shot. First go to the 'Grab' preferences and pick the cursor icon you want appearing in the screen shot. Choose Window mode in Grab, select the window you want to capture, then click 'Choose Window'. The window will be capture together with the mouse cursor at the position you clicked. 

Below, I tried the 'Grab' utility to capture a screenshot of the facebook window showing my nephew Z trying repeatedly to share his new toys with Hammer. The cursor I picked was the pointy finger. Can you find it? :)

xo Gracie 

p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Add Share to Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Blog This Buttons on New Blogger Interface

There's no need to mess around with editing html for your blogger template. I spent countless wasted and frustrating hours trying to get the html code taken from Bloggerplugins to work - not realizing that in my tunnel vision I totally overlooked the simplest step to getting those darned Blogger Share Buttons to show up on my blog!

On Bloggerplugin's post (dating 2010), the first method given didn't seem to suit me and was for an older version of Blogger. Since I use the updated newer Blogger interface, I couldn't find 'Design>Page Elements' anywhere, so I didn't how to proceed. So I went to the next step #5 that had me embroiled in the twisted web of html. (To his credit, Bloggerplugin's instructions are clear and they work. Well, they worked for all my other blogs, except this Frugal Girl one! The buttons showed up but when clicked on, I'd get the message 'This page doesn't exist')

If you have the new Blogger Interface this is what you need to do:

1. From your blogspot page, Click on 'Design' (which is sandwiched between 'New Post' and 'Sign Out' on the top right of the page.
2. Click on 'Layout' on the left side bar. 
3. In your layout, you'll see various boxes (e.g., Favicon, Navbar) showing what appears on where, on your blog. Look for 'Blog Posts'.
4. Within the 'Blog Posts' box, click on 'Edit' (found at bottom right in that box). You'll see something like the pic below. 
5. Finally, check the box 'Show Share Buttons', 'Save' and 'View' the miraculous wonderful addition to your blog!

I'm just getting acquainted with my Mac, and learning how to make my blog more functional, attractive and useful for my readers. It's a steep learning curve, but I'm enjoying the ride! I'll post every week on how I did/am doing the little tweaks to my blogs (I have 10!). My next post will describe how to capture a screenshot on the Mac (like the one I pasted above). To receive my posts in your inbox you can subscribe, else check back soon for the goodies!

Are you new to blogging or an accomplished blogger pulling in lots of Adsense revenue. I'd LOVE to hear from you! Leave a comment!

xo Gracie

Free $10 deal bucks from Living Social

I'm such a sucker for freebies and LivingSocial knows it! Having signed up a few months ago but not bought anything, I was reeled in for a second look by a free $10 credit that arrived in my inbox.

A quick scan of available deals showed a 10 ft usb data cable from Widget Love at $10. The normal sale price for this 'High quality' cable at Widget Love is $24.99. Is this cable diamond encrusted or something? Amazon stocks these at $4.73 with free shipping. :\

I redeemed my $10 deal bucks and ordered my free cable. The entire process took less than 2 minutes. Sweet! Thanks Living Social!


xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Apple Mac Desktop Accessories

Omigosh, we are finally getting ourselves an Apple Mac Computer and DH has picked out some necessary accessories. Amazon is a good place as any to buy Apple products, other places seem to cost the same.

 xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Winster Shut Down: All Good Things Come to an End

I was a mad Winster fan for over a year - the year that was one heckuva tough one, and Winster gave me an fun social outlet for stress-release. I somehow got through that year, and spent less time on Winster, checking in only once in a while to say hi to various ol' friends. (My Winster review HERE)

I tried checking in yesterday and was instead directed to a Winster Keepsake Book page.

| Start your own Photo Books | Create custom Christmas Cards

I found out to my surprise that Winster had closed its social gaming website back in May 2012. Winnie Winster, the founder, said that they couldn't afford to keep it going anymore. Shucks. I have the fondest memories of those hours spent on Slot Social, where I mostly helped others JP.

