For much of my career, I was a project manager in the business world. I worked on many different kinds of projects (mergers, setting up payroll systems, software conversions, establishing a new company, etc), but the skill set is similar no matter what you are managing. One thing I learned was to pin down both a follow up action and a time frame for each new issue. This works great when for managing a team at work, but it also works great for resolving issues in your personal life. I used this technique a lot in the last two years as we've been doing an extensive remodel involving a lot of contractors. I also use this technique when trying to straighten out a bill, insurance issue or paperwork problem.
Whenever some issue comes up that can't be resolved immediately, I specify a follow up action. It is necessary to specify what is to be done, who is to do it, and what will close the loop or complete the task. For example, if I have a contractor over to give me a bid, when he leaves I say "When will the bid be ready?" I also establish how he will send it - email, fax, or hand delivery as well as any relevant details. To close the loop I specify that I will confirm that I received the bid. It is important to allow the person doing the task to specify the time frame (within reason of course). This way, there is complete accountability and nobody can say they were given a deadline they couldn't meet. It is important to be as specific as possible, and put it in writing if possible. If I am dealing with an insurance bill my insurer didn't pay, I might say something to the customer service representative such as "So you will talk to your supervisor to try to get the bill approved and call me on my cell phone by Wednesday afternoon?" as opposed to the less specific "So you'll look into this?" If possible, I would follow up with an email repeating my understanding of the agreement immediately upon hanging up the phone.
Once I've established who is to do what and the time frame, I add an important caveat. If he says the bid will be ready Tuesday, I reply with "So how about if I call you Wednesday morning if I haven't heard from you?" This helps pin the person down to a firm deadline, and gives you their permission to follow up if they miss the deadline. A key thing in this agreement is that since they are agreeing to the call, they should not be bothered when it comes. I've used this technique many times and have never had anyone express irritation with my follow up although I'm sure some people were irritated. Only the most unprofessional of people would get upset at receiving a follow up call they agreed to on a deadline they picked.
Is this technique overkill? Maybe, but I don't think so. It's saved me many times and kept numerous projects, both professional and personal, on track.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Vegan mac and cheese
Robin asked me about the packaged mac and cheese on this week's menu. It is from a product line Chreese from Road's End Organics. that makes a lot of vegan "cheese" products. It's not bad for a packaged convenience food, but there are some great recipes to make vegan mac and cheese from scratch. I'll post a few once my recipes page is up.
Keep clutter out of your house
Professional Organizer Jeri Dansky wrote a great article in her February newsletter about keeping clutter at bay by not letting it in your house in the first place. Amen to that! The article details the thought process she used in buying a new water bottle. Now, it may seem overkill to think about something as trivial as a water bottle so much, but it's not if your goal is a low-clutter existence. Think about it - most clutter isn't big things like cars, boats, tv's etc. but small things that could be used in daily living. So, I agree wholeheartedly with thinking through every purchase before making it. I often wait a while before buying something (like the flannel shirt I avoided) to make sure I really want it.
In addition to thinking through and justifying my purchases before making them, I also constantly re-evaluate my possessions to see if they still meet the criteria to be kept. Just because something met the criteria to come into my house doesn't mean it gets to stay. There's no free lunch here! If something wants to stay, it has to earn it's keep. For example, Chris and I lived in an apartment before we bought our house and the laundry facilities were not very convenient. It made sense for us both to have many pairs of socks since laundry was difficult and sometimes it took several days to get to the machines when they were empty. Now that we have our own washer and dryer, it no longer makes sense to have a huge number of socks. We are gradually thinning the collection down by not buying any new ones and tossing the old ones as they wear out. So at the time we bought them, those extra socks made sense and now they don't. Out they go. Same for the hanging garment rack I bought when we moved in and were confined to one tiny room due to construction. It made sense and was used until recently, but not anymore. Since there is no use for this anywhere on the horizon, out it goes to freecycle not to the garage.
Below I've listed some additional thoughts about my criteria for keeping things. I'm not saying you have to get rid of anything, I'm only challenging some notions that may compel a person to keep something that may be better let go of.
The fact that something was a gift does not justify keeping it. Don't feel obligated to hang onto things you don't want just because they were a gift.
It's easy to stop really seeing your possessions and take what you own as "given." Cultivate the eye of an outsider for your stuff - imagine you are seeing your space for the first time and you don't know who lives there. What are your impressions? What things do you wonder about? What do you look at and cringe?
The fact that something once belonged to a family member (presently living or deceased) does not mean it meets the criteria. If you don't use it, love it or find comfort in it, consider passing it along to a family member who does. If no family members want it and you feel comfortable doing so, you may even want to try giving it to someone else who will love and use it. I feel that it is a much greater honor to the person and their heirloom to make sure whoever has it loves it. There are a few family antiques that I've been offered and turned down because I just didn't feel any affinity for them. I am thrilled that other members of my family who do love them will get to cherish them.
Paying good money for something doesn't justify keeping it if you don't use or love it. The money is gone whether you keep the item or not. If you are not using it, then you are not only out money but you also have something taking up space you could use better.
Being an award doesn't meet the criteria to be kept. If it represents a point of pride and accomplishment in your life, then by all means keep and enjoy it. If you are keeping it just because it's an award and it means nothing to you, consider letting it go (you may want to photograph it first). During my freshman year of college, I competed in powerlifting (weightlifting). In one small meet I entered, I took fifth place (out of 7 women in my weight class) in the bench press and got a trophy for it. I lugged that trophy through many moves before I finally decided I didn't want it anymore. At the time I was quite proud of it. Just entering a meet is a big accomplishment, so I was very happy to have won anything. Later, when I stopped competing in weightlifting and became not very competitive in general, it no longer seemed important.
How you decide what comes into and stays in your space?
In addition to thinking through and justifying my purchases before making them, I also constantly re-evaluate my possessions to see if they still meet the criteria to be kept. Just because something met the criteria to come into my house doesn't mean it gets to stay. There's no free lunch here! If something wants to stay, it has to earn it's keep. For example, Chris and I lived in an apartment before we bought our house and the laundry facilities were not very convenient. It made sense for us both to have many pairs of socks since laundry was difficult and sometimes it took several days to get to the machines when they were empty. Now that we have our own washer and dryer, it no longer makes sense to have a huge number of socks. We are gradually thinning the collection down by not buying any new ones and tossing the old ones as they wear out. So at the time we bought them, those extra socks made sense and now they don't. Out they go. Same for the hanging garment rack I bought when we moved in and were confined to one tiny room due to construction. It made sense and was used until recently, but not anymore. Since there is no use for this anywhere on the horizon, out it goes to freecycle not to the garage.
Below I've listed some additional thoughts about my criteria for keeping things. I'm not saying you have to get rid of anything, I'm only challenging some notions that may compel a person to keep something that may be better let go of.
The fact that something was a gift does not justify keeping it. Don't feel obligated to hang onto things you don't want just because they were a gift.
It's easy to stop really seeing your possessions and take what you own as "given." Cultivate the eye of an outsider for your stuff - imagine you are seeing your space for the first time and you don't know who lives there. What are your impressions? What things do you wonder about? What do you look at and cringe?
The fact that something once belonged to a family member (presently living or deceased) does not mean it meets the criteria. If you don't use it, love it or find comfort in it, consider passing it along to a family member who does. If no family members want it and you feel comfortable doing so, you may even want to try giving it to someone else who will love and use it. I feel that it is a much greater honor to the person and their heirloom to make sure whoever has it loves it. There are a few family antiques that I've been offered and turned down because I just didn't feel any affinity for them. I am thrilled that other members of my family who do love them will get to cherish them.
Paying good money for something doesn't justify keeping it if you don't use or love it. The money is gone whether you keep the item or not. If you are not using it, then you are not only out money but you also have something taking up space you could use better.
