tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68315307261889021412024-03-19T05:27:32.591-07:00Thriving on ThriftThe place to find and share ideas that make the shift to thrift, nifty!
<a href="https://plus.google.com/113952406223958877790" rel="publisher">Google+</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-86544698244806046392014-10-09T13:07:00.001-07:002014-10-09T13:09:34.669-07:00Try These Suds On Your Duds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've written
about </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/12/vinegar-winning-solution.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">replacing
fabric softener with vinegar</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and, in August, I blogged about
the </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2014/08/decalcified.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">new bleach
I'm using</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, so it only seems fair I should write about my experience with homemade
liquid laundry soap. I made my first batch in August and have been using it (along
with homemade bleach, vinegar, and a favourite laundry bar soap), exclusively, ever
since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say this
new mixture is thriftier than store-bought is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">huge</i> understatement. But, as with everything, it's not solely about
saving money but about how well the product actually does the job. A good
laundry soap cleans and deodorizes. A good laundry soap doesn’t leave behind anything
objectionable that might harm the body, or stiffen, abrade, and/or discolour
fabrics. By all these criteria, I have to say the new detergent is working fabulously
well. It cleans, leaves the fabrics smelling...well, clean...without any odor (good
or bad) and it leaves everything SO SOFT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I first
replaced fabric softener with vinegar, the laundry was rinsed well, and the
fibres plumped up nicely, but sometimes the fabrics felt stiff. I thought the
vinegar was merely limited in its softening ability – we do have very hard
water here. I was wrong, though. The problem, it turns out, was the laundry
detergent. As soon as I replaced the commercial detergent I was using with </span><a href="http://www.gingerhollow.com/herbal-recipes/homemade-laundry-soap-recipe"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">this
homemade liquid detergent recipe*</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the laundry has been coming out
supremely soft. (*Note: some recipe measurements are slightly off, so the total
volume is less than stated; also, given our hard water, I use more than the
recommended per-load amount.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg7dwiFttKWC_AKMMqvbM1L5r_otr3xjHYAEfl4a5BTixwFCiwRSdj11z-45KgcihBZ9wBP67e54nuVaNhNMp3rVREAGj750iA9QkGxv23Sy0a-5Jz0RnRxmZv7VFey7yx6m2KJ8pWXDl/s1600/Homemade+Liquid+Laundry+Soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg7dwiFttKWC_AKMMqvbM1L5r_otr3xjHYAEfl4a5BTixwFCiwRSdj11z-45KgcihBZ9wBP67e54nuVaNhNMp3rVREAGj750iA9QkGxv23Sy0a-5Jz0RnRxmZv7VFey7yx6m2KJ8pWXDl/s1600/Homemade+Liquid+Laundry+Soap.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<v:formulas>
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></v:path></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soft fabrics
are delightful, but the real test for hubby and I is the effect the detergent
has on our skin. Both of us, for different reasons, have sensitivities to
ingredients in many commercial cleaning products. This new recipe has proven a
"friendly" mixture for us both. Neither of us has suffered any of the
rashes and skin irritations we had become used to dealing with. This result
isn’t completely about personal perception, either. Ironing proves the
difference. Where wrinkles in fabrics were once set so severely the iron was
hard-pressed – literally – to straighten them, now, ironing has become a
breeze. Also, after ironing, the fabrics remain soft and don’t have that
“starched” feel they once had.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
probably due to the absence of ingredients like builders, fillers, surfactants,
emulsifiers and “optical brighteners.” While their omission might be
reassuring, it does mean spending a little more attention to stain treatment prior
to the wash cycle. For instance, surfactants attach to dirt and lift them from
fabrics, suspending their molecules in the wash water and preventing their
return to the fabric. The homemade detergent has no surfactants, so I use a favourite
laundry bar soap for pre-treatment of any stain and our laundry is as clean as
ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8poMCl4LMb52IqywKsoUpcuv_ix1vuXSOer_5YTtfnGxFtMx3X4uuIfx8NN0AsX8EzAm8L2bi9-rSnGTLVN0LSvF4AJc7pmZwaPZzI9WBg9H7oSbkaPzMGN6Wn0sTEEEK2NKuCfyCrkaV/s1600/A+Few+Simple+Products.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8poMCl4LMb52IqywKsoUpcuv_ix1vuXSOer_5YTtfnGxFtMx3X4uuIfx8NN0AsX8EzAm8L2bi9-rSnGTLVN0LSvF4AJc7pmZwaPZzI9WBg9H7oSbkaPzMGN6Wn0sTEEEK2NKuCfyCrkaV/s1600/A+Few+Simple+Products.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few simple products now...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seems the old adage, ‘less is more’ holds true with this cleaner, as
with so many others I’ve made at home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
simple mixture works as well as anything else we were using. No, that’s wrong. This
laundry soap is better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very gentle
on our bodies, on our fabrics, as well as on our budget!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><o:p></o:p><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-66540531905406399232014-08-14T15:33:00.001-07:002014-08-14T15:33:28.873-07:00DECALCIFIED!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I was a kid, my mother used to catch me in the
bathroom, mixing up concoctions of lotions and perfumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was horrible stuff; little wonder Mom
objected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That desire to experiment,
though, probably explains my current passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It thrills me to take basic ingredients, common in our house, and mix up
new recipes to create a wide variety of household and personal care
products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My most recent experiment led,
ultimately, to an inexpensive, environmentally safe way to clean calcium-lime
deposit from the showerhead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The product I first sought to replace was chlorine
bleach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years ago, I limited its
household use to laundry, only (for ecological and personal health reasons.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even this limited use was too much, though,
so I kept searching for an alternative -- something less toxic on the
environment and less corrosive to fabrics and my hands than conventional bleach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-bleach/"><span style="color: blue;">substitute I found</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is so mild I can wash my hands with it, yet it
works as well (if not better) than chlorine bleaches, which tend to cause
yellowing of many white fabrics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
homemade bleach recipe is very quick to make, costs me pennies per use, and has
even brightened those yellowed items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This bleach leaves laundered fabrics free of chemical assault and
refreshingly UNscented, as is the washing machine, also.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most impressive result I got with this bleach, however,
was not in the laundry room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had tried
a number of household cleaners, both home- and commercially-made, and couldn’t
find anything to clean the growing calcium-lime deposit from the
showerhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other people recommended bleach
to remove the build-up, so I figured I’d try this new recipe instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After removing the showerhead, I soaked it,
for a few hours, in a small measure (about 1 cup) of this mild mixture:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: left;">
<u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-bleach/"><span style="color: blue;">Homemade Bleach</span></a>:</span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>cup<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Hydrogen peroxide</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>tablespoons<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lemon juice (Or: substitute 1/2 teaspoon
citric acid)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3-1/4<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>cups<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Water</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>drops<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Lemon essential oil</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Makes a little less than a quart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use approximately 1 cup per load of laundry –
results vary depending on water hardness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wouldn’t have believed the results if I hadn’t seen them
first hand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crust, now fallen away from
the showerhead, was a slurry of scale at the bottom of the measuring cup<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">[prose]</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The liquid had changed from clear to a
slightly green-blue tint, but there was no toxic fumes or odors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few persistent grains still clung to the
plastic on the showerhead, but a quick brushing removed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The showerhead now looks as clean as it did
when new.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
success of this “other application” for the new mixture proves there is
often other potential uses for these homemade products. The ecological concern,
which prevented me from using bleach as a cleaning agent, is no longer present
and that opens up other cleaning possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, the results of simple test has jazzed my experimental
spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what keeps me avidly
seeking out new recipes, as well as finding new applications for the fantastic
products already discovered!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><o:p></o:p> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-3472092409079221882014-06-12T12:25:00.001-07:002014-06-12T12:25:34.541-07:00Don't Break Your Bank!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I watched my granddaughter graduate this year, and got
thinking what sort of advice I might offer those young men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many opportunities and endeavors
ahead of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a textbook-case
Cancer, my thoughts naturally turn to home, and that leads me, inevitably to my
passions – caring for family, household management and thrift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I knew what I would say.</span></span><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 170.4pt; margin-left: 178.15pt; margin-top: 3.1pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 229.35pt; z-index: -251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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<w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="tight">
</w:wrap><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Worry about your OWN bottom line, and
the country will take care of itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps one of the greatest modern bug-a-boos is “If you don't shop, our
economy will go down the toilet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is an over-simplification of a complex issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a FREE market, this is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the highly speculative and “futures” market of today, this generalization,
more often than not, hurts the individual.<o:p></o:p></span></v:imagedata></v:shape></v:path></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Worry about your OWN
bottom line, and the country will take care of itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps one of the greatest modern bug-a-boos
is “If you don't shop, our economy will go down the toilet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an over-simplification of a complex
issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a FREE market, this is
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the highly speculative and
“futures” market of today, this generalization, more often than not, hurts the
individual.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do not fall for it. Yes, there is absolutely
a correlation between goods and services bought and sold, and the country's
economic growth and stability. However<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">But</span>,
coercive rhetoric is often employed to get the consumer to shop, shop, SHOP!
It's all about the corporate bottom line, and their ability to pay desired
shareholder dividends. It has little to do with saving the country’s economy,
merely their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If individuals overspend
and incur onerous debt, the country is far more vulnerable to economic meltdown
and paralysis than it would be if everyone spent within their means. This fact
will never satisfy the corporate appetite for ever-increasing profit margins,
though.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The current trend is to sell. Sell HARD.
Doesn't matter is the product is any <u>good</u>, or if it’s the ideal solution
for the customer; it matters only that it is SOLD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good luck getting service, warranty or even
technical support after the transaction is complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all promotions to the contrary, know
this before you purchase anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">From time to time, I place an online order
and really enjoy the ease of shopping, the variety of products, and the quick
and convenient home deliveries. What I don't enjoy is getting an email, from
the same vendor, a week later “wondering” why I haven’t made another purchase.
Excuse me? If I need anything, I'll order. If I forget something, I'll
re-order. Prompting like this is what I call anti-advertising:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the overt (to me) insatiability makes me
never want to shop there again. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Perhaps the most irritating tactic by
retailers is the buy "x" number and get "y" free. If a
person needs only one, the others are superfluous, and thereby offer no savings,
but waste. The only exception being, when those items store well and are intended
for eventual use, then consider the extra items. Otherwise, the purchase
supports the merchant’s bottom line, not your own. You're certainly not <u>saving</u>
anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This first key to a balanced budget is to
know the difference between want and need. Even necessary expenditures can
entice us to spend beyond our means when we allow ourselves to get “up-sold” on
features or modifications that are more flash than requirement.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The second key is to learn the value of your
own work. In other words, how many hours did you work in order to afford that
cool whatchamacallit? Would you so willingly spend those hours at work for it?
