Bloglander

Not yet half way into summer vacation, families like mine are starting to feel the pinch of added expenses, restless kids and less income. In fact, the mental stress of financing the months of summer can become so all-consuming that our relationships turn tense and we risk losing the enjoyment of the season.

Here are a few ways I’ve tried to make or save money to fund that kids’ camp, movie night, Silverwood excursion, evening date, camping trip or kayak rental when I’m empty in the pockets:

1. Dig Deeper. I found an extra $25 just by going through winter coat pockets, looking under the seats in my car and digging in the sofa. That’s dinner or a movie for two.

2. Babysit Pets. My 12-year-old would love to own and breed all kind of animals, but I am not a big pet fan. Our compromise is that he can babysit non-vicious dogs and cats at our home. He’s already earned enough to pay for two Silverwood trips, snacks included.

3. Sell Your Stuff. I admit, I have no patience for sitting in the sun all day running a yard sale or managing ads on craigslist, but I am trying out Tradesy.com currently for selling clothes and have found some of the local shop-and-swap networks to be quite effective.

4. Use Your Body. I’m not suggesting organ donation or red-light-district activity, but plasma donors are always needed here in Spokane, and there are medical research teams looking for test subjects for products you might already be using, like allergy meds or nasal spray.

5. Rent What You Own. I’m not a big fan of having random roommates, although we do host international students on occasion. But, renting out a garage or toolshed for storage is less invasive to your privacy and can add enough supplemental monthly income to cover a road trip by fall.

6. Tap Your Talents. Making a summer camp out of your skill set, teaching a few private (art, music, dance) lessons, or teaming up with a friend to trade your expertise are all great ways to turn a profit. I am trading art lessons for guitar lessons and have also taught with Spokane Art School and other organizations on a class-by-class basis.

7. Be Exotic. Yes, this area has its limits, but there are some fun ways to explore and express in Spokane. I participated as a vendor in the new outdoor art event, Bazaar, and will be spicing up things in August as a model for the Blackwood Art Clothing line at Runway Renegades. Participating in events that pay in excitement or networking can bring fresh ideas to your life.

8. Go Hastings. Buy-backs aren’t hugely lucrative, but if you have upgraded to BluRay or no longer have an Xbox 360, why keep the archaic stuff around? Entertainment and gaming stores usually buy back or trade consoles and games.

9. Pawn It. Sometimes you will get just as much or more for your equipment, electronics, musical instruments or jewelry at a pawn shop as you will sitting in the hot sun (or rain) all day running a yard sale. My kids pawned enough of their outdated items to purchase a couple hundred dollars of new entertainment gear.

10. Stop Paying Bills. Maybe you don’t really need that iPad on your phone line anymore or aren’t using Hulu Plus or tanning and going to the gym during the summer. For some companies, you can temporarily put your services on hold, revise your plan or eliminate your membership altogether. I saved about $85 a month by revising my services this summer. ♦

Rachel Dolezal, formerly of the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d'Alene, is an award-winning artist and activist who teaches courses in art, Africana history and culture at area universities.

A couple of hundred people biked and walked on streets, blocked off to motor vehicle traffic, around Corbin Park for Spokane Summer Parkways. Residents and visitors alike used this opportunity to leisurely make their way around the park or listen to music. Groups of people stopped every once in a while to socialize or eat.

With an abundance of trend-focused gyms popping up in the region, it’s evident the latest national fitness trends have made their way here. From CrossFit and hot yoga, to spinning and barre classes, there are so many options to stay in shape. Along with this workout culture comes another type of trend — fitness fashion.

With the presence of high-end (i.e. $80 yoga pants) fitness apparel brands Lululemon and Athleta in downtown Spokane, these stores are also now influencing local trends in fitness fashion that have become popular outside of the gym. But what do active, fashion-conscious people wear if they’re trying to look on-trend while maintaining a budget?

We shopped around the city to prove that it’s possible to find stylish and affordable workout wear. Check out our list of finds below.

1. Target

Target is an obvious destination for affordable clothing, and it always carries essential staples for any workout wardrobe. Target’s athletic clothing line, C9 by Champion  is made by the acclaimed exercise brand Champion. This means the clothing is well made and trendy enough to rival other high-end athletic brands without breaking the bank. The brand’s fitness clothing can be found in store or online, and prices max out at about $40. For additional discounts and coupons at Target consider downloading their mobile coupon app, Cartwheel. You never know what daily discounts will be offered.





2. TJ Maxx

This popular bargain chain is constantly circulating new products and top workout brands ranging from Reebok and Adidas to Nike and UnderArmour at up to 60 percent off. Also, a summer sale is currently running both in stores and online, with merchandise at up to 75 percent off. TJ Maxx is also new to the online world, launching its shopping website last year for those customers who hate the hassle of digging through disorganized racks.



3. Plato’s Closet

The next (and sort of unlikely) destination was Plato’s Closet. For most of the year, Plato’s Closet is a fabulous place to sell and find gently-used clothing by popular youth-oriented brands such as American Eagle, Hollister and Express. During the summer months, though, the store switches things up and accepts more active wear. The franchise's store on North Division has an athletic clothing display right now with brands like Nike, Adidas and Danskin. Prices range from $10-$15.