Being an award doesn't meet the criteria to be kept. If it represents a point of pride and accomplishment in your life, then by all means keep and enjoy it. If you are keeping it just because it's an award and it means nothing to you, consider letting it go (you may want to photograph it first). During my freshman year of college, I competed in powerlifting (weightlifting). In one small meet I entered, I took fifth place (out of 7 women in my weight class) in the bench press and got a trophy for it. I lugged that trophy through many moves before I finally decided I didn't want it anymore. At the time I was quite proud of it. Just entering a meet is a big accomplishment, so I was very happy to have won anything. Later, when I stopped competing in weightlifting and became not very competitive in general, it no longer seemed important.
How you decide what comes into and stays in your space?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Why clutter bothers me
Fly Lady is one of my favorite gurus in the area of home care. She has a lot of great information on how to keep your house clean and decluttered as well as how to manage your life and the website is free. It is mainly geared toward women caring for families, but the information is easily adaptable to anyone. In fact, she encourages people to take her philosophy and make it work for them. I've learned so much from reading her positive messages. If you decide to join her Yahoo group and receive her messages, I suggest selecting the "daily diary" option so that all the messages come in one daily email. She sends many messages every day, so I find this works best. I don't read every message either - it's easy enough to skip the ones I'm not interested in.
One of my favorite features on her site is this list of the weirdest items people have flung in the "Super Fling Boogie," a decluttering effort in January. I get a good laugh, as well as a dose of decluttering inspiration. Some of the items on the list: lip balm expired in 1999, 11 year old diet shakes, and an orange velvet curtain from the 1970's.
Here is an essay she wrote on the harm clutter can do by interfering with our relationships and our feeling of comfort at home. Here is another article on how clutter can weigh down the mind even when you aren't home. This article talks about how clearing clutter can help us release old emotional pain that is tied to the things around us. I think clutter uses valuable brain waves by making us think about it when we walk into a room. Less stuff = less information to take in = more brain waves available for useful things. For me, this is a dramatic effect - I feel soothed and calmed when my space is open, empty and ordered. I feel cramped, mildly anxious and unfocused when my space is cluttered. My brain also immediately goes to the to-do list associated with my clutter - Give that away, put that away, use that up, throw that away, organize that, etc.
I'd love to hear about your decluttering efforts.
One of my favorite features on her site is this list of the weirdest items people have flung in the "Super Fling Boogie," a decluttering effort in January. I get a good laugh, as well as a dose of decluttering inspiration. Some of the items on the list: lip balm expired in 1999, 11 year old diet shakes, and an orange velvet curtain from the 1970's.
Here is an essay she wrote on the harm clutter can do by interfering with our relationships and our feeling of comfort at home. Here is another article on how clutter can weigh down the mind even when you aren't home. This article talks about how clearing clutter can help us release old emotional pain that is tied to the things around us. I think clutter uses valuable brain waves by making us think about it when we walk into a room. Less stuff = less information to take in = more brain waves available for useful things. For me, this is a dramatic effect - I feel soothed and calmed when my space is open, empty and ordered. I feel cramped, mildly anxious and unfocused when my space is cluttered. My brain also immediately goes to the to-do list associated with my clutter - Give that away, put that away, use that up, throw that away, organize that, etc.
I'd love to hear about your decluttering efforts.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
freecycle.org - one of my favorites sites
Freecycle.org is one of my favorite websites. It is a site where people can give away useful things they have that someone else may need. Each group is locally based, so when you give something it goes to someone near you which saves both time and gas. According to their press release, they keep approximately 3 tons of material out of landfills every day! For things that I think have mass appeal like clothes and housewares, I use Goodwill. Several other charities will send a truck to pick up large items. I use Freecycle for items that I don't think have wide appeal or aren't suitable for Goodwill, such as packing peanuts. It's amazing that with the environmentally friendly alternatives available that people still use these, but they do. I've given away several boxes on Freecycle. Other items that come up frequently and are usually taken are broken concrete and dirt. One person's costly-to-dispose-of trash is truly another's treasure. One of the best things about Freecycle is that you can find takers for the most unusual and seemingly useless things - broken things, odd parts, remodeling leftovers, the hood of an old car, old magazines, a cell phone charger, etc.
I also use Freecycle for fragile things or things with multiple pieces that I don't think will survive being bagged or boxed, taken to the Goodwill collection point, processed through their warehouse, and displayed at the store. I gave away a working coffee pot with a glass carafe on Freecycle for this reason. One thing I like about Freecycle is that the coffee pot went right to the person who needed it, rather than having them hunt various thrift stores for one. While it took effort on both of our parts to make the transfer, it did put the item in the right hands immediately.
How it works: go to the Freecycle website and find a local group. It's a good idea to read the FAQ, including the disclaimer that you use Freecycle at your own risk. Join the Yahoo group for your local area and start participating. I selected the "daily diary" option - I get one email per day showing all the items offered and wanted. You can also get the messages one at a time or just stop by periodically and browse the messages. If you have something to give, post a message offering it (see formatting instructions in the group). Always use safety precautions when meeting someone in person from your online world. I always set up my meetings in public places during business hours (coffee shop, store, library, etc).
Freecycle is a great tool in the fight against clutter. So many times, we hold onto things because we don't know what to do with them - Goodwill won't take them, no other charity wants them, it's bad for the landfill, etc. There's almost always someone who can use your stuff on Freecycle.
I also use Freecycle for fragile things or things with multiple pieces that I don't think will survive being bagged or boxed, taken to the Goodwill collection point, processed through their warehouse, and displayed at the store. I gave away a working coffee pot with a glass carafe on Freecycle for this reason. One thing I like about Freecycle is that the coffee pot went right to the person who needed it, rather than having them hunt various thrift stores for one. While it took effort on both of our parts to make the transfer, it did put the item in the right hands immediately.
How it works: go to the Freecycle website and find a local group. It's a good idea to read the FAQ, including the disclaimer that you use Freecycle at your own risk. Join the Yahoo group for your local area and start participating. I selected the "daily diary" option - I get one email per day showing all the items offered and wanted. You can also get the messages one at a time or just stop by periodically and browse the messages. If you have something to give, post a message offering it (see formatting instructions in the group). Always use safety precautions when meeting someone in person from your online world. I always set up my meetings in public places during business hours (coffee shop, store, library, etc).
Freecycle is a great tool in the fight against clutter. So many times, we hold onto things because we don't know what to do with them - Goodwill won't take them, no other charity wants them, it's bad for the landfill, etc. There's almost always someone who can use your stuff on Freecycle.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Menu Plan Monday February 25, 2008
Last week's menu was a mixed bag. My Thai Curry (vegan) chicken turned out way too hot and wasn't very good. I love spicy food, but when it's so hot you can't even taste it, that's too much for me. The Mu Shu Veggies and Beef with homemade plum sauce was surprisingly good. I had to search high and low to find plum preserves (I ended up using plum jam from the dollar store!), but the meal was very good. I used a lot of freshly grated ginger since neither of us likes garlic or onions.I am getting really tired of looking at the pile on my countertop from clearing my pantry. It is definitely getting smaller, but it may take well into March to finish the pile. I am getting braver with throwing things away, especially things that I know are not good for me. This week's menu was based around using up things from that pile - I didn't even dig into my recipe file or cookbooks.
Here goes (as always, my menu is totally vegan including the things that don't sound vegan):
Tuesday 2/26 - Vegan Mac and cheese from a package, and Asian Stir-fry veggies (both from pantry)
Friday 2/29 - Tofurkey with cranberry sauce, wild rice and steamed asparagus (cranberry and asparagus are from pantry and freezer)
Just a few comments about Tofurkey - it really is tasty. I've served it to omnivores who like it a lot. It bakes in the oven for several hours with a marinade, and fills the house with a delicious aroma. It needs to be carved just like meat. It is filling and and flavorful. Would you mistake it for Turkey? No, but that doesn't mean it's not great. It makes a great centerpiece for a special meal just the way a turkey or ham would.