Oh well. I guess I'll go out for a trail run instead. (Check out what else Gracie has been up to HERE :))

xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

Review of Match.com & Flyby of Eharmony: A Frugal Gurl's Take

How did Frugal Girl find Lurve via Online Dating Websites?

A special three-flavored wedding!

I guess I lucked out! And I didn't pay a cent to meet my match, married now for four years (after a long courtship). Actually my DH didn't pay a cent to Match.com either, but more on that later. Anyway, THANKS Match.com! Well I have been recommending Match.com for years to all my single-n-looking friends, and thought I should write a review about it, and also Eharmony, who is Match.com's archrival in the online dating scene. Both claim to be The Number 1 Dating Site, with Eharmony adding 'Trusted' to their pitch. So here's my take on Match.com, and my flyby impression of Eharmony (gathered from user forums, comments and a few books: 

• The Ugly Woman's Guide to Internet Dating: What I Learned From 70 First Dates (by Rosemary Thornton who has an awesome website HERE)  
• Meeting Your Match Online: The Complete Guide to Internet Dating and Dating Services - Including True Life Date Stories (Tamsen Butler) and 
• Chemistry and Numbers: The Online Dating Guide (Steve Monas)). 

My experience with Match.com
I placed my ad / profile on Match.com in 2002. I wanted to broaden my horizons and meet interesting men and women from around the world. 

The sign up process was easy, and actually quite fun. I didn't pay anything, but waited for people to contact me (a privilege for which they had to pay haha). Match.com, with the various cool individuals who struck up friendly correspondence with me, was a breath of fresh air that helped me 'get out there' again after a horrible, horrible relationship. 

Interestingly, I received an email from this Dude who said he found my Match.com profile intriguing, and this email wasn't sent via Match.com at all! This very resourceful dude (now my DH), had figured out my profile name gracetabithalim might work as an email too, and had tacked on hotmail, gmail, yahoo and all the other email servers he could think of, in the email that eventually reached me. El-Cheapo meets Frugal Girl!  

Match.com has since fixed this loophole, and you'll need to fork out $35 for a month-long subscription or $17 a month for six months of dating matches (here's a 20% Off Discount special for my readers :p). The latter is a decent deal, because of their guarantee of an additional six months FREE if you haven't found that special someone at the end of the first six months. You can also try 7 days Free.


Eharmony?
I had a look at the website, and it's nicely laid out, easy to navigate. The personality test that you have to take when you sign up (I did that with the 7 day free trial) is erm... ridiculously thorough! Wow, half an hour into the thing and I was only 60% done. But ... I kinda like it! It's all very scientific, professional and calculated (and sure wasn't how I met DH hehe). And it pledges to match you up with people who complement you.

I think this would be the way to go for someone who hasn't had much luck dating because they keep picking the wrong type. For example, in Match.com, you get to select characteristics of the person you'd like to meet, so you could theoretically end up with your doppelganger if you are a control-freak who chose all your own fav traits.

In Eharmony, it appears that the step-by-step process (with Dr Neil Clark Warren holding your hand all through), guides you and your potential mate to wonderful discovery of each other. Forcing people to talk to each other about things that matter, at the very start of the relationship, is possibly why Eharmony is responsible for 5% of all US marriages (that's what their website says the Harris Poll found). Definitely for folks who have a serious eye towards marriage, I'd say.

The cost though is $60 for a month-long subscription, coming down to $20 a month for a year's worth of courtship opportunities.

Frugal Girl's Take
Back in the day, online dating was Taboo, and carried a sort of seedy stigma that the person was 'desperate' or 'damaged goods'. Online dating is pretty much mainstream now, and in my view, a very good way to meet a potential mate. 

The profile matching in Match.com helps narrow down the list of people that fit your selection criteria, so you can quickly scan and pick the ones that look the most promising, to start correspondence. And this is done in the safety and comfort of your home. Beats the bar scene any time! 

