Buy Local and in Season

One of the frugal and green hints that almost all blogs, lists and books bring out is to buy local and in season. Rarely did they tell me what was in season where I live. I know I *should* know what is in season but I don't. I found this site and now I know! Hurray!

God Bless,
Christy

The 80's had Reagonomics we have Reconomics

Reconomics? Yes, if you have ever bought something used - book, car, or house you are a reconomist.

The Reconomy is good economy. Good for the planet, good for the pocket book. Recycle, resell, reuse, rehab. Buying, selling, donating and sharing "gently used" items rather than always going for the brand spankin' new gizmo or gadget.

The Reconomy also promotes simplicity. By getting rid of the stuff you don't want or need anymore through selling, donating or sharing your life becomes simpler.

Not only does each item that is reused, recycled, rehabbed and or resold help both parties it one less thing that needs energy to be produced, it reduces the size of your personal environmental footprint and one less thing landing in the landfill. I love reconomics!

This week I was a reconomist in the following way:

• gave my sister all my leftover diapers for her babies
• bought Christmas flannel sheets from the Salvation Army to make into gift bags
• purchased a red hat lady book from a rummage sale for a 40th BD gift for a friend
• found 3 bags worth of stuff to donate to the Goodwill
• bought Ellie a pair of army pants from a rummage sale
• refilled and refrigerated numerous water bottles from the tap
• took the leftover broth from my mom's beef and noodles home to make soup (there was a half gallon of delicious broth which she was going to pitch.)

How about you?

The reconomy is economically frugal, environmentally friendly and really rather fun!

God Bless,

Christy

Bargains for the Groom and their family

Skip the rental shoes - why? they hurt like the dickens, cost about $10.00 and NO ONE will notice they are wearing their own comfy black dress shoes.

Buy your tux at Mens Warehouse for about $199 if, like my husband you have 5 daughters and 3 sons who may be getting married eventually. Dad doesn't have to match exactly does he? Nope!

God Bless,
Christy

Freecylce Yardsale

I was meandering around the frugal sites and happened upon a post about having a Freecyle Yardsale. Brilliant I say. I do not have the time, energy or umpf to post often to freecyle but I have tons of stuff to get rid of. This lovely lady suggests posting to all local freecyle groups that you are having a freecyle yardsale and then after having ruthlessly gone through your house haul it out to the driveway and wait and watch as people come. Once you have gotten rid of a lot of your excess it is easier to be frugal when your house isn't cluttered.

God Bless,

Christy

A little here, a little there

A little here a little there, that is a great mantra for so many things.

• Reuse plastic baggies.
• Instead of buying video games that your kids will beat in 2 days, borrow from the library.
• When shopping, just say no to one item that is frivolous.
• Drink water with your meals, at home and out - better for your health and save bundles.
• Drive less, take public transportation if possible, bike, walk - better for your health, the environment and your pocket book.
• Buy clippers and cut your husband and boys hair, your daughters' too if you dare.
• Squeeze every fiber out of clothing that is stained and not donate-able. Cut it up, use it for cleaning cloths or for personal care cloths. When it is nothing more than shreds, compost it.
• Unplug things, lots of things, like your microwave when not in use or the lamps in the living room and especially your cell phone charger.
• Keep your lights off in the day time.
• Buy in bulk - less packaging and usually cheaper.
• Bring your own bag to the store. Saves the environment and you get some use out of those bags you have hanging around.
• Pack your lunch. Even you - you know the sahm's - you save a fortune, calories, the environment AND if you bought your food locally you are supporting your local economy.
• Park in the shade. Not only is it more comfortable to get back into it also decreases the amount of fuel you lose to evaporation AND requires less a/c when you get back in - saving you $$.

I have literally hundreds of these tips. Maybe I will organize them into some sort of useful post. Or I won't. We'll see.

God Bless,

Christy

Frugal Hacker

So, I signed up to be on the Frugal Hacker Blogroll. I have never done this before ... I admit I am a little nervous that this site is not frugal looking enough. We shall see. I think that it should be based on the fact that we are a family of 10, living on 1 income and always have. My posts give others a little look into our world. We'll see. I also pledge, ( does that sound good) to post more frugal posts. Pledge, hmm is that too much? How about if I promise real nicely?

Here is my tip for tonight: reuse all your bags. Not just the obvious ziploc kind. I mean your bread bags, pretzel bags, cereal liners - anything that HAD food in it will be safe for short term food storage. I have to admit my kids think I am nuts - I have bags hanging all over the place because I rinse them out and hang them around. This not only save the environment a little but it also saves on purchasing ziploc baggies. What do I put in them you may ask - snacks for the road, leftover tomatoe halves, sandwiches to go, really anything that isn't going to leak.

