You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2009.
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 28
Healthy: Poo…
Recently, I was perusing an online debate on raw food diets. Though the topic was interesting, my eyes skimmed quickly down the page, as the reality of my life and cravings currently negates the possibility of fully eliminating scrumptious baked goods (Come on, what’s a birthday party without cake? And how does one support a niece’s dedication to scouting without purchasing cookies? And wouldn’t it be downright rude to purchase said cookies and then fail to consume them?)
Anyhoo, I digress. The most intriguing element of this debate was a sub-argument centered on what frequency of poo constitutes as “normal”. One raw-food-advocate insisted three times per day was ideal. Another participant claimed if you were perched on the porcelain with that frequency, it is imperative to get thee to a GI specialist (as once every few days was much more “normal”).
This poo debate led me to Google, as we have poo frequencies on both ends of that spectrum in our home. Thankfully, it would appear we are all “normal”, as color and consistency are more meaningful markers than frequency.
If your interest is piqued, you can get the 411 on poo here:
If you are looking to supplement the powder room library, consider adding What’s Your Poo Telling You?
Wealthy: Shop Alone…
Dora Popsicles. Organic animal crackers. Chocolate ice cream. Fig Newmans. Annie’s Honey Bunnies cereal.
What does this bunch o’ edibles have in common? They all manage to wind their way into our grocery cart when I ignore the money-saving grocery mantra: shop alone. Granted, ignoring the other popular mantra, don’t shop hungry, immediately results in a stream of ginger snaps, Breyers vanilla bean ice cream, and Pirate’s Booty appearing like magic.
Shop smart. Go alone. Eat first.
(If you are scoffing right now about the absurdity of wasting any precious “me time” trolling aisles shoving a huge groaning metal behemoth, all I can say is, I hear you.)
Wise: Avoidance – Not Such a Beautiful Thing…
That late night cup of vanilla bean with smashed ginger snaps seemed like a good idea at the time. Half an hour post-consumption, I felt like a nervous cow (thanks to sugar overload stimulating a visual of calories cheerfully migrating to my thighs).
Now get ready to leap, as this is a bit of a stretch. Much like the late night snack habit is a bad idea, so too is my tendency toward avoidance. The availability of Caller ID on the iPhone has enabled me to nurse this avoidance addiction.
Oh, look, someone who is unpalatable or is looking to discuss something unpleasant is calling right now. Hmmmm, really not a great time to chat – too busy concentrating on waiting in this line, tidying up the post-its on my desk, or getting zen in this traffic jam. Oh, I will just call **** back later today after solving the current Israeli/Palestinian snafu and tidying up this danged dog economy.
What you already know, and I am still learning, is that pretty much without exception, the best course of action is to deal with the distasteful now. Avoiding and delaying simply prolong the potential unpleasantness. Happily, most of the time, dealing with “it” (whatever your “it” may be) right here and right now – makes “it” not so bad after all.
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 27
Healthy: Aim for NINE…
For those truly desiring an uber-healthful lifestyle, a great step is to eschew the 5-A-Day guidelines and opt instead to aim for NINE servings of fruits/vegetables per day. If you look at the USDA’s serving size guidelines, the prospect of cramming in 9-A-Day is much less daunting:
(1) Fruit/Vegetable Serving per USDA is equal to…
¾ cup (6 oz.) 100% fruit or vegetable juice
(1) medium piece fruit (apple, orange, banana, pear…)
½ cup raw/cooked/frozen fruit or vegetable (size resembles scoop of ice cream)
1 cup raw leafy greens (think dark salads – size resembles fist or tennis ball)
¼ cup dried fruit (this amount would fit in a golf ball)
½ cup cooked/canned/frozen peas or beans
Feeling hungry yet?
Wealthy: “Is that the best you can do?”…
These seven simple words have the power to save you enormous caches of coin. Over the years, I have learned “Is that the best you can do?” is not a phrase limited to the stereotypical barter locales (i.e. car dealerships and real estate purchases). The most challenging element of posing this question for me has been to ask, then shut up and wait.