While Match.com worked fine for me, I think if I were single and seriously looking for a marriage partner, I might 'invest' in Eharmony. Then again, Eharmony's scientific-based matchmaking and hand-held communication process is a tad too unromantic for my taste hehe. So Match.com it is! (Try these links for a 20% Off Discount, or 15% Off Discount or a 7-day Free Trial at Match.com.

Home barbering saves money: A Review of Panasonic Rechargeable Dial Clipper

I gave Spencer his first haircut in two years! Now now now not what you think hehe - during my extended absence his lovely locks had been kept presentable by our friendly neighborhood barber. Now that I'm back I can do it! Plus I'm cheap like that :)

Tools of the trade

It's really easy with this Panasonic rechargeable cordless dial hair clipper and trimmer. First I drape a sarong around him, making snug at the neck. This prevents too much hair from getting down his shirt. For the first pass I put at setting 11 and go over his head a couple times until it's all even. Then I set it to 5 and carefully do the sides and back. Finally I switch to the trimmer and trim the edges to neaten up. That's pretty much it! About 20 minutes we save $20! It's more than paid its worth - it cost $29 on Amazon.

Pros: I like that this hair clipper is so quiet. We can chat about the day's events as I shear his locks. I love that you can switch the settings by simply turning the dial to the right setting. And it being waterproof also means that it can be used in the shower. Clean up is a snap! The only maintenance I do is to put a few drops of oil on the blades before and after.

Cons: The battery is getting kinda weak but I guess that's understandable since it's in its 4th year. I just use the clipper plugged in to the wall outlet. It can be annoying for some, but I'm okay with that. The clipper often needs a few passes before it gets all the hair clipped, especially for DH's very fine and fluffy hair. I need to detach the guide several times to clear the hair from the clipper blades. Apparently Amazon reviewers are not happy with the guide, saying that it breaks! But so far I haven't had any problems. Anyway, I would say it's not as powerful as a professional clipper and in my opinion would not work for dudes with thick hair.


xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

3 Hour Massage Spa for RM49? Good post-triathlon therapy!

I was absolutely sucked in by this deal. First, I love massages. My hubs and I had a massage almost every single day of our weeklong honeymoon at Bali. Second, I know I'm gonna need some serious massaging after my Sprint triathlon at the Desaru International Long Distance Triathlon 2011. Third, if I possibly attempt and survive the Long Distance event at the aforesaid Triathlon, I will need ultra-serious massaging. Ultra. (Now, why would I even wanna do the Long Distance event? It's because I have a FREE pass. If you know me, I'm also a sucker for freebies. By the way, Timex, thanks for the freebie).

If you need a massage and feeling adventurous enough to try out a new place, check out the link below. I'll post a review of the place after my outing there. Stay tuned!

Had a Long, Hard Day of Work? Treat Yourself to a 3-Hour Full Body Pampering Inclusive of a Ginger Oil Massage, Sea Salt Foot Bath and Soak, Full Body Scrub, Ear Candling, Milk Bubble Bath Jacuzzi and a Herbal Drink at Reen's Beauty House and Spa for Only RM49.90 Instead of RM350

Everyday Deals Link!
Groupon Deals Link!
Milkadeal Link!


xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!

FREE Dale and Thomas 10% off $50 Discount Coupon Code

Hi everyone!

Dale & Thomas Popcorn is a gourmet popcorn that has been featured on Oprah's "Favorite Things" and has been declared on the Today's Show as "The Rolls Royce of Popcorn". It would make a special gift for any occasion, even a special treat for yourself and your loved ones.

CLICK HERE to get 10% off your purchase of $50 and up at Dale & Thomas (That's $5 off $50 or $10 off $100!). Enter the Coupon Code AFF10 at checkout and you're good to go!

Other details: Redeemable for merchandise only and may not be redeemed for cash. Valid only for Dale and Thomas® products at www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com. Minimum order of $50. Limit one per order/visit. Cannot be used for wholesale orders. Does not apply to previously placed orders. Cannot be combined with other promotions or offers. Cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. No cash value. Cannot be used to purchase gift cards or gift card refills.

By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out Where Gracie Shops!



xo Gracie

P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!