God Bless,
Christy

Chicken Enchilada Lasagna

OK, I have to admit this will be a crap shoot. Sometimes when I make dinners up they are really good and sometimes we have to get carryout. I am hoping for really good. I vaguely remember watching Emeril make something similar - but that was a long time ago, it was late at night, and I don't have a bunch of prep cooks.
Anyhoo, this is what I did...

1/2 chicken breast cooked and cut up tiny - looks like more
2 cups shredded mexican cheese, divided
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4-1/2 cup cottage cheese (I used up what I had)
1/4 cup sour cream
2 TBS or so of cumin
salsa - canned mexican tomatoes would have worked better I think but I don't have any
Green Enchilada sauce
flour tortillas (if I would have had corn tortillas this would be g/f)

Spray a smallish rectangular pan with cooking spray. Mix together everything BUT 1/2 cup cheese, 3/4 can sauce, and tortillas. Put in a layer of tortillas - rip to make fit. Then put half of mixture over and then another layer of tortillas then mixture then tortillas finally top with rest of Enchilada Sauce and cheese. Cover with foil cook @ 375 for 20 minutes, remove foil, cook 10 more minutes.

How I adapted it for Joe:
1 egg, beaten
cheese (rice)
chicken
salsa
cumin
enchilada sauce (I forgot to save some for him - will next time if it is good)
crushed tortilla chips
tortilla

spray a single serving corningware thing with canola spray. Put in 1 tortilla like a cup. Mix the rest and dump in. Cook along side main meal.

Why is this frugal? because I fed 5 people with 1/2 a leftover chicken breast, the rest of some odd bags of cheese, my remaining cottage cheese and sour cream, stale tortilla chips and a can of enchilada sauce I had laying around, and some funky fruit salsa leftover from Dougie's graduation party - I bought nothing new to make it. Love it when it turns out!

here's hoping this is edible!
God Bless,
Christy

update: It tasted delicious but I needed to cook it 30 more minutes, I think I will add a 2nd egg next time to hold it together more, oh and definitely let it stand about 10 minutes to what do you call it? um gel? Joe loved his meal also - he has many food allergies among them milk.

Bags from shirts - baggy-shirt.com

I found the most amazing idea - bags from used shirts. These are super simple looking and if you had even the tiniest amount of sewing ability it would work. Check out Baggy-shirts.com .
According to the website they:

Purchase recycled men's shirts obtained from warehouses of surplus goods collected from charitable organizations - no petroleum-based materials.
Use the entire shirt - absolutely no waste.
Prevent clothing and tens of thousands of paper and plastic bags from going to the landfill each year.
Employ LOCAL artisans to fabricate bags at home, slashing carbon emissions by 80% to 90%. No overseas manufacturing.
Pay our fabricators a livable wage that is above average for the industry.
Operate with the least possible amount of negative environmental impact – we ship Internet orders in recycled and recyclable materials.
Donate a portion of our proceeds to organizations that work to stop global warming.

God Bless,
Christy

Sushi - yummy!

Here is a picture of the rice seasoning and a sushi rolling mat in case you wanted to see them. I got them at Woo's Oriental Store but I bet you can find them at your local Asian store.

I could live on Japanese food - sushi, sashimi, maki rolls,dons - yum yum yum. My kids also love rolls. (all but Josh and Sylvia but they will eat katsu or teriaki chicken so they love going to sushi) What is a cheap meal for 1 or 2 becomes a little salty for 10 so I taught myself to roll California Rolls - that is right I can make maki rolls but can't hem - hmmm - things that make you say hmmm.

Anyhow, I was thinking a little maki sounded good but didn't have all the ingredients for a california roll but had fresh asparagus, cucumbers and leftover sticky rice. The makings for a delicious roll. I can't explain how to roll but go here and they have good directions.

I will however tell you my ingredients.

1 bowl leftover sticky rice - put a little rice vinegar in - you can add a pinch of sugar but I didn't

Big shake of Wasabi fumi furikake rice seasoning stir into warm rice

1 steamed in the microwave asparagus spear

1/8 cucumber sliver with seeds cut out and skin removed if it is waxy

1 sheet of nori (shiny side down)

oh, and don't forget the wasabi and the soy sauce (g/f of course)

I have always made this with a bamboo sushi rolling mat which you can buy in the oriental section of Walmart by the teriaki sauce.

Lay nori down, top with rice mixture, asparagus, cucumber and roll up. Cut with sharp wet knife, serve with wasabi and soy sauce. Yum!

Happy Eating!

