tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10492196706216377402024-02-19T16:57:53.362-08:00Low Waste Living : Life Outside the BoxKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-48463053929493743222019-07-31T20:05:00.003-07:002019-07-31T20:05:41.295-07:00Life with Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>my boys at a beach camping trip last year</i></div>
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It's been a while since I visited this space, and I find myself craving the community I had once knew from this blog. Connecting with like-minded people who are also concerned and interested in the same things as I am- something that is not always as easy in real life!<br />
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I finally feel that I have time to invest in myself and my little blog and my community again. I have 2 children, they are seven years apart. Something that I have found with both of them is it took until they were each about 5 years old where I finally felt like "me" again, someone outside of just being their mom.<br />
I imagine most moms feel this way long before 5, how else would people have children so close in age? Or function? I personally do not function well on low sleep and toddlers. Now that my children are now 13 and almost 6 years old, I find myself longing for things like this little blog and a like minded community.<br />
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In the next couple of weeks, my family will be embarking on a long road camping trip. It is our first of its kind with both kids. We finally reached a point where we feel our youngest can handle more difficult travel and hikes. In previous years we have camped in short periods and closer to home. This year however, our trip will take us through 6 states and 5 stops.<br />
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I can't wait to share our minimalist camping experiences- we are already practicing packing our Honda CR-V for the trip. We'll see how it goes, and I cannot wait to share it with anyone who still checks things out here or any new readers who may find me!<br />
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KatieKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-530353187169550862018-11-30T16:49:00.001-08:002018-11-30T16:49:41.098-08:00Life Outside the Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I grew up in the quintessential upper middle class family. My dad worked a white collar job, my mom stayed home. I lived in a lovely suburban home, went to great schools, wanted for nothing. I had (have) parents who love and support me. I still do. I am not saying this to be a braggart. I am just saying that, even when you have a great upbringing, a great life, you can still suffer from depression. and anxiety. And- with that is the guilt. Well, my life is great. Why do I feel this way? And feeling bad for feeling that way.<br />
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But that is really not the point of this blog post. The point is while I dreamt of a fairy tale wedding (and in my own way, my $500 wedding was a fairy tale), and a mini van and a cookie cutter home in the suburbs, something in my heart has always longed for more. Or maybe not more. But different. My idea of the world was shattered sometime in the early 2000's. when I was a college student and discovered the real affects of our affluent lifestyle- climate change, global warming, waste disposal, etc. And I knew I had found where my heart's passion is. I am at heart and environmentalist. But it is easy to sit here from my cushy house and say I care about the environment. But what am I really going to do about it? How am I going to take action?<br />
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For a while I did take action- I was active. I ran a blog about reducing my waste. I made positive environmental choices. But then I had a second child. I became complacent. I caved to the pressure of fitting in with the suburban consumer lifestyle. I am not proud. However, still in my heart I knew this was not where I wanted to be.<br />
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This blog has always been about my journey, and here I am, once again, back on my journey. Offline my family has made many strides; we are debt free (thank you Dave Ramsey!), we have stayed in our 1000 sq ft carriage house (no huge mortgage for us!) but I (we) still have a long way to go. Blogging helps keep me accountable. I hope to connect with like minded people along the way, but even if no one ever reads it, I know that I have felt accountable in my journey. If you are a zero waste, environmentalist, minimalist, simple living aficionado; I would love to meet you.<br />
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Please stop and say hello!<br />
KatieKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-73277206812683326332016-06-19T08:43:00.000-07:002016-06-19T08:43:02.540-07:00Being Content Where You are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This blog has been long neglected. Somehow having a baby takes the fire out of you to do anything else than just be. The time with littles goes by so fast. I know, my boys are now 10 and 2! Now that the little guy in is a little older, I am feeling the writing bug again.<br />
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This blog isn't about money- it's not about followers. If you want to join in, I'd love the company. I am chronicling my personal reflections on the ability to be content. Where I am- with what I have. With less.<br />
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Will you join me?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-21190233394122627622015-10-11T13:46:00.000-07:002015-10-11T13:46:11.557-07:00Personal Blogging vs. Business BloggingI have been on quite the journey through blogging this year. If you know may (or if you don't!) you may have remembered in November 2013 I had my second child. Because of this, I was home from work, and money was tight. So, since I enjoyed my personal blog so much, I decided to look into blogging as a business, to make an income from home.<br />