One question I frequently get about vegan meats is if they taste like the real thing. The answer is yes and no. Some of them do - there are some vegan "chicken" nuggets and patties that are so real that I have to check the box to be sure they're vegan. Some of the ground "beef" products cook up nicely when they are in something like a taco or chili. Vegan pepperoni has the same texture and flavor, but it much drier than pork pepperoni because it has little or any fat. Some of the other products, while delicious in their own right, would not fool you. But really, whether or not the product would fool you is not the point. The point of vegan meats is to provide tasty, protein-rich foods to enjoy. I don't eat much vegan meat anymore, but when I was first transitioning to being vegan, I enjoyed them a lot and they were very helpful. They allow you to continue to make and eat familiar meals while being vegan. Now, I'm much more into other foods (like tons of beans and rice), but I still enjoy vegan meats occasionally.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Going over your remodeling budget
It seems like going over budget in a remodel is a given. Since we've been working on our house, I've had numerous conversations about remodeling, and I can't recall anyone telling me of a job that cost exactly what they planned for. Why does this happen and how can you prevent it? Should you try to prevent it?
One of the first culprits in budget-busting is an incomplete budget. There's a great article in the LA Times on "incidentals" people often miss - they list things like portable toilets, tile grout, etc. This list is a great start, but there are lots of things you could add: handles and hardware for cabinets, light fixtures, trim, door hardware and window treatments for starters. You also need to include purchases needed to do the job. For example, if you are painting, you need to buy the paint, rollers, brushes, tape, drop clothes, paint trays, etc for the job. It helps to research the job before you start - other people have probably done the work you are doing and there is loads of information online. One of my favorite sources is Google Groups, where there are several home improvement groups and a great search function. Another strategy is to make the budget as complete as possible, and then add a "contingency" amount for anything you might have forgotten or choose to spend more on. I also recommend thinking through the job in a step-by-step fashion. Write down the steps and visualize doing them. You may find that you think of things you would have forgotten.
Another reason remodeling jobs go over budget is an incomplete or unspecific contract with the contractor. I have found it helpful to put things in writing in as much detail as possible. You may feel like a nuisance asking him or her to add things like "price includes all prep and cleanup" or "contractor to provide all screws, nails and connectors needed for deck" but it is worth it. So many misunderstandings can happen in verbal communication that are much less likely to happen in written communication. What I found was that the less professional contractors hated this, and often responded like they were insulted. The professional ones were happy to do it, and didn't mind going through multiple contract revisions. The first few times I did this, I was worried that the contractor would think I was treating him like a scam artist. None of the good contractors I worked with felt that way, and specifying these details is more about making sure that both you and the contractor are absolutely clear on who pays for what. It's not about being cheap, or trying to squeeze more out of him or her, it's about having a clear understanding before the work begins that can help prevent misunderstandings and hard feelings later. I would hate to sour a working relationship because we both thought the other was paying for the primer. Would you make a major purchase like a car without being clear about what you are paying for?
The third cause of budget overruns is when the owner makes a choice to spend more than they had planned. This can be good, bad or neutral. When you remodel, there are hundreds or perhaps thousands of decisions for every room. There are so many things you take for granted when you move into a place - the paint colors, the style and color of light switches, the type of wood used in the trim, the shape of the trim, the paint or stain color of the trim, etc. that need to be chosen. For every decision, there are a huge number of options. You can get a junkyard version, a discount version, a middle of the road version, a high-end version, a version fit for a King, and probably a few others I didn't name. If your budget calls for a middle version and you fall in love with the high end version, you either have to live with the middle version or spend more. This is where having a contingency fund can help. You can also compromise by cutting what you spend on something else. For example, when we did our bathroom, we splurged on super-cool glass tile for the shower surround. For the tub deck and surround, we used a much cheaper ceramic tile in the same color. We used the expensive stuff where the impact was large and used the cheaper stuff where it wasn't as visible.
It can be difficult to avoid this type of dilemma because you don't know what's available until you get serious and start shopping. Here is the question - should you try to prevent this type of overrun? The answer is yes and no. Yes, you should in the sense that you should make your budget as complete, accurate and truthful as you can. If you have to have some feature, don't brush over your feelings and later regret your choice. Postpone your job until you have more money or decide to live with what your are willing to buy. Have a contingency amount in your budget. Be honest about how important a feature really is to you - if you don't take baths, don't splurge on a fancy bathtub. Consider the resale value of your choice. Think about how easy it will be to change it later. Finally, be disciplined about your choices. Most of us cannot have the "fit for a king" version of every feature. There is way more cool house stuff available than you can have. Accept this early on in your project and your choices will be less painful.
However.....
One of the things I hear so often in talking to other remodelers is "I wish I had....." Once you have the place ripped apart and are living with mess and dust, it may make sense to do a few more things you hadn't thought of. For example, our electrician suggested putting in wiring for in-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting while we had the walls open and he was wiring the whole house. It wasn't something we had planned for, but it made a lot of sense and it was much cheaper to do it now. Since it is a feature we want ultimately, we decided to go ahead and do it. In remodeling, it sometimes doesn't pay to do things in stages due to the demolition, set up finishing and cleanup required. Living with construction is not fun, so it's a good idea to try to do it fewer rather than more times. It's a fine line to figure out where to stop, but don't blindly reject add-on projects until you've thought through what the best decision is.
Have a great weekend!
One of the first culprits in budget-busting is an incomplete budget. There's a great article in the LA Times on "incidentals" people often miss - they list things like portable toilets, tile grout, etc. This list is a great start, but there are lots of things you could add: handles and hardware for cabinets, light fixtures, trim, door hardware and window treatments for starters. You also need to include purchases needed to do the job. For example, if you are painting, you need to buy the paint, rollers, brushes, tape, drop clothes, paint trays, etc for the job. It helps to research the job before you start - other people have probably done the work you are doing and there is loads of information online. One of my favorite sources is Google Groups, where there are several home improvement groups and a great search function. Another strategy is to make the budget as complete as possible, and then add a "contingency" amount for anything you might have forgotten or choose to spend more on. I also recommend thinking through the job in a step-by-step fashion. Write down the steps and visualize doing them. You may find that you think of things you would have forgotten.
Another reason remodeling jobs go over budget is an incomplete or unspecific contract with the contractor. I have found it helpful to put things in writing in as much detail as possible. You may feel like a nuisance asking him or her to add things like "price includes all prep and cleanup" or "contractor to provide all screws, nails and connectors needed for deck" but it is worth it. So many misunderstandings can happen in verbal communication that are much less likely to happen in written communication. What I found was that the less professional contractors hated this, and often responded like they were insulted. The professional ones were happy to do it, and didn't mind going through multiple contract revisions. The first few times I did this, I was worried that the contractor would think I was treating him like a scam artist. None of the good contractors I worked with felt that way, and specifying these details is more about making sure that both you and the contractor are absolutely clear on who pays for what. It's not about being cheap, or trying to squeeze more out of him or her, it's about having a clear understanding before the work begins that can help prevent misunderstandings and hard feelings later. I would hate to sour a working relationship because we both thought the other was paying for the primer. Would you make a major purchase like a car without being clear about what you are paying for?