If the answer is yes, then, even if it is a want, it will add to your quality of
life, and that <em>is</em> important. However, more often than not, when you include
"hours worked" in your mental calculations, it will more clearly
define those wants and needs.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We all know that when spending is greater
than earnings, there is deficit. Everyone concerned with balancing his or her household
budget knows this. Only a rarified few, who rely on and indulge too heavily at the
money-trough called ‘Consumers’ Hard Work’ fail to accept their own influence
on the lingering economic malaise. Despite their fear mongering, however, restoring
the economy will <u>never</u> depend upon your purchasing any whiz-bang
thingamajig. It seems there is little any individual can do to affect this
current trend of abuse and gluttony by community leaders, but there is no need
to feed the beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, whatever you do,
don't fall for the marketing hype. Buy what you need when you
need it, and save for things you foresee needing. Use credit as little as
possible; save it for those emergencies when need is greatest.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next time you feel pressured -- by
corporations, by advertisers, by news broadcasters, by politicians -- ask
yourself if you really NEED what they’re selling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When shopping, ask yourself, who is best
served by your purchases? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-30330152149597787532014-04-10T14:41:00.001-07:002014-04-10T14:41:10.819-07:00Cut Back to Get More<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Good weather has finally arrived here in Cache Creek. Grass is greening and bulbs are sprouting. I've spent the last two weeks alternating a day of yard work with three of recuperation. During a recent achy day, while brainstorming ideas for this blog, I happened to look up “thrift.” Here’s one definition by <a href="http://freedictionary.com/">FreeDictionary.com</a> : … “5. an obsolete word for prosperity.” Huh. That led me to their definition of <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/prosperity">prosperity</a>: … “3. <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thrift">thrift </a>- First meant acquired wealth, prosperity, success.” The idea resonated with me more than the usual definitions. Then I noticed one synonym of thrift is “good husbandry” and that’s when it hit me: Why not share the thrifty-come-prosperous work I've been doing?<br />
<br />
Mainly, said yard work, which was pruning. The place we rent has several perennials and trees all of which were left on their own too long and had grown rangy and tangled. They were more than unattractive; they were blocking the light for other plants. Worse, their crops of flowers, buds and fruits had diminished in quantity and quality. Some had stopped producing altogether.<br />
<br />
Slowly, over time, I've pruned the plants, and now they are becoming strong and productive once again, not to mention attractive and pest-free. It seems contrary to cut back branches, cut down stalks, or saw away boughs, but a carefully pruned plant will actually produce better when extraneous limbs are removed.<br />
<br />
Pruning anything, whether it be a tree, a bush or a perennial must be done at its suitable time of the year, though. Spring and mid-winter are the most common times to prune shrubs and trees. Some plants benefit from pruning right after summer flowering. Many perennials or canes produce more blooms or fruit if continually dead-headed and/or harvested.<br />
<br />
Once you have research on each plant in your plot and their varying requirements for pruning and trimming, you can make notes on your calendar. I like a quick review before pruning, though. Some plants can be cut right down to the ground; others to specific limb-joints. Some benefit from the old or main stock being preserved while others are cut back to allow new growth to replace it. Far too much information for me to recall without a brief refresher referencing one of my gardening books.<br />
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Oh, and one little reminder – I seem to forget this each spring – before you head out to do any yard work, remember to do a five minute warm-up. It’ll save you some Epsom salts. : /<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-70556928688673032262014-02-13T14:53:00.000-08:002014-02-13T15:00:08.306-08:00Spice It Up This Valentine’s Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Where I live, in western Canada, Valentine's Day usually comes at the coldest time of the year, almost without fail during the last wintry blast of the season. While both Valentine’s Day and cold weather are excellent excuses for snuggling with your Sweetheart, when you both suffer arthritic pain, romantic gestures are just not as…cozy. Hand-holding can be downright terrifying. Hubby and I, diagnosed with Rheumatoid and Osteo-arthritis, have found a few home remedies that give us relief.<br />
<br />
The best – and the most difficult – remedy was an exclusion, yet the results for Hubby were dramatic. He once had a 1400 ml per day soda habit, plus he enjoyed candy and sweet treats. When I showed him the research I'd found on the negative effects of refined sugars on arthritic pain, he began cutting back. After a brief period of withdrawal, Hubby noticed a lessening in both the intensity and frequency of his pain episodes. That convinced him. Now, he rarely drinks soda, and continues restricting his consumption of sweets, candies, and alcohol (which is, essentially, another source of refined sugar.) As a result he suffers only rarely, often during the most frigid days of winter.<br />
<br />
That's when I employ a few soothing foods and there are several which have been shown to either <a href="http://www.joybauer.com/photo-gallery/worst-foods-for-arthritis.aspx" target="_blank">exacerbate </a>or <a href="http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-arthritis.html" target="_blank">alleviate</a> symptoms of arthritis. Long ago, we eliminated or restricted those aggravating foods, and <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2011/07/herbalicious.html" target="_blank">being a firm believer in the healing benefits of whole and natural foods</a>, I was eager to use foods shown to have healing or soothing properties. Really, it was an easy choice. Since I have <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/07/pinching-salt.html" target="_blank">limited my intake of salt/sodium</a>, the task of heightening flavours has been taken over by spices and herbs. So, garlic, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon, (along with many other spices) were already ever-present in our diet. Learning of their arthritic pain-relieving properties, we quite happily bumped up our use of those four powerhouse spices.<br />
<br />
The most common home-remedy we use is a Cinnamon spread: one part organic cinnamon to three parts <br />
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pure honey. Some sources recommend a twice-daily cinnamon and honey hot drink, while others debunk it as ineffectual. We use good quality organic cinnamon mixed with pure honey from a known and reputable source, and enjoy the mixture regularly, if not daily, slathered on morning toast or dolloped into tea. In doing so, we find joint stiffness and swelling are reduced and we maintain relatively smooth ease of motion.<br />
<br />
Ginger and garlic have long been staples of our diet, but when the situation calls for it, I’ll use massive amounts of both to “dose up” a batch of my "Healing Soup" -- a home-made ramen-style soup loaded with veg in a hearty and spicy stock – to alleviate bouts of Arthritic pain, or even to ease an upset stomach. We're also big fans of curries, so turmeric and garlic are also used in similar Asian-style dishes, but turmeric’s effect seems more subtle than cayenne.<br />
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Ahh…that little red chili pepper! Cayenne has quickly become our drug of choice, though we don't use the capsaicin cremes or ointments. We simply add minced pepper, fresh or dried, to whatever we're cooking. Its pain-relieving effect was so pronounced, I grew a few plants last summer. Prior to that, we rarely consumed spicy foods as we both suffered heartburn. However, when eaten in moderation – I use about 1/3 to 1/2 of a cayenne pepper for a 2-4 portion meal – there is only a mild and pleasing heat, a brighter flavour than black peppercorn, and no heartburn. Not only does it relieve pain, it also <a href="http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/circulation.htm" target="_blank">warms the body</a>!<br />
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There are other foods said to help with Arthritic pain -- cherries (fresh, canned, or dried), borage, fish oils high in omega 3 & 6, alfalfa seeds, and Ginkgo Biloba -- but we have little or no experience with these. Well, we eat fish, regularly, and some of it (when we can get it) is high in those omega fats; and we do eat cherries, occasionally, throughout the summer; but we haven’t noticed any marked difference in our levels of pain or mobility after eating either. That, however, could be due entirely to our infrequent consumption of them.<br />
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Regardless, there are many ways a person can relieve symptoms of arthritis, and <a href="http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/arthritis.htm" target="_blank">not all of them come from a medicine cabinet</a>. If you or a loved one is suffering with stiff, sore, arthritic joints, and the thought of holding hands makes you want to run screaming, try warding off the chilly with the chili. Or perhaps some Cinnamon Spread instead of the usual Valentine sweets? Maybe a romantic dinner at a Thai restaurant where they use plenty of garlic, ginger, and chili peppers?<br />
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You know…spice things up a little! ;)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-25373105901680055862013-12-12T16:34:00.001-08:002013-12-12T16:34:50.121-08:008 Ways to Save Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">A <a href="http://www.canadiangrocer.com/top-stories/what-a-waste-19736">Canadian
Grocer article</a></span> <span lang="EN-US">caught my attention.
It’s about two film makers’ experiences with dumpster diving and food
waste. What an eye-opening read. One shocking statistic, I thought, was the
amount of wasted bread. That 13% includes
waste from bakeries – not just food from households – but that amount of baked
goods thrown away is still alarmingly high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Our own kitchen was once an example of why. When our children left home, we couldn't get
through a loaf of bread before it dried out or went mouldy. Week after week, we would waste another
partial loaf. After a few months of
that, I was looking for better ways to store bread. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The solution was simple and is still in use. We freeze fresh, sliced loaves of our
favourite breads and remove slices, only as needed. It takes some forethought as the bread requires
about half an hour to thaw, but then it’s as soft and tender as it would normally
be -- although, thawing should be done in a sealed container to prevent
drying. We haven’t wasted a loaf since!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Here are seven more ways to reduce bread waste (crusts work well for a few
of these):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Stuffing: use
day old or dry bread – absorbs flavours without loosing body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Melba Toast:
use dry bread from uncut loaves; cut into thinnest possible slices;
remove crusts; bake in a </span>250
degree until crisp and golden and all moisture is withdrawn; store in cool,
dry, place.<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Panade (soup thickener): fresh or dry bread; blend into soups or stews
to thicken; combines well with leek, celery, sorrel, watercress, spinach and
cabbage soups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">4)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Bread sauce:
dry, finely-ground bread crumbs are substituted for flour in pan sauces;
best served with wild bird or roasted meats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-US">Bread pudding: use dry bread or
stale cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">6)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Bread crumbs:
use dry bread – if not dry enough, bake in a 200 degree oven until
crisp; grind and then store in a cool, dry place in a container not too tightly
lidded (to prevent moulding.) A rotary
hand grater works well when only a small amount of crumbs are needed. Cookie crumbs can be made similarly and are a
tasty addition to some desserts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">7)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Croutons: dice
fresh or dry bread, sprinkle with your favourite cooking oil, herbs and spices and
bake in a 375 degree oven until crisp and golden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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With the holidays
coming, I’ll be employing a few of these uses. My “crust collection”
from various breads will stuff the turkey, and I have plans to make Melba toast
from the heel of one of the Pumpernickel loaves I’m baking. It’s
time to refill our bread crumbs, too, for topping the turkey casserole, so I
might just grab a loaf from the clearance rack at our local bakery – we rarely
have enough dry bread at home anymore.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-2466621479276458702013-10-10T17:58:00.001-07:002013-10-10T17:58:19.491-07:00Cleaning Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fall cleaning is the absolute worst. Something about having windows and doors open through the summer<br />
adds an extra-stubborn layer of desert dust and sagebrush pollen to the house. This year, I’m experimenting, using home-made cleaners, exclusively. Along with old standbys like this <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/01/glance-at-eyewear.html" target="_blank">glass cleaner</a> and these <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2012/12/nurture-your-furniture.html" target="_blank">furniture polishes</a> I've added a few new cleaners. The results, so far, are astonishing!<br />
<br />
Though this blog deals with thrift, the monetary savings, of using homemade rather than my usual store-bought cleaners, are not huge. The cost of homemade cleaners varies based on cost of individual ingredients and the quantities used of each. Regardless the formulation, though, all the homemade products I’m using cost less, per use, than their store-bought alternative – which I (once) bought in bulk for maximum economy. Despite modest savings, that’s not what prompted the switch. This year, I was interested in using milder ingredients which might prove gentler on sensitive skin and the environment (both indoors and out.)<br />
<br />
The problem is, I’m a bit of a clean freak and if these homemade products didn't work, I’d likely break down and buy some environmentally friendly commercial product which would. It turns out, I don’t have to make that choice. The cleaners and polishes work as good as or better than all the old products I previously used.<br />
<br />
For example, our bathroom had accumulated calcium/mineral deposits dating back prior to our arrival. I've been working at them, scrubbing furiously, trying to remove that dull coating. Nothing I used touched it, though. Then, a few weeks ago, I tried this <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-home-cleaning-essentials.html#ixzz2ZVj9TZMk" target="_blank">tub & tile cleaner</a> and, with far less hard work, our tub is actually glossy. Short of a tub replacement, I thought that was impossible. Not only is this cleaner a snap to make it makes cleaning a snap!<br />
<br />
I had a similar experience with the <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-home-cleaning-essentials.html#ixzz2ZVj9TZMk" target="_blank">all-purpose cleaner</a>. Without any soap, this solution cleans grime with a swipe. Stubborn gunk, stuck on the window frames – another rental inheritance which also seemed hopeless – scrubbed off this time. Amazing! My old cleaners didn't touch the build-up, yet this mild solution was a true performer. Best of all, after a full day, with bare hands in and out of several batches of this all-purpose cleaning solution, my hands remained soft and suffered no burning sensation.<br />
<br />
By far, the most stunning discovery was the distinct lack of allergy symptoms. I had always assumed the reactions both hubby and I endured were due to all the flying dust, dirt, and pollen while spring- and fall-cleaning. Imagine our surprise when, after using none of the usual cleaners, after using <u>only</u> home-made cleaning solutions, we've suffered none of our usual symptoms. This has <u>never</u> happened before! Then, it occurred to us: the lingering odours, so prevalent when using store-bought cleaners, were absent and yet the airborne detritus had been more plentiful than ever.<br />
<br />
The chores aren't over yet. Fall cleaning is still ongoing. I’m not as swift at it as I once was. Aching muscles need a day or two to recover before tackling the next room or project. Good thing I have an arsenal of cleaners that make the workload just that little bit lighter. Without burning skin and thundering sinus headaches, the process should move along much more quickly, too. For us, these are reasons enough to switch!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-72992968464391867642013-08-08T17:29:00.000-07:002013-08-08T17:29:54.810-07:00I’m No Starving Artist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As you might imagine, I spend time talking about “thrifty” things with family and friends. Many tell me they “don’t have time for such stuff” (*Edited version*) Perhaps they envision me a lady of leisure, given I’m a stay-at-home writer. They don’t realize, this writing life is enabled <i>because of</i> our thrifty lifestyle. Despite the stereo-type about artists, we eat well and live comfortably. <br />