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Blogging for profit is a totally different animal than personal blogging. Now, I am not saying in any way that it is bad or it is wrong. I think it is fabulous so many men and women can write about their passions, help others, and earn an income from home.<br />
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But writing professionally, and for profit turns out is really not my thing. At all. What to I enjoy most about blogging? Connecting with others.<br />
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But, through this past year long journey I did discover something I am good at, like, and can do from home. And now I work as a virtual assistant, helping others. Tuns out I am quite technically inclined! (Despite my want to be a creative so badly). As we age I do think we discover more what our gifts are, and start to care less whether or not we fit into a mold.<br />
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Thus leads me to the separation of my business blog and my personal blog. This is my personal blog. I hope you will follow me on my personal journey.<br />
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If you are interested in my professional life, you can check out my professional site here; http://katiedettra.com . It is still under construction :)<br />
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I currently work for an awesome blogger whom I love doing behind the scenes tech-y stuff.<br />
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Working from home is truly a blessing. Especially for an introvert like me.<br />
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How do you feel about business vs. personal blogging?<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-32746148033098766682015-10-09T17:10:00.001-07:002015-10-09T17:10:51.520-07:00Is anyone still out there?I went through a round of official blogging. With a real domain and a real site. And at the end of the day, I miss this little blogger blog. I miss the friends I made here and the little blogging community I had.<br />
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Maybe I will write here again? Life is busy as a work at home mom of 2 rowdy boys. But, the urge to write cannot be ignored.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-6818288553900414242014-09-30T06:34:00.003-07:002014-09-30T06:36:49.325-07:00Blogging Through the Bundle- Strawsome Glass StrawsOne of the things I was most excited about in this Healthy Living Bundle was the bonus offer credit towards glass straws. I have been wanting to try glass straws for a while. You think I would have them already, considering the "low waste" factor, but I could never really justify shelling out the dough for them when I could always just you know, drink out of a cup <i>without</i> a straw.<br />
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The number 1 reason I wanted to try glass straws was for smoothie drinking. (Smoothie pictured above made green by the addition of collard greens, and idea from the "Green Smoothie Challenge" Book.)</div>
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The only container we have large enough to hold our monster green smoothies that we have are ball mason jars. And while I am perfectly capable of drinking it straight from the jar, what tends to happen is I get smoothie gunk on my nose where the rim of the jar hits it, as exhibited in Crappy Selfie.</div>
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Crappy Selfie </div>
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I was very excited to use my $15.00 credit to Strawsome. I ordered a "straw sample kit" which included one short straw, one short smoothie straw, one tall straw, and one tall smoothie straw.</div>
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The tall smoothie straw fits perfectly in my ball canning jar and allows me to sip the green goodness without worrying that I might have gunk on my nose. It is also really easy to clean. They provided a little cleaning brush with it, but I have been just putting it in the dishwasher.</div>
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<b>Verdict</b>: Awesome! Why didn't I try this sooner? Oh yeah, I'm cheap.</div>
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If you want to try Strawsome, check them out here: <a href="http://www.strawsome.com/">Strawsome</a></div>
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I am not affiliated with them, but I am a satisfied customer who uses her smoothie straw every day!!</div>
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YUM! </div>
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-51452672504503357722014-09-29T07:29:00.000-07:002014-09-30T06:35:24.888-07:00Blogging Through the Bundle: Was the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle Worth Buying?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(photo credit: http://ultimate-bundles.com)<br />
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So I came upon this ebook deal, called the "The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle". Being as I am into e-books, and healthy living I decided to check it out.<br />
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It includes 73 ebooks, and a bunch of bonus offers. The total price was $29.95, or $39.95 for the Kindle/ebook version (which I bought).<br />
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Being that I have to analyze every purchase to death to make sure it was worth it, I am going to be talking about each book and bonus offer here on the blog, so then when the next sale goes live, I can decide if it was worth the price or not (and maybe you want to know if you should buy it too?)<br />
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So far I have already read 3 books.<br />
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The first book I read right away .<br />