Next time you buy a mattress, ask the question (I just saved 8% with free shipping thrown in on our yummy SavvyRest). Going on vacation? Ask the question before confirming accommodations. Making a purchase on Craigslist? Definitely ask the question!
Before you whip out the cash or debit card, consider asking “Is that the best you can do?” first.
Wise: Try Something New – Challenge Yourself – Repeat Daily…
Without exception, all of the latest research on brain health indicates using your melon in new and creative ways helps to maintain functionality as the rest of you goes to pot. Now if you are actively working to keep the other parts functional too, imagine the fun to be had well into your swinging 90’s!
So, when is the last time you tried something new? Taken a belly dancing class lately? Learning to speak Chinese? Joined a women’s hockey pick-up game? Tried a new route to get somewhere, leaving the GPS off and Mapquest dark?
Ideally, I would like to try something new each and every day. Let’s see…yesterday, I faced down deep powder the likes of which I have not seen since Big Sky more than 5 years ago. At the end of the day, my legs were burning, my mind tired from trying to recall how to ski the stuff, and my mood excited. Later this week, I will plunge into the Atlantic Ocean (yes, in February, and yes, in New Hampshire) to support our Special Olympics team. My mind will be actively working, attempting to communicate with my legs and remind them how to function. Nearly as much fun, I will soon be tackling our annual tax return and super fun schedules.
Whether a puzzle or class, language or activity, experience or physical feat, make the choice to keep that big beautiful brain of yours young!
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Days 25 + 26
Our theme for this latest 2-for is “Get Something Started – TODAY!”…with just 15 minutes and any item off the following list, you will get something started to feel good about. Something good is brewing…can you feel it? What are you waiting for?
Healthy: Researching + Writing…
Okay, so you already knew high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was not a must-have on your family’s regular diet. However, did you also know HFCS might contain mercury?
According to Reuters (http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE50Q5IA20090127) :
“In one study, published in the journal Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.
Dufault said in a statement that she told the FDA about her findings but the agency did not follow up.”
What the heck? Instead of just seething with anger, disgust, and incredulousness at the failure of individuals and organizations to do the right thing, how about seizing the opportunity and working for positive change?
Lucky for me, our circle of friends includes a terrific scientist who already penned this letter urging the new guard to impart strong leadership at the FDA. Please consider copying or rewriting a similar letter, and shooting it off to your representation in Washington – today!
Find contact information here:
Dear Senator Shaheen,
I am writing this letter to bring to your attention the recent
publication in Environmental Health finding mercury in high fructose
corn syrup (HFCS).
According to the study, samples were collected directly from
manufacturers in 2005, after a 2003 report by the EPA noted that
nearly seven tons of mercury were missing from each of eight U.S.
chlor-alkali plants. These plants produce the chemicals that process
HFCS. The gap in time between the discovery of potential mercury
contamination in HFCS and the publication of a this study implies that
the current leadership and culture of the FDA is no longer working
with the goal of public health and safety as its primary responsibility.
The FDA’s own mission statement: “The FDA is responsible for
protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and
security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical
devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit
radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health
by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more
effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the
accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and
foods to improve their health.”
I strongly urge Congress and the new Administration to put in place
strong leadership at the FDA so the agency can fulfill its public
safety mission, and I urge Congress to pass needed reforms of the
agency to keep my family safe. I also urge the FDA to adequately test
for chemical contaminants in infant formula and all foods and food
products, to inform the public when they find these kinds of results,
and to recall products to prevent any unnecessary risks to our
children and families.
The published findings in the Environmental Health article Mercury
from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product
sugar clearly show the need for immediate action and further research.
From the study: “Clearly the sample size of this preliminary trial is
too small but there was no support to collect additional samples for
analyses. When university researchers outside of the government
attempted to obtain additional HFCS samples direct from the
manufacturer they were unable to get them. However, with 45% of the
HFCS samples containing mercury in this small study, it would be
prudent and perhaps essential for public health that additional
research be conducted by the FDA or some other public health agency to
determine if products containing HFCS also contain mercury. In 2004,
several member states of the European Union reported finding mercury
concentrations in beverages, cereals and bakery ware, and sweeteners
[14] – all of which may contain HFCS. FDA does not currently have a
mercury surveillance program for food ingredients such as added sugars
or preservatives
manufactured with mercury grade chlor-alkali products.”