<br />
My contributions to our home are, in part, the savings and benefits we realize by my baking, cooking, concocting, building, crafting, or repairing. And, these savings and benefits are considerable. Every project either costs us less, lasts longer, tastes better, is healthier, or fits (body, home or purpose) more specifically and to better effect. These nurturing practices, products and foods enrich our quality of life beyond most standard measures of wealth.<br />
<br />
There are savings in dollars and cents, like those gained with the nightgown I sewed, eight years ago, for about $12. It just went to the rag bag, finally threadbare. The next nightgown will cost even less, as I always include the cost of new patterns in the first garment made from them. So, subsequent clothing costs only the required fabric and notions. For those, I take advantage of sale pricing and club memberships, buy in larger quantities, and thus attain supplies (for any project) while prices are lowest. New clothing is only one way sewing saves us. Repairs and mending, while not fashionable, give garments and linens second life for "messier duties" like gardening, household cleaning, painting, etc. I don’t spend all my time sewing, either. By allotting a half hour, a few times a week, slowly, over a few weeks, I complete another garment. Then, its greater durability trickles down further savings.<br />
<br />
Oddly, the “hardest sell” is home-made and garden-fresh foods. With the reduction and, in certain cases, elimination of processed foods from our kitchen, the cooking and baking processes <i>are </i>longer. We also don’t use a microwave, so conventional cooking techniques add some time to cooking duties, although, not as much as people might suppose. Besides, some of the most succulent meals come from five minutes of prep work and six hours in a slow cooker. I don’t argue there is a heavy <i>time</i>-cost for cooking and baking from scratch, and quality ingredients either cost money in-store or time in the garden or kitchen. It all comes down to how much we value the heavenly flavours, heightened nutrition, less waste and significant health benefits. We believe better health is an asset of incalculably high worth.<br />
<br />
I've actually heard groans when I tell people about some new thing I'm making. I understand, too. Time is crunching everyone these days. The thing is, now that we've experienced the many benefits, these home-made items have become an integral and indispensable part of our lives, and hubby and I are eager to share the results. By far, their greatest value is the many positive effects on our health and vitality. <br />
<br />
So, it’s a little embarrassing to admit but, I do NOT spend a lot of time on most of the products I make; my life has its own schedules and time constraints. Although, just how much time would you spend to be free of troublesome health issues? As an unexpected and startling bonus result, since hubby and I began using homemade personal and household care products our libidos are once again active, yet were once headed for early retirement. Coincidence? Not when considering the number of hormone disrupting agents contained in many of the products we've replaced with healthier alternatives. <br />
<br />
People are still suspicious, though. “How much do all these things cost, anyway?” As you can see (pictured below), I have only a small collection of natural ingredients -- some from the kitchen, such as baking soda and vinegar. From these few basics, I make a wide variety of personal and household care products, at minimal cost, with very little effort, and the results are exceptional. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH30Xt-IhZvqWWP-3MbT1O2MBH3hmlQaiUJo5sNpg_9LpUootPRNdQyoMj5wp21nVqRGywH9ktw4VB0dfuiFHTyVWEJTzBtzg3A76zkFJ4JlPPhOwR1c7iCetGPgr17ZXwrQ9s-8QnvNrk/s1600/ApotheCurio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH30Xt-IhZvqWWP-3MbT1O2MBH3hmlQaiUJo5sNpg_9LpUootPRNdQyoMj5wp21nVqRGywH9ktw4VB0dfuiFHTyVWEJTzBtzg3A76zkFJ4JlPPhOwR1c7iCetGPgr17ZXwrQ9s-8QnvNrk/s400/ApotheCurio.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Apothe-Curio</td></tr>
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These are a few examples of everyday items I make, their costs and benefits:<br />
<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Deodorant: takes about 30 minutes, including clean up; uses about $2 of ingredients; produces two deodorant bars which last us about three months; works effectively without harsh chemical ingredients. I once suffered glandular swelling and pain under my arms. I stopped using commercial deodorants in <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/01/odour-takes-powder.html" target="_blank">January 2010</a> and that problem became a distant memory. Since then, I found and now make a bar- style deodorant which Hubby prefers – both its subtle, herbaceous aroma and its effectiveness.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shampoo: takes about 30 minutes (or less) to prepare, costs about $1 a batch; lasts two of us, about 2-3 weeks depending on usage. Now that I've perfected a formulation that suits our dry hair, both of us enjoy greater manageability and clean, invigorated scalps, all without harsh chemicals of any kind. By tweaking a <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2013/02/no-splitting-hairs.html" target="_blank">simple shampoo recipe</a> I found online and substituting a tisane made with fresh rosemary from our garden, I've created a shampoo which has, literally, eliminated hubby's dandruff problem. <br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Perfumed oil: takes 5 minutes to mix; costs about 50 cents per ounce, which has lasted me three months already and is not yet half-used. I'm guessing this batch will last about 8-10 months. Since I began using this perfumed oil, the rash I experienced with store-bought fragrances is no longer an issue.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/09/brushing-up-on-dental-care.html" target="_blank">Tooth-powder</a>: 5 minutes or less to mix; costs less than a dime for a three-four week supply. My sensitive teeth are no longer sensitive, plus the tooth-powder has natural and gentle whitening properties. I now add a few drops of peppermint essential oil, and the flavour is quite pleasant.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Body Cream: takes the longest – about an hour, including clean-up; once every four-to-six months, depending on usage (and, usage is declining because this cream works so well for us.) One batch (I make <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2011/03/dreamy-cream.html" target="_blank">1/3-recipe</a>) costs approximately $2-3 dollars. To buy similar products cost, on average, five to twenty-five times more, were less effective, and contained chemical ingredients too harsh for my skin.<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2011/08/seeing-is-believing.html" target="_blank">Window & Glass cleaner</a>: 2 minutes to prepare; one quart costs less than a dollar (usually pennies, but this depends on the cost of dish soap and vinegar used); though mild, this solution cleans extremely well without leaving streaks.<br />
<br />
Whatever I make, the process inevitably serves double-duty. Rather than interfere with writing, these pursuits add significantly to my process. When I need to ponder a story scene or work out an article point, I immerse myself in another unrelated but creative endeavour and suddenly the Muse pops by for a visit – I get some of my best ideas while up to my elbows in dish water or pizza dough! So, for me, any time invested produces many pearls of potential.<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-29204620053352752812013-06-13T12:45:00.000-07:002013-06-13T12:45:53.233-07:00How to Keep Lettuce Fresh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year while
visiting Mom on her birthday, we were gabbing a thousand miles an hour -- as
usual during our brief and infrequent visits – when Mom imparted a little gem about
how to keep lettuce fresh. We’d both
been complaining that lettuce wilted or turned mushy with any of the
other methods we had tried. It was a
month or so after I'd returned home that I recalled the conversation and tried
it. The results are so spectacular, I
wanted to share the method here...especially now that’s it’s finally salad season!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The method is
simple, if a little bit space consuming.
The reason is, the lettuce is kept, inverted, in a bowl of fresh water
and, when covered with a bag, stored on a taller shelf in the fridge. Place the head of lettuce in the container, root
end up, with the bag extending over it and the outside of the bowl and then tied
loosely at its base. The water
(filtered, preferably) should be kept shallow, only the tips of the leaves
immersed, and then changed at least every two to three days. The greengrocer who advised my mother on this
method said it works best for leaf but not head lettuces.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape alt="Lettuce untented.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 2in; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 206.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Lettuce untented" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape alt="Lettuce in bowl.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 2in; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 157.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Lettuce in bowl" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape alt="Lettuce leaves at 2 wks.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 2in; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 166.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Lettuce leaves at 2 wks" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiRPZZUrerJe0e4klo0XCXJLfZZeJ_oxxDo2LOdQQIm5aMwDtmWtns6KHNztj8VKJU-5kB88mW-YN7jIu-Sp_joqQ7OCYU3hJ9RBCleqv82YXXc2txipFlVQuRY5iTv5ZjWGZuaKrzgpd/s1600/Lettuce+receipt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiRPZZUrerJe0e4klo0XCXJLfZZeJ_oxxDo2LOdQQIm5aMwDtmWtns6KHNztj8VKJU-5kB88mW-YN7jIu-Sp_joqQ7OCYU3hJ9RBCleqv82YXXc2txipFlVQuRY5iTv5ZjWGZuaKrzgpd/s200/Lettuce+receipt.JPG" width="108" /></a>I have no idea how
long lettuce might possibly keep using this process, but I can attest that it lasts
several weeks in our old (read: <u>not</u> "climate-controlled")
fridge, remaining crisp and delicious until the very last leaf is
consumed. Now, instead of avoiding the
purchase of lettuce, we always have some on hand. Ultimately, this one small change has had a
significant -- and healthy -- impact on our diet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you doubt the “crisp”
descriptive, then check out the following video – I bought the lettuce on June
2, 2013, (the receipt appears at right.)
Hubby’s been on the road, and I’ve frequently been eating alone, so this
head of “green leaf lettuce” – is there any other colour? – is only half-consumed. Yet listen to that snap and crunch!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_ozicreO_jw?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clearly, I’m never too old to learn something
new from my mother, my original inspiration on how to ‘<i>Thrive On Thrift</i>.’ Thanks
Mom! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-24600369493442254482013-04-11T14:25:00.001-07:002013-04-11T14:25:45.826-07:00A Pressing Matter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When
I first moved out on my own, my kitchen needed everything from a simple toaster
to mixing bowls. Over the years, though,
I’ve gathered all the equipment and small appliances we need: a waffle iron, a slow cooker, and a stand-mixer, among other things. The
problem <i>now</i> is the glut of small
appliances and where to find counter, cupboard, or storage space for things
like the yogurt maker, ice cream machine, food processor, grain grinder, coffee
grinder, hand-mixer…the list goes on. When
hubby and I began checking out panini presses, thoughts of our already groaning
kitchen stopped us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thing
is, hubby and I love pressed sandwiches.
But, this is just the type of conundrum my frugal mind loves to resolve. Neither of us wanted yet another “specialty”
appliance on our crowded countertops but missed being able to make hot, pressed
sandwiches. Our favourite -- aged cheddar with thin-sliced
onion -- must be cooked “just so” for the onion to cook to sweet perfection,
the cheddar to </span>melt ooey-gooey<span lang="EN-US">, and the crust to come
out crispy brown. Oh, it can be a thing of
beauty! But, they’re nearly impossible
to cook properly without a press.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So,
I improvised. I’d read (online) about
people using bricks, covered in aluminum foil, but I don’t happen to have a
brick kicking around, nor do I like to use aluminum foil in direct contact with
cooking food. Besides, the covered brick
would end up being another extra something to store. No, I prefer common kitchen items.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US"> Et Voila!</span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">
</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgDaiFjan-zRfuPy0iX7kAuXPEXfiV36R_kR1sgyohmJ_6l5PKKuPeFGIlonePRTXi11UpXJLNC7l46hcOI9_tpP-Sau1SBMLzigNHQdZQmL4p9w-JlSy7O3cGGQ8RgKzIDzjka3r_PFy/s1600/Component+pieces.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgDaiFjan-zRfuPy0iX7kAuXPEXfiV36R_kR1sgyohmJ_6l5PKKuPeFGIlonePRTXi11UpXJLNC7l46hcOI9_tpP-Sau1SBMLzigNHQdZQmL4p9w-JlSy7O3cGGQ8RgKzIDzjka3r_PFy/s320/Component+pieces.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandwich Press -- Make-Do model</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrx4cQSvAJ22ocP7b0wVQ6o8oDiJGFH0oGTpz8xIMuJGsw9GM5np9KuqlsVn4Ri_ryg7x0jN2QxjCRiNx8N9VPOWWADUBNTMMyPu4usQ3zinWSW3aSv8Q4ClJuGO6e12hqJiKzhY38m02/s1600/Weigh+the+kettle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrx4cQSvAJ22ocP7b0wVQ6o8oDiJGFH0oGTpz8xIMuJGsw9GM5np9KuqlsVn4Ri_ryg7x0jN2QxjCRiNx8N9VPOWWADUBNTMMyPu4usQ3zinWSW3aSv8Q4ClJuGO6e12hqJiKzhY38m02/s200/Weigh+the+kettle.JPG" width="200" /></a><v:shape alt="Upside down plate atop sandwich.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 73.5pt; margin-left: 365.25pt; margin-top: 4.45pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 92.25pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-351 0 -351 21159 21776 21159 21776 0 -351 0">
<v:imagedata o:title="Upside down plate atop sandwich" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">
<w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape alt="Weigh the kettle.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 103.5pt; margin-left: -6.75pt; margin-top: 15pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 107.95pt; z-index: -3;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-300 0 -300 21287 21610 21287 21610 0 -300 0">
<v:imagedata o:title="Weigh the kettle" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
This sandwich press,
as you can see, is very uncomplicated, requiring items in most kitchens, and
cleanup is a snap. I use our kettle (but
a small pan would do), filled to desired press weight (I use about 3 pounds),
one small heat-resistant plate, a fry pan, a spatula and an oven mitt are all
that’s needed. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTF5uM39UjlekC7RLJx9X3PXvYKRE90PVRay3g_nycfo_B1sIuhAg4olxw8zmDXU_DDvt7y2ifhwivy4tHRp6smzN4YAz4abBrN-B6ZtC_95j_m_dB7baGGzCNU8EliRVS3DrmTnOdsmP/s1600/Upside+down+plate+atop+sandwich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTF5uM39UjlekC7RLJx9X3PXvYKRE90PVRay3g_nycfo_B1sIuhAg4olxw8zmDXU_DDvt7y2ifhwivy4tHRp6smzN4YAz4abBrN-B6ZtC_95j_m_dB7baGGzCNU8EliRVS3DrmTnOdsmP/s200/Upside+down+plate+atop+sandwich.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4huEdD6NQPjsbR2Te_9UwM3tfQdsJRSXt2t2m1c9HEQcYeqvXUxTqqVvp21o0CxP7NTHk-jhgEQQQ4bqYLD5XtRCG2Ei6gq0ZxEvRyl-jAfWlgQXuYIDSXsF-dTKO8-cc-RmWB4HUL0WK/s1600/3+lb+kettle+on+top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4huEdD6NQPjsbR2Te_9UwM3tfQdsJRSXt2t2m1c9HEQcYeqvXUxTqqVvp21o0CxP7NTHk-jhgEQQQ4bqYLD5XtRCG2Ei6gq0ZxEvRyl-jAfWlgQXuYIDSXsF-dTKO8-cc-RmWB4HUL0WK/s200/3+lb+kettle+on+top.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
It’s important to
preheat the fry pan, before placing the sandwich in its centre. Then, place the plate, upside-down, on top of
the sandwich and gently (so the water won’t slosh) place the kettle on top of
the plate. Use the oven mitt and spatula
to lift the heated plate off to flip the sandwich. Then, replace the plate and kettle and cook
the other side until done. The sandwich
we like is made like any traditional grilled cheese – the outside of the
sandwich lightly buttered before cooking – and we find this to be enough butter
to prevent the sandwich sticking to the (preheated) 18-10 stainless steel fry
pan we use. A cast-iron skillet also
works well, but use a lower temperature to prevent the exterior burning before
the interior (onion slice, ham, etc.) is cooked. Even with the stainless steel fry pan, we use a
medium-low heat, for the same reason. Once
cooled a little, the plate can present the meal, helping to
retain the sandwich's heat AND save on dishes. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in; text-align: center;">
<v:shape alt="3 lb kettle on top.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 69.75pt; left: 0; margin-left: -6.75pt; margin-top: -62.6pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 80.25pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-404 0 -404 21368 21802 21368 21802 0 -404 0">
<v:imagedata o:title="3 lb kettle on top" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I remember George Carlin
once joked about the “stuff” we buy, like <i>“…a left nostril, nose inhaler with [our] State motto on it.”</i> But, when I take inventory of our home, this copious “stuff”
is no joking matter. So, adding another
specialty appliance seemed crazy – particularly as it`s would be used so seldom. Happily, all it took was a little ingenuity for us to enjoy an occasional
treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Have you created any make-do kitchen gadgets?