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(image taken from http://ultimate-bundles.com)<br />
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Crash Course in Natural Parenting by Karli Von Herbulis<br />
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This book is just the basics in Natural Parenting, I will say most of it was stuff I already knew so I was a little disappointed. But, it would be great for someone just embarking on natural parenting.<br />
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(image taken from http://ultimate-bundles.com)<br />
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The 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge Guide<br />
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I am no stranger to green smoothies. We were whipping them up in our Blendtec long before it was cool. But, this book motivated me to actually do it every day. In addition, it inspired me to use other greens besides my go to spinach and kale. I would recommend this book if you like green smoothies. Or even if you don't. :)<br />
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(image taken from http://ultimate-bundles.com)<br />
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Clean and Simple by Stephanie Langford and Writers @ Keeper of the Home<br />
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I'm not going to lie- I stopped making my own cleaners since the birth of my baby well, almost a year ago. I have gotten used to the convenience of buying stuff. I was excited about this book because hey- 7 cleaners and you can clean your whole house! The recipes seem very easy and doable. I enjoyed the book, but since I have yet to make the cleaners I cannot vouch for whether they work or not (maybe I should get on that?)<br />
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I have more Books of the Bundle waiting for me on Kindle.... Stay tuned!!!<br />
<br />
KatieKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-32085404832974315262014-09-04T08:11:00.002-07:002014-09-04T08:12:01.682-07:00Check out My New Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqYAkopDXUjSltW_FM0OSyrm64ptCAtQzhV7A9fDhmAY_g8AuNg4w3_cww8VAF2XcmN5WJHK2IAAgIEKHFknGChwwRyol0VLjVw_E6BFJNIA8B1x62gazrr4lyq6MAahmLxcITRTbqO4/s1600/DSC01566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqYAkopDXUjSltW_FM0OSyrm64ptCAtQzhV7A9fDhmAY_g8AuNg4w3_cww8VAF2XcmN5WJHK2IAAgIEKHFknGChwwRyol0VLjVw_E6BFJNIA8B1x62gazrr4lyq6MAahmLxcITRTbqO4/s1600/DSC01566.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One step closer to my dream of being a 1 car familyKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-25945762949639553072014-08-16T07:32:00.001-07:002017-07-01T17:31:56.817-07:00Depression and Anxiety are not a Choice.There has been a lot of talk going around the internet surrounding the recent death of Robin Williams. While I am greatly saddened, I hope we can use his tragedy to spread light on the fact that many people are quick to deny-<br />
<br />
Mental illness is real.<br />
<br />
Depression is real.<br />
<br />
Anxiety is real.<br />
<br />
And it can kill.<br />
<br />
Mental illness is devastating to those who suffer from it and those around them. I know this because I am a sufferer of depression and anxiety. In my short 30 years of life, I have suffered from depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. For lack of better words, it sucks.<br />
<br />
It sucks because a lot of people think you should just choose not to be depressed anymore. People don't judge diabetics for taking insulin, but they will judge people with mental illness for taking medication. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ2Vm3B24hmV0q4hPNckVtxRhEW7j-OVaAFFJcOnJ2xw7nOyLXpfSDSuopywDDBGIRmx1vXjB5cTgXZq8lUKxbBzMUslBuusCo8XkcwntGRUAyz-N7S70s9bI_L2R9rimtQ6qOmI52lo/s1600/CWFTYoV.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ2Vm3B24hmV0q4hPNckVtxRhEW7j-OVaAFFJcOnJ2xw7nOyLXpfSDSuopywDDBGIRmx1vXjB5cTgXZq8lUKxbBzMUslBuusCo8XkcwntGRUAyz-N7S70s9bI_L2R9rimtQ6qOmI52lo/s1600/CWFTYoV.png" width="403" /></a></div>
<br />
(Image source: http://imgur.com/gallery/CWFTYoV)<br />
<br />
If you are one of those people who thinks that enough healthy eating, sleeping, exercise, and prayer will pull you out of the pit of depression, I am happy for you. I am glad that worked for you. But, it doesn't work for everyone.<br />
<br />
Depression is more than feeling blue. It is feeling like this: <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/08/what-the-church-christians-need-to-know-about-suicide-mental-health/"> Anne Voskamp</a>.<br />
It is the feeling of no feelings. I liken it to ring in one of those rooms Star Wars style where the walls are closing in on you and crushing you.<br />
<br />
OCD is more than wanting a neat room or being clean. It is vomiting after you eat because you are sure your food has been poisoned. It driving back to make sure you didn't run anyone over every time you hit a bump. It is checking your baby's pulse every 10 minutes because you are sure he died of SIDS. It is removing all the knives from your house so no one gets hurt. I can say that because <i><b>I've lived it.</b></i><br />
<br />
What people need suffering from mental illness is not to be torn down,
to be ridiculed. We need God. We need your compassion, caring and
prayers. Sometimes we need medication too. <br />
<br />
My name is Katie, and I have suffered from anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, depression and most recently post partum depression. I take medication and I am not ashamed.<br />
<br />
Because at the end of the day, it is NOT a choice.<b> NO ONE </b>would ever<b><i> </i>choose to feel like this.</b><br />
<br />
If you ever need someone to talk to, you can comment and I will email you. I will listen, and pray for you. Whatever you need. You are not alone!<br />
<br />