Due to the already known heath risks associated with mercury
consumption and exposure, pregnant women and children are already
advised to limit the amount of fish consumed. Fish become
contaminated with mercury due to the multiple inputs of mercury into
the environment, which is a decidedly harder contamination to control.
The contamination of HFCS occurs during an industrial process that
already has mercury free alternative: a membrane chlor-alkali plant
rather than a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant.
Missing mercury from the chlor-alkali industry is unacceptable as
mercury is a known and harmful neurotoxin. Based on these recent
findings HFCS should not be labeled as GRAS (generally recognized as
safe) and should be subject to further scrutiny.
I urge the Administration and Congress to instill strong leadership at
the agency that will fulfill its public-safety mission. I also urge
you to make needed changes like tougher laws, better enforcement, and
more funding a priority, so American families can have faith in the
safety of the food and products we consume each day. Please to move
forward and pass Bill S.1818: Missing Mercury in Manufacturing and
Mitigation Act sponsored by Barack Obama, Joseph Biden, Benjamin
Cardin, Russ Feingold, John Kerry and Robert Menendez.
Sincerely,
Wealthy: Asking + Monitoring…
Asking…Got debt? Any of it credit card debt? Unless all of your credit card debt is at 0%, pick up the phone. I know you have heard this before, but so few people actually follow through, which is a money-wasting-shame! Make a list of all your credit card debts, including amount owed, current rate, and phone number for customer service. Then start calling.
Ask and you shall receive. Very, very often, just politely asking for a lower rate will result in beaucoup bucks saved. There is no need to be dishonest and threaten to close your card (though if that is a possibility, certainly voice the option). A simple, “I just received an offer for 12 months at 0% interest” (or whatever your latest offer was – check bankrate.com if you don’t have a pile of credit card offers onhand waiting to be shredded) or “I am looking to streamline my bills, and will be putting all credit card debt on the card with the best terms – can you offer 0% for 12 months?” Never hesitate to ask for a supervisor if the representative is less-than-helpful.
Monitoring…Identity theft sucks. At least twice a year, we receive notification from some financial institution that our private financial information has been compromised. Then you wait. Thankfully, knock on wood (and I just did), our identities have not yet been snatched.
An alternative to sitting around, twiddling one’s thumbs, and waiting for those “compromised information” notices is to be proactive and regularly check the ol’ credit report. If, like me, you have an aversion to paying for anything that can be had free, by all means use (ONLY) the Federal Trade Commission monitored free credit check website: www.annualcreditreport.com – there are lots of other websites that sound similar and are decidedly un-free, so be sure to hit the right one. The same information can also be obtained by calling 1-877-322-8228.
You are entitled to one free credit report per annum from each of the three major bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Since the information from each bureau is generally the same, we opt to check with one source every 4 months. Using this approach, we see our credit information, free, three times over the course of an entire year, versus just getting reports from all three sources simultaneously once per year. Whatever your approach, check your credit report today! (This report will contain all credit history, but a nominal fee applies to get the actual number score – we skip the score.)
Wise: Thanking + Complimenting…
Thanking…Gratitude is an exceptionally cool habit to develop. Try it. Say thank you today. You can thank God, thank another higher power, thank the grocery store clerk, thank your mate, thank your kids, thank a stranger. Carry thank you cards in your bag, and use free minutes to jot notes to a former teacher, grandparent, or to the supervisor of someone who provided great service. Pen a letter to your local newspaper very publicly recognizing the great work of an individual, organization, representative, or business. We are all presented with opportunities to say “thank you” each and every day – try it!
Complimenting…Everyone wins when you offer an honest compliment. It is difficult to know what struggles those around us are facing, particularly given the current economic times. One thing is for sure – receiving a compliment is a surefire way to put a spring in your recipient’s step.