4. Costco

When you think of Costco, most shoppers probably think of food and free samples. But in the middle of the store Costco is always displaying many top workout-wear brands. Tanks, jackets, pants, sports bras, shorts and socks of brands like Nike, Puma and Reebok can often be found. Costco also has its own Kirkland brand of trendy exercise apparel. With Costco, you never know what you'll find when you stop in since its stores are always bringing in new brands. When we stopped by, Costco had Puma workout wear for men and women.


5. Northwest Christian Thrift

Last, we decided to challenge ourselves and see if it’s possible to find trendy workout wear at local thrift stores. Surprisingly, after a bit of digging, we found that it is. Northwest Christian Thrift on North Ash at Five Mile has an entire rack dedicated to workout wear. Even though most of it screams 80’s, with a little bit of perseverance you can find a few pieces, with prices ranging from $1-$3 per item. Northwest Christian Thrift also offers 15% off student discounts on Wednesdays.


While our shopping trip offers several examples of affordable workout wear, you can find reasonably-priced exercise clothing just about anywhere, especially when keeping an eye out for sales. Other retailers with great workout apparel lines include Gap and Old Navy, Athleta’s sister brands. Also check department stores, like JC Penny. By signing up for higher-end store's email lists, it's also easy to find coupons and updates about online and in-store promotions.

Also watch for discounted summer workout wear, as many stores are already starting to clear out merchandise to make way for fall clothing. 

FRIDAY

Bonnie “Prince” Billy will fill The Bartlett with his indie rock/Americana/folk sounds tonight. Having previously recorded under his real name — Will Oldham — along with Palace Brothers and Palace Music, he's sure to bring the same warbling voice Johnny Cash chose to cover back in 2000. David Ferguson will be opening the show at 8 pm and tickets are still available for $28.



After all touring and playing in separate bands, a trio of brothers from the Inland Northwest now make music together as Flying Mammals. Their 7:30 pm show is at the Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center in Post Falls and tickets are $15. 

SATURDAY

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is hosting its annual Mountain Music Festival with free music beginning at noon. Local favorites Cedar & Boyer are followed by Seattle's Pretty Broken Things, the Marshall McLean Band, and finally the Seattle-based singer-songwriter who played in Sandpoint last weekend, the Ian McFeron Band, at 6 pm.

Featuring all local music, the Viking Bar's All Age Rage Volume II features the Nixon Rodeo, the Lion Oh My, Helldorado and many other bands, happening both Saturday and Sunday. One-day or two-day passes are available for these outdoor concerts.

Rocky Votolato's once acoustic emo sounds now features intricate guitar riffs and soothing harmonies to create his extremely honest songs. Kevin Long and Bristol are opening his show at the Bartlett at 8 pm. The show is $15.

Spokane rockers Bullets or Balloons are releasing their new 7-inch EP this weekend, with a show at the Baby Bar with Kramer and Team Growl. Music starts at 9:30 and it's free.

If you're an artist in the Inland Northwest, you should know about Terrain. And if you don't, here's the skinny: The evolving arts festival has traditionally taken place on one night in October in downtown Spokane and features an enormous amount of visual arts, music, performances and more.

So, there is still time to get your work on the walls at Terrain. Submissions close at midnight on Aug. 1, so head on over to the Terrain site to learn what you need to do.

Also, all the art is for sale. Last year's show saw almost $8,000 in sales in that one night.

Here's more about submission guidelines and other cool Terrain info we mentioned way back in May when, uh hum, you could have got your submission in.

Terrain is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 4 at the Music City Building.

Inlander contributor Scott A. Leadingham has sent back these images and video from Central Washington where the Carlton Complex Fire has already destroyed 100 homes.

HERE

The Carlton Complex Fire burning in Central Washington raged last night, forcing hundreds to evacuate as more than 50 buildings burned in and around the towns of Pateros and Brewster, Washington. (KREM)

Air quality in the area is rapidly deteriorating as smoke from regional wildfires blows in, and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency is advising people to limit their outdoor activities as conditions continue. (KHQ)  

A chain-reaction accident involving 24 cars and semi trucks on I-90 just west of Vantage caused eastbound lanes to close for several hours yesterday. (S-R)

THERE

It's not clear how an investigation into the crash of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine will continue since the wreckage is located in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists who allegedly shot down the plane. Find the latest updates on yesterday's tragedy here. (CNN)

Nevada's Lake Mead atop Hoover Dam, the largest reservoir in the U.S., has dropped to a historic low levels. (Reuters)

The University of Connecticut settled for $1.3 million a lawsuit filed by five female students who argued the university reacted to their complaints of sexual assault with indifference. (Seattle P-I)

The Israeli military moved into Gaza last night as Hamas militants continued to ignore pleas for a cease-fire after 10-days of attacks. (Reuters)

HERE

We all felt the heat yesterday. Many areas recorded temperatures at or over 100 degrees. Here's the National Weather Service's official numbers for the Inland Northwest. (NWS)