Katie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-73043694155970800382014-08-08T05:43:00.000-07:002014-08-08T05:43:30.237-07:00Summer Sabbatical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizk9fFQYospnwzqLxLYPtNiCkjz1r6OGk6Rk0YXgyB3IbUivOI2t-Obl8t0F5DQd6w9a8bG1gMWBFj_qHuivKILS-pvEkA0axd1jI4qKyOea20OSmQVS2xjXx3DeA67WQbZzOWj1j0rY/s1600/Maine1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizk9fFQYospnwzqLxLYPtNiCkjz1r6OGk6Rk0YXgyB3IbUivOI2t-Obl8t0F5DQd6w9a8bG1gMWBFj_qHuivKILS-pvEkA0axd1jI4qKyOea20OSmQVS2xjXx3DeA67WQbZzOWj1j0rY/s1600/Maine1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is the view from my summer vacation home in Maine. We were lucky enough to go on a family vacation with my parents, my sister's family, and my other sister's children (while she and her husband spent their 20th wedding anniversary in France :)<br />
<br />
I have taken a step back from the blog. I have a lot of things I want to write about, but not a lot of time to write them. There are many writers who write about simple living and living in the moment, and you see that is exactly what I have been doing.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c2yAsA3u-EDjle-60s-zNxviAh-oIc3vblVWyzQK2QWPjYo9EXG7P2DkbxjzZX2ITSlz56iYHkvgI4EMRyFohL2wh8Cmy1eWhMUji55kYfwgzRn31LZ7cK6n4y5SvMB11F6wQIOHcJ8/s1600/Maine2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c2yAsA3u-EDjle-60s-zNxviAh-oIc3vblVWyzQK2QWPjYo9EXG7P2DkbxjzZX2ITSlz56iYHkvgI4EMRyFohL2wh8Cmy1eWhMUji55kYfwgzRn31LZ7cK6n4y5SvMB11F6wQIOHcJ8/s1600/Maine2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
(From left - my son, my nephew, and my mom swimming in the lake)<br />
<br />
Consequently, I veered off the path a little from the compact.<br />
<br />
I bought 2 new skirts from an independent skirt maker.<br />
<br />
But, I am not going to worry about it. I will be back on track in September. We still have another month before school starts, and I am really enjoying soaking in all the lazy days of summer.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-0P4TQGCbaWs4UgLMbf2PcoiS0osZfKSJ_lvIAvJhRtNBuXU3qH2447N1MrXjFoxMvONhLXV2GiaFAKCTKKL3nThPPlGg9VWp0R3S4c4SwlyYepytTIXNJeEZY24rwmZodA3bAksY9U/s1600/Maine3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-0P4TQGCbaWs4UgLMbf2PcoiS0osZfKSJ_lvIAvJhRtNBuXU3qH2447N1MrXjFoxMvONhLXV2GiaFAKCTKKL3nThPPlGg9VWp0R3S4c4SwlyYepytTIXNJeEZY24rwmZodA3bAksY9U/s1600/Maine3.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
(From Left: My husband, son #2, my brother in law, and my nephew)<br />
<br />
I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer (or winter, on the South side of the equator!)<br />
<br />
KatieKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-30744472218231670642014-07-11T07:22:00.001-07:002014-07-11T07:31:13.464-07:00Help! Food Allergies and My Out of Control Grocery BudgetSo, I was going along nicely with my grocery budget, keeping things within reason despite having to shop for my husband with celiac disease, when I was thrown another curve ball.<br />
<br />
The baby started having bloody diarrhea, which was quite alarming but apparently is a sign of a dairy allergy. Since I am still breastfeeding, I was advised to cut dairy out of my diet (and discontinue the baby yogurt I was giving him.)<br />
<br />
His symptoms have since cleared up, but being dairy free and gluten free presents challenges in our house, particularly with the grocery budget. Almond milk is more expensive than dairy milk (and soy milk gives me <i>ahem</i> bad flatulence.)<br />
<br />
I am caught between the dance of wanting to buy sustainable/organic foods and keeping the price down. It is hard to decide which is the most important.<br />
<br />
Also, not having the accountability of posting my expenses here has made me lazy, and I have become lax in keeping the costs down.<br />
<br />
For July I am going to go back to posting my expenses, and gluten-free dairy-free meal and snack ideas.<br />
<br />
Suggestions are welcome!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-50762462159559423302014-07-03T08:47:00.003-07:002017-07-01T18:00:47.027-07:00A Day in the Life of...My DietI often get asked how I keep my grocery costs down (around $400USD/month) and still manage to eat real organic food. So, I thought I'd share with you a typical day of what I eat.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-53272909756764863642014-06-25T07:17:00.002-07:002014-06-25T07:18:22.032-07:00Would You Accept Government Help if you Qualified?I have mentioned before we do not make a lot of money. My husband is self employed and currently I am unemployed outside the home (I am a homemaker!)<br />
<br />
Earlier in the year we received a letter telling us we qualified for free and reduced price lunch. I had mixed feelings on this, but we did not have to do anything to accept it so I accepted it. Most of the time my son was a packer. When he did buy lunch, the food seemed to give him very bad gas (it isn't the healthiest of fare, but I am all for everything in moderation).<br />
<br />
Because we do not make a lot of money, it has come to our attention we qualify for a few government services, such as WIC, LIHEAP, and health care tax credit.<br />
<br />
I was interested in the health care tax credit, but once again my husband and I have mixed feelings about insurance. We have a friend who traveled to another country and broke her leg, and at that country's hospital, each procedure was listed with the expense. We both think it makes a lot more sense to <i>pay for services rendered.</i><br />
Then we heard about the concept of Christian health care bill sharing programs. Essentially you pay a monthly gift that helps everyone pay their medical bills. At this point in time, this is the route we are taking for health care.<br />
<br />
If you are interested, here are 3 links to Christian health care programs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chministries.org/">Christian Healthcare Ministries</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mychristiancare.org/medi-share/">Christian Medi-Share</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://samaritanministries.org/">Samaritan Ministries</a><br />
<br />