If you opt to be on the lookout for opportunities to compliment, do not be alarmed if a rose-colored hue comes across your glasses. Try going about your day on the prowl for good works, cool stuff, and thoughtful people. Amazing artwork! Bodacious brownies! Charming cat! Delightful demeanor! You get the picture. Come on, make someone happy…
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 24
Healthy: Pressed for time while running around with hungry kiddos in tow? My all-time favorite stop for healthful, quick, ready-to-eat food is…the hospital cafeteria. Our local hospital cafeteria was part of a recent renovation, and is resplendent with ginormous fish tanks, a palette of funky colors, and comfy booths. Situated adjacent to a main entrance, the cafeteria offers a quick in/out without having to traipse through the hospital proper.
In addition to the décor and convenience, the focus on healthful fare and below-cost prices seal the deal. Our entire family can eat dinner (usually in a rush, right before music class) for under $10. Typically, our trays contain soup, whole wheat pizza, veggie burgers, Stonyfield yogurt, wild rice, steamed veggies, some meat for my husband, pudding for the kids (okay, and for me), and fresh berries.
Contrary to the long-held misconception, at least in our town, hospital food rocks!
Wealthy: Protect Your Investments. Just a day after politely declining the wool mattress protector for our new, green, organic SavvyRest King-size bed (ooooh, I am uber excited about the prospect of a King, having only enjoyed the opulence in hotels, and being one to appreciate a little snoozing space), our son threw up in our current bed. Repeatedly. It was a sign. Note to self: Must order mattress protector prior to delivery of new yummy bed.
Wise: Remember that hospital cafeteria I mentioned a few moments ago? Not only is there lots of cheap, healthful yumminess (and plenty of decadent not so healthful stuff too – forgot to mention the Coldstone Creamery-style ice cream bar, but I digress), the cafeteria also offers…get this…super-fast and free wireless. It does not get much better than this for a freelance-writing mama frequently trying to grab a couple hours of quiet work time. Especially if this mama’s lovely home office, even when Daddy is on duty, is constantly besieged by requests, pleadings, tattles, and stories from small children.
Ahhhh, a little peace, mostly quiet, super-fast wireless, and pudding…the perfect combination for productivity!
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 23
Healthy: I am grateful our home has been vomit-free for 24 hours. I am thankful our 2-year-old and I got to spend the entire night in the same pajamas (unlike the prior night, when there were no fewer than 6 wardrobe changes). I am grateful for Popsicles. And saltines. I am grateful the vomittus was limited to just one family member. I am grateful for children’s movies on YouTube, which a crummy feeling little guy can watch throughout the night in bed, while a half-asleep maternal unit occasionally reaches over and clicks onto another episode of Clifford, or Arthur, or Berenstain Bears. I am exceptionally grateful today dawned healthy for all.
Wealthy: We use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda, occasionally a little lemon juice, for nearly all household cleaning. Cheap. Effective. Green. Works great on kiddie puke.
Wise: Occasionally, if a little belly has been sick and a mama is severely sleep deprived, it is a-ok to toss those screen-time limits out the window. However, there will be consequences. There are always consequences. Case in point: turning one’s head just in time to see newly minted 5-year pulling back our cat’s “lips” (do cats have lips?) and exclaiming over his “razor-sharp teeth”. Yeah, I know, a few too many episodes of “Bindi the Jungle Girl” have been viewed in this house.
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 22
Healthy: Stand Up…
When not actively contemplating good posture, my default position is slouchy. This stance is doing no favors for an old neck injury, nor is slouchiness particularly helpful for my occasionally creaky back. Fearful of adjustments since a rogue chiropractor nearly snapped my head off after promising there would be no neck cracking, I settled on yoga as my best hope for a regal, runway-ready stance.
A little research turned up some great poses for improving posture, among them: Mountain, Standing Forward Bend, Cat-Cow, and Bridge. Planning to incorporate these poses into a daily routine, and expect to be capable of running laps with a dictionary perched delicately atop my head in no time.
Photos of Posture-Improving Yoga Poses:
http://yoga.about.com/od/yogatherapy/tp/yogaforposture.htm
Wealthy: Squirrel Up…
Must…stop…getting…parking…tickets! The first parking ticket of the week was to be expected, as my vehicle, bag, and person were all free of change (well, the loads of pennies and nickels are irrelevant, as the parking meter will gleefully accept and fail to credit anything less than a dime).