God Bless,

Christy

Sew yourself a morsbag and save the world

OK that might be exaggerating a bit, but I don't know. Don't all us earthy crunchy types love to do these things? FYI, I cannot sew. I have a lovely machine I got for Christmas 18 years ago and have only made 1 pair of toddler pants. I just don't get it. I have taken lessons 3 - yes 3 times and still cannot hem a pair of pants. Yes, I am 5 foot tall, thankfully clothes are made now for short people. It wasn't so easy in the olden days not to be able to hem. Yes, my name is Christy and I cannot sew.
HOWEVER, I think I could do this. It is just a bunch of straight lines. I am going to try. I will post a picture if it turns out - or if it doesn't you all can see how craft impaired I am. I am hoping to make a bunch to use as Christmas gift bags. Just need to find some material at a garage sale and I am set!
Go here for a tutorial - pdf, or word do or even an animation of how to make a morsbag.
God Bless,
Christy

South Side Farmers Market

I did it, I ventured forth to a rather scary part of the Fort this morning. Why? Because I wanna be green. And the best way it seems is to buy local, organic food. The Amish don't have much yet and besides I was in the mood for an adventure. What fun! This place has been here since oh I don't know before my dad was born. It seemed like a cross between a farmers market and a flea market. I love flea markets so it was like a double bonus. Did I get any great deals - no. Definatly not unless you count the 2 Valentines plates I bought for my plate collection. Was the selection good - fair not good.,but I think this will improve as the summer moves on. Were the people friendly - absolutely. Will I be going back??? You bet! I wouldn't miss it for the world!

South Side Market is on Warsaw Street between Rudisill and Pontiac. The hours are from 7am -1am on Saturdays in the summer.

There is also several amish places much closer to home, Schmuckers on Doty Rd. (quite large with a great selection. Everything isn't "theirs" but they let you know if it is. As you drive around in the Woodburn, Harlan, Grabill area you will run into many more. I am grateful for the choices. I hadn't thought of these Amish stores as 'farmers markets' but duh! Of course they are! Just not as fun as South Side!

The moral to the story - get out there and hunt for your local stores and markets. It is like I tell my family: I am saving the world one organic strawberry at a time. or reused ziploc baggie, or not using paper plates etc, it is how I am saving the world ONE thing at a time! What next? Public Transportation. I have to drive 6 miles to catch a bus to the other side of the Fort. Is it worth it? I wish I had a reason to go now just to try it out. Wish me luck - I am a total wimp.

God Bless,

Christy

Ham and Cheese Strata

Original Ham and Cheese Strata
12 slices bread, cubed
2 cups shredded cheese2 cups cubed ham
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 9oz pkg. thawed brocolli
1 2oz jar pimento drained
6 eggs
3 cups milk
tsp salt, dry mustard
Grease 13x9 baking dish. Layer bread, cheese, ham, onion, brocolli and pimento. In bowl combine eggs,milk, salt and mustard. Blend well. Pour mixture over bread mix. Refrigerate at least 6 hours. Heat oven to 325, bake 90 min. (check for doneness) Let stand 10 minutes.

How I made it today
1 loaf g/f rice bread cubed
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 lb sausage cooked and drained
1 orange pepper diced
1/4 cup diced onion
1 2oz jar pimento
6 eggs
3 cups milk
(I forgot the mustard and salt)

Both ways are delicious. This is a fabulously forgiving recipe. Any bread products work, I usually use sausage instead of ham. I rarely use the broccoli because I don't keep it on hand but another vegetable works as well like asparagus or peppers or mushrooms. I only use pimento if I have it, I think it is more for color than taste. Any kind of shredded cheese works also.

Spicy Peanut Sauce

(I usually double this batch)
1 1/2 Tbs. creamy peanut butter
2 Tbs. vegetable oil (I use coconut oil)
2 Tbs. reduced sodium soy sauce (regular makes it too salty according to the original recipe but I always use regular)
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. rice vinegar (or distilled white)
1/2 tsp. sesame seed oil - dark if possible to find
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Stir together in small pot and warm until ingredients are well mixed.

We eat this over sticky rice but the recipe can also be used for chicken satay.
My family absolutely loves this. My dear friend Laura gave me the recipe and an authentic Asian Hat looking thing to cook the rice in.

I never got the hang of it but love love love my rice cooker.

Wonderful way to get groceries cheap in these hard times

Angel Food Ministries


I have to admit that I am unsure if I qualify - money is tight but not "that tight" to warrant help. But the website says it is for anyone. For $30 you get a predetermined grocery list that is worth about $60. There is meat, fruit, veggies - a wonderful assortment. Click on the link to see if there is an Angel Food Ministries near you. Let me know what you think!