The third cause of budget overruns is when the owner makes a choice to spend more than they had planned. This can be good, bad or neutral. When you remodel, there are hundreds or perhaps thousands of decisions for every room. There are so many things you take for granted when you move into a place - the paint colors, the style and color of light switches, the type of wood used in the trim, the shape of the trim, the paint or stain color of the trim, etc. that need to be chosen. For every decision, there are a huge number of options. You can get a junkyard version, a discount version, a middle of the road version, a high-end version, a version fit for a King, and probably a few others I didn't name. If your budget calls for a middle version and you fall in love with the high end version, you either have to live with the middle version or spend more. This is where having a contingency fund can help. You can also compromise by cutting what you spend on something else. For example, when we did our bathroom, we splurged on super-cool glass tile for the shower surround. For the tub deck and surround, we used a much cheaper ceramic tile in the same color. We used the expensive stuff where the impact was large and used the cheaper stuff where it wasn't as visible.
It can be difficult to avoid this type of dilemma because you don't know what's available until you get serious and start shopping. Here is the question - should you try to prevent this type of overrun? The answer is yes and no. Yes, you should in the sense that you should make your budget as complete, accurate and truthful as you can. If you have to have some feature, don't brush over your feelings and later regret your choice. Postpone your job until you have more money or decide to live with what your are willing to buy. Have a contingency amount in your budget. Be honest about how important a feature really is to you - if you don't take baths, don't splurge on a fancy bathtub. Consider the resale value of your choice. Think about how easy it will be to change it later. Finally, be disciplined about your choices. Most of us cannot have the "fit for a king" version of every feature. There is way more cool house stuff available than you can have. Accept this early on in your project and your choices will be less painful.
However.....
One of the things I hear so often in talking to other remodelers is "I wish I had....." Once you have the place ripped apart and are living with mess and dust, it may make sense to do a few more things you hadn't thought of. For example, our electrician suggested putting in wiring for in-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting while we had the walls open and he was wiring the whole house. It wasn't something we had planned for, but it made a lot of sense and it was much cheaper to do it now. Since it is a feature we want ultimately, we decided to go ahead and do it. In remodeling, it sometimes doesn't pay to do things in stages due to the demolition, set up finishing and cleanup required. Living with construction is not fun, so it's a good idea to try to do it fewer rather than more times. It's a fine line to figure out where to stop, but don't blindly reject add-on projects until you've thought through what the best decision is.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A few vegan links
I will be putting up a links page, but in the meantime, here are a few vegan links to get started.
One site I really like is Fat Free Vegan. I tend to maintain and lose weight better on a lower fat diet, so having a fat-free recipe source is great. Let's face it - fat is easy to come by. I usually just add one of the following to my meal: 1-2 tablespoons of nuts, 1/4 of an avocado, 6-10 olives, a tablespoon of oil, etc. Sometimes I use fat in a meal for a treat food - a few corn chips, a tablespoon of nut butter, etc. One thing about eating low-fat and vegan though - I have to eat a lot to be full. Meat and fat tend to help me feel full for a long time. When I am eating a low fat vegan diet, I need to eat a large volume of food and eat every 3 hours all day. It's a lot of work, but the payoff is huge. I have tons of energy and am having the easiest time in my life maintaining and losing weight (without counting calories or measuring portions). Before you assume that this is every dieter's fantasy ("What, I get to eat a huge amount of food every 3 hours? Sign me up. Bread, chips, chocolate, here I come!"), understand that the food I eat for the most part is simple - brown rice, beans, salad, veggies, etc. I do enjoy a tasty meal a few times a week, but when I'm eating 5 times a day, most of the meals are utilitarian.
Another website I love is Vegan Lunch Box. Jennifer McCann has elevated the "chore" of packing lunch to an act of love and creativity. She doesnt' blog regularly anymore, but the archives are there and well worth reading from beginning to end for inspiration.
For vegan nutrition questions, I like the site Vegan Health. It is maintained by Jack Norris, Registered Dietitian, and has a lot of great information about specific health questions people may have in being or transitioning to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.
Enjoy and happy cooking!
One site I really like is Fat Free Vegan. I tend to maintain and lose weight better on a lower fat diet, so having a fat-free recipe source is great. Let's face it - fat is easy to come by. I usually just add one of the following to my meal: 1-2 tablespoons of nuts, 1/4 of an avocado, 6-10 olives, a tablespoon of oil, etc. Sometimes I use fat in a meal for a treat food - a few corn chips, a tablespoon of nut butter, etc. One thing about eating low-fat and vegan though - I have to eat a lot to be full. Meat and fat tend to help me feel full for a long time. When I am eating a low fat vegan diet, I need to eat a large volume of food and eat every 3 hours all day. It's a lot of work, but the payoff is huge. I have tons of energy and am having the easiest time in my life maintaining and losing weight (without counting calories or measuring portions). Before you assume that this is every dieter's fantasy ("What, I get to eat a huge amount of food every 3 hours? Sign me up. Bread, chips, chocolate, here I come!"), understand that the food I eat for the most part is simple - brown rice, beans, salad, veggies, etc. I do enjoy a tasty meal a few times a week, but when I'm eating 5 times a day, most of the meals are utilitarian.
Another website I love is Vegan Lunch Box. Jennifer McCann has elevated the "chore" of packing lunch to an act of love and creativity. She doesnt' blog regularly anymore, but the archives are there and well worth reading from beginning to end for inspiration.
For vegan nutrition questions, I like the site Vegan Health. It is maintained by Jack Norris, Registered Dietitian, and has a lot of great information about specific health questions people may have in being or transitioning to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.
Enjoy and happy cooking!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A few vegan resources to get started
Robin asked about my favorite websites and cookbooks, and here is a short answer. I will eventually have links and recipes up, but for now, here are some of my favorites to get started.
I have many cookbooks, but these three I really love.
First is How It All Vegan. This cookbooks is filled with great, basic recipes that don't require too many ingredients (a requirement for me). There are chapters on substitutions, making household products and kid stuff as well.
Second is Vegan Vittles. This cookbook has more unusual recipes, some of which are a little more complex. There is a chapter on nutrition written by a registered dietitian.
So many people I talk to tell me "I could be vegan if it wasn't for cheese. I just can't live without it." In response to these challenges, Joanne Stepanik has written The Ultimate Uncheese cookbook, which is filled with, you guessed it, vegan "cheese" recipes. She's done a great job - everything I've made from this cookbook has been great, and I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor of eating things I never ate as a carnivore such as cheese logs, crock cheese, cheese fondue, etc now that I'm a vegan.
Tomorrow, I'll be highlighting a few of my favorite vegan websites.
I have many cookbooks, but these three I really love.
First is How It All Vegan. This cookbooks is filled with great, basic recipes that don't require too many ingredients (a requirement for me). There are chapters on substitutions, making household products and kid stuff as well.
Second is Vegan Vittles. This cookbook has more unusual recipes, some of which are a little more complex. There is a chapter on nutrition written by a registered dietitian.
So many people I talk to tell me "I could be vegan if it wasn't for cheese. I just can't live without it." In response to these challenges, Joanne Stepanik has written The Ultimate Uncheese cookbook, which is filled with, you guessed it, vegan "cheese" recipes. She's done a great job - everything I've made from this cookbook has been great, and I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor of eating things I never ate as a carnivore such as cheese logs, crock cheese, cheese fondue, etc now that I'm a vegan.
Tomorrow, I'll be highlighting a few of my favorite vegan websites.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Why I only cook twice a week
Connie asked a question in her comment on yesterday's post on why I only cook twice a week. Yes, vegans do eat more than twice a week! For many years, I didn't really cook much. Chris eats lunch out while at work, and when I worked outside the home so did I. We pretty much kept it simple - I always had rice, beans and veggies in the fridge, ready to microwave. Simple and good for us, yes, but tasty and nurturing? No way.
Last year, I began to cook just a bit more, starting with smoothies every morning. Then I committed to pancakes once a month (I would do more, but my waistline protests!) After lurking on Laura's Menu Plan Monday for a long time, I decided it was time to jump in (guidelines here and a sample Monday here, and my most recent plan here). I've learned through many life changes that making a big lifestyle change all at once just doesn't work for me. I do much better when I make small changes and let the effect ripple through and become habit before making the next incremental change.