The second ticket was pure stupidity and lack of focus. Prior to leaving the house (15 minutes late and with a still-waking-up 2 year old in footie pajamas at 1:45 in the afternoon) for open gym, I stuffed my pockets full of quarters from the change jar. Found a spot right near the gym. Bundled the kids into their gear, grabbed my bag, snatched the bamboo platter I had been carrying around for 2 months to return to my friend who was waiting for me in the lobby, and made a mad dash for the entrance. Yeah, somewhere in the melee forgot to drop that pocket full of quarters into the meter. A couple of hours later, the kiddos and I approached our Subaru and saw it – the lovely bright yellow rectangle so lovingly placed beneath a windshield wiper.
Plan of Attack to Prevent Further Parking Ticket Accumulation:
1. Squirrel up dimes and quarters.
2. Place said dimes and quarters inside vehicle.
3. Ask daughter to remind me to insert dimes and quarters into appropriate parking meter.
4. Failing daughter’s reminder, inform 2-year-old son he can help with dimes and quarters from now on – his stubborn streak should insure nary a meter is passed without insertion of coins – now must work on days of the week with son, to avoid feeding meters on free Saturdays and Sundays.
Wise: Listen Up…
Life is happily busy. Our kids are joyfully loud. My husband and I are frequently distracted. All of these factors combined result in less-than-perfect listening skills, particularly in the marital boat. On nearly a daily basis, any number of sentences emanating from my mouth begin with, “I know I already asked you this but wasn’t really listening to your answer…”
Somehow, all of the typical tips for being a good listener – turn off the TV/Radio, offer direct eye contact, drop everything else – none of this breeds success if I fail to consciously make the decision to listen and RETAIN.
From the outside, I am a model of listening excellence, in large part thanks to endless instruction in effective communication during grad school. Internally, however, my brain is either three steps ahead of what is being said, preparing what I want to say, or ticking through items on the “To Do” list.
My shoddy listening skills are really a symptom of a larger issue: the need to be more present right here, right now. Food for thought…
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day
Healthy: Peanut, Peanut Butter…
If, like me, you have recently hesitated before breaking open a new jar of peanut butter, or are unsure if another peanut-containing-product is free of salmonella, check out the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s searchable database:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
Hopefully your peanut butter fix will be a safe one. I was thrilled our all natural crunchy version was good-to-go, and will be enjoying some toast momentarily.
Wealthy: Business Cards…
Need a new set of business cards for your company, organization, volunteer duties, or just to ease information exchange for playdate scheduling?
There are 42 colorful designs at www.vistaprint.com. If you avoid extra options and allow a line of VistaPrint advertising on the back, (250) cards will be yours free (before shipping). For a few dollars more, there are countless paths to customization.
If you want to spend a bit more, my current faves are the MiniCards at Moo (http://www.moo.com/products/minicards.php). These are super cool, allowing for loads of creativity and inclusion of original photographs.
Wise: Wherever You Lay Your Head…
A review of my websurfing history would reveal countless hits to ING Direct, YahooGroups, zenhabits, and Mothering. Interspersed among these regular haunts are visit after visit to compare green mattress after green mattress.
More than six months ago, I decided to green our sleep. There was enough research and evidence accumulating to make this decision an easy one for us.
Actually selecting mattresses has proven to be a wily task. My first love was a gorgeous, plush, greener-than-green mattress at a local earth-friendly boutique. The love affair was short-lived, as the store owner finally revealed the mattress price after much badgering: $6,000. Um, definitely a case of champagne taste on a beer budget.
Moving my search for love online, I discovered many potentially viable suitors at www.organicgrace.com. Though still fairly pricey, these options were in our league, and ranged from the budget natural latex to cushy SavvyRest.
With price removed from the equation, the primary issue now became getting comfortable making a major purchase without giving it a roll. Thankfully, a kind friend recently purchased a SavvyRest, and invited us to get horizontal.
