Leggo that…

Posted by Judy at My Freezer is Full

My family loves waffles.  They’re a great thing to have in the freezer so the children can pop them into the toaster for a quick, nutritious breakfast before school.  I’ll confess, in years gone by we had succumbed to the ease of purchasing pre-made waffles at the store.

A little over a year ago, I decided that buying waffles was a total waste of money (averaging 25-35 cents per waffle!) and not as nutritious as I had hoped. So I embarked on a quest to find a waffle iron… just a waffle iron, nothing fancy- not Belgian waffles, nothing that spins or flips, no interchangeable plates to convert it into a panini press- just a waffle iron.  I struck out at our local thrift stores but eventually was able to find a basic 4-waffle iron.  We’ve been waffling at our house ever since and haven’t looked back.

It took a while to find a recipe that everyone liked.  I generally replace some of the regular flour with whole wheat or multi-grain flour and can add whatever other ingredients I like.  I will make a double batch on a Saturday morning and – with 3 children- hope to have some left over to pop into the freezer for the following week.

I like that I know exactly what is in them- there are no questions of food safety here.  I recently learned that Kellogg’s had a recall of Eggo waffles in September of this year due to contamination with Listeria.  Yum, I’ll have a side order of meningitis with my breakfast.  I don’t think so.  I don’t remember hearing any press about it at the time though. Interestingly enough, the official Eggo website makes no mention of this recall, only citing ‘production problems’ in answer to a question about why there is a shortage of products on the shelves.  Curiouser and curiouser….

I’m glad we were able to kick the store-bought habit.  I can still make chocolate chip waffles for my children, if that’s what they want. But I know that they’re eating nutritious, safe food- now if only I could keep up with their appetites!

Make it Inviting

by Paulette of Smith Funny Farm

I’m looking so forward to the holidays, and one thing that means is more overnight guests. I love having visitors. I can’t wait until I have our spare bedroom turned into a cozy guestroom, and I’m hoping I can get it there before the holidays hit.

Here are some things you can do to make your guestroom inviting and comfortable for your guests.

1) Have a comfortable bed…you don’t want your guests achy and sore in the morning from sleeping on a less than comfortable mattress or pillow. Add a feather bed, comfy duvet, good quality sheets. And launder before guests arrive for a fresh feeling, even if sheets have been laundered since last slept on. Depending on your guest…a spritz of lavender or other lovely scent on the sheets would be nice. My son may not like it, my best friend would.

2) Have a small basket available with bottled water, light snacks, maybe a notepad and pen or magazine or two. Also nice to include would be bath salts, bubble bath and luscious lotions. Again, Adam may not care.

3) We have spare bathing suits on hand for guests that would like to spend time in the hot tub. Having robes available would be nice also.

4) Have a chair in the room for sitting, with a table and lamp nearby.

5) Provide privacy. For us this will mean shades or some kind of window covering, because we know our bare windows freak at least one of our regular visitors out – you know who you are

6) Provide a bit of closet space for hanging clothes, as well as having a drawer or two available. This will keep the room neater and more comfortable. A hook on the back of the door might be nice.

7) Provide an alarm clock. We do have roosters to wake us in the country, but they may not be on your guest’s schedule.

8) Bath supplies: Lay out hand towels and bath towel for your guest’s use.

Doesn’t it sound lovely? I know my guests will be glad when I finally get there, and they don’t have to sleep among the unpacked boxes. Soon, friends, soon.

The joys of cloth…

I’d had a whole ‘nother post written about balancing green and frugal, but I looked at it and realized it had turned into a rant about the high cost of supermarket “organic.” Which we all know and despair about, so I decided to do a different, positive, cheery post.

Instead I offer you–a paean to cloth. The knitted dish cloth and its less crafty cousin the terry-cloth or microfiber one. Dish towels, either pretty and bright or faded from long use. The cloth napkin that makes every meal feel festive while helping the environment and your budget. The canvas tote that hauls your groceries, carries your lunch to work, acts as a beach bag, and does a dozen other useful duties. The cloth diaper (whose many merits I can’t discuss personally-any parents care to chime in?) The washable fiber covers, whether fancy microfiber or the cotton knit I’m currently making (in an incredibly loud lime-green and turquoise blend), that replace those expensive and wasteful, yet ever so useful, Swiffer pads.