I know there are many people who easily (or not so easily) manage to cook every day and balance a busy home and family life. My hat is off to you and I hope to get there someday! For now, cooking dinner twice a week is working well and allowing me to adjust my schedule. I had to change the days I shop at the two stores I mainly go to in order to have the proper ingredients on hand when I need them. I've had to allow more time to cook and clean up and we run the dishwasher a lot more now. Since there are only two humans in our house and most recipes make enough for a much bigger family, I need to learn to manage our food, both the leftovers and the ingredients.
Menu planning and cooking just twice a week is working great right now, and I do hope to do more eventually. There have been some great benefits. We don't have to go out to eat to get a tasty, satisfying meal. Even though most things I cook aren't as weight-friendly as plain beans, rice and veggies, my recipes are generally a lot healthier than restaurant meals. We spend less money on eating out and buying ready-made food. Chris loves having me cook for him, and we enjoy actually sitting down to eat a meal together a few times a week instead of eating in front of the tv (which we enjoy as well, but it's good to do both). I've found that there is a momentum and economies of scale in menu planning and cooking. Once I started with one weekly dinner, it was easy to add a second one. Now in addition to my two dinners a week, I find I am sometimes "throwing something together" spontaneously. I would never have been able to do that before and in fact that was always my goal. I couldn't believe that someone could actually just put a meal together from what they had. Granted, I'm not doing big things yet in the "throw something together" department, but I'll do something like use up leftover vegetable broth by putting in some rice, beans and veggies and making a soup from it.
So that's the long answer to the question of why I only cook twice a week.
Last year, I began to cook just a bit more, starting with smoothies every morning. Then I committed to pancakes once a month (I would do more, but my waistline protests!) After lurking on Laura's Menu Plan Monday for a long time, I decided it was time to jump in (guidelines here and a sample Monday here, and my most recent plan here). I've learned through many life changes that making a big lifestyle change all at once just doesn't work for me. I do much better when I make small changes and let the effect ripple through and become habit before making the next incremental change.
I know there are many people who easily (or not so easily) manage to cook every day and balance a busy home and family life. My hat is off to you and I hope to get there someday! For now, cooking dinner twice a week is working well and allowing me to adjust my schedule. I had to change the days I shop at the two stores I mainly go to in order to have the proper ingredients on hand when I need them. I've had to allow more time to cook and clean up and we run the dishwasher a lot more now. Since there are only two humans in our house and most recipes make enough for a much bigger family, I need to learn to manage our food, both the leftovers and the ingredients.
Menu planning and cooking just twice a week is working great right now, and I do hope to do more eventually. There have been some great benefits. We don't have to go out to eat to get a tasty, satisfying meal. Even though most things I cook aren't as weight-friendly as plain beans, rice and veggies, my recipes are generally a lot healthier than restaurant meals. We spend less money on eating out and buying ready-made food. Chris loves having me cook for him, and we enjoy actually sitting down to eat a meal together a few times a week instead of eating in front of the tv (which we enjoy as well, but it's good to do both). I've found that there is a momentum and economies of scale in menu planning and cooking. Once I started with one weekly dinner, it was easy to add a second one. Now in addition to my two dinners a week, I find I am sometimes "throwing something together" spontaneously. I would never have been able to do that before and in fact that was always my goal. I couldn't believe that someone could actually just put a meal together from what they had. Granted, I'm not doing big things yet in the "throw something together" department, but I'll do something like use up leftover vegetable broth by putting in some rice, beans and veggies and making a soup from it.
So that's the long answer to the question of why I only cook twice a week.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Menu Plan Monday February 18, 2008
Menu planning has been a huge help to me in managing my kitchen. I am cooking more and it is getting easier. Nothing has been going to waste because I know what I am going to use something for before I buy it. I've also gotten some momentum with cooking - once you have a good stash of basic ingredients, it gets easier to make things. I am better able to use things I already have because I take the time to think about it weekly.
Chris and I are both long-time vegans, and maintain a completely vegan kitchen. Everything I make is vegan, even if doesn't sound vegan (like burgers or meatballs). Last week, I made chili on Monday, which lasted almost all week. I ended up making cornbread to go with it because I had a box of mix I wanted to use up as part of clearing my pantry in February. I ended up making the pasta with vegan meatballs and sauce last night. That's one of the great things about menu planning - it let's me stay on top of what I need to make. For example, I had fresh mushrooms to put in the tomato sauce and knew that I didn't need to use them exactly on Friday but should use them soon.
Here is this week's menu:
Monday 2/18/08 - Thai vegan chicken curry soup
Friday 2/22/08 - Mu Shu beef and vegetables with homemade plum sauce
Have a great week!
Thanks for your support
I really appreciate you stopping by. It has been very rewarding to see the number of hits per day on my website slowly rising. Be sure to stop by often - I post new content daily Monday through Friday.
Michele
Michele
Friday, February 15, 2008
Cleaning for company
New Old Fashion Girl posted about keeping your house clean for company:
http://newoldfashionedgal.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/how-did-they-do-it/
She makes the argument that before the telephone, people dropped by other people's houses unexpectedly quite often, so it was critical to keep your house looking presentable. Even though her post is titled "How did they do it?" this is really more of the why they did it. I never fully understood the concept of cleaning for company - why not keep it clean for ourselves? My comfort and happiness is way more important than what people think of me. I'm not worried about people thinking I'm a slob - I'm not. I clean every day for myself. I'm not comfortable or happy in a messy house. I will sometimes put something away for company that might be dangerous or unpleasant - for example, if I have a project spread out. I might also put something away if it is something personal, like medical or tax paperwork. But, if someone comes by on the occasional day that I have a burnt pan soaking in the sink or a dirty bowl waiting for the dishwasher to be emptied, then no, it stays, they see it, they deal with it.
I do sometimes feel bad when people see my house looking bad, but not because I'm worried about what they think of my cleaning skills. For me, cleaning my house is an act of self-care and self-love. I deserve a clean, uncluttered house. I don't want people to think I don't love myself or that I don't take care of myself. I want to present myself and my house in a way that is consistent with the way I view myself - as someone valuable who deserves to be well cared for.
Found via declutterit's organize your life carnival 20
http://www.declutterit.com/organize-your-life-carnival-20
http://newoldfashionedgal.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/how-did-they-do-it/
She makes the argument that before the telephone, people dropped by other people's houses unexpectedly quite often, so it was critical to keep your house looking presentable. Even though her post is titled "How did they do it?" this is really more of the why they did it. I never fully understood the concept of cleaning for company - why not keep it clean for ourselves? My comfort and happiness is way more important than what people think of me. I'm not worried about people thinking I'm a slob - I'm not. I clean every day for myself. I'm not comfortable or happy in a messy house. I will sometimes put something away for company that might be dangerous or unpleasant - for example, if I have a project spread out. I might also put something away if it is something personal, like medical or tax paperwork. But, if someone comes by on the occasional day that I have a burnt pan soaking in the sink or a dirty bowl waiting for the dishwasher to be emptied, then no, it stays, they see it, they deal with it.
I do sometimes feel bad when people see my house looking bad, but not because I'm worried about what they think of my cleaning skills. For me, cleaning my house is an act of self-care and self-love. I deserve a clean, uncluttered house. I don't want people to think I don't love myself or that I don't take care of myself. I want to present myself and my house in a way that is consistent with the way I view myself - as someone valuable who deserves to be well cared for.