Comfortable with the mattress quality and comfort, the decisions continued, as the SavvyRest has 3 customizable layers for each side of the King – meaning 6 more decisions to be made.
Who knew the quest for an environmentally friendly, carcinogen-free, budget-respecting sleeping partner would be so complicated? Cannot wait to slip between the sheets of our new green wonder…note to self – begin researching organic sheets!
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 20 Review
Every 10 days into this adventure, I will pause, breathe deeply, and take stock of where my feet rest on the journey toward Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise in 2009. Today, that involves identifying a single focal point for each area of H,W, +W.
Healthy: Get Moving…
Over the next 10 days, I want to get some form of daily exercise. Dancing with the kids, playing floor hockey with our Special Olympics team, working out at the Y…all that matters is the parts get moving and heart gets pumping.
Wealthy: Business Clarity…
Recently, the urge to retool and distill my professional life has been exceptionally strong. This desire has given way to soul searching and contemplation of what brings me professional joy (and money).
Though the initial inclination experienced most powerfully was to focus on one business area, the truth has revealed itself to be this: my professional passions are four-fold, not singular. Given “4” has been my favorite/lucky number for all memorable history, focusing on four business areas will ideally prove fruitful, inspiring, and beneficial for our family and the world around us.
Senses of peace, excitement, and joy arrived with the decision to focus on Professional Kim 4.0. Now, the work has begun in earnest, revamping websites, re-envisioning goals and missions for existing trade names, and playing with an all-encompassing business card…
Wise: Happiness…
Continue to embrace the mantra, “Happiness is right here, right now.”
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Day 19
Healthy: Last spring, following a barnyard romp and preceding a picnic lunch, my friend whipped out some new hand sanitizer. Now, being a good mom, I was in the habit of drenching my children’s hands in alcohol sanitizers after allowing them to pet, prod, and stroke farm animals and before those same fingers began grasping cheese sticks and Cheddar Bunnies. On that spring day, rather than squirting stinky alcohol goo on little hands, our friend spritzed her offspring with the yummy smelling CleanWell.
We have never looked back. We are officially CleanWell addicts.
I am grateful to have discovered a product that keeps our family healthy – safely and greenly. On the rare occasion now when forced to partake in the old alcohol sanitizers, my stomach turns from the stench and my hands long for the pureness of CleanWell.
Wish I had stock in the company, as our family has helped fuel the fires of addiction to CleanWell, converting friends and acquaintances on a daily basis.
Give it a try – you won’t go back!
http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/
Wealthy: Our kids are colossal wasters of food. Alas, the blame rests squarely on my plate. Since birthing these little wonders, I have shunned the “clean plate club” with every fiber of my maternal being. These children of mine would learn to listen to their bodies. They would eat to satiate hunger rather than to empty a plate (or platter, if we happened to be dining in any of our fine chain restaurants where the servings are of equine proportions).
At home, we eat on salad plates, and the dinner plates from our set are used as serving platters. Dessert is not held hostage to forced consumption of those last bits of broccoli or pieces of pasta. Of this I am proud.
On the topic of food waste, I feel no pride. Upon closer inspection, it appears the problem could be mediated through the reduction of portion size and simultaneous offerings (7 Fruits + Veggies a day are great, but suppose they do not all have to be served concurrently).
I will not force, pressure, or bribe the kids into eating anything. However, I can dish out yogurt in ¼ cup servings instead of dumping a whole cup into a waiting dish (which is done, honestly, to save the time necessitated by refilling).
Tomorrow, I vow to dispense whole wheat bagels one side at a time, to split slices from one apple between the two kiddos, to serve frozen blueberries in ¼ cup portions, to find a use for those orphaned pizza crusts…
Wise: I have been reminded by FlyLady. I have read books by Peter Walsh and Julie Morgenstern. I have purchased systems from Target. I have spent hours perusing the Apartment Therapy and Real Simple websites.
Despite these Herculean efforts, there remains only one surefire way to insure the dishes are done, dried up play dough is retrieved from beneath the kitchen table, and the cat’s litter box is free of visible poo.