SCRAPS animal control officers have responded to nearly 50 calls of dogs being left in hot cars in the past four days. (KREM)

Catch up on the latest marijuana news with yesterday's Weed Wednesday blog, covering the Wenatchee lawsuit to ban pot sales, security issues growers are facing, and the House vote to make it easier for banks to service pot businesses. (Inlander)

Part of the Centennial Trail between downtown and Kendall Yards is closed during weekdays while the parks department works to improve a public green space near the Monroe Street Bridge. (Inlander)

THERE

Microsoft announced plans to cut up to 18,000 jobs, the biggest layoff in the company's history. (AP via S-R)

California's death penalty has been ruled unconstitutional, largely for leaving inmates' fates hanging in the balance for decades. (CNN)

Top military lawyer Eugene Fidell, who's argued cases over Guantanamo Bay, Chelsea Manning and commanders' roles in sexual assault prosecution, is now representing Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. (NBC)

After a big announcement earlier this week that the next inception of comic book hero Thor would be a female character, Marvel announced that it also plans to swap Captain America's Steve Rogers to an African American character. (Mashable)

The violence in Israel continues. Here's a breakdown of why Hamas and Palestine are fighting for those out there who aren't following the news as closely. (Vox)

Police accountability advocates today voiced several new concerns about the Spokane Police Department's proposed usage policy for officer-worn body cameras, taking issue with vague recording requirements and a perceived lack of public input.

The Center for Justice issued a letter dated July 16, also signed by the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane and other local groups, saying advocates found the latest draft policy insufficient to ensure body cameras would provide reliable oversight.

"Unfortunately," the letter states, "the current version of the policy supports a purpose mostly of discretionary surveillance, not of transparency and accountability."

Advocates expressed the most concern with the rules defining what and when an officer must record. The proposed policy says "most" police encounters "shall" be recorded, but a section specifically listing many common, required interactions was removed.

"If left to officer discretion, there could be inconsistent usage," the letter states, "which will undermine both the camera's oversight value and the public's trust in our police department."

The letter also requests policies to address protocols for camera malfunctions and additional oversight for video filing. Advocates hoped the department would extend opportunities for additional comment or discussion of the issue in the near future.

The new letter comes several days after the ACLU of Washington sent a somewhat similar letter, calling the policy "disappointing" and lamenting a lack of privacy protections. Nationally, the ACLU has offered several recommendations for how law enforcement should approach the use body cameras.

SPD officials note they proactively asked the ACLU to review the proposed policies to develop a balanced set of rules that protect both police officers and citizens. The department plans to start rolling out the cameras on officers by September.

Spokeswoman Monique Cotton confirmed today the department plans to host multiple public forums to collect citizen input and answer any questions about how the technology will be used. Those forums have not yet been scheduled.

Welcome back to Weed Wednesday, your weekly dose of pot news. Wondering what this is about? Click. Looking for our previous marijuana coverage? Click. Got a question or tip? Email me at heidig@inlander.com.

First an update on Spokane's three licensed marijuana stores. Spokane Green Leaf (9107 N. Country Homes), the only one to open last week, is still operating with limited hours. They were open over the weekend and are closed again until Friday at 1 pm. Satori (9301 N. Division) hopes to open next Wednesday and the owner of Green Star Cannabis (1403 N. Division) tells us he expects to open "sometime in the next couple of weeks." On the westside, Seattle's only store is out of weed and expects to open again on July 25, according to the Seattle Times.

Remember the news last week about the guy who was being fired for being first in line to buy legal marijuana in Spokane? It's still unclear exactly what happened (was he actually fired?), but the story went viral and he was offered his job back.

Pot grower Sean Green says his grow was burglarized over the weekend, though only two energy drinks were actually stolen. KHQ talked to another grower, Wesley Tuttle (whom we featured here) about the extensive security measures growers are required to have in place.

The city of Wenatchee, which was sued over its ban on marijuana businesses, has responded to the suit without citing the much discussed federal preemption issue. Instead of arguing that the city can ban the businesses because pot remains federally illegal, Wenatchee argues it can ban them because nothing in the state law (Initiative 502) explicitly prevents them from doing so (an argument the state's attorney general has made too). The case will go forward, but this means the ACLU of Washington isn't likely to get involved, as it had promised to do if the federal issue came up.

In Colorado, pot sales were down slightly in May, but still raked in $5.7 million in taxes that month, according to the AP. The Seattle Times reports that Washington's first three days of sales brought in nearly $150,000 in taxes (and that's before sales and B&O taxes).

Colorado also released what may be the first-ever market study of legal weed. The report, which analyzed the first three months of recreational sales there, found demand for about 130 metric tons of recreational and medical pot a year — higher than the state's previous estimates.

Elsewhere, cops in Washington D.C. are preparing for the new decriminalization law that takes effect there tomorrow; the medical marijuana farmers market we told you about last week has been temporarily blocked by a judge; weed delivery services continue to operate in a legal gray area; and the U.S. House reaffirmed Treasury Department guidance from February meant to make it easier for banks to work with pot businesses.