We have also qualified for the Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Food Program. I think this is a great program, helping provide breastfeeding support and nutritious foods for mothers and their babies. But, even though we qualify, I do not feel we should accept it unless we are really desperate for food. And we are not. We are incredibly blessed.<br />
<br />
I do worry about the future- what if my husband income diminishes, etc. But it this a reason to accept help?<br />
<br />
What would you do? <br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-29979455877349330292014-06-19T09:30:00.000-07:002014-06-19T09:30:35.792-07:00Low Waste Endeavors as of LateI am not blogging much, but here is what I am doing in the "low waste" homefront.<br />
<br />
1.) Composting.<br />
Don't know why I didn't start years ago.<br />
<br />
2.) Forgoing the Air Conditioner<br />
Even in the 90's we've managed to only use the unit in the bedroom at night. The hottest the house has gotten is 89*F. Time to find a fan?<br />
<br />
3.) Cold Showers<br />
This makes it fast.<br />
<br />
4.) Local organic farm co op<br />
We joined with my mom and sister. I am really enjoying the fresh fruit and veggies!<br />
<br />
What are you doing to reduce your waste/impact?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-5610068926206519592014-06-09T07:41:00.002-07:002014-06-09T07:41:56.020-07:00Blog UpdateIt has been a while since I posted. I have just been enjoying life home with my boys. The summer weather has arrived here in Pennsylvania, and our community pool has opened and it is where we spend our weekends.<br />
<br />
I am excited to be hanging the laundry out again, my husband also hung a hammock in our yard. I spread the quilt on the ground for the baby to play while I hang my laundry. It feels quite idyllic.<br />
<br />
I am now only going to do monthly budget updates- I think you get the point that my weekly spending isn't much. My grocery/gas/takeout budget has remained pretty constant.<br />
<br />
My next goal is to lower the utility bills (electric/water). We are trying to see how far we can push the envelope on air conditioning.<br />
<br />
When I am not spending time being mom, I have been trying to strengthening my faith and working on my relationship with God, clean and declutter the house, and reading. I look forward to sharing with you books I have been reading soon.<br />
<br />
I leave you on this Monday with a favorite poem my wonderful Pastor shared with us.<br />
<br />
Christ has no body but yours,<br />
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,<br />
Yours are the eyes with which he looks<br />
Compassion on this world,<br />
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,<br />
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.<br />
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,<br />
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.<br />
Christ has no body now but yours,<br />
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,<br />
Yours are the eyes with which he looks<br />
compassion on this world.<br />
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.<br />
<br />
— Teresa of Ávila (attributed)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-13390240608406228512014-05-30T06:48:00.000-07:002014-05-30T07:32:31.587-07:00That time I flashed my underpants in the parking lot at Costco..<br />
<br />
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<br />
So! <i>So</i>. <br />
<br />
I have been making my monthly treks to Costco to pay homage to their low prices.<br />
<br />
On this particular trip, I had the baby with me. I was feeling deucedly excited about my bounty as I walked from the store through the parking lot to my car.<br />
<br />
When, all the sudden, my elastic waist band maxi skirt (the skirt version of yoga pants) started slipping. Huh. All the sudden it was pulled down to mid thigh. What the heck?! I started pulling at it trying to get it back up, but it won't come back up! I couldn't figure out what had happened.<br />
<br />
I was standing in the Costco parking lot in my underpants! With my skirt hovering around my knees!<br />
<br />
I am freaking out! I can't get it back up! I try to hurry to my car, but that makes it worse! It starts going lower!<br />
<br />
Finally, I realize the bottom of it is caught in the shopping cart wheel, and as I push the cart forward the skirt goes lower (can you picture this?)<br />
<br />
So I start frantically trying to get it out, but it's stuck! An old man walks by! Luckily he seems kind of out of it (it is a weekday during the day, and all the senior citizens are out at Costco), and pays no notice to me.<br />
<br />
I am still trying to get my skirt out, and I squat down so I can heft it up over my <strike>cute underpants</strike> granny panties. So I am squatting by the bottom of the shopping cart, trying to cover myself with my skirt, while simultaneously trying to get it out of the cart wheel. At this point I am just trying to rip it out because I really don't care if the skirt rips, I just want to get out of the middle of the parking lot.<br />
<br />
Baby is sitting in the cart smiling and cooing and totally unaware of my distress.<br />
<br />
Finally, I back up and get the skirt untangled, and I pull it up and for safety reasons I tuck the bottom into the waistband (super cool.)<br />
<br />
Who ever said "maxi skirts" are more "modest"?<br />
<br />
Katie <br />
<br />
PS. Miraculously the skirt is fine!Can't say the same for my pride...<br />
<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-69530423987641136252014-05-28T09:48:00.000-07:002014-05-30T06:48:58.796-07:00Weekly Spending Report 5.16.14 - 5.24.14We had a busy weekend! My big boy had a birthday (Memorial Day weekend is a great time for that!) and we had a big picnic to celebrate. My son's birthday parties are proof you do not need a big hoopla for kids to have fun- every year we have a picnic outside. We invite family, a few friends, and we let him choose the dinner. This year we picked up a slip n slide for $10 and that and wiffle ball were the source of entertainment for kids (and adults) alike!<br />