I’d love to hear about them. Please, leave a note and help ease over-burdened countertops everywhere! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcAvBCj42vOZZIgadBhy1MkxaRecToNVOl5dzSknz-4GTRRBqZylGhPpyCl5EFOkTyIu8gEG7cErMzRFQ4hGGRpntqx8z5gh_MHUAq9UEVbTcM1B1eICUTkuWLWvxUEr4NqRYY-o2qhvH/s1600/Aged+Cheddar+%2526+Onion+sandwich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcAvBCj42vOZZIgadBhy1MkxaRecToNVOl5dzSknz-4GTRRBqZylGhPpyCl5EFOkTyIu8gEG7cErMzRFQ4hGGRpntqx8z5gh_MHUAq9UEVbTcM1B1eICUTkuWLWvxUEr4NqRYY-o2qhvH/s200/Aged+Cheddar+%2526+Onion+sandwich.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I’m off to eat,
while my sandwich is still warm…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-58887843608543042322013-02-14T17:24:00.001-08:002013-02-14T17:25:41.474-08:00No Splitting Hairs<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There’s
no denying it. Once I began replacing
household and personal care products with simple, homemade substitutes, an irresistible
energy took hold of me. Now, no product is
safe from experimentation. The latest in
my repertoire of homemade fabrications is shampoo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
reason I chose this product is, in part, due to the local water, which is extremely
hard, high in minerals like calcium and lime.
These minerals form crusts on everything water touches, and my scalp was
no exemption. It itched constantly – unusual for me – and felt
hardened and scaly. The shampoos I
tried, which were only a few familiar brands, rather than remove or prevent the
buildup, seemed to add to it. It was
time to try something different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Researching
other methods of hair care, throughout time, I discovered many of the wealthy used
light oils, made from seeds or nuts, for hair care. The oils were believed to cleanse hair
without stripping its natural luster.
For the poorer folk, the closest thing to shampoo was an herbal rinse. Many of those natural ingredients and herbs
are still used today in commercial formulations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">With
this in mind, I went shopping for shampoo recipes. I found several web-sites, offering a
wide variety of recipes, ingredients, and processes, some of which were easily
found and made. Others, not so much. My </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Shampoo/">choices</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> boiled down to availability of ingredients, ease of
preparation, and the purported effects. For
instance, I’ve recently let my grey grow out.
Though I’m happy to have finally out-lasted the lengthy growing-out
period, and am delighted with the results, I do have some areas still
stubbornly tan. It dulls the grey,
making it look muddy, so I chose a formula for its abilities to enhance shine
and, with the addition of lemon, lighten locks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The first formula I made is called “Shine” and
the results, so far, are interesting. I
like the feel and control-ability of my hair.
At first, it didn’t lather well, but I found that, by shaking the liquid
in its bottle until <u>completely</u> foamy (no liquid still sloshing about,) it
lathers nicely. Its fragrance is subtle,
but I added this “according to preference.”
The formulation leaves my <i>wet</i>
hair feeling silky smooth, if a tad oily.
Yet, when <i>dry</i>, my hair has no oily
feeling at all. But then, my naturally dry
hair appreciates a light oil treatment to help keep it soft. I tried using homemade rinse agents and
conditioners, but found I really didn’t need them with this new shampoo. Single-handedly, it leaves my hair perfectly
manageable. Better, in fact, than any
shampoo+conditioner+styling product combination I’ve ever used, and also
resulting in fewer split ends. As someone
who suffers from bed-head – OH the horror! – manageability is of prime
importance. Now, I’m not claiming that “the
bed-head is dead” but, since I began using “Shine,” my hair is so much tamer morning
brush-outs actually SUCCEED! I don’t
need to saturate my hair each day just to restore some semblance of order. Amazing!<br />
<div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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What impresses me is that the first mixture is
still in use. I made a half recipe, back
on December 23<sup>rd</sup>, thinking it would provide a good “sampling” and
then I’d try another formula for comparison.
As you can see (in the photo on the left,) that first mixture is still
in use after providing…hmmm...at least 16-20 applications, with yet a couple more
to go! Quite literally, it has cost pennies
per use.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps
the most unexpected result has been a reduction of allergy symptoms. True, unusually damp weather is no doubt affecting
the situation but a recent hair cut revealed another contributing factor. As usual, the stylist washed, conditioned,
and styled my hair with various products, all of which, I haven’t used in
nearly two months. Within a couple
hours, I had developed a persistent headache but thought it was stressed
induced – being in the midst of resolving computer “issues.” However, the headache stayed for days. From experience, I know an allergy headache,
and treated myself with a few </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2009/04/breathe-easy.html">neti-pot rinses</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. But each day
I’d suffer that same pounding headache. Then,
I shampooed with the homemade formulation and my headache went away…until I
slept again. It occurred to me that the
pillow case still smelled like the hair products and decided to wash them, too. Presto! That was the end of the headaches. I still get the occasional sinus problem,
when weather conditions are right, but this salon experience made me realize some products and </span><v:shape alt="SOOTHE shampoo.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 74.2pt; margin-left: 336.35pt; margin-top: 139.7pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 129.4pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-250 0 -250 20960 21533 20960 21533 0 -250 0">
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irritation and discomfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll definitely try other
formulations. I’ve already got the
“Soothe” formula concocted and waiting.
While I like the first shampoo, I’m interested in trying this one for
its lightening properties...for those <i>still</i>
stubborn browns. ; }</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNwbHDbhhYWbwskBACUsW_dkqv-JdI14J_AH01K2FappOFkBHd7inp7LV_xpcG1BsJBZultGbpYWePhu7Xcz7SfBVGJY2h_-5HQB1pK6qdboCP7-zuP-TSzYSkpkU9Yf5EEdv_fI3bCrv/s1600/SOOTHE+shampoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNwbHDbhhYWbwskBACUsW_dkqv-JdI14J_AH01K2FappOFkBHd7inp7LV_xpcG1BsJBZultGbpYWePhu7Xcz7SfBVGJY2h_-5HQB1pK6qdboCP7-zuP-TSzYSkpkU9Yf5EEdv_fI3bCrv/s320/SOOTHE+shampoo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-17780461576186092122012-12-13T16:11:00.000-08:002012-12-13T16:11:49.674-08:00Nurture Your Furniture<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the last
decade, I’ve been substituting – wherever I can find viable alternatives – all
chemical-based household cleaning and personal care products. The reason for
this changeover is simple: the
commercial products contained chemical ingredients too harsh for my dry skin,
sensitive teeth, and keen olfactory sense. Besides, ingredients such as Phthalates
(endocrine disruptors), Perchloroethylene (also known as “PERC’; a neurotoxin,)
or Triclosan and/or Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (anti-bacterial agents,) in
commercial products prove – for me – far more hazardous than advantageous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, I found a
new addition to my repertoire: homemade
wood cleaner and polishes. One recipe for unfinished furniture and wood surfaces
and another for finished wood (varnished, lacquered, etc.). Both work
exceptionally well and leave no sticky residue on the furniture…or me. The best
feature of both is aroma. By using pure, essential (lemon) oil, their scents
are subtle and soothing, not intense and irritating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; margin-right: 18.75pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; margin-right: 18.75pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">
Unfinished-wood polish: Mix 1/2 cup of mineral oil with 1/2 teaspoon of
lemon essential oil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18.75pt; margin-right: 18.75pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;">
Finished-wood polish: Mix 5
tablespoons mineral oil, 3/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil, and 1 tablespoon
liquid dishwashing detergent. Stir until the solution becomes clear and then
add 3 ounces of water, very slowly, stirring constantly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>(Note: Both recipes should be stored in glass and a
cool location.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IKsPPM8vUXQa7SmsDk5S9W2_5KCLUOE8l2Nc82XtmS27cl7kSQ65f0YKirfXb9RcKUOqjSisL15D71NhGg5g-3zm07cQCnDK5-svKfxAe8rBt23HqKvd_d2tb18ZXew5t-89ataaUjiL/s1600/Before+polishing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IKsPPM8vUXQa7SmsDk5S9W2_5KCLUOE8l2Nc82XtmS27cl7kSQ65f0YKirfXb9RcKUOqjSisL15D71NhGg5g-3zm07cQCnDK5-svKfxAe8rBt23HqKvd_d2tb18ZXew5t-89ataaUjiL/s320/Before+polishing.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before polishing (unfinished wood)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before using either
formula, clean the wood surface well with a soft, dry cloth. If furniture has
accumulated a build-up of polish, dirt, or wax, these need removing before re-polishing.
A mild vinegar solution (mixed 1:1 with water) works well. Moisten a cloth with
the solution, wring out thoroughly, gently rub the surface clean, and dry
immediately. Ensure the surface is completely dry before applying polish.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCboOkc7NAURSuUq64GelgT2PSYoFQ_g5aLAb-msb9kBVm1zI3IB5lOpCqNh2IsEu3zUwi6-vRvR9BchfDlVbjevxGVCATvbGZAZ2iFj1HAU9fdDV9Yq_8qaGnL6KKiFUujX4SIpLlpfUX/s1600/After+polishing+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCboOkc7NAURSuUq64GelgT2PSYoFQ_g5aLAb-msb9kBVm1zI3IB5lOpCqNh2IsEu3zUwi6-vRvR9BchfDlVbjevxGVCATvbGZAZ2iFj1HAU9fdDV9Yq_8qaGnL6KKiFUujX4SIpLlpfUX/s320/After+polishing+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After polishing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></div>
With a soft cloth, apply
small amounts of polish at a time, rubbing each application in thoroughly
before adding more. Buff dry with a second cloth. Unfinished furniture and wood
need oil to keep from drying and cracking but, while oils will give a more
natural sheen than wax, they also have a tendency to attract dust and hold dirt.
To remove any excess oil, sprinkle on a little cornstarch and continue buffing.