OK I am so bugged

This evening my 2 big kids - 19 and 17 went and bought a couple of dogs. They had only permission to buy 1. 1 for the son who is moving out in August. Not for the daughter who is severly allergic. Now I am the BAD GUY. I won't let them keep the 2nd dog because a. they didn't have permission, b. I am allergic, Cassie is allergic, Joe is allergic (they suggested I get shots so they can keep the dog - I DONT THINK SO!!) c. Sylvia loves loves loves dogs. She will get dog all over her and want to love on me thereby transferring said dog dander. d. did I mention they didn't have permission and were trying to pull one over on me. e. I am afraid of dogs.
gggrrrrr It might take awhile to get over this. I know they are very very angry with me. I wish they could see how they made this situation happen, I didn't. They both knew if they had asked I would have said no. So, they just didn't ask.

Fun Meme, consider yourself tagged!

ABC, easy as 123...
(I found this on her blog)

A is for age:42
B is for burger of choice: Lettuce tomato ketchup mustard cheese
C is for what kind of car you drive: Yukon
D is for your dog's name: read K
E is for essential item you use everyday: toothbrush
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Monk
G is for favorite game: Euchre
H is for Hometown: Fort Wayne
I is for instruments you play: none
J is for favorite juice: Blueberry
K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: My kids for buying 2 dogs today without permission and now they are mad at me for not letting them keep them both -sheesh, like I did something wrong.
L is for last restaurant you ate at? Lone Star - 2 thumbs down, bad service, bad food
M is for your favorite Muppet: C is for Cookie Monster!!!
N is for Number of Piercing:2 - 1 for each ear although my ears are so sensative I can't wear earrings anymore
O is for overnight hospital stays: hmmm 9 kids, tonsils =10 for me, 4 months with Luke
P is for people you were with today: my sisters
Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read, browse the www
R is for biggest regret: Not saying sorry enough
S is for status:Not sure what this means, how about married
T is for time you woke up today: 9:00 (it is Sunday)
U is for what you consider unique: my sense of humor
V is for vegetable you love: asparagus - made my way
W is for worst habit: eating when stressed
X is for x-rays you've had: 10 maybe more
Y is for yummy food you ate today: Ham sandwich on organic bread with cranberry mustard, sprouts, spinach, tomatoes and tortilla chips -yum!
Z is for zodiac sign: Taurus

Tag to anyone who wants to play!

Pure Fashion Photo

Looky there I made it bigger! (so what if I used a different pic! LOL)

(I can't seem to make the picture bigger ... any ideas?)

I know this is late, but on May 3rd my daughters Katie andTessa participated in the annual Pure Fashion Show. in Fort Wayne Indiana. This was Katie's 2nd and Tessa's first time. The absolutely fabulously studdly man is my husband. This was his 2nd time. My oldest daughter was a participant for 4 years. It has been a beautiful way to teach modesty not only to my daughters but others as well. If there is one near you, run don't walk to sign your high school aged daughter up!

Pure Fashion is an international faith based program designed for girls 14-18 to help young women re-discover and re-affirm their innate value and authentic femininity.
Pure Fashion is a character formation program that enhances not only a young woman's external appearance, but more importantly, her interior beauty and balanced self confidence.
Our goal is to emphasize a young woman's inherent dignity and therefore create in her a desire to dress and act in accordance with that dignity. We understand that many young women today are losing their sense of innocence at a very young age, and Pure Fashion aims to reverse this trend by offering a fun, exciting and effective virtue formation program that can impress the hearts and minds of young girls at a very critical stage in their lives.

Pure Fashion is an Apostolate of Regnum Christi.

A thoughtful post on the Candidates

Two Ways of Seeing Babies

Wonder who to vote for?

A fabulous article from the National Catholic Register.

Graduation

Today was my oldest son's last day of high school. He could conceivably never ever take another class in his life. Sigh, it also means that I have a child out of school. Gasp, the horrors. Am I old enough? I don't feel it. Is he old enough - certainly. He is such a man. A wonderful man who is loving and caring, hard working, honest and an all around great kid --oops I mean man. I know he is itching to move out - we keep a pretty close eye and grip on our kids. He wants some freedom. I don't blame him, it is time. His mommy is just not ready to let go! I hope to get a picture to put here of him all cap and gowned. A milestone in both his and our (dh and I) lives. The time has gone so fast I can hardly believe it. Wasn't it just yesterday that I sat outside the preschool for an hour and listened to him cry when I left? No? Where oh where did the time go??
God Bless,
Christy

This is an even better picture of "What My Husband Does All Day"

I wish I had a picture of him on the phone - he spends a lot of time fielding calls and putting out "fires".

Wanna See What My Husband Does All Day??