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Consuming Big

One of the problems we face in terms of eco-friendly living is in our nature. The instinct to hunt and gather, to put things away for the winter, to be prepared, to consume big in case there is a shortage in the future. Humans aren’t the only ones who do this, of course. Think of the squirrels who sack away as many nuts as possible to get them through the cold weather. Or think about how some pets will eat and eat and eat until the dish is empty or they become deceased from the excess. There is nothing wrong … Continue reading →

Mega Morning Sickness

Kate Middleton’s baby is due to arrive any day now. The royal newborn will make the Duchess and Prince William first-time parents. It’s hard to tell who is more excited about the impending birth—Kate and Wills or the paparazzi. Middleton is said to be counting down the days to motherhood by clothes shopping near her parents’ home. Her retail therapy is a far cry from her hospitalization for severe morning sickness earlier in her pregnancy. Duchess Kate admitted to suffering from an acute form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum.  The serious-sounding condition can level even the toughest moms-to-be.  Doctors … Continue reading →

Respond Please

I don’t get. What is so hard about saying “yes” or “no” to a party invitation? Especially if the bash is for a child. A young child who doesn’t understand why some of his friends didn’t show up for his safari-themed shindig. Or worse, why some said they’d be there, and then bailed at the last minute. Fortunately, young children are resilient, void of pettiness, unresentful… and easily distracted by cake, ice cream, balloons, streamers and presents. Especially presents. It’s the parents hosting the party who could stand to channel more of that forgiving nature. Of course, I certainly don’t … Continue reading →

Stop Binge Eating – Part 2

Yesterday, I was talking about something I am often guilty of – binge eating!  How do you stop it? One way to stop bingeing is to take smaller bites, enjoy your meal, and extend the time if you can.  Set a timer if needed.  The longer you draw out your meal, the more chance your stomach has to realize how much food is in it and stop you from eating more.  If you don’t believe this, just think back to the last time you eat a lot of food and felt miserable.  You probably ate quicker than your body could … Continue reading →

Seven Ways to Save $1,000 for Your Emergency Fund

Dave Ramsey, financial guru who has helped so many families get out of debt, recommends that most of us start on the path to financial solvency by first saving up $1,000 toward an emergency fund. By having a solid emergency fund, we are less likely to go into debt, should the unexpected happen, such as the home furnace needing to be replaced, the car needing to be repaired, or the experience of a medical crisis. Saving that $1,000 is the first step of Ramsey’s overall get-out-of-debt plan. How can you save that much when there doesn’t seem to be any … Continue reading →

Curvy and Healthy

Lately I have been hearing the phrase “curvy” used more and more. Some say it is just a kind way of saying you are fat. But others believe its time to bring back the old-fashioned way of referring to someone who has an hourglass shape. I think it’s important to get one thing straight. Not everyone is supposed to be skinny. Curves in themselves aren’t bad. But one area that needs to be addressed is the middle. Belly fat is extremely unhealthy and increases the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Although … Continue reading →

Do You Really Want to Know?

I’m old. Consequently, I don’t care about as many things as I used to. Actually, that epiphany was more a result of becoming a mother than simply aging, but there’s a definite connection. I’m old and parenthood has made me tired. Very tired. Thus, I don’t have the energy to care about all the minutiae I did prior to becoming the caretaker of another person’s soul. With that said I’m sure you can guess where I stand on the media hype surrounding McDonald’s move to post calorie counts on the interior and drive-thru menu signboards at each of the company’s … Continue reading →

Taming Never Ending Chores

Some jobs are never ending and laundry is one of those. All we can do is make it as easy as possible so they can be done almost without thinking. I’ve finally gotten my laundry under control and organized to the point where it almost does itself. Not really, but it is faster and easier and seems like less work. I used to do laundry on Saturday, save up all our dirty clothes for a whole week and then waste a beautiful weekend day getting them all clean again. I finally stopped doing that and gained an entire Saturday. The … Continue reading →

Worth Every Minute

After struggling through a difficult divorce, going back to school is probably the furthest thing from your mind. The thought of supporting your children on your own while going to school is almost unbearable. It is incredibly time consuming and expensive, and for a single mom those things just don’t mix. At the time my ex-husband and I split, I wasn’t working and had taken a year off of school to be with my son. I was faced with a difficult decision. Without a college degree I knew that nearly my entire paycheck would go toward daycare for Logan. If … Continue reading →

Homemade Laundry Soap Revisited

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As you may have noticed, I’m always looking to save money. Although I want a clean home and clean laundry, I don’t want to have to pay a fortune for the products to get it that way. I’ve tried just about everything, and now I’m trying the rest of the things. Laundry products are a big issue for me. First of all they come in huge plastic jugs. Yes, the plastic is recyclable but it’s even better to not bring it home. Then once you open that huge jug you are basically washing your clothes in a mix of chemicals. … Continue reading →