The starch absorbs surplus oil and adds to the lustre. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since my switchover began,
I’ve noticed, with each additional substitution, a distinct lessening of
allergies – both skin irritations and respiratory problems. While I’m grateful
for the relief, this reason (alone) wouldn’t motivate me to continue using homemade
alternatives if they didn’t work. These furniture care substitutes – and all my
other replacements – do their job remarkably well. As added bonus, our budget
gains tremendous savings by making these regularly used products with simple and
low-cost ingredients.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-70547042435105149322012-10-11T16:52:00.001-07:002012-10-11T16:52:17.058-07:00Great Pumpkin, Where Are You?<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>With October’s
cooler temperatures, I become like Linus, camped out at the nearest pumpkin
patch.<span> </span>In this case, that’s our local
Farmer’s market.<span> </span>Though Linus yearns for
a toy delivery, the Great Pumpkin I seek is called</span><span> <span lang="EN-US">"Sugar
Pie</span></span><span>."<span> </span>Among the many pumpkin </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/varieties.html">varieties</a>, I’ve heard
they’re the best for baking.<span> </span>Like Linus,
though, I’ve yet to encounter it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipekH_PIui9grxFt_iWWErejWNOs19dgzlSTjZ7-CwbmQdF7QMrv8rLU1YirUI4LOCYJVaVUOrP6cfUuK4SFgNgK5r8MyNJC06lJfaOH3uxqWJe15xY5WwMWWmsMMr9Ikn_I51ozgZMN2o/s1600/Whole+pumpkin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipekH_PIui9grxFt_iWWErejWNOs19dgzlSTjZ7-CwbmQdF7QMrv8rLU1YirUI4LOCYJVaVUOrP6cfUuK4SFgNgK5r8MyNJC06lJfaOH3uxqWJe15xY5WwMWWmsMMr9Ikn_I51ozgZMN2o/s320/Whole+pumpkin.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span><span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Until I find a "Sugar Pie" I’ll make do with the standard field pumpkin.<span> </span>Pound for pound, they’re powerhouse
vegetables.<span> </span>Not only are they
economical, they’re packed with nutritional value.<span> </span>Pumpkins have no saturated fat or
cholesterol, yet are rich in anti-oxidants and dietary fiber.<span> </span>They contain some of the highest levels of
Vitamin A, as well as carotene and other flavonoids which enable the body to
convert and absorb that vitamin.<span> </span>This
winter squash also provides Vitamin C, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate,
Iron, Magnesium Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.<span> </span>And the benefits go beyond the vibrant
flesh.<span> </span>The seeds </span><span lang="EN-US">are also
an excellent dietary source of fiber and mono-unsaturated fatty acids.<span> </span>They are concentrated sources of protein, minerals,
vitamins, and a substantial amount of the amino acid, </span><span lang="EN-US">tryptophan<span>.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIyttxaW2pIGzLsYqN694MOJfx-PZbP5KGTcZ1d19NGqI-2pz5ueQYUzE2tTNQq5dkVG-ivgsHMOqael5gF-X1dSjQlWBmc__cpsle7D_i_vw398chzRVaBq6xgH9x1wWbUESIlqXLnBz/s1600/Prepped+for+baking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIyttxaW2pIGzLsYqN694MOJfx-PZbP5KGTcZ1d19NGqI-2pz5ueQYUzE2tTNQq5dkVG-ivgsHMOqael5gF-X1dSjQlWBmc__cpsle7D_i_vw398chzRVaBq6xgH9x1wWbUESIlqXLnBz/s200/Prepped+for+baking.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKsu7ep_v19uyUQ15yBh0OD74Leh_ziFKEnyzu0QIxoC_N756WEgycO1HtPpR8UqxZVP1OMqsASxmG0RswXj-u1-VI-fvYf0BSSqkcpWdqgegBE-QmhwHP8EvqIlOpQXDjvOXCKro8mE3/s1600/Gutting+the+pumpkin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKsu7ep_v19uyUQ15yBh0OD74Leh_ziFKEnyzu0QIxoC_N756WEgycO1HtPpR8UqxZVP1OMqsASxmG0RswXj-u1-VI-fvYf0BSSqkcpWdqgegBE-QmhwHP8EvqIlOpQXDjvOXCKro8mE3/s320/Gutting+the+pumpkin.JPG" width="320" /></a><br clear="ALL" /><span>Fresh pumpkin (or squash) is
a snap to prepare, and the puree freezes well, too.<span> </span>Simply wash and dry the fruit’s exterior,
then cut in half and remove the seeds and strings, reserving the seeds for
roasting later.<span> </span>Place, cut side down, on
a parchment lined sheet pan and bake in a 325º oven for about an hour
(depending on size.)<span> </span>The pumpkin is done
when a knife is easily inserted through the shell.<span> </span>Allow to cool slightly before handling, but the
scraping and processing are done more easily while the pumpkin remains warm.<span> </span>Puree the scooped pulp in a blender or food
processor.<span> </span>Strained to remove any strings
or larger lumps, this puree was a lip-smacking favorite of both my kids when
they were babies.</span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHFHYTpjfQs0l4qru4KrN6Ell94lDJq-v1ENCEu187h3sPSpiHiUM-gFgSqcrcp2LyjxM1bLkkZIiwJIl__RagIZUHd_txL48MjpoZV2Z120wdaYhgIzEBTEu5gbCARG4W9z9McWAWgyG/s1600/Pumpkin+Pur%C3%A9e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHFHYTpjfQs0l4qru4KrN6Ell94lDJq-v1ENCEu187h3sPSpiHiUM-gFgSqcrcp2LyjxM1bLkkZIiwJIl__RagIZUHd_txL48MjpoZV2Z120wdaYhgIzEBTEu5gbCARG4W9z9McWAWgyG/s200/Pumpkin+Pur%C3%A9e.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If you plan to bake
with the freshly-made puree, allow it to cool to room temperature before using
as an ingredient.<span> </span>Store excess pumpkin puree in freezer-safe containers, allowing room for expansion in each
container.<span> </span>Average storage life for the
frozen puree is about one year; although, no matter how well any produce is
packaged, all frozen foods lose color, flavor, texture, and nutritional value
the longer they’re stored.<span> </span>Our supply usually
lasts through to spring, when fresh produce is once again available.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>While pumpkins are
fresh and whole, there’s no rush to process them.<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">The squash family are self-contained packages
which store easily and tidily.<span> </span></span><span>As long as their stems remain firmly intact,
and the pumpkins are kept in a cool, well-ventilated place (not subject to
freezing), most have a shelf life of three months, and some as long as six
months, depending on the variety.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Prior to processing,
if you plan on using pumpkins for Halloween decoration, consider drawing on the
pumpkin’s surface with a felt marker rather than carving out pieces.<span> </span>This makes subsequent processing simpler:<span> </span>the marker doesn’t affect the puree, the
complete half-shells cook more evenly, and the flesh scrapes more thoroughly
from larger shell pieces.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Eating seasonal foods has considerable benefits – both for budgets and nutritional
intake. Pumpkins, because of their low cost and excellent food values, are clear
champions of autumn.<span> </span>No wonder Linus calls
them great!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-62437963702278231072012-08-09T14:30:00.002-07:002012-08-09T14:32:02.800-07:00Fruits of Summer<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Summer has set in
with its usual severity.<br />
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge~</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Summer, </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2009/07/summer-cooking.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I've mentioned before</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> , is not my best time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It plays havoc with day-to-day cycles of
work, sleep, cooking, and cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
further assault, summer’s low humidity, dusty winds, and harsh sun, are
especially brutal to dry skin and hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
it’s an act of contrition, but summer also provides fruits, herbs, and flowers,
with which one can create amazingly-effective and soothing natural treatments
to mitigate the damage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My favourite
concoctions are </span><a href="http://www.gardenofbeauty.net/10-easy-diy-homemade-facial-mask-recipes/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">facial masks</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and </span><a href="http://www.pioneerthinking.com/beauty/hair/conditioner/rb_conditioners.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hair conditioners</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. They’re easy to make, their effect is
immediate, remarkable, and surprisingly long-lasting, and the ingredients are
available in most grocery stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best
of all, these therapeutic applications cost very little if choosing produce on
sale.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTZ6V_E7idI9dduoJMA7GpHdJNNHxm371hdk1CMtXTYvLGk5tD4aSqhRsX_dhpaJr0UP9arZOpPpe6AKklq4h88RtE6GTEZZ8oTPly0qOMq8_HhMQBV9dMy6XZSHw8x1bKHcuNis5mmwA/s1600/Cucumber+sensitive+skin+mask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTZ6V_E7idI9dduoJMA7GpHdJNNHxm371hdk1CMtXTYvLGk5tD4aSqhRsX_dhpaJr0UP9arZOpPpe6AKklq4h88RtE6GTEZZ8oTPly0qOMq8_HhMQBV9dMy6XZSHw8x1bKHcuNis5mmwA/s320/Cucumber+sensitive+skin+mask.JPG" width="320" /><span style="background-color: white;"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: white; color: #38761d;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cucumber Sensitive-Skin Mask</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZsY9ElFapgRtUmVAi_46kGVM4ijtVS5sLM6pxZUNvL8UvL2v5YR40ZaBcTZ-xFO4GqYGZ4gjmGNg7pBOvc7KuX8UArrTeDWL_Bdiwb6xOLnxPqQCgyLQ0CboqO0VKCgiCButkoKkdPLq/s1600/Messy+work%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZsY9ElFapgRtUmVAi_46kGVM4ijtVS5sLM6pxZUNvL8UvL2v5YR40ZaBcTZ-xFO4GqYGZ4gjmGNg7pBOvc7KuX8UArrTeDWL_Bdiwb6xOLnxPqQCgyLQ0CboqO0VKCgiCButkoKkdPLq/s200/Messy+work%2521.JPG" width="108" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #38761d;">It's messy work</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB3nextxaoPCqLYoYjmendn1zEFpJs_vkUIdI2jmgr-YAcpL50bUyF17SJRhHBC_ULTaiuYUQfkoE976Rvg_8QA7Eon4eKNvBHttC0TpYIRqmWpwhomsQhWTFsckvtAE7DrGm63lqubpM/s1600/Ahhh...feels+better.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB3nextxaoPCqLYoYjmendn1zEFpJs_vkUIdI2jmgr-YAcpL50bUyF17SJRhHBC_ULTaiuYUQfkoE976Rvg_8QA7Eon4eKNvBHttC0TpYIRqmWpwhomsQhWTFsckvtAE7DrGm63lqubpM/s200/Ahhh...feels+better.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Feels SO good, though!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just a few words of
caution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, since many of these skin
and hair care products are made with fresh produce, their shelf-life will be
much shorter than commercial products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
storing homemade products will probably require refrigeration and non-reactive
containers. Also, be prepared:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>homemade
blends, without the stabilizers and binders found in commercial products, have a
messier application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, the refreshing
results make any preparation well worth it.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Grocery stores
needn’t be the only source of natural ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gardens, meadows and orchards are rich
sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your garden produces an
over-abundance of tomatoes or cucumbers, instead of more canning you might try
some nourishing </span><a href="http://www.dailyglow.com/articles/46/tomato-very-useful-for-skin-care.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">skin care</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><a href="http://minesgreencircle.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/top-3-homemade-organic-tomato-facial-masks/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">rejuvenating facial masks</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and </span><a href="http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/cucumber_benefits.shtml"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">cooling treatments</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or,
if you grow certain flowers and/or herbs, or have the ability to forage for them, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their astringent, anti-microbial, and/or soothing
properties are excellent additives in products such as </span><a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/how-homemade-body-wash-263753.html?cat=68"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">body washes</span></a>, and provide gentler
solutions for specific skin care issues.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, an
individual’s skin type often determines the most effective produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dry hair and or sensitive skin types will
likely enjoy the benefits of avocados and cucumbers, while oilier hair and
skin types often prefer the toning effects of lemon or tomato.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These aren’t hard and fast rules, however, as
lemon also moisturizes and avocado’s natural fats easily cut through oily
build-up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While produce
remains seasonably available, it’s simple and relatively inexpensive to
experiment with a variety of applications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a bonus, leftover produce can be eaten and it’s nutrients will
nourish skin and hair from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Summer may ravage the body but, in a conciliatory gesture, offers us
many remedial goodies which allow us to clean, soothe, and nourish weathered
skin and hair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-34545134609090322652012-06-14T21:22:00.000-07:002012-06-14T21:22:14.010-07:00Adjustments<br />
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Of the many ways to save
money, one of the most overlooked is frequent budget review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>recent reassessment of our budget, I discovered troubling developments with
a few utilities and services, partly due to altered usage and partly due to spiralling
rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After placing several calls,
changing a couple services, combining others, eliminating one, and acquiring some
new equipment, the net results will save us </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">upwards of </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">$260 the first year (more in subsequent years.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now have better quality equipment, broader
coverage and faster access to certain services.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There was definitely
research involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I made
enquiries about the various service packages each provider offers, noting rates
and details for only those plans and packages suited to our needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke with service representatives about possible
add-on costs we might incur when making the changeover, such as contract
pay-outs, new equipment costs (if any) and the accessibility of suppliers and
installers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the pertinent data was organized
on a simple table, it was easy to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">see which </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">plans offered us greatest value.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our decisions made, I
contacted current service providers to ascertain the end of billing
periods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing this, we were able to
use up service already paid for, without incurring charges for a new billing cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many utilities today can be switched on or
off simply by calling customer service <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
day or two before service ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others require
up to thirty days notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check your
contract or call a service representative to be certain of your responsibility,
to avoid added or pro-rata fees on your final bill.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
If deciding to cancel a service, don’t burn bridges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">need or </span>want their service now, but at
some point in the future there could be no other choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel it necessary to voice your discontent,
be concise not contentious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
received some very good offers after calmly explaining reasons for terminating a
service, so be open to unexpected opportunities and, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if you’re willing to barter, have your
comparison sheet at-hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Paying bills and balancing household accounts are relentless
routines few people enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, there
are tremendous benefits to frequent budget analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is especially true during changes in life
– like a new job, an addition to the family, or shifting travel requirements – when
customary monthly expenditures can change dramatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By staying atop these variances, you can
decide, in a timely manner, which are short-term fluctuations requiring endurance
only, and which are permanent trends requiring adjustment(s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pricing and researching the many options may be
time-consuming, but efforts pay off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
than money is saved when paying for better-suited services, equipment, and/or plans.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-66542360288038643292012-04-12T18:16:00.000-07:002012-04-12T18:16:59.245-07:00Enlist the Kernel<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hi, my name is Gail and I’m a salt-aholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, I <i>was</i> until my doctor groused about my high blood pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the two years since that diagnosis, I’ve had to rethink and revise eating habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cutting sodium was the highest priority, but saturated fats were also high on the no-no list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of our cooking and food preparation is done from scratch so, with a few minor substitutions, it was easy to reduce these elements from our meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I really<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>missed was my favourite crunchy treats – potato and tortilla chips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unable to renounce all salty delights, I turned to popcorn and its benefits have proven to be much greater than anticipated!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">The first gain realized was in our grocery budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For less than the price of two family-sized bags of chips, we bought a 3.6 kg carton of brand-name popcorn kernels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That carton produces a few dozen large bowls of popcorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The savings from that singular dietary switch are huge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even considering the added cost of oil and salt, we’re still saving several dollars each month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Little did I know there were even greater health benefits than low-sodium and low-fat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to a <a href="http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=222&content_id=CNBP_029635&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=63bfa34e-fb20-44f6-ad6e-e2770c1a8450">press release</a> by the <i>American Chemical Society</i>, popcorn is higher in antioxidants than fruits and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, this is due to the concentration of polyphenols in popcorn as opposed to more diluted amounts in fresh produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not just the puffy white centres that are loaded with these antioxidants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out, those annoying little hulls that get stuck in the teeth do more than just add fibre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They contain the greatest concentration of polyphenols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The study does NOT suggest popcorn should replace fruits and vegetables in a wholesome diet, but it’s very clear this simple food can be a very healthy snack.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The method of cooking and the flavourings added will, of course, affect its nutritional values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the various cooking methods for popcorn, our favourite is in oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hot-air is much too flavourless and we don’t use a microwave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once would’ve doused hot-air popcorn in butter, but since we’re reducing saturated fats, another method had to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when I saw the cooking show ‘<i>Good Eats’ </i>hosted by <a href="http://altonbrown.com/">Alton Brown</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, salt is added after the popcorn is popped, and this often requires a teaspoon (or more) to properly season an 8-10 cup batch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brown’s method uses only ½ teaspoon of salt, added with the kernels, and its dispersal during cooking is much more even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sometimes I substitute my own <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.ca/2010/07/pinching-salt.html">seasoned salt</a> for an even lower sodium content.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, by using peanut oil, there is a pleasing taste with none of the saturated fat of butter, and this oil easily tolerates the high-heat required for popping.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hot Oil popping method</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heat 1/3 cup peanut oil in a Dutch oven on medium-high heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add 3 kernels of popcorn and wait until these pop before adding ½ cup of kernels and ½ teaspoon sea salt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shake pot to keep kernels from sticking, and remove from heat when the popping slows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIakMjYbIjKLoYvxABXFQRFOv5F8H6WAIND-ZwsNErsPi7g3LTCDMxeliqRpmV5d3P6FSS_8J1hukglXTeouJPLJrEGEbiahBvXb6AVM8iSt3iJM5QiZNTl5hQfb6nD2s7qcR_t_2MJtAJ/s1600/Popcorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIakMjYbIjKLoYvxABXFQRFOv5F8H6WAIND-ZwsNErsPi7g3LTCDMxeliqRpmV5d3P6FSS_8J1hukglXTeouJPLJrEGEbiahBvXb6AVM8iSt3iJM5QiZNTl5hQfb6nD2s7qcR_t_2MJtAJ/s320/Popcorn.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Plain popcorn can get boring, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, this mild-flavoured whole grain is easily jazzed up without negating its healthful benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hubby and I have developed a few spice, herb, and powdered milk blends that we use occasionally and sparingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our favourite variations are Nacho- or Ranch-flavoured popcorn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Nacho seasoning</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just sprinkle on the hot, freshly-made popcorn, toss until well-coated, and then add ¼ cup parmesan cheese.