<br />
On to the Weekly Spending Report:<br />
<br />
<b>Groceries:</b> $48.52<br />
<b>Gasoline:</b> $87.86<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Takeout: </b>$45.74<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Other: </b><br />
Toys for kid's birthday (from 2nd Hand Store): $36.00<br />
Diapers: $21.56<br />
Birth Control Product: $138.09<br />
Toilet Paper: $32.51<br />
Gifts/Slip n Slide/Other: 67.66<br />
Bills: 129.90<br />
<br />
Total for Week: $607.84 <br />
<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-63657518283970391472014-05-20T07:48:00.000-07:002014-05-30T06:48:38.419-07:00Weekly Spending Report 5.9.14-5.16.14 And Thoughts of My Year in the Compact So FarWeekly Spending Report:<br />
<br />
<b>Groceries:</b> 79.67<br />
Total for Month: 217.17<br />
<b>Gasoline: </b>21.11<br />
TFM: 139.95<br />
<b>Takeout: 0.00</b><br />
<b>TFM: 0.00 :)</b><br />
<b>Other: </b><br />
Laundry Det. : 3.00<br />
Plants and Garden Junk: 44.56<br />
Netflix: 7.99<br />
Beer Store: 48.99 (they discontinued my favorite cider in the US.)<br />
Kindle Books: 5.00<br />
<br />
<b>Total For Week:</b> 210.32<br />
<br />
I am almost at the half way point in the year since I pledged to do the Compact. Time has flown! I really think everyone should take this on.<br />
<br />
I decided to join the Compact mostly for Environmental/Social
reasons- the impact of producing new things on people and the planet. I
also joined it for the economic advantage- I am currently living out my
dream of staying home with our baby and kid.<br />
<br />
I have learned it is very easy to get almost anything you need second
hand, especially with the internet. Even though we did not enforce the
compact on the rest of the family, my husband is pretty much a part of
it and we have bought almost all of the things for our children second
hand.<br />
<br />
I have also learned thus far that there is<i> very little</i> you actually need to buy new, and there is also<i> very little </i>you need to buy to be happy. Beyond food, clothing, and shelter happiness is much more a state of mind than something you can find in accumulating stuff. The compact has become a great tool to make me stop and think before I buy something, because I cannot buy it new. It has prevented me from buying a lot of useless crap.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-64365122443195501122014-05-16T10:57:00.000-07:002014-05-30T06:49:11.037-07:00What I'm Reading 4.16.14 My sister (the librarian) told me I would love this book, and I have to concur. She knows me well! This is possibly the best book I've read all year.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosie-Project-Novel-Graeme-Simsion-ebook/dp/B00BSBR9N6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400262856&sr=8-1&keywords=the+rosie+project">The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion</a><br />
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I laughed so hard! This is a book by an Australian author about a man with Asperger's (who does not realize he has it) who decides it's time to find a wife. Right now, it is only $1.99 on kindle, but it is quite popular so you can probably find it at your local library!<br />
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If you like the Big Bang Theory, you will probably like this book. Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-14513875605037895362014-05-11T12:23:00.000-07:002014-05-30T06:50:19.764-07:00Weekly Spending Report 5.1.14-5.11.14Seeing goals from last month help me set some more "realistic" goals this month. To reiterate, my 3 target areas right now are groceries, gasoline, and takeout, since they are the 3 expenses I can (most) easily control.<br />
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Monthly goals:<br />
Groceries: 400.00<br />
Gasoline: 175.00<br />
Takeout: 50.00<br />
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<b>Housing: </b>900.00<br />
<b>Groceries: </b>137.50 (Costco)<br />
<b>Gasoline: </b>118.84<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Takeout: </b>0.00 !!!<br />
<b>Other: </b><br />
<b> </b>Kindle Books: 7.53<br />
The Honest Company: 54.59<br />
Staples (Printer ink and paper): 72.37 (uh, so expensive!)<br />
Free Cards S&H: 7.37<br />
Beer Store: 42.35 (In Pennsylvania, you can only by beer by the case. PA has "state" liquor stores, which are pretty much the communist version of alcohol sales.)<br />
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<b>Total for Week: 1340.55</b> <br />
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Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there :)<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-10624693828956607982014-05-08T08:23:00.001-07:002014-05-30T06:49:56.828-07:00It's Screen Free Week- How we Limit Screen TimeIt is "Screen Free" Week. We are not screen free, but I figured it was the time to address mine and my family's feelings on screen time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTtOHypCp2gKgQCy3P21ngCuHkufl23NOwkoFTjWjsmiwinOeIes8k1USnixG3mdmtKvl-qelATwyizfFalroRncDpE3q_2tTd7wk9mt646Nsvv4UcWHzEAxH6Eh_NlQSn3BxhlhwR3Y/s1600/tv-screens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTtOHypCp2gKgQCy3P21ngCuHkufl23NOwkoFTjWjsmiwinOeIes8k1USnixG3mdmtKvl-qelATwyizfFalroRncDpE3q_2tTd7wk9mt646Nsvv4UcWHzEAxH6Eh_NlQSn3BxhlhwR3Y/s1600/tv-screens.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am not anti-technology, I love the internet and I think used in the right way and as a tool screens are great. I do think that too much of a good thing is pretty much always not good.<br />
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The baby is a baby so obviously he has no screen time yet, but here is how we deal with our older son.<br />
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I think the number 1 way to reduce your child's screen time is to <i><b>have less screens</b>. </i>The other thing is obvious too<i>- monkey see monkey do</i>. <b>If you are always on a screen, your kid will want to be too. </b><br />
