Nancy Conner, ABR - Olympia/Thurston County WA

If you love buying handcrafted gifts for family and friends - & like the idea that you are also helping support your local economy - you can't beat shopping at local holiday bazaars.

There's a good one here in Lacey this Friday, November 6th from 4-8 PM & Saturday, November 7th from 9 AM - 4 PM at Thurston County Fairgrounds (3054 Carpenter Rd SE, Lacey). This is the 18th year for this bazaar & there will be something like 100 different crafters with very cool, unique items to tempt you - 4 buildings full! Parking & admission are free though food bank donations are gratefully accepted. There will even be food for lunch or bake sale items available if you shop so hard that you work up an appetite!

In past years I have found scented candles, ornaments and other decorations, clever wooden plaques, knitted sweaters & hats and cozy, cuddly scarves, hand painted wine glasses & carafes, colorful old fashioned rag rugs, yummy jams, jellies, pickles & lovely jewelry of all types!

So much fun to browse, admire the talent on display - & get your shopping started!!

I love that title that Puget Sound Energy is using to make their energy efficiency events fun, as well as a convenient way for people to conserve energy!!

Residential electric customers can bring up to 10 regular, incandescent light bulbs to swap for new CFL bulbs - for free! Don't know about you, but I love free!! The first local exchange will be this coming weekend, Oct 24th & 25th at the Lowe's store in Lacey; also Oct 31st & Nov. 1st at the Lowe's in Olympia.

People can also enter the Be an Energy Rock Star contest which has up to $45,000 in prizes - winning money is even better than getting things for free! Check out more info at www.PSE.com or www.rockthebulb.pse.com. There's info on other locations for the free bulbs as well as volunteer opportunities to deliver free CFL bulbs in a number of different cities - this will be a great way for people to replace their inefficient porch lights before the winter months.

So if you like the idea of using about 75% less energy with your light bulbs as well as having them last longer - as much as 10 times longer - come on out to Rock the Bulb!!