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Ranch seasoning</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 cup skim-milk powder, ½ teaspoon each – dried chives, parsley and dill weed, ¼ teaspoon each – garlic and onion powders,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1/8 teaspoon each – salt and pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend until finely powdered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of powder over fresh, hot popcorn while tossing to coat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">The only doctor who doesn’t like popcorn is my dentist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this snack has its obvious dietary benefits, it can also crack teeth or get stuck under the gums and cause abscess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, some caution should be taken when eating popcorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoid the small, not fully opened kernels, and be sure to floss after noshing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If, like me, you’re reducing your sodium intake but are hopelessly addicted to salty, crunchy snacks, you may want to enlist the kernel into your dietary regimen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Popcorn will also increase your fibre intake, provide a treat rich in antioxidants, and spare your grocery budget. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that’s a powerhouse, whole grain munchie!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-69755152128362690432012-02-09T15:27:00.000-08:002012-02-09T15:27:34.029-08:00Until We Meet Again<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>HI</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">With this post, <i>Thriving On Thrift</i> (<i>TOT</i>) marks its third anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three YEARS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s absolutely mindboggling how fast the time has flown.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">During these last years, it’s been fun sharing our choices and routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, though, it’s become apparent our most prominent “savers” have been covered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there are surely other topics for this blog, I don’t (yet) have the personal experience to cover those subjects effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, brainstorming fresh ideas has become difficult and not just on a creative level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the day-to-day practices we’ve developed over time are easy habits and actually <u>relieve</u> stress, my recent (intense) concentration on matters of saving has <u>produced</u> stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than a sense of thriving, this increased focus has created feelings of lack.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I thought of ending the blog, but would be saddened to leave a project about which I still feel very passionate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TOT has become such a familiar presence, yet </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">sustaining its bi-weekly posting schedule is definitely </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">feeling forced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s when the blog feels most strained that my other writing projects (mainly fiction) chime in for attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(But, they’ve long been jealous of the hours I spend with the “other project.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, in those moments of doubt, I’ve been tempted to lay aside the exertions and create space in my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>writing life for new challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, just when I feel my mind’s tumblers sliding into place, I’m infused with the deep satisfaction felt while writing TOT, the enjoyment of friendships it’s prompted, and the warm glow of kind comments and emails I’ve received from readers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The mental to-ing and fro-ing has been exhaustive…and exhausting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the fact remains that subject matter is becoming leaner and the pleasure this blog once provided me is slowly eroding to panic as I scramble to plan future posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, the truth of the matter slapped me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this extra time and energy, this fretting over lack, are all antitheses to this blog’s tenets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean that continuing would be a waste of time and energy, but persistent worry and struggle would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, there’s no thrift in that course.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So, after much thought, I’ve decided to cut back the posting schedule to bi-monthly, from this point on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This change will enable me to continue with a much-loved project but the reduced frequency will allow more time to develop and research new ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, I remain open to topical proposals and look forward to exploring your suggestions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please leave a comment or send an email if you wish to see a subject covered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Until we meet again – on the second Thursday in April – I wish you and yours thriving days.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73JoGXs0ZM6pF1kB-wTtAdYJ821SZEEy2WrJ1NnVNSw-Zk2Tldl7yOS7dkBQdmVuj3Gmo5T0JyyMmjsp75iVND7Y5pLCwbjyTcb1k3Vym-UVBkYGWAZ9cbZd1jrT9_O6-HDIkUQTIVkC9/s1600/Busy+Bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73JoGXs0ZM6pF1kB-wTtAdYJ821SZEEy2WrJ1NnVNSw-Zk2Tldl7yOS7dkBQdmVuj3Gmo5T0JyyMmjsp75iVND7Y5pLCwbjyTcb1k3Vym-UVBkYGWAZ9cbZd1jrT9_O6-HDIkUQTIVkC9/s200/Busy+Bee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br />
</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-33474778846982739142012-01-26T13:00:00.000-08:002012-01-26T13:00:58.909-08:00Soup’s On!<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">When the mercury plummets into sub-zero regions – as it has done here these last few weeks – there are no two words more tempting than the simple culinary refrain, “Soup’s on!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With our furnace chugging constantly, barely completing one cycle before igniting the next, our only relief has been batches of tasty, hot, homemade soup.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Of all winter meals, I think soups (and stews) generate real, lasting, body heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, digesting <i>any</i> meal raises the body’s temperature, but only hot soup will actually cause me to remove a layer or two of sweaters and socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I enjoy cooking, frigid fingers can make chopping and peeling vegetables difficult and that’s another reason soups are so great during cold snaps; with only one day’s meal prep, a couple/few meals are created (depending on quantities made.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Along with snow, wind, and freezing rain, viruses have also been making their usual rounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether a cold or the flu, my appetite wanes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soup is the only food my stomach accepts (without complaint) when ill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to swallow, comforting to the stomach, and helps thaw “the chills.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Though commercial soups are as easy as opening a can, or rehydrating a powder, their nutritive values are compromised by the processes they undergo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cream-based or homemade </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/05/confessions-of-stocker.html"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">stock</span></a> (whether vegetarian, vegan, or protein) coupled with fresh vegetables and/or whole grains (and meat, if desired) </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">produces soups which offer much better nourishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>patient, weakened by nausea, a substantial meat or mushroom broth is not only easily digested, its wonderfully nurturing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, recent scientific studies have proven the cold-relieving effects of chicken soup – though Mom’s everywhere have intuited this for decades.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEeIvfKd-l0z7EHogM6GxXbRb-z8MFrOA6xcAIyYbLg0tjIcTXs9cleXD-hlj33wvgyUlPzHmcklfHZexF8QkHFH8WEWeqea9zWpP3nQvgTqIDK2upSRAlEWtRvXLXQJN50klzg2ywNC7/s1600/Cream+of+Broccoli+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEeIvfKd-l0z7EHogM6GxXbRb-z8MFrOA6xcAIyYbLg0tjIcTXs9cleXD-hlj33wvgyUlPzHmcklfHZexF8QkHFH8WEWeqea9zWpP3nQvgTqIDK2upSRAlEWtRvXLXQJN50klzg2ywNC7/s320/Cream+of+Broccoli+soup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home-made, cream of broccoli soup</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Another great thing about soup is kitchen clean-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, swabbing of floors is not involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I mean is the ability to clean out the refrigerator and pantry’s hodgepodge of leftovers and aging vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soup has long been our favourite way to use up these dribbles and drams:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a yummy way to avoid waste, while also providing a few more meals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also a great way to utilize large quantities of sale-priced items, as we did with some fabulous broccoli found on sale this week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-43902851571764886342012-01-12T19:04:00.000-08:002012-01-12T19:04:59.070-08:00Best Laid Plan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>HI</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">If I had to choose my biggest and best saver – of money, time, <i>and</i> energy – I would, without hesitation, say meal-planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dull, eh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have the drama of saving dryer lint for felting, but it’s truth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Each year end, I analyze our budget to see what we’ve actually been purchasing, where we can save in the months ahead, and where we can afford to spend more generously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial software I have even provides a handy pie-chart of the results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the year-end numbers aren’t revealing enough, that pie-chart makes it vividly clear what our three greatest expenditures are:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>namely housing, vehicle, and food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a big surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most budgets reflect similarly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’m most proud of is the sizeable reduction in the <i>percentage</i> of our yearly budget now spent on food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one time, when I was working outside the home, the percentage of our budget spent on groceries was 36.37% at its highest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2011, that percentage shrunk to its smallest ever, at only 23.88% of our total household budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the dramatic savings, we’ve eaten well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better, in fact, than we ever did when the grocery budgets were highest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few reasons for this, but the number one reason is meal-planning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Admittedly, I wasn’t always a meal-planner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Countless times in my young adult life I forgot to take meat out of the freezer in time to thaw for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other times I’d slap together pre-packaged foods just to get a meal – anything! – on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or when fast food restaurants fed the family because the larder had nothing to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took some years of eating minimal, unhealthy, or just plain awful meals to finally discover a better way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And all it took was a little planning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sick of awful meals and even more upset with their high cost, I began an overhaul of our eating and shopping habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To begin, I did as my mother had always done and spent a little time, each week, planning upcoming meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the help of weekly sales flyers, I chose featured foods and built meal plans (tentatively) around these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In-store, the product wasn’t always as good as pictured, so plans were flexible to allow for these alterations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just by doing this one small thing, though, I gleaned enormous savings that first year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only had we spent less money, we’d also spent less time shopping and, best of all, the food we were eating was much tastier and healthier.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Another reason our grocery budget shrank was due, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>partially, to the lack of impulse-buying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the larder is near empty, it’s quite easy (for me) to desire most everything in sight and I can, without difficulty, run amok in a well-stocked grocery store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a list, made during the meal-planning stage, there was no longer anything haphazard or impulsive about my shopping expeditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also means that mid-week “emergency” trips to the corner store are rare now – though I love the convenience of a local grocer, their costs were often much higher than the supermarkets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These may seem trifling amounts in the year’s budget, but the cumulative costs of higher food prices, wasted time, vehicle, and fuel for 52 (or more) <i>additional</i> trips for neglected grocery needs really add up!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When we made this shift to meal-planning, other savings were found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By planning ahead, <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/11/gobble-gobble.html">larger cut proteins</a> appeared in our diet more often than once or twice a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t long before we realized how much money, time and energy was saved </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">with </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">these meats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the larger cuts cost less per pound, they also provide time and energy savings when you consider the ease with which they provide subsequent meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With pre-cooked roast or poultry, a stir-fry or casserole comes together in a flash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunches became a no-brainer – and far tastier, too! – with <i>real</i> cold-cuts handy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Still, there are days when we’re both too busy with our work to even think about dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the days when meal-planning really pays off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not too hard, when looking ahead on our week, to decide which days will be busier than others, and plan on <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/03/leftovers-waste-or-surplus.html">leftovers</a> when simple and quick are best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other days, we use the slow-cooker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a genius machine that is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just load it with food, turn on the heat and, hours later, dinner is ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No muss and very little fuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pressure-cooker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is another impressive kitchen tool that gets dinner on the table quicker while also tenderizing tougher cuts of meat (which are usually the less expensive cuts, as well.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can elevate an economical brisket from its shoe-leather propensity to tender succulence in short order -- something nearly impossible to achieve with any other quick-cooking method.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">An unexpected dividend of meal-planning are the sauces, marinades, and other treats that result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply by planning meals ahead, I know to make tartar sauce for the fish, or teriyaki sauce for upcoming stir-fries, and the extra day or two in the fridge only enhances their already fabulous flavours. Where I once struggled to have meat thawed in time for supper, I now have days to marinade (or brine) some ribs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the convenience of cooking ahead <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/06/if-you-cant-stand-heat.html">certain foods</a>, and our dinners were coming together swiftly, more deliciously, and with much better ingredients.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If you’re inspecting your own household budget, looking for ways to cut costs, or seeking ways to make life a little easier, consider the many benefits of meal-planning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No last minute dinners that leave you wanting more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one change put, literally, thousands of dollars back in our budget and <i>much</i> better eats on our table!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-40362119219757547902011-12-29T19:05:00.001-08:002011-12-29T19:05:45.777-08:00Renewal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">While
rummaging in the basement for holiday decorations, I came across an old
cupboard – a “toy chest” my Grandfather made years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its stained and the paint is peeling so it
looks a sorry mess, but the cupboard itself remains sound. With a little loving
care it could, once again, be cute and functional. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">So, I’ve
begun gathering information, making price comparisons, and perusing décor ideas
(finishes, appliqués, hardware, etc.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
these preparations I came across some startling statistics on furniture disposal
versus renewal (from the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://earth911.com/recycling/household/home-and-office-furniture/facts-about-household-furniture/"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">US</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.bulkywaste.org/partners/statistics/"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">UK</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">) as well as cautionary articles on testing for and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5163033_remove-lead-paint-furniture.html"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">removing lead-based paints</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
paints were banned a few decades ago, but when in doubt about the age of the
furniture (or its finish) its best to test the item before work begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Test kits are available online and in hardware
stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Armed with this knowledge, I’ve made
a list of essential supplies and am preparing the work area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To
refinish most furniture usually requires only basic supplies:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Paint, varnish, or stain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Paint brushes of varying sizes for broad coverage and finer
detail work</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Sand-paper of different grades (from coarse for stripping, to
fine for finishing work)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Standard safety equipment:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>goggles, a particle mask, and gloves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tarp(s) to protect the work area and help contain mess and waste</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Optional equipment</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>power sander and/or
spray painter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Sometimes required</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>primer, to seal old
stain which resists removal and could bleed through new paint</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">For
projects involving the removal of lead-based paints, sanding is </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">strongly discouraged</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, most articles I read on the subject recommend
these jobs be done by professional refinishers to avoid poisoning family, home,
and the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If deciding to take
on these projects at home, then heightened precautions should be taken, and other
supplies will be needed:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Gel or liquid paint-stripper and a putty knife</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Painters respirator</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Disposable, full-coverage, painters coveralls and gauntlet-length
rubber gloves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Heavy-gauge plastic, to seal the work area (including
ventilation ducts)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><i><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Before beginning</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">, locate a safe disposal site for all hazardous waste and
contaminated supplies</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Refinishing
furniture can be thrifty or extravagant, depending on the products used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Designer hardware and appliqués may elevate
the furniture’s appearance, but will raise the project’s overall cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If budget is a concern, assorted painting
techniques can also achieve visual interest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paint prices vary, but a regular latex indoor
paint is all that’s needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
also the expense of time, but I balance this and other costs against professional
refinishing rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I enjoy
having something crafty to do during these dark days of winter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I’d like
to share images of my project but I’m still awaiting information on a safe
disposal site before beginning work – yes, the paint I’ll be removing is lead-based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, the cupboard is small and I’ll
have the necessary protective gear to do the job with the utmost caution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, the chest my Grandfather made will
be restored to service, saved from the landfill, and may even find its way to future
generations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this renewal project
of will be a very gratifying start to the New Year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-65905205222165729942011-12-15T12:35:00.001-08:002011-12-15T12:45:13.602-08:00Deck the House<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Despite
all the shopping, the gift-wrapping, and the baking, it’s when home decoration
begins that my holiday spirit really picks up.
