Earth Hour

Power's out!  Use Candles!

Earth hour is tonight.  We are going to play Beacon’s Wanted.  It is like hide’n go seek in the dark.  The seeker has to yell out “Beacon’s wanted!” and then listen for animal sounds that the hiders are making to find them.  Before Earth Hour I am going to do my homework before it gets dark, and do a loop craft while we have sunlight coming through our windows.  My mom and I went around the house to unplug everything that have lights that stay on when they are plugged in like: the microwave, the coffee maker, the alarm clocks, the portable heater in Jill’s room and the computer speakers.  There are lots of electronics plugged into power bars.  A teacher at my old school said that power bars slit up the electricity so that one thing does not get all of the electricity.  We turned off the power bars so everything turns off at the same time including the power bar light.  We took out the battery charger that was finished charging the batteries out of the outlet.  The bread maker was already unplugged and the fish tank still doesn’t have a heater yet or fish.  I remembered to turn off the propane heater because it takes electricity to blow the warm air out. During earth hour we won’t use warm water because it takes electricity to warm the water up.  We couldn’t unplug the refrigerator, the oven, washing machine, the deep freezer and thermostats.  Our house uses electricity not gas to heat it, so we are going to turn down the thermostats for that hour.  We are going to eat dinner before earth hour so we won’t starve and we are going to use candles and make a campfire to warm up our toes.

By Hannah

Food Waste Friday and Loot Bags arg!

Every Friday we are going to join the “Food Waste Friday” Blogger’s and post what food is inedible.  I feel frustrated when food goes bad.  We work really hard to pay for food; we have a combustion engine transportation system that gets it to our stores, and wonderful grocers who work hard on supplying the food.  It takes a lot of energy to get food from the ground to our plates, and it bothers me that at the last link on the chain of command that I have failed to get it to our family.  

The Frugal Girl  invites us to share our waste, so we will be motivated not to waste it.  Please share your gripes, so that you will be motivated to eat those leftovers, cook appropriate sized meals, and not let those veggies get ignored in the bottom drawer.

This weeks food waste consisted of some cookies that I over baked.  I tend to do this with sugar cookies...they never seem quite done and then when they cool they are burnt.  I do it every other time! The popcorn was overcooked and we ate what we could but didn't want to break a tooth:) That green slop was another soup catastrophe, red lentil soup that the vegetable broth had gone bad and I poured it in only to realize after.  Perhaps not rushing should be my new mantra in the kitchen?

The second part of this post is about loot bags from birthday parties...I didn't get it as a child and I really don't get it now.  I don't think any parent enjoys all the little trinkets all over their home, the extra unnecessary candy, the little plastic bags etc.  I am guilty as charged as well.  The only difference is that I send all of the junk back lately.  Last year when we were preparing for a move I collected all the trinkets from every room and threw them in a homemade pinata.  I purchased a couple bags of pokemon cards at the thrift store for the boys...so the whole thing cost $4.   We have always used brown or white paper bags for the kids to decorate as one of their crafts as well.  It never fails that one child at the end comes up to say they can't leave until they get their loot bag....so I point to the bag in their hand, grin and let them know that that's it.  This year we have collected enough of those little plastic bags to hand out and get them out of the house.

I have challenged Hannah and Adam to plan her Birthday Party this year on a $0 budget using ingredients to make treats and cake, regular homemade pizza dinner, a sleepover, perhaps geocaching again or some kind of outdoor running game like kick the can and board game tournament before bed.  We originally said only a couple friends, but now that she is at a new school and has been invited to many it's hard to not reciprocate. I hope the parent's at this school will be as welcoming as the last when we requested previously loved toys, games or something that they made.  It was awesome.  There was a lot more thought put into the gifts with scrapbooks, containers of homemade cookies, recycled box robots, gift cards to go to the movies or certificates for playdates and sleepovers.  It was so nice and I think the parent's appreciated it too.

Wandering

Another horse that Hannah found for Jill
she plays for hours with these 3

I have always boasted about not liking to go shopping.  I think the main problem with shopping is that I have no self control.  I got into a lot of trouble when I worked for a major department store during high school and university.  They put the attendance swipe machine in the women’s department, so that most of the employees had to walk through all the clothing to get to their departments.  I worked in the linen and bathroom section and it took me a long time to stop obsessing over how towels get folded in our linen closet here at home.  I can’t shake the perfectly made bed issue but I am working on it!

I never thought I would ever buy a stuffed animal for my children but here it is Abby Caddaby who I thought Jill loved after seeing Seasame Street Live..she chucked Abby out of her bed to play with cat!
Picked up awesome MEC waterproof mitts for next year at $3
piece and tupperware for our never ending battle of keeping up the dishes.

Two very different  inspiring ladies

The store I worked at was also located in a mall.. doom do doom doom… chaching!  For that very reason I never got a credit card then, besides the one for my store (bad,bad idea too).  I swear every payday I took at least the minimum amount and gave it right back to them.  Most months I owed more than I made.