Found via declutterit's organize your life carnival 20
http://www.declutterit.com/organize-your-life-carnival-20
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Diamond rebates from De Beers
Just in time for Valentine's day, here is an article from the LA Times about a class action lawsuit against De Beers, the African company that controls about 40% world's diamond trade. According to this article, if you bought diamonds between 1994 and 2006, you may be eligible for a rebate of up to 30%. The lawsuit alleges that De Beers "monopolized diamond supplies and fixed prices." De Beers does not accept the allegations, but has agreed to settle.
Much of what we "know" about diamonds is the result of marketing. Diamonds intrinsically represent love no more so than BMW is the ultimate driving machine, you shouldn't squeeze the Charmin, or you should have a Coke and a smile. The idea that diamonds represent everlasting love is perhaps best summarized by the ad slogan coined in 1947 which was named the best of the 20th century by Advertising Age magazine: "A diamond is forever." In another stroke of marketing genius, the company also came up with the "2 months of salary" rule so men know how much to spend on a diamond.
I love beautiful, sparkly things as much as the next gal, but I'm really not big on being told by the marketing people how to represent love with a pretty rock.
Much of what we "know" about diamonds is the result of marketing. Diamonds intrinsically represent love no more so than BMW is the ultimate driving machine, you shouldn't squeeze the Charmin, or you should have a Coke and a smile. The idea that diamonds represent everlasting love is perhaps best summarized by the ad slogan coined in 1947 which was named the best of the 20th century by Advertising Age magazine: "A diamond is forever." In another stroke of marketing genius, the company also came up with the "2 months of salary" rule so men know how much to spend on a diamond.
I love beautiful, sparkly things as much as the next gal, but I'm really not big on being told by the marketing people how to represent love with a pretty rock.
Valentine's Day
So today is Valentine's day, that lovely holiday of romance. At some point in the distant past, it was probably a sweet, nice, small holiday filled with heartfelt gestures of appreciation for lovers and other loved ones. But now? It's a commercial feeding frenzy of greeting cards, restaurant meals, flowers, candy, jewelry and other gifts, many of which are much more expensive today than any other day. The media, the marketing people and pop culture would have us believe that our worth to our significant other is based on today and how much he spends on you. Ok, I'm generalizing, but isn't Valentine's day usually about what he does for she?
When I worked in offices, there was a palpable tension in the air on this day. Which women would get flowers? Who would get the biggest? The men would have a difficult challenge - get flowers when she would have preferred candy, and you've hurt her feelings. Get red roses when she likes tulips and you don't listen to her. What a pressure cooker! Now that I'm married, people often ask me what my husband did and are shocked that we have a low-key evening together.
It's not that I'm against romance, it's just that this holiday and all its trappings don't represent romance to me. What is romantic? Chris maintains all the computers and electronic equipment in the house. Since we've lived together, I haven't purchased anything of that nature. He researches things, buys them, installs them, backs them up, maintains them, and does whatever else needs to be done to keep them running. Yeah, this is romantic to me. I love not having to ever worry about any of that kind of stuff. It's not that I can't - I did all that for myself before I met him, but I just don't enjoy it. It is such a luxury to simply have things that work. This is romantic to me and makes me feel spoiled and cherished. Conversely, Chris hasn't grocery shopped or done laundry since we've been together. Again, it's not that he can't do these things, I'm just better at them and don't mind them as much. It's my way of making his life more luxurious and I'm happy to do it for him.
One year, he got me a small 3 ounce bag of my favorite chocolate (chocolate covered pretzels from Chocolate Decadence) that they sell at the store where he buys his lunch every day. Pop culture would have you believe this was cheap and lazy and that I should be insulted by this small, easy-to-obtain gift. I think it is the best present he could have ever gotten me. First, it is my favorite, so he shows that he pays attention. Second, it would have been easy enough to order a pound in a fancy box, but I don't want to eat that much chocolate even in a month. Instead of bowing to pressure from society, he did what he knew I would want, which is a small treat we could share that evening. This is romantic.
It is all too easy to get sucked into what the media, advertisers and pop culture say we should think is romantic, rather than what our partner does to show us we matter. I can buy my own flowers and candy, but having a computer that works consistently? Priceless.
When I worked in offices, there was a palpable tension in the air on this day. Which women would get flowers? Who would get the biggest? The men would have a difficult challenge - get flowers when she would have preferred candy, and you've hurt her feelings. Get red roses when she likes tulips and you don't listen to her. What a pressure cooker! Now that I'm married, people often ask me what my husband did and are shocked that we have a low-key evening together.
It's not that I'm against romance, it's just that this holiday and all its trappings don't represent romance to me. What is romantic? Chris maintains all the computers and electronic equipment in the house. Since we've lived together, I haven't purchased anything of that nature. He researches things, buys them, installs them, backs them up, maintains them, and does whatever else needs to be done to keep them running. Yeah, this is romantic to me. I love not having to ever worry about any of that kind of stuff. It's not that I can't - I did all that for myself before I met him, but I just don't enjoy it. It is such a luxury to simply have things that work. This is romantic to me and makes me feel spoiled and cherished. Conversely, Chris hasn't grocery shopped or done laundry since we've been together. Again, it's not that he can't do these things, I'm just better at them and don't mind them as much. It's my way of making his life more luxurious and I'm happy to do it for him.
One year, he got me a small 3 ounce bag of my favorite chocolate (chocolate covered pretzels from Chocolate Decadence) that they sell at the store where he buys his lunch every day. Pop culture would have you believe this was cheap and lazy and that I should be insulted by this small, easy-to-obtain gift. I think it is the best present he could have ever gotten me. First, it is my favorite, so he shows that he pays attention. Second, it would have been easy enough to order a pound in a fancy box, but I don't want to eat that much chocolate even in a month. Instead of bowing to pressure from society, he did what he knew I would want, which is a small treat we could share that evening. This is romantic.
It is all too easy to get sucked into what the media, advertisers and pop culture say we should think is romantic, rather than what our partner does to show us we matter. I can buy my own flowers and candy, but having a computer that works consistently? Priceless.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Avoidable accidents
Here is another great column by Kathy M. Kristoff of the LA Times. She talks about Avoidable Accidents, i.e. things we can prevent from going wrong in our homes. In addition to tips on minimizing damage from natural disasters, she has tips on minimizing the risk of fire and how to avoid water damage. One of may favorite tips is not to run appliances while you are out. If you are home and a fire or leak starts, you can quickly handle it instead of coming home to a burned out mess or flooded kitchen. She also says to turn off the washing machine supply lines when you are away, which is a new tip to me. I would add to this that everyone in the house who is old enough should know where the gas and water main shut off is for the entire house. If something does spring a leak, knowing where the valves are and how to use them will save valuable time and prevent damage. Imaging running around the house trying to figure out how to shut the water off while water is gushing from a broken hose.
Here is a link to the article, which I suggest you use as a jumping-off point to think about ways to prevent damage from avoidable accidents. I'm sure there are lots more things we can do, and I would love to hear your ideas.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-perfin13jan13,1,2815708.column?ctrack=2&cset=true
Here is a link to the article, which I suggest you use as a jumping-off point to think about ways to prevent damage from avoidable accidents. I'm sure there are lots more things we can do, and I would love to hear your ideas.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-perfin13jan13,1,2815708.column?ctrack=2&cset=true
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Another paint tip
I finished the second coat on the closet, and decided that I probably won't ever paint without priming first again. The walls in our house were trashed when we bought the place, and after the work some of them are plaster and some are drywall. Also, there is extensive patching throughout. So, even though painting is a pretty easy home improvement task we decided to have the place professionally painted. The walls all needed to be sanded and finished before being painted, and it would have taken forever without professional equipment, and it would have created a huge amount of nasty dust while we were living in the house. Because our prior incompetent contractor messed so many things up, we will probably have to repaint anyway, but at least we are starting with a good base.