Even and perhaps especially the humble rag that used to be a flannel sheet, a favorite t-shirt or even one of those cloth diapers. My household hasn’t stopped buying paper towels entirely, since they’re terribly handy for 1) draining bacon and 2) cleaning up the nastiest cat accidents and hairballs. Still, we’ve cut down their use a lot, and while the rags do eventually end up in the landfill, we’ve squeezed every bit of useful out of them.  I even use cotton rags for “garden bondage” and at the end of the season, the tie goes into the compost with the rest of the plant.

I’m not saying anything terribly new here. If you’re reading this, you’re probably already a cloth convert, or working toward it.

There are a million ways to use cloth in the home instead of disposables, including ones I haven’t tried, such as cloth menstrual pads (I want to like the idea, but I hate pads!)  and washable bathroom wipes, either for baby wipes or for the whole family. I can see the sense behind that notion. Why flush perfectly good trees down the toilet when you can just wash up? Still, it’s not a leap I’m ready to make. If anyone out there in Readerland does it, speak up! Does it work well? How much extra laundry does it generate? Do you keep TP on hand in case of a bout of digestive bug?

So, what are your favorite household tricks with fabric that I haven’t touched upon?

Making it stretch

Stephanie of GoingGreenInSoIL

Our household has had its shares of harsh times this year like most people.  Things have been tight and like most people we buckled down.  Among the clipping of coupons, stocking up during great sales and trying to get the best bang for our buck we try to be creative with the things we end up procuring.

We reuse plastic containers that our recycling program does not accept.  I haven’t had to really buy plastic bags for quite some time.  While I do try to buy stuff with the least amount of packaging sometimes it’s just not easy to find.  It’s also great that during parties and the holidays I don’t mind sending off leftovers in them. 

Another thing that we do, or more accurately my husband does, is make one whole chicken stretch into several meals.  He asked me one day how to make chicken broth and then he set to work.  One chicken will equal not only the original meal, but it will also give us a couple containers of broth that are frozen and used for things like cooking green beans or as the liquid for cooking rice.  Left over meat is separated from the bones and packaged up for either lunches, our infamous ”clean out the fridge before it goes bad” leftover dinners or frozen for later meals.

Cleaning with Vinegar and Herbs

Quick Tip:

Vinegar cuts through grease, mineral build up, and soap scum as well as inhibiting bacteria and mold.  Mix it with some antimicrobial, aromatic herbs and you’ve got yourself a cheap and easy way to disinfect and clean the house without the harsh chemicals of commercial cleaners.

Add a few tablespoons of Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Basil, Clove, or almost any other cooking spice to one cup of vinegar and let it sit for two weeks before straining out the herbs.  Pour it into a spray bottle and use your herbal vinegar to clean kitchen counters, oven tops, showers, mirrors, windows, glassware, coffeemakers, and so much more.  Add a small amount of baking soda and you’ve got a nice scrubbing cleanser.

Scrubbin

This past weekend we went to a costume party at Ronnie’s sister’s house.  Michelle and Lea are an inspiration to good housekeeping and decorating savvy.  Despite 8 cats and two kids, I have never walked into their home to find it dirty or cluttered.  Do not know how they do it; upon returning home the following afternoon, I was inspired to clean and organize.

My journey into natural cleaning (without commercial chemicals) began with Rhonda Jean’s blog, down–to–earth; this is not a review of her blog.  =)  She has some great, green, cleaning recipes and it is her liquid laundry soap that we use.  She also inspired me to knit dish clothes, repurposed old towels into cleaning clothes and use baking soda and vinegar to clean.  Ronnie does not mind the detergent and other natural cleaning, he does mind NOT having bleach in the house.  I have had no problems cleaning with baking soda & vinegar;  He believes he needs bleach to get rid of the stains that collect around the kitchen faucet – Mexican tile that has been sealed yet seems to collect stains none-the-less.