Like a magpie, it’s the vivid colours and sparkling lights, the smell of
garlands and tree, that cheer me most.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Last
week, a friend dropped by with arm-loads of cedar boughs and pine cones
so I’ve been busy making a wreath for the front door and a centrepiece for
the table. Granted, it’s not as easy as
buying ready-made items, but it’s definitely budget friendly, especially
if you prefer the fragrance of fresh over plastic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Making a
wreath is easy and inexpensive.
If you don’t have access to fresh boughs – or kind friends who provide
them – you can trim lower branches from the (undecorated) tree. If you don’t have the budget to buy craft
wire, you can use (wire) hangers and (stripped) twist-ties. Ornamentation can be achieved with nature’s
bling – pine cones and seasonal berries – or cloth remnants and tree curios…whatever
you have on hand.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwomTeUO1S4m1c75fYpUEI1yAlpeJm45S4dqgWsPAWuDF4V5Z8hIusou9Xe9Fjkt4o6HT3mEQPyOndyCx9vFK52jY3AkfMF2Yt-QUKxAiIC8vkGIrs93XAseuZrD1MUGtSHBJG50Lo46rA/s1600/Stripping+twist-ties.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwomTeUO1S4m1c75fYpUEI1yAlpeJm45S4dqgWsPAWuDF4V5Z8hIusou9Xe9Fjkt4o6HT3mEQPyOndyCx9vFK52jY3AkfMF2Yt-QUKxAiIC8vkGIrs93XAseuZrD1MUGtSHBJG50Lo46rA/s200/Stripping+twist-ties.JPG" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stripped twist-ties</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To make your
own wreath, garland, or centrepiece, you’ll need:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Boughs of cedar, spruce or fir (avoid poisonous hemlock or
other evergreens for which you have sensitivity)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Heavy gloves (and long sleeves) to avoid skin irritation when
handling the boughs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Heavy wire (gauge 10, or thicker) or wire clothes-hangers for
the frame </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Lighter wire (gauge 20 or thinner) or “stripped” twist-ties (see
image at right) for attaching boughs and ornamentation </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Pliers (needle-nose work best)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ribbons, cloth
remnants, bows, tree ornaments, seasonal berries, tree cones, glitter, spray
snow and/or bells for decoration</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xYxd2UkyTLN1LilB0MfXqWHk7piaJcQUVVQHOxTARSGcz0H0m3cmKkzou0HXGFxUoDh2hEvg6w6hxI51CkrQE_VgayfBbzLnttPVv3dL-pFIkbm7ueM0Fy8XueO-JiExLOcnqvY20uTu/s1600/Opened+wire+hangers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xYxd2UkyTLN1LilB0MfXqWHk7piaJcQUVVQHOxTARSGcz0H0m3cmKkzou0HXGFxUoDh2hEvg6w6hxI51CkrQE_VgayfBbzLnttPVv3dL-pFIkbm7ueM0Fy8XueO-JiExLOcnqvY20uTu/s320/Opened+wire+hangers.JPG" width="129" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image #1<br />
Straightened hangers</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For the frame,
I use two wire hangers, “opened” and the bends straightened with pliers (image
#1). Then, I rejoin the hangers, using
their curly ends (image #2) to secure them together. With gentle thumb pressure, form the wire
into a round (image #3.) If you desire a perfect
circle, bend the wire around a large bowl.
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXXLdDVIFDtw-TPdk8hlCxxVQSYL8NGIuQxG-BAUeHkl79mrLHUbynCU7IvHdSi9tF7v-E-eMm0GgjrC-semQtFxp2e8CWrNs6E6nDA44s1hqQRQ8lGbvMocvPAQyBuEICPe9h482Ey-U/s1600/Reshaped+hangers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXXLdDVIFDtw-TPdk8hlCxxVQSYL8NGIuQxG-BAUeHkl79mrLHUbynCU7IvHdSi9tF7v-E-eMm0GgjrC-semQtFxp2e8CWrNs6E6nDA44s1hqQRQ8lGbvMocvPAQyBuEICPe9h482Ey-U/s200/Reshaped+hangers.JPG" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image #3<br />
Form a round frame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Once the
frame is ready, put on your gloves, gather the boughs (image #4) and begin
weaving. Start at the top, propping the
stem end of a large bough behind the hook, and wind the stem gently around the
wire. Secure the stem to the hanger with
pieces of fine wire. Do the same on the
other side of the circle and weave the lower tips of both branches together at
the bottom. Then weave smaller boughs into
these larger base branches. Secure as
needed, concealing wires with loose fronds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamXsGqZ4s_dHUM_MJ-O0A-Y02ZGstKSHPOIFmyUx_EQHIbJtGBtZTlvks7uwa2SSUEa_wmfjLuK3Mv_MC2hPTTIs81SYOPx4-lfkVDuCk_GQlaJxRRhSicKtA65UEzJY-3S32Gt7P9swt/s1600/Ready+to+build.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamXsGqZ4s_dHUM_MJ-O0A-Y02ZGstKSHPOIFmyUx_EQHIbJtGBtZTlvks7uwa2SSUEa_wmfjLuK3Mv_MC2hPTTIs81SYOPx4-lfkVDuCk_GQlaJxRRhSicKtA65UEzJY-3S32Gt7P9swt/s200/Ready+to+build.JPG" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image #4<br />
Ready to weave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">After you’ve
placed the boughs, add the ornamentation of your choice, securing these with
fine wire also. I attach decorations at the top, when using cedar boughs – it’s
easiest and doesn’t clutter the boughs sweeping appearance. Spruce and fir have sparser branches so I
detach branchlets from the main bough and finish the wreath by securing the branches
with ornaments around the circumference.
As an added touch, wrap ribbon around the hanger’s hook and then bend
its open end into a tighter loop for hanging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbavGPxrY-DM0HRx3WPTKRkTApymE8AxL8fmj0gd8sVYXuafxes2isQyiA2CErmUwLW1pgWVU0J33kEWsTE_t4r3HC5SlBJuLCiFF5e290HIq5KvdPV_IxXfQxZ1iiINQZpAETKbjNiqm/s1600/Rejoined+wire+hangers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbavGPxrY-DM0HRx3WPTKRkTApymE8AxL8fmj0gd8sVYXuafxes2isQyiA2CErmUwLW1pgWVU0J33kEWsTE_t4r3HC5SlBJuLCiFF5e290HIq5KvdPV_IxXfQxZ1iiINQZpAETKbjNiqm/s200/Rejoined+wire+hangers.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image #2<br />
Secure hangers at curly ends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Employing similar
methods, I use only one hanger (bent to a round, hook removed and the curly end
bent into the round,) for a table centrepiece frame. Once the greens are attached, a pretty bowl
in the hub keeps candles from igniting
the boughs, or fruit and nuts from contamination. Opened hangers, bent in pleasing twists, and
joined where necessary, work well for garlands and can be easily “fit” to door
top, railings, or mantelpiece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The fragrant,
natural wreath or garland can be used indoors or out but will dry more easily
when indoors. It’s a good idea to spritz
these decorations daily with water to keep the evergreens hydrated as long as
possible. For this reason, when making
indoor wreaths, I avoid using glitter or spray snow as watering spoils these
applications.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lDKdA24ObRO44yUPp1BF0o4mqXntP71AqV2crt0B17iCP2ONxQRE8pHjqK7IAwsXXInccgvuoiXJbKbvTDBhrjh9aVvzaYqi4i6dWnNBruRa3SuJaSPLOmAqq1cXWlIxYi7j0ZY7aT0y/s1600/Cedar+wreath.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lDKdA24ObRO44yUPp1BF0o4mqXntP71AqV2crt0B17iCP2ONxQRE8pHjqK7IAwsXXInccgvuoiXJbKbvTDBhrjh9aVvzaYqi4i6dWnNBruRa3SuJaSPLOmAqq1cXWlIxYi7j0ZY7aT0y/s320/Cedar+wreath.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Whatever
your traditions may be, <br />I wish you and yours<br /> peace and much good cheer this
holiday season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-5816792255190031562011-12-01T20:09:00.001-08:002011-12-01T20:46:37.190-08:00The Personal Touch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">What kind of holiday shopper are
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/08/season-of-discount-ment.html">shop
ahead</a>, finding bargains or “perfect gifts” throughout the year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, do you wait until the twelfth hour,
joining the pressing crowds, revelling in last minute deals or the challenges of
competitive shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to be a
member of the latter camp but found, after stressing our December finances beyond
tolerance, that the former method was more easily managed…both by our budget and
my nerves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As years went by, I also realized
that some gift-giving options wouldn’t have been available when shopping last
minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By shopping ahead, I could make <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/06/rewards-for-traveling.html">points redemption</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">from certain online merchants to
ensure gifts, shipped directly to recipients, arrived in time and wrapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In leaner years, to spare our budget, early
preparation enabled us to gift in more creative ways, yet still impart our love
and care.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Gifts
from the kitchen proved popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Soup mixes – varying mixtures of beans, grains and <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/05/recall.html">spice blends</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">with ingredient list and instruction labels – are a great way to bring
warmth to someone’s winter day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll
save even more money on each <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/08/re-purposing-canning-jars.html">jar</a></span>
<span lang="EN-US">if you’ve been <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/05/bulking-up.html">bulking up</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/10-warming-winter-ways.html">Hot-buttered
rum mix</a></span> <span lang="EN-US">is another popular gift from the kitchen
though, requiring refrigeration, it either needs specialized shipping or personal
delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/12/yule-blog.html">Hot drink
mixes</a></span> <span lang="EN-US">hold up better if your shipping gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A batch of home-made noodles, dried and
packaged in an air-tight container, makes a fabulous gift for the <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/10/noodling-around.html">pasta</a>
(and soup) lovers on your list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might
not ship well, either, as the home-made noodles tend to break easier than
store-bought varieties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some home-made <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/02/sublime-valentine.html">truffles</a>
ship well and are delicious at any time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candies and brittles are another sweet yet
thrifty treat most people enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
years past, I’ve also prepared traditional holiday foods – old-world recipes
mostly producing copious quantities – and distributed these familiar treats to
family members who also love those recipes but don’t make them <i>because</i>
of the volume results. It was a great way of sharing traditional meals when we
couldn’t actually get together.</span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-KRXNqoyRjtMbUu3qxfGW6RFxwOM5p0rUzHuhWI4sX0LviWh5qMxDLLm5-aznd6_F2AZT4_ch4yai5f7AP5G8BTeCnXxkL-rQiR6FrzkCW0GLiwGwlDupA9E5vwiDLlJU7nlM5CN244Q/s1600/PJs+for+the+Grandkids+2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-KRXNqoyRjtMbUu3qxfGW6RFxwOM5p0rUzHuhWI4sX0LviWh5qMxDLLm5-aznd6_F2AZT4_ch4yai5f7AP5G8BTeCnXxkL-rQiR6FrzkCW0GLiwGwlDupA9E5vwiDLlJU7nlM5CN244Q/s320/PJs+for+the+Grandkids+2004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ's for the Grandkids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well-crafted,
home-made items are not only a thoughtful way of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">gifting,
you can <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make for high-quality items for
much less cost, particularly if you buy on sale or from “remnant” bunks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was a child, my mother made new <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/10/sew-much-to-do.html">pajamas</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for my sister and I, each Christmas -- that “soft
gift” under the tree always confirmed the eagerly anticipated plush flannel
nighties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years ago, I did the
same thing for my grand-children and those gifts were apparently worn thin, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Home-made personal products (<a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/03/dreamy-cream.html">creams</a>,
body scrubs, lip balms, etc.,) make nice gifts, particularly if prettily packaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a good idea to include an ingredient label
for recipients so allergic reactions can be avoided. Home decor objects like <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/05/curtains-for-me.html">curtains</a>,
pillow covers, calendar hangers, or a set of matching <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-little-things.html">napkins</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">and placemats are quick and easy projects with a sewing machine,
some rudimentary skill, and careful fabric choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sense of smell is most commonly linked to
memory, so to be long-remembered, craft some <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/12/atmospheric-disturbances.html">closet
or drawer freshener sachets</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can
be hard to find something unique and special </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">for unique gifts for the elderly</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">or infirm</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes being of service
means the most to them; they may need <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-arrangements-for-new-year.html">something
heavy moved</a> or a difficult household chore done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Or, plan a <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/08/abundant-celebration-on-meagre-budget.html">special
meal</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as treat for a shut-in.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Don’t forget <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/02/gesture.html">cards</a> and packaging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If gifting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/long-distance-gifting.html">cash