So, when I started painting the closet a bright white over the beige-ish white it was, I thought, "no problem, it's been professionally finished and painted and I'm only doing white over white" and decided not to prime first. Big mistake - aside from the paint settling and needing an extra coat, event the second coat did not give me the perfect, solid white background I wanted. Since it is a closet, I am not willing to do a third coat so I'll be living with a cloudy paint job. If I had primed first, I think it would have looked a lot better. I once painted a wall in my apartment a bold dark red, and had to repaint when I moved out. One coat of Kilz primer and two coats of white and that dark red was history. It looked better than this paint job does. So even though I wasn't trying to shortcut the process (I really didn't think I needed it) I learned my lession - always prime first then paint!
So, when I started painting the closet a bright white over the beige-ish white it was, I thought, "no problem, it's been professionally finished and painted and I'm only doing white over white" and decided not to prime first. Big mistake - aside from the paint settling and needing an extra coat, event the second coat did not give me the perfect, solid white background I wanted. Since it is a closet, I am not willing to do a third coat so I'll be living with a cloudy paint job. If I had primed first, I think it would have looked a lot better. I once painted a wall in my apartment a bold dark red, and had to repaint when I moved out. One coat of Kilz primer and two coats of white and that dark red was history. It looked better than this paint job does. So even though I wasn't trying to shortcut the process (I really didn't think I needed it) I learned my lession - always prime first then paint!
Buying in-stock paint
I am working on our office closet and decided to repaint before I installed the closet system. Who knew there were so many shades of white, how different they look and how hard it is to get it right? I was surprised how different the new white looked compared to the old - the old looked almost light brown by comparison.
Anyway, I purchased a very basic shade of white at a paint store. Because it is a common request, they had it in stock and just handed me a can off the shelf. I had it for a few days at home and rotated storing it upside-down and rightside-up and also hand mixed it before using it. Even so, the paint had settled so bad that the first half of the can didn't cover very well, and I ended up needing to buy another quart to do a second coat.
So, when you buy paint and it comes from the store stock, ask them to give it a shake in their mixing machine in case the paint has settled.
Anyway, I purchased a very basic shade of white at a paint store. Because it is a common request, they had it in stock and just handed me a can off the shelf. I had it for a few days at home and rotated storing it upside-down and rightside-up and also hand mixed it before using it. Even so, the paint had settled so bad that the first half of the can didn't cover very well, and I ended up needing to buy another quart to do a second coat.
So, when you buy paint and it comes from the store stock, ask them to give it a shake in their mixing machine in case the paint has settled.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Menu Plan Monday Feb 11, 2008
I've been doing menu planning for about a month now and it has been really great. I'm pleased to say that everything I've made has been edible and some of it has even gotten rave reviews from Chris. I'm a much harsher critic of my cooking than he is. Last week's menu worked pretty well. I ended up catching a cold, so I didn't make chili, but I did make the Seitan Stroganoff on Friday and it was delicious - hearty, flavorful and pretty healthy. I was especially pleased as the recipe called for making a cornstarch and broth gravy, which can be tricky and it came out great. I'll be making this one for sure (and posting the recipe soon!). One of the great things about planning my menu is that if something changes, it is easy to shift gears. Since the chili didn't get made last week, I am doing it today. I am also going to experiment with preparing a second batch for the freezer.
Here is this week's plan:
Monday 2/11/08 - Chris' slow cooker chili (make a second batch to freeze)
Friday 2/15/08 - Spelt angel hair pasta with vegan meatballs and sauce
The second dinner is made from things I want to use up as part of Clearing My Pantry in February. There is still a lot to go, but I've made progress. I was looking for some uncolored, unscented, vegan lip balm to use for my chapped nose (from blowing so much due to having a cold). I was having trouble finding anything at conventional stores and didn't want to make a special trip to one of my usual shopping spots so I improvised by using some coconut oil I had located while clearing out my pantry. It is solid at room temperature, so it was great to use on chapped skin and since it is food I felt comfortable using it on my skin. I'm pleased to say it worked great and I got to use some of it up. If I hadn't been clearing my pantry, I probably would have ended up buying something just for this purpose, so I was glad to use up something I already had.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Vote by mail
This year when I voted in the primary, I avoided the long line at my polling place by voting ahead of time by mail. I received all the usual information in the mail long before the election along with my vote-by-mail ballot. It had to be mailed 5 calendar days before election day.
I was quite pleased with this process - it was much easier and took less time than voting on election day. I am going to continue to vote by mail for the foreseeable future. I did miss the feeling of excitement that I get right after voting. I leave the polling place with my "I Voted" sticker feeling like a powerful participant in democracy. I know I've honored the struggles of those who sacrificed to get me the right to vote. I am again reminded that people in other parts of the world consider voting such a privilege that they endure hours-long lines, sniper bullets, threats and bombs in order to vote.
If you are interested, check with whatever local office handles voter registration in your area. When I changed my registration after my last move, there was a box on the application that could be checked to place you on permanent vote by mail status. One thing to thing about though - don't vote too early or your candidate may end up dropping out and you will have not used your vote on someone still in the race.
I was quite pleased with this process - it was much easier and took less time than voting on election day. I am going to continue to vote by mail for the foreseeable future. I did miss the feeling of excitement that I get right after voting. I leave the polling place with my "I Voted" sticker feeling like a powerful participant in democracy. I know I've honored the struggles of those who sacrificed to get me the right to vote. I am again reminded that people in other parts of the world consider voting such a privilege that they endure hours-long lines, sniper bullets, threats and bombs in order to vote.
If you are interested, check with whatever local office handles voter registration in your area. When I changed my registration after my last move, there was a box on the application that could be checked to place you on permanent vote by mail status. One thing to thing about though - don't vote too early or your candidate may end up dropping out and you will have not used your vote on someone still in the race.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
I'm up at technorati.com
Just a quick note to say that I have joined technorati.com. If you are not familiar with this site, it is a great way to keep track of any blogs you read. You can see at a glance who has updated recently instead of checking all your blogs.
Here is a link to my profile:
Technorati Profile
Here is a link to my profile:
Technorati Profile
BBC World News America
In 2003, Chris and I went to Europe for 2 weeks and spent most of our time in London. We both loved the TV news on BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). I haven't watched network TV news in years because I just can't stand the sensationalism. I don't want "cutesy" anchors, I want smart, informed people asking good questions. I want relevant, important topics covered in an appropriate depth. BBC news delivers all this - the difference was really striking. I remember being shocked when a guest ducked an important question and the anchor responded "Yes, but that's not what I asked you. I asked you....."
Since that trip, I've told a lot of people how impressive the news coverage was and how I wish we had something like that here. Well, I have gotten my wish! Recently, BBC began broadcasting BBC World News America here in the states. I have been pleased with the coverage and we watch almost every episode (it airs on public television here).
This version of BBC news is targeted toward the US, but has a definite international flavor to it. I think this is appropriate though, given the the increase in globalization. Much of what effects the world effects us, and vice-versa. I like that they have minimal sports coverage. The anchors are great and they have interesting guests. The choice of topics seems appropriate and the depth of coverage on each topic seems proportionate to its importance. The show does a good job of providing background and relevant information to help you understand the stories. Already I've learned so much and feel better informed.
Here's a link to the show's page:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/169/worldhome.jsp
Since that trip, I've told a lot of people how impressive the news coverage was and how I wish we had something like that here. Well, I have gotten my wish! Recently, BBC began broadcasting BBC World News America here in the states. I have been pleased with the coverage and we watch almost every episode (it airs on public television here).
This version of BBC news is targeted toward the US, but has a definite international flavor to it. I think this is appropriate though, given the the increase in globalization. Much of what effects the world effects us, and vice-versa. I like that they have minimal sports coverage. The anchors are great and they have interesting guests. The choice of topics seems appropriate and the depth of coverage on each topic seems proportionate to its importance. The show does a good job of providing background and relevant information to help you understand the stories. Already I've learned so much and feel better informed.