In the bathroom I use baking soda to clean the tub and sink, and vinegar and baking soda in the toilet bowl.  Laundry gets a 1/4c of the home detergent with vinegar in the downy ball; when these clothes dry, there is no after vinegar smell.  Clothes are either hung up outside or on inside drying racks – the exception to this are sheets; if it is not nice outside, into the dryer they go.

There are many, MANY bloggers out there that have different cleaning recipes – check ‘em out and find one that works for you.  Trying to use a regime that does not fit into your schedule  or comfort level results in frustration and stagnation.  Clean and be happy!

Pets & Working

By Joanna of Keeping Feet

I love my dog.

He’s gorgeous and loyal and friendly and full of energy and always entertaining. Wouldn’t trade him for the world.

But.

I run into dog-mommy-guilt when I have to leave him all day, every weekday, at home alone. I am constantly sweeping up his long hair off the floor and furniture. Finding someone to watch a big, rambunctious dog has proved next-to-impossible, so we have to board him if we’re gone for more than a day trip. He likes to embarrass us by chasing the neighbors’ cats, or cars, or bikes, or trash cans (or, pretty much anything that moves). Lucky for us, he always, always comes home. Some family and friends wonder why we have him at all, because he seems more trouble than it’s worth.

It’s true that having high-needs pets while working full time is not easy. Here’s some things we do with our dog to save money and create a happier life:

• Make a point to spend time with him. Even if we have a busy day, have errands to run, and are only home a couple waking hours, my husband & I try to make a point to give him some attention. We got this poor dog when he was a year & a half and totally attention-starved. We’ve seen what no attention will do to him, and he’s obviously much happier now.
• Feed good food. This seems contradictory- how can buying high-quality (and presumably more expensive) food save money? It all boils down to long-term health. My dog has yet to have a health problem in the almost two years we’ve had him, and I’m trusting that our upfront investment of good food will keep him healthy for a long while. When we got him, he was being fed the cheapest stuff at the store, and was overweight and had awful allergies. He’s a happier dog with better food. Also: he poops less.
• Don’t go crazy on the toys. Casey doesn’t need tons of toys. We only replace them when he’s totally destroyed them. He’s got toys, he loves them, but we keep them to a minimum.
• Find community events. This weekend, the local humane society had a free microchipping event. The local pet store has really cheap nail trimming weekly. A low-cost check-up clinic comes to the same store periodically for vaccinations. We can save money AND take care of our pet by keeping up with what’s going on in the community.
• Make dog treats. While I’m not confident I can get all the right nutrition into his food to make dog food, treats are a different story. I can use leftover veggies, cooked meat (with minimal spices) or parts we don’t cook (like a chicken’s neck, heart, & liver), whir it in the food processor with oatmeal until it is cookie-dough consistency, and bake bite-sized pieces for as long as it takes for them to dry out. Almost free dog treats, with no ingredients from China! Also, no flour, which he’s allergic to.

These are some of the things we do. What do you do to manage your time & money with a pet at home?

Planning for the Feasts

by Kathie of Two Frog Home

The holidays are coming and I imagine for many of us that means lots of feasting and meals with family and friends.  Planning large meals can get expensive and time consuming.  Let’s face between planning everyday meals, working, raising kids, sleeping, and the rest of the everyday stuff it can be hard and exhausting to plan a huge feast.

A plan of attack, with lots of prep work, and splitting up the duties can make feasts less exhausting, less expensive, and most importantly more enjoyable.  Consider doing a few of the following:

• Make ahead – cookies, pies, and even some side dishes can be made ahead and frozen.
• Plan a pot luck – if you’re hosting the feast consider making the main course (turkey, ham, etc.) and asking your guests to bring specific dishes.  Assign general ideas to your friends and family members lest you get 10 pumpkin pies and no vegetables.  Consider giving people items like: wine, vegetable side dish, non-alcoholic beverages, pie, bread, fruit side dish, potatoes, etc.
• Keep it simple.  Many of us tend to go so completely overboard that we can’t enjoy the day.  Keep it simple, chances are no-one will notice that there is only two side dishes, instead of four.  Do you really need five different kinds of pie, when just pumpkin will do?
• If you’re not hosting the meal, be sure to offer help to the hosts.  Offer to bring dishes even when you’re not asked and be sure to help clean up! 
• Ask guests to help you clean, most guests want to help but often don’t know what to do.  Again, don’t be shy about assigning tasks – someone can help clean the table and throw the linens in the wash.  Someone can wash (or load the dishwasher) while someone else dries – you or someone in the family put things away as only you know where things should go.