My solution, the only saving grace standing between our home and domestic anarchy, is to throw the doors wide open. Yup, the vacuum cleaner pretty much only emerges when company’s arrival is imminent.
Thankfully, we find many a festive occasion (traditional and of our own invention) to welcome friends and family into our home. In exchange, I get a double shot of happiness – joy of good company and peace from calm, reasonably clear surroundings.
Of course, after our company leaves, the real work begins…attempting to account for the 64 juice boxes that a dozen children managed to hide throughout the house, in various stages of fullness and inversion. These are the days…
Take good care,
Kim
The Healthy, Wealthy, + Wise Adventure – Days 17 + 18
Healthy: Flaxseed Meal as Substitute – grain + eggs…
I am just getting back into the groove of incorporating flaxseed meal into more of our baked goods. When our 5-year-old was a babe and ready to expand her diet beyond breastmilk, every baking experience was an opportunity to inject super healthy extra ingredients. Then along came her little brother, and lives got busier with twice as many kiddos, more activities, changing work schedules, and on and on. Somewhere along the way, the addition of those healthy extras slacked off.
Well, now I am recommitting to healthy extras, beginning with flaxseed meal. Ready to go at a moment’s notice, the flaxseed meal has a place of honor on the top shelf of the fridge door, prepped for action in its easy-to-open-and-dispense mason jar.
Our flaxseed meal enjoys walkabouts as a substitute for a portion of a recipe’s whole wheat flour, and also in lieu of some or all eggs in a concoction (1 heaping Tbsp flaxseed meal + about 1 Tbsp water whipped together into an egg-like consistency). Bon appetit!
Wealthy: Paper Towels + Trash Bags – be gone!
A few months ago, we began an experiment in trash. The large kitchen garbage can was relegated to the shed (not quite ready to part with it), and in its place a small trash can moved downstairs from my office. The goal of this experiment was two-fold: reduce the amount of trash produced and eliminate the need to purchase garbage bags. The experiment has been a mostly resounding success. Having a smaller receptacle has caused us to reevaluate what can truly be recycled (recently learned the plastic bags from our frozen veggies got a green light from the recycle bin). Kudos for getting a little greener, not only for the planet, but also for our wallets. Cannot recall the last time we paid for garbage bags, as our grocery bag collection suffices. Someday, might opt to go bag-free and just empty the refuse into our outside bins, but not there just yet.
Speaking of permanently removing items from the shopping list, in addition to garbage bags, paper towels have become black sheep on our shopping trips. We have almost exclusively replaced paper towels with cloth wipes made from cut-up old t-shirts, sweats, and burp cloths. The wipes live in baskets right next to the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and my husband has finally stopped asking for paper towels. The wipes even get used for poopy dipes, though I admit sheepishly they are tossed instead of washed after use. Guess I am not quite so green after all.
Wise: A little focus, a dash of prep…
Within the past 2 days, I have stood on the precipice of royally botched recipes. Yesterday, I chatted with a friend on the phone while making a carrot cake. My brain, apparently incapable of managing the two fairly basic functions simultaneously, opted to double the recipe. This would be great if the entire recipe was doubled, a real movement toward “feed the freezer” mentality. Unfortunately, I doubled only the flour. And the carrot cake mix was already at the brim of my stand mixer. And I was out of eggs. And cinnamon.
This morning, the kids were helping prep a cornbread to accompany our new tomato lentil soup recipe. Our old cornbread recipe always gets doubled, as the original makes only an 8×8 bread. So off we went, softening the butter, creaming with the sugar. When it came time to add the cornmeal, we had only 1 cup, but needed 2. Hmmmm. Opted to reduce the whole wheat flour and milk, but still ended up with what will be a very buttery cornbread. Hopefully this works in favor of the cornbread. We shall see, as it is still baking.
For me, the point is with a little focus and a dash of preparation, these minor kitchen fiascos could be avoided. Now that I think of it though, avoiding all recipe mishaps could make for some boring epicurean times. Think instead I shall embrace the unexpected and get creative while still attempting to keep the pantry stocked. There is a fine line between frustration at having a recipe ruined and delight at creating a new, improvised version. Trying to walk the line…
Take good care,
Kim