Here's a link to the show's page:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/169/worldhome.jsp
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Repurposing a storage container
I thought I would post this because it demonstrates several points of decluttering and organizing. I got an underbed storage tote from someone who was moving, and I wasn't sure what to do with it. I don't use underbed storage because I don't like the idea of sleeping on top of a pile of stuff crammed under my bed. Coincidentally, I am working on putting a storage system of drawers and shelves in my office closet. There's not much in there now, but one sticky issue was what to do with the hanging gift wrap organizer I had. This had worked in our old apartment with the closet bars at normal height, but now that I am customizing all of our closets, we don't have any long storage and I didn't want to add any just for the gift wrap organizer.
At some point, a lightbulb went off and I was thinking "long, slim tote..... long, slim wrapping paper....." and viola I came up with repurposing the underbed tote for the gift wrap. The tote fits perfectly in our extra small office closet and I love keeping things out of landfills.
Here is the gift wrap organizer, jam packed full before I started:
And here is the tote, before I started (the clothes got freecycled)
I started by taking everything out of the organizer. This is an important step, as it gives you a good perspective on what you actually have. There is also another benefit which is that once something is out, you have to be more committed to keeping it to put it back in rather than just looking at it in place and saying "yeah, that stays." It makes keeping the object a more active decision.
Scary pile, huh? I couldn't believe how much stuff that organizer held. This is a 4-seater, deep couch and you can see how big the pile is! One of the reasons so much had accumulated is that organizer hung in my closet, and I just pulled out what I needed. It was difficult to take out, so I never really went through it before.
After I purged the pile, this is what I ended up keeping (everything else went to Freecycle).
Pretty cool, huh?
At some point, a lightbulb went off and I was thinking "long, slim tote..... long, slim wrapping paper....." and viola I came up with repurposing the underbed tote for the gift wrap. The tote fits perfectly in our extra small office closet and I love keeping things out of landfills.
Here is the gift wrap organizer, jam packed full before I started:
And here is the tote, before I started (the clothes got freecycled)
I started by taking everything out of the organizer. This is an important step, as it gives you a good perspective on what you actually have. There is also another benefit which is that once something is out, you have to be more committed to keeping it to put it back in rather than just looking at it in place and saying "yeah, that stays." It makes keeping the object a more active decision. 
Scary pile, huh? I couldn't believe how much stuff that organizer held. This is a 4-seater, deep couch and you can see how big the pile is! One of the reasons so much had accumulated is that organizer hung in my closet, and I just pulled out what I needed. It was difficult to take out, so I never really went through it before. After I purged the pile, this is what I ended up keeping (everything else went to Freecycle).
Pretty cool, huh?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Clearing my pantry in February
I’ve seen the idea of eating from you pantry during February floating around on a log of blogs and I think it’s great. Unfortunately, I was unable to figure out who first posted it, so if anyone knows please inform me so I can give credit. Once I read about the idea of intentionally clearing my pantry, I knew I had to join in. The idea is to eat mainly from your pantry and only buy fresh items for the entire month of February. This is a major place where clutter tends to accumulate. I know I have some old stuff in there for sure, and the aging of my pantry’s contents has been exacerbated by our remodeling. When we first moved in, we had no kitchen (just a fridge, microwave and paper plates). Due to contractor problems, our kitchen came into existence gradually over the next 6 months and we put things in cabinets as cabinets became available. The order in which the cabinets became available was usually not the same order in which we wanted things out of the garage, so things got put away very haphazardly. The contractor was also going to build a soffit over the cabinets, and instructed us not to put anything on the top shelf of any cabinet. Add to this chaos routine 15 hour days and 7 day work weeks, and it is no wonder we are just straightening all this out now.
Here is a picture of the original load. I can't wait till it's gone!
Doing this project made me realize several things. First, when I saw all that stuff out on the countertop, I realized how much it had been annoying me. I knew a lot of it was old, and it was such a relief to start this project and know that soon it will be gone. Second, I realized that a big reason this stuff accumulated is that I purchased it without a plan of how to use it. This is what I have already learned from menu planning - that before something comes into the house, I should know how and when I will use it. Sounds a lot like the rule I use to keep clutter out of the house - know that you will use something before buying it.
I was surprised to experience a sense of relief at some expired items that were old enough to justify going right into the trash. We moved in May 2006, and we had some help packing so I didn't even go through things then - you can imagine how old some of it is! I was looking at the items I had, and feeling bummed out that I had to find a way to use this food I didn't like and that wasn't good for me. Hmmm, this also sounds similar to why clutter often hangs around - "I paid good money for that, I can't get rid of it."
Here is a picture of the original load. I can't wait till it's gone!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Menu Plan Monday with orgjunkie.com
As I've mentioned before, I am teaching myself to cook. I know the basic techniques and can follow a recipe, but I've always wanted to be one of those people who can go to the farmers' market, pick up some great looking produce and "whip something up." For the last few years, Chris and I have just eaten simply and microwaved a lot. This year, I've decided to cook more. I started last year with smoothies for breakfast every day, and pancakes one a month. I then added in dinner once a week, and now I'm up to 1-2 times a week. I've also managed to almost always have brown rice and salad ready to go in the fridge. I really admire all of you who balance a home and a busy schedule and still manage to cook almost every night. I'm starting small, and taking baby steps so I don't "crash and burn" as Fly Lady says. It may not seem like much, but I am progressing and hope to be cooking daily soon!
Each Monday, Laura over at orgjunkie.com hosts Menu Plan Monday, where people from all over post their menus for the week. I've learned a lot about Menu Planning here, and am ready to join the fun now. It has actually helped me a lot already in my cooking quest - I just didn't know where to start before and now I'm doing it! I've found the structure and process of menu planning to be useful. Now I know that on Sunday or Monday, I should look at my schedule and decide what and when to cook. Then I add any needed ingredients on my shopping list. I changed the days I shop at each place I go to better accommodate doing my planning on Mondays. I probably won't need to cook every day since most of the recipes I make feed way more than 2 and we don't mind leftovers. There are some vegetarians doing Menu Plan Monday, but I think I'm the only vegan so far. I'll be posting recipes in the future.
Here's my menu for the week:
Tuesday 2/5/08 - Chris' crock pot chili and brown rice (I'm making it, but it's his recipe)
Friday 2/8/08 - Seitan and Mushroom stroganoff over brown riceI'll let you know how it turns out!
Friday, February 1, 2008
A great article on conscious spending
I loved this article by Kathy M. Kristof in the LA Times. She talks about spending consciously and how spending wisely is not about saving every penny, but about making spending choices that support your values. I consider myself to be a pretty conscious consumer, but I still get sucked in. Once, I got an clothing catalog in the mail during the holiday shopping season and in it they had nice flannel shirts. I thought, "I want to order one of those." I often like to take time before I buy something so I can be sure it's not an impulse buy, so I put a Post-It note on the page and set it aside. A few days later when I picked up the catalog, I thought to myself "What was I thinking? I live in Southern California and don't wear flannel shirts. Why on Earth would I order this?" When I took a closer look, I realized there were 6 people in the picture, wearing flannel shirts, sipping hot cocoa and relaxing by a blazing fire. I realized that I didn't want a flannel shirt, I wanted time to have an afternoon like that. Boy did I get pulled in to that ad! Taking time before making a purchase has saved me from bad buys many times, and had I not done it here, I would probably have already gotten rid of that flannel shirt because I would never have worn it.
Here is Kathy's article - Have a great weekend!
Spend Your Cash on Things That Are Truly Valueable
Here is Kathy's article - Have a great weekend!
Spend Your Cash on Things That Are Truly Valueable
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