I try to limit my screen time in front of my kids.<br />
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I see a lot of people on their smart phones all the time, and consequently that is what their kids want to do too.<br />
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Mike and I do not have smart phones so this is a non-issue for us.<br />
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My 7 year old has not once asked for a cell phone (yet). <br />
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In our house we have a desktop computer in the living room, a kindle, an ipad, a laptop, and a tv with a Wii hooked up to it (no channels).<br />
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The kindle is solely mine for reading, and the laptop is my husband's for work. The desktop is in a communal area with a password, so my son needs to ask us to log him on, same for the ipad. That is big, because he can't access them without us He is allowed a maximum of 2 hours on any of the screens per day, and he has to earn this through good behavior. We use a stick system much like this one:<a href="http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2012/11/how-to-negotiate-screen-time-with-tech.html"> how to negotiate screen time</a>.<br />
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My husband and I made the decision that we will not permit any hand held devices, and the ipad does not leave the house. That means when we go to a store, restaurant, etc.- my son does not watch anything or play with anything electronic. He is expected to sit at a table and eat with us. In the car we do audio books or we listen to music, i.e. no screens.<br />
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Does this always make us popular with our kid? No! But at the end of the day, if you want to limit screen time, you have to learn to say "no" and deal with being the "meanest" mom. :)<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-16474215339889074002014-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:002014-05-30T06:50:10.890-07:00Weekly Spending Report 4.25.14-4.30.14It has been a while- our family was enjoying a vacation at a cabin in the woods :) I will hopefully be able to share some pictures soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAO4DyQa9ZeIZxjLfDKdFojdLEhRfSgcvkB0pg1dzxo_8ZhumYSOrrK2Ijf09xZ8tP90K2KFSpEHUc7T5_txsTLwEq6F1ohK1LmfFWh0b_CBMGd-UJkti9z-gFRxGuyDGNmMrJuY16ik/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAO4DyQa9ZeIZxjLfDKdFojdLEhRfSgcvkB0pg1dzxo_8ZhumYSOrrK2Ijf09xZ8tP90K2KFSpEHUc7T5_txsTLwEq6F1ohK1LmfFWh0b_CBMGd-UJkti9z-gFRxGuyDGNmMrJuY16ik/s1600/photo.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Family selfie @ cabin</div>
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Before I get into the Weekly Spending Report, I need to draw attention to the situation in Nigeria, where their was 276 girls kidnapped from their school. This is horrific and I just saw this article that my country is getting involved - <a href="http://xfinity.comcast.net/www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/u-s-forming-coordination-cell-nigeria-find-abducted-girls-n98431/">US Joins Hunt to Bring Back Our Girls</a><br />
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Now that that serious stuff is out- onto my weekly Spending Report. I can't believe April has come and gone already!<br />
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<b>Groceries: </b>25.04<br />
<b>Gas: </b>53.40<br />
<b>Takeout:</b> $19.00 - this is slightly shameful- it was all spent at one place at a Chick Fil A. Fast food aint cheap.<br />
<b>Kindle Books/Ultimate Homemaking Bundle: </b>49.50<br />
I will do a post about this later<br />
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<b>Grocery Total For Month of April: </b>438.17 (goal was 400.00)<br />
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<b>Takeout/Dine Out Total for Month of April: </b>67.43 (I think the goal was 35?)<br />
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<b>Gasoline Total for Month of April: </b>184.12 (Goal was 180.00)\<br />
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<b>Total Spending for Month of April: 2201.65</b><br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-24050127222750850532014-04-30T08:11:00.001-07:002014-05-30T06:50:23.433-07:00A Win and A FailI'll start with the fail first.<br />
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So, 8 (!) years ago, Mike and I got married. It was a small humble affair with immediate family and a few friends. Somebody left an umbrella. It was quite a dapper umbrella, tasteful stripes with a wooden handle. No one ever came to claim it, so I commandeered it as my own.<br />
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We shared some good times together, me and this trusty umbrella. The handle eventually broke off, but we soldiered on.<br />
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Until this summer (7) years later, we were at the shore, on the boardwalk and it started to rain. I broke out old trusty, and low and behold, he no longer kept the rain at bay. The what I assume is the "brella" part of the umbrella was so worn the rain was seeping through. Forlorn, I stuck old trusty in the garbage on the Ocean City boardwalk.<br />
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I don't have many pictures to choose from. Here is Mike and kid 1 a couple of years ago building a sand castle on the beach.</div>
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And for good measure, kid 1 and I in front of the beach house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq9NP8WUZY2u_1J22dS8iimOWS6p_xP9mADG2pEROzMOGjZwqvXno3jmzMp8U84JEMvlq71BDxpc2qS1vKBkfBWmtGgaWIUs6gOCtPGBuZQe3KWpWump4dkrDmeSrkbsHwycaT6IiR9E/s1600/DSC00592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq9NP8WUZY2u_1J22dS8iimOWS6p_xP9mADG2pEROzMOGjZwqvXno3jmzMp8U84JEMvlq71BDxpc2qS1vKBkfBWmtGgaWIUs6gOCtPGBuZQe3KWpWump4dkrDmeSrkbsHwycaT6IiR9E/s1600/DSC00592.JPG" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div>