A little out of date but still sends
the right message! Save, save, save!

Since then I have wised up and don’t spend more money than I make…but here’s the problem now.  I don’t make any money…so don’t spend any more than Adam makes I guess?

I had a discussion with Adam last week.  Even though I constantly come home with little things that we will need in the future I am saving money (for the most part) by getting things before we need it.  Take Hannah’s soccer cleats, I found a pair at Boomerang Kids last week for $6, if I left it up to Adam he would be rushing to the nearest Sports Store 10 minutes before her first game and buy whatever fits.  I guess this is not such a great example though, because she wasn’t with me and I bought a size too big…now I am on the hunt for a size 1 not 2.  They will be ready for next year, so she better want to play again J  Another, issue is that Adam notices what books I bring home for the kids… and sometimes we already have them.  My problem is that I find a wonderful, well written, award winning children’s book I have to snatch it up for one of my friends from my BA program.  Seriously they are all pregnant right now, popping them out every 3 months or so.  Who calls dibs on Blueberries for Sal, Good Night Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Guess How Much I Love You this week?

Back to shopping, now that I have two children, shopping gets split into two categories:

1-with kids, max 15 minutes, and a verbal warning about whining

2-no kids, min 15 minutes just to relax and wander around aimlessly

  

Hannah is modeling her favorites from a bag of second hand clothing she received from

a friend in our old neighbourhood. We don't do well in changing rooms so trying stuff on at home and passing on the one's that are not her style is my style.  It was St. Patrick's Day so she danced to Lord of the Dance 

for hours in the top right outfit.  Thanks Tina!

I really don’t like this no buying new when I have the kids in tow.  It frustrates me that what I am looking for nobody is finished with it yet and has donated it the day before I came out to get it!  I guess it doesn’t work that way, so now I tend to make Adam stop when we are out together as a family so I can run into the store with out the girls.

I never thought to check if the pump works..no wonder
someone donated it :( Plus the French bread tray was in the bag when
we picked up the banana tree.

Now we have two bathrooms to
clean our teeth, yeah for more sinks
to wipe out!

This was in a Martha Stuart magazine that I had
ripped out years ago...cheers to the mom
that made it for her girl! (not me)

Our neighbour passed on some board books,
destroyer Jillian still gets to read these in bed and
is cautioned when using the paperbacks..she rips
books if no one is looking!

Banana Tree

More Fairy Books for Hannah

Curbside Find:  I had been looking for one
for awhile...now Adam has to figure out
how to get my machine inside
(those curtains are still waiting to be made,
3 months and counting)

My friend Jo found this at Sally Ann's for me. It
matches the set of wall sconces I already have from
Partylite. Candles have been my go to relaxer the past
few years, sometimes you just need to focus your thoughts
on nothing!

So if you are going to go out and shop for your family's needs, leave the kids at home and browse around the consignment shops, Sally Ann's, Value Village etc.  There are no annoying executives making the staff tend to your every need and pressure you to buy. Relax and wander for awhile!

Erin

Food Waste Friday

Every Friday we are going to join the “Food Waste Friday” Blogger’s and post what food is inedible.  I feel frustrated when food goes bad.  We work really hard to pay for food; we have a combustion engine transportation system that gets it to our stores, and wonderful grocers who work hard on supplying the food.  It takes a lot of energy to get food from the ground to our plates, and it bothers me that at the last link on the chain of command that I have failed to get it to our family. 

The Frugal Girl invites us to share our waste, so we will be motivated not to waste it.  Please share your gripes, so that you will be motivated to eat those leftovers, cook appropriate sized meals, and not let those veggies get ignored in the bottom drawer.

Another bad food waste week in this home.  I want to say that I don't know why we have so much food waste, but I do.  I keep purchasing vegetables that I wish my family liked and would eat.  Adam and Hannah are not big root vegetable eaters nor do they like zucchini.  Since there is no packaging on these foods I buy them hoping I will follow through with a special recipe.  I had purchased the eggplant again to make ratatouille which I love.  I had first had it homemade from a business called Supperworks a few years ago.  It is a business where they do all the prep work for homemade meals and you assemble them.  For a nominal fee you can even have them assemble them for you.  I love all aspects of their business except for all the plastic ziploc bags in the process.  I am sure that you are allowed to bring your own containers if you prepare the food yourself.


There is a new book that I would like to find used or at the library by Jonathan Bloom titled American Wasteland. I think it will give us the extra kick to plan more effective meals and less ignorant of this issue.

Food Waste Friday and Groceries

Every Friday we are going to join the “Food Waste Friday” Blogger’s and post what food is inedible.  I feel frustrated when food goes bad.  We work really hard to pay for food; we have a combustion engine transportation system that gets it to our stores, and wonderful grocers who work hard on supplying the food.  It takes a lot of energy to get food from the ground to our plates, and it bothers me that at the last link on the chain of command that I have failed to get it to our family. 