Hopefully these tips will help you spend less money on your feasts and spend more time enjoying your guests instead of slaving away in the kitchen while everyone else naps.

Do you have any favorite feast planning tips?

Make Mine a Tax Deduction!

Kris of A Small Life

We have been talking about relaxation and hobbies for the past few posts, and it looks like I get the last word!  Since  our household has forsaken certain tax-deductions (link here), we are looking to gain some ground against the tax-man in a different way.  We are developing a hobby into a home based business.  My husband has discovered that woodworking brings him peace and a sense of accomplishment.  He has been building bird houses, a bed side table for me (happy mothers day!), and has plans to break into bigger pieces soon.  I have a crafty hobby of my own, but am the official finisher of his items-sanding, staining, etc.  It is good to have something we can do together, sometimes the girls even get into the picture. 

My hobby is art.  I used to draw (mostly wolves and horses) in charcoal.  I even had some of my work in a local show years ago.  I hope to get back to that skill level, but for now I create prim signs from recycled lumber.  Mostly I have been giving them as gifts for Christmas, but this year I will have my crafts and DH’s birdhouses at an Alternative Holiday Market put on by the local Universalist Unitarian church.  I plan to donate proceeds to the women’s Community Shelter. 

Consider turning your hobby into a small business.  If you shudder at the thought of extra record keeping, this isn’t for you.  If the thought of giving (excuse me…selling) your crafts takes the enjoyment away then don’t do it.  If you want to get a tax deduction for your sewing room-maybe this is something to consider.

I have been using JK Lassiter’s Tax Deductions for Your Small Business and although mind-numbing, is very straightforward and as user-friendly as tax information can be!  Talk to your accountant or tax preparer, why not take every advantage that is open to you?

Friday Nights at the Coffee Bar

Written by Heather of Heather’s Eden

Everyone just needs to take a break. Especially women who work all day, and then have to come home and maintain a home and family in the evenings and on the weekend!

Around here, we do that with Friday night at the coffee bar. Nita’s Sweet Bean Cafe is a little coffee bar that is run out of a real estate office. During the day it is one of the largest real estate offices in town. But a few nights a week, it evolves into a quaint little coffee bar with conference tables and rolling office chairs to accomodate all of the patrons. While Nita’s offers the “almost famous Toffee Coffee” (yum!), the real attraction is the open mic.

Nita’s has a small stage, and amateur performers bring their instruments and each person gets to perform two songs on stage. There are some really talented people that perform! Here’s a few samples of what I may see on a Friday night. I apologize for the low quality. This was shot on my little point-and-shoot camera:

Tommy is a regular that all the other performers have a great amount of respect for. Tommy’s mother-in-law is over 100 years old! The young man next to him is George. George is a very talented guitar player. What you see here is unrehearsed. Tommy just asked George to join him on stage. George often doesn’t even know the song that Tommy plays. He just watches his fingers on the strings, and runs with it!

This is another of Tommy and George, along with Alan on guitar and his daughter Megan. I forget the name of the guy on drums.

Alan is a regular at the coffee bar, and is a songwriter. This night was a special performance with both his son and daughter, and a very talented classmate of his daughter on violin (Omar was his name. Very cute, very humble, and very talented. Triple threat!)

John is another regular. He plays a lot of “fun” stuff.  Some of it is raunchy, some of it gets you clapping your hands. And he looks eerily like a guy I dated for a few years. It really is freaky how much he looks like him!

So that is where I like to go on Friday nights, to relax and start my weekend.

So now that you know what I do on Friday nights, what do you to when you need a break? Is there a special “date” spot for you and the hubby? A traditional getaway or weekend thing that you do to unwind and recharge? Share your good times with us! And Happy Halloween everybody!