Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

EmergencyCafe

As a native Californian I have lived through 3 good sized earthquakes. The Sylmar quake from 1971 is one of my earliest scary memories. Most of us who have been here awhile take earthquakes seriously even though we live with it with the attitude “it goes with the territory”. But many of you new to Southern a California don’t know what you need or how to put together an emergency kit. Everyone in California should have one.

This is where Emergency Café comes in. Operated by Cari Butler, this entrepreneurial mom Emergency Preparedness began when her daughter started pre-school and was required to have a personal emergency kit. It occurred to her that everyone should have their own personal emergency kit at an affordable price. She now provides consultation services for families and businesses, as well as offering the Emergency Café line of kits.

For do it yourselfers you’ll find a check list of supplies to take to the store. For those of us with less time, you can purchase kits starting at $55 for a one person kit up to $205 for a five person kit. There are backpack kits for your car, pet kits, under the bed kits, tools, ladders… the basics all reasonably priced, all in one place.

Stop by www.emergencycafe.com for your emergency supplies.

Come on, get on it, it’s been 12 years since the last big quake! Some might say we’re over due for a good shake!

ChillOutLA

Okay, so I am gonna let you all in on my little secret. For the last 15 years I’ve been teaching commercial dance classes. I didn’t drop them after I became a bargain shopping guru. But I did slowly cut back as my work load increased and am sadly down to just one a week which is soon to be history.

Dance as a first love had always been a way to relieve stress, stay in shape and use my creative juices. As a teacher, I have never had to pay for a class and I am now facing paying for something I have received for free. Off hand I’d say I am spoiled. But it’s time to get on the ball and start the search for both R & R and a good exercise program… be it yoga, pilates, weight training, ballet classes or whatever.

Which brings me to Chill Out LA. This online site give you the low down on local spas, classes, yoga and other “centering” activities to help both mind and body stay in shape. Every Thursday they send out an e-mail packed with info on spas, massage centers, yoga studios, meditation workshops, and rejuvenating getaways are truly affordable. Not just the over-hyped “Hollywood glam” stuff. Real classes, real people at real prices.

The last e-mail I received had power yoga classes at $8-$10 a pop which is below the Westside norm of $12-$18. Most of the sources tend to be in LA proper but since sign up is free it’s worth it. Hopefully they’ll expand as their readership does. An easy way to find the sources that take care of your bod…. for less.