The Frugal Girl invites us to share our waste, so we will be motivated not to waste it.  Please share your gripes, so that you will be motivated to eat those leftovers, cook appropriate sized meals, and not let those veggies get ignored in the bottom drawer.

            Here is the last two weeks of food waste, we had an extremely busy week the week before last and had the grandparent’s baby-sit for us during Hannah’s winter holiday.  When Grandma comes to visit she brings along lots of treats for Hannah and Jillian, and made us dinner all week!  Adam was in heaven, his mom asked him what he wanted each night before she left and brought it the next day.  We were so thankful for the help, but did have all the accompanying garbage from convenience food and lots of leftovers.  It was a much needed trade off.

Hannah gets a hot lunch once in awhile at school, and one day she decided not to eat it.  They come in either recyclable or compostable containers...the popcorn bag was courtesy of my mom when she babysat one night

fuzzy muffins

I always forget to put the eggs shells in the composter.  Hannah

                                                                                                           

Fruit brought over by Grandma that got forgotten about in the bottom drawer.

An avocado I had big plans for...I had never bought one before and didn't realize how quickly they go bad

As for groceries, we finally found La Trappe De Fromage store near Hannah’s gymnastic centre.  It is so much cheaper to purchase cheese right from the source rather than the grocery store, plus we found a butcher across the street.  I had to warn Adam that his favorite cheese needs to last at least 3 weeks...lets see if he can curb his snack addiction.   It seems like we are buying groceries everyday from different sources to reduce our garbage.  The main problem we have right now is although Bulk Barn does not have garbage plastic bags and are recyclable, I still feel guilty.  I know that there are bulk stores that have compostable bags, but they don’t have enough selection.  My favorite bulk store is a place called La Foret in Wakefield, where we pick up our laundry soap, dish detergent, tea, olive oil and maple syrup.  We can use our own containers, mesh bags or their compostable ones.  Bulk Barn won’t allow you to use anything but their bags.  There is also a bakery that has pizza sticks and they are delicious! (Hannah) 

the most expensive item is the powdered milk, a staple out here
without a convenience store for miles.

We have to be really careful right now with our budget so I am going to have to get Adam to do even more stopping at grocery stores in the city for fruit.  It is getting a little out of hand but don't want to discourage the children from choosing an expensive apple vs a couple of cheap cookies.  I found out this week that we have a budget for food the same amount that people can get for food stamps based on an article Katy at the Non Consumer Advocate passed on.  I wish that I was more organized with a list and weekly menu when I head into a store to stay on budget..but I am just happy to sometimes find the motivation to go into a store!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                               

Borrowed and Used Deals!

I have had the fortune of not needing to buy some items for around the house because I have managed to borrow these items, or have something given by a family member who didn’t need it anymore. Our good neighbors down the road, who have lived in this rural environment for some time, have some of the things I didn’t already own, but needed out here at our new place. In our living room the ceiling is about 18-20 feet up and there is a light up there in the middle, so I borrowed our neighbors extension ladder to get up there (we were down to 1 light left of 4). I was able to borrow a roof-shovel-on-a-pole as well to clear the large loads of snow from the roof.

My Aunt Heather was very kind and generous to give us a Stihl Chainsaw when we moved up here as well. The chainsaw, obviously, has made tree removal easier. I was using the old axe method when I put in the kids play-structure, which was exhausting and overall very dreadful.

In the late fall I decided I wasn’t going to pay someone to clear the snow from our laneway this winter, like the past owner had done. He told me he paid someone $1100 per year to plow it. I decided to use the $850 we got from selling our 106” projector screen and projector that didn’t fit the feel of our new house, to buy a snow-blower. I researched usedottawa.com and kijiji for a couple of weeks looking for something with a big enough motor, not too old and a good make/name. I found a sweet Craftsman 15.5hp Briggs and Stratton machine with a 32” cut. Perfect. It was 2 years old and owned by an older couple that had gone to Florida the year before for the whole winter, so it only really had a year of use. They told me it was professionally serviced each year and they also gave me a lifetime supply of shear pins that they accidentally ordered. They gave me the manual as well and in it was the original receipt because it was still under warranty; I looked at it and saw they had paid $1950 for it on sale! What a deal. It runs like a dream, does the job and makes the past owner look like a chump for wasting all that cash on plowing. I spent less on a super-snow-blower than he did for 1 year and this machine will last 20 years, I bet.

I think this qualifies as the “Used Deal of the Year”. If you have some delusional thoughts that you might have gotten a better deal than I, then write it down and I will judge the “Used Deal of the Year” Champion. Get your not-even-close-to-mine entries in now for the chance to have a very biased judge chose a winner!