or retail gift cards</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> a home-made card with heartfelt sentiment can personalize the
gift <i>and </i>reduce </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">shipping costs to a minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attractive packaging and containers add a
long-lasting element to gifts of all sorts. You can embellish common <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/06/adaptation-re-design.html">containers</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-US">for reinforcement or to provide a dark environment for
light-sensitive foods or creams.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Whether or
not the budget is tight, or time is a crunch, there’s distinct joy in cooking,
baking or crafting gifts; a greater sense of connection to the people for whom I’m
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-12225310737184200152011-11-17T17:14:00.001-08:002011-11-17T17:46:55.999-08:00Optimize Your Seasonal Spending<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">All it
takes is a look at the news to know this holiday season will be a struggle for
many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re budget is feeling the
pinch, save yourself time, money, and (possible) disappointment, with focused
preparation before heading out to shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">First, establish
your spending limit and then break that total down, budgeting for each purchase.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, prepare <a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2010/04/seven-ways-to-stretch-shopping-budgets.html">lists</a>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a list of those for whom you are shopping; a
list of stores you plan to visit; and a list of items needed for home
decoration and entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On your
gift-recipient list allow room to record pertinent sizes, preferred colours,
favourite games, authors, past-times, or other personal details you’ll need while
shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the list of stores, leave
room to record any items of interest you find, noting prices, warranties and special offers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then shop around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Details you record will aide comparison <i>before</i>
making the actual purchases, ensuring you get the best deals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Also
before buying, ask each merchant about their policies on returns, refunds and
exchanges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite often, <u>sale</u> items
cannot be refunded or returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Exchanges are generally allowed but, when it’s a popular sale item, odds
of the preferred colour or size being available diminishes quickly with each
passing day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another option to consider,
particularly when shipping packages, is a gift receipt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These generally exclude price but contain all
other the pertinent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>information for the recipient
to affect an exchange or return in their own hometown, saving both of you time
and more shipping charges if amendments are required.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Pay
attention to packaging, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
retailers will only make refunds, returns, or exchanges on items in their
original package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally, merchandise
is so securely enclosed they don’t allow for in-store inspection. Even if the
merchant provides a display model, you can’t be certain of the sealed-product’s
functioning and wholeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To avoid holiday
let-down, it’s best to open and fully inspect the item when you get home and prior
to repackaging, wrapping and/or shipping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In this
tough economy, it pays to make the most of your time and money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By preparing, you’ll save both and keep
frustration to a minimum, and that’s a good start to imbuing any holiday season
with peace and joy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFZPLxDPtUE3K1eWv0sjMUYfWZ984kdSrdbxKZ8OQNt3vdhdp4pMtOiUSQpHH1O_ES2y0lUdn6VMA0CJcIOV0fTO27nMzMsI-Iuq-vKwLhZTC3LdjScOiWt_tVMnaoX-354GmLGQYhxdY/s1600/Seasons+Greetings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFZPLxDPtUE3K1eWv0sjMUYfWZ984kdSrdbxKZ8OQNt3vdhdp4pMtOiUSQpHH1O_ES2y0lUdn6VMA0CJcIOV0fTO27nMzMsI-Iuq-vKwLhZTC3LdjScOiWt_tVMnaoX-354GmLGQYhxdY/s200/Seasons+Greetings.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-45426507815352993072011-11-03T18:58:00.000-07:002011-11-03T19:02:10.581-07:00Holiday Spirits<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If I
told you I’m thinking about holiday liqueurs, you might conclude fall has been gruelling. It has been, actually, but that’s beside the
point. The real reason I’m considering
holiday liqueurs is because I plan on making them, and most require 4-6 weeks
to develop. If I start the six-week
liqueurs now, they’ll be ready to bottle the week prior to Christmas. By then, we’ll probably need a tipple or two.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is
one <i>crazy</i>-hectic season! So, why
am I making liqueurs? Really, they don’t
take much time – only a half an hour (or less) to mix the ingredients and store
the mixture. Some require occasional
turning or shaking, but most just sit in a cool, dark place, quietly
maturing. Though time isn’t our deciding
factor, I definitely appreciate the ease of preparing this holiday treat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For us,
budget dictates this type of spending.
We don’t drink much alcohol, and don’t stock a bar. However, come the holidays, we like to offer
a range of beverages, both alcoholic and non-, and liqueurs can be one of the
most expensive ingredients. They are
also one of the most versatile, adding pizzazz to cocktails, but they’re also good
served alone, on the rocks, mixed with sodas, creams, milk or in drinks like coffee
or hot chocolate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Each
recipe I have uses some sort of spirit:
whisky, vodka, gin or brandy.
While there’s still a significant cost involved, the results are
thriftier than buying similar name-brand liqueurs. Flavour can be compromised by using poor
quality ingredients, but even when using finer spirits and whole ingredients
like vanilla bean, the liqueurs ultimately cost less than an equivalent quantity
of name-brands. With one 750-ml bottle
of whiskey, the recipe I use produces <u>more</u> than 1500 ml of coffee
liqueur. Over time, I’ve adjusted the
recipes to suit our tastes; it’s as easy as adding a little more or less water and/or
sugar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iDl1HlLojcQpDB6Tyl3-RPP8OltI0PlZ3Y0-Oz7TsLjN1wUQe-iiD8O0IdHNLVzMHzioRJRh2tujQ7RUUYRk4nx4GHA4kwmYDL87ipdXPdBv4GSBVWHC4ta3R2U9PLkjL5y18QDkBYI8/s1600/Coffee+Liqueur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iDl1HlLojcQpDB6Tyl3-RPP8OltI0PlZ3Y0-Oz7TsLjN1wUQe-iiD8O0IdHNLVzMHzioRJRh2tujQ7RUUYRk4nx4GHA4kwmYDL87ipdXPdBv4GSBVWHC4ta3R2U9PLkjL5y18QDkBYI8/s200/Coffee+Liqueur.JPG" width="107" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If your budget
is groaning at the mere thought of the holiday season, but you’d still like to
offer your guests some holiday “cheer,” consider making your own liqueurs. Here’s a few recipes from my repetoire: </span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Coffee liqueur with vanilla
bean (sits for 4 weeks)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Coffee liqueur with vanilla
extract (sits for 6 weeks)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Cherry Bounce (“bounced” every
day for <u style="text-underline: double;">3 months</u> – sorry, too late
for this holiday season)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Orange Liqueur (shaken once a
day for 1<sup>st</sup> week, then once a week for 3 more weeks.)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Plum (Christmas) Liqueur (turned
everyday; ready when clear – approx. 4-6 weeks)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Irish Cream (keep
refrigerated; will not keep long; make ahead to allow bubbles to settle.)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If these
recipes interest you, post a comment sharing ways you plan to save money this
holiday season, and then send me an email (</span><a href="mailto:GALaursen@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">GALaursen@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">) with “<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% lime;">Holiday
Spirits</span>” in the subject line and noting your choice of recipe(s) in the
body of the email. I’ll include your recipes
in the body of my reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="DA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sköl</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831530726188902141.post-90942740339255412582011-10-20T17:15:00.001-07:002011-10-20T17:15:47.327-07:00Take Time to Smell the Roasters<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">I love,
love, love this time of year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s such
a relief when the scorching heat of summer subsides and the crisp cool of
autumn arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wardrobe options now
include sweaters and slacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sleep is
more comfortable under a cozy blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2011/06/if-you-cant-stand-heat.html"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">cooking and baking indoors</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> are tolerable again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more back and forth to the barbeque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more getting up before the crack of dawn
to boil pasta for a salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again,
we can have the roasted and slow-braised meats we love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At long last, we can enjoy our favourite
baked treats again.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY6pAGqcMHufhSQTx9vR2gme0hdmsWZqQrbgHdiqxUTzi-5iANvMvKVm32WMVq3eRLYPVyFSsPgCLZehEUrh9lWmiEou8ntaPdac2WyUGhcgMCZhDXB_Ml3O5qIl4_8RpOzSaXdK1xVf6/s1600/Roast+turkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY6pAGqcMHufhSQTx9vR2gme0hdmsWZqQrbgHdiqxUTzi-5iANvMvKVm32WMVq3eRLYPVyFSsPgCLZehEUrh9lWmiEou8ntaPdac2WyUGhcgMCZhDXB_Ml3O5qIl4_8RpOzSaXdK1xVf6/s320/Roast+turkey.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonight's roast turkey...YUM!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">Roast meats
are one of my choicest time-, calorie-, and budget-savers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, roasting is generally done with
less fat and larger cuts of meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
makes it kinder to both health and wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Best of all, roasted meats can often be stretched to provide a few
meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cost per serving/meal becomes
very economical <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and, though initial
cooking times may be a little longer than preparing individually-portioned
meats, subsequent dinners made from those pre-cooked proteins come together
very quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stir-fries, cream- or
tomato-based pastas, salads, soups, casseroles, pizzas – all are easily
prepared in the time it takes to chop a few vegetables and prep the carbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just sit-down dinners, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leftover roast beef, ham, chicken, turkey,
and pork make flavour-packed sandwiches and wraps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add a condiment which compliments those meats
– like horseradish sauce, honey-mustard glaze, stuffing, cranberry or apple
sauce – and you can elevate those sandwiches to epicurean heights of
deliciousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing new in
this idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I grew up, Sunday dinner
wasn’t just a good, hot, family meal; it furnished amazing and unique lunches
through the coming week.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The
benefits of home-baking are more modest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are budgetary advantages, certainly, but the savings margin is
narrower than other forms of culinary wizardry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The real saving is dietary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Baking allows you to create desserts with lower calorie profiles and few
(if any) artificial ingredients, preservatives, or stabilizers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By choosing whole foods (e.g. grains, nuts,
and spices) and complimenting them with healthier fats and sweeteners, these
treats can become truly wholesome snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, while your kitchen is issuing forth delectable fragrances of your
baking, the oven’s warmth helps reduce your </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://thrivingonthrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/10-warming-winter-ways.html"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">heating bill</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-no-proof: yes;">.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If
you’re having difficulty “feeling the love” of this season, try creating some
of your own culinary comfort foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
smells seduce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The oven heats things up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the food is oh so satisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your finances will value the budget-friendly
large-cut proteins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your schedule will
appreciate the time-savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, both
heart and waistline will take pleasure in healthier goodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So turn on the oven and share my seasonal delight.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481104126830000011noreply@blogger.com2