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So, back to my story. I proceeded to forget about it until one day recently, when I had to go out in the rain, and I did not have old trusty to take along with me. I had to get to work, and the only place on the way to stop was a CVS drugstore, not a thrift store in sight. I shelled out $10 for a cheap metal and plastic imitation, a poor substitution to my old friend. If I had planned better, I could have scored an umbrella at the thrift shop I'm sure.</div>
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FAIL!</div>
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Now for the win. Another wedding, this time my mother in law and her husband, 2 years ago. Somebody left a pair of sunglasses. My mother in law searched in vain for their owner, and when no one laid claim, she asked me if I would like to give them a home. I accepted, and over the last year or so I have enjoyed wearing them. So, I kept them in the pocket in the door of my car. One day, I opened the car door and they fell out onto the pavement. I proceeded to get out to pick them up, but I must have poorly misjudged my place in space and I stepped on them, breaking off the ear piece. </div>
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I was disappointed, I like these glasses, and good sunglasses can be hard to find. Sometimes they squeeze your face, and sometimes the ears are lopsided, but these fit well. I was prepared to go to Good Will to search for a replacement, when an idea came to me. I brought them to my dad, and asked if he thought he could fix them. And he did! So, I saved myself a trip to the store and having to find and buy new glasses! WIN!</div>
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-29901921730990038492014-04-28T06:35:00.002-07:002014-05-30T06:50:41.753-07:00I Bought Something NewSo, I bought something new even though I said I wasn't going to buy anything new.<br />
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But, hear me out.<br />
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I weighed back and forth on what to do, but I think buying this thing new in the long run makes more sense then going without, or trying to make something myself.<br />
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Why? What did I buy?<br />
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I bought a composter!<br />
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I have had this on my Amazon Wish List for at least a year. I have waited in vain for my husband to build one out of a trash can, but living next to a state park we have a high potential of wildlife getting into it. This one is self contained and comes with a wildlife- free guarantee.<br />
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(If you would like to know what kind of flora and fauna are near me, I highly encourage you to check out Joy's blog,<a href="http://www.joyfullygreen.com/"> Joyfully Green</a>. She lives about 45 minutes from me, and her pictures are beautiful!)<br />
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I know I pledged to not buy anything new for a year, but I felt that the benefits outweighed the cons to investing in this. I am excited to further reduce my waste.<br />
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What do you think? Was the composter a good investment? Or am I just making excuses for breaching the compact?<br />
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Things I have bought new so far:<br />
1.) an umbrella (poor planning)<br />
2.) Sneakers for kid<br />
3.) Bathing suit<br />
4.) Composter<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049219670621637740.post-46144752664684514422014-04-25T09:05:00.001-07:002014-05-30T06:50:53.930-07:00Weekly Spending Report 4.19.14 - 4.25.15 and My Dreams are Getting to Literal<b>Weekly Expenditures:</b><br />
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<b>Groceries: </b>84.15<br />
<b>Monthly Total so Far: </b>413.13<br />
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13.35- Baby Food and Formula ( I went into work and needed a back up for the baby)<br />
146.03- Bills<br />
2.00- Snacks at Library<br />
23.46- Diapers and Wipes<br />
75.00 - Anniversary Dinner at Restaurant with Kids<br />
Our first dinner out as a family of 4. <br />
10.00 - Field Trip for Kid 1<br />
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The couple weeks I have been using disposables makes me see how expensive they are! My total stash of cloth diapers and accessories paid for itself in <b>4 months. </b><br />
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<b>Total for Week:</b> 353.99<br />
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I have been having a lot of dreams lately, that I remember. I think it may be due to the fact my sleep is so broken that I am in this semi-awake-asleep state. They are getting so literal I cannot remember if they happened in real life or not.<br />
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For example, in one dream I was hanging out with our extended family, who thinks I am a hippie communist liberal, and we were having a friendly discussion over dinner of whether or not electronics affect the environment. And, in my dream, I hopped on my soapbox to educate everyone about the mining of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan">coltan</a> in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how bad it is.<br />
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Since this did not actually happen in real life, I figured I'd share it here and encourage you to learn about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan">coltan</a> and try to hold out on buying new electonics as long as possible.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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KatieKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02010238875809174291noreply@blogger.com0