2014 Simple Living Goals

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas surrounded by loved ones. It was nice to have a relaxing day. I kept loosing track of time. Luckily I remembered to get the turkey on in time!

The old year is coming to a close. A new year opens up like a clean page waiting for us to make our mark. As I reflect upon what impact I want to make on 2014 it gives me a chance to see what my current priorities are and what priorities may need to change. There are so many good things to do or to be. The challenge is to figure out what are the best things to do or be. A talk that was given my a man named Dallin H. Oaks entitled Good, Better, Best, sort of sums up how we need to view how we spend our time. What is best is different for everyone. We all have unique circumstances and need to figure it out for ourselves.

This year my family is going to make preparedness our focus, both financial and food storage.

Our Goals

• To have one years worth of food storage. My church has been advising us to do this for years. My parents always had a huge food stash and though I do have food on hand, it is not a years worth. Since being married we have collected some things but never made it a priority. This year is the year.
• To have 3 months of costs saved up. This means to cover our current financial obligations (mortgage and normal bills). For us that is around $9000. I know that other sites/experts recommend 6 months, and we do want to get there, but we need to think smaller for now. Saving up this money was really brought home when we had an unexpected brake repair that we were not completely prepared for. Man did we feel the pinch. I do not want to feel that again.

The more prepared you are the easier it is to help others and not worry about material things. These goals will hopefully help us reduce our consumption, think about purchases and plan ahead. I will let you know how I am doing.

Have you done food storage or a savings goal? What did you do to be successful? What are some of your simple living goals for 2014?

Christmas Is Here!

 Well, I can say without a shadow of a doubt the Christmas season is truly upon us. Last week was a whirlwind of ballet recitals, skating parties, and a kindergarten Christmas serenade. It was not definitely not a slowdown type of week, but it was fun!

On Friday my sister came over and taught me how to make homemade caramels. They are going to be gifts for my daughters' teachers. Man are they yummy. I think I will have to make another batch this weekend. Delectable. The recipe came from the Betty Crocker's Big Red Cookbook. You can also get the recipe here. Even though the recipe says to cut them in 1" squares, I would not make them that big. They are so rich, smaller is better.

My oldest daughter and I then wrapped them up in foil. I hope the teachers like them.

 On Saturday we got a steady falling of snow. In the morning I braved going out to run a few errands. I would say over the course of the day we got about a foot of snow! It meant a lot of shoveling, but I don't mind that. I like shoveling the snow. It is a full body workout. It is also nice and methodical, walking back and forth and throwing the snow on an ever increasing pile. My kids love climbing the snow mountains. Their winter games are so much fun.

 Sunday was spent getting ready for my middle daughter's Christmas Craft Day! She wanted a play date with a few of her friends. So I decided, why not a craft morning and treat day. All the crafts were really kid friendly and the treats were yummy. A big shout out goes to pinterest for some of the craft ideas. I tweaked them slightly, but it was great fun. The kids had a blast and the other moms had a great time too. It was a check for the awesome mom list. We need those every once and a while.

 Of course now my older daughter wants a craft day with her friends. I think I will want until after Christmas and then figure something out. It is hard having multiple kids, and making sure that they each get to do something fun. Of course they never remember all the great things they get to do when they see their sibling doing something fun. It can be frustrating, but I love them and we will work things out. Do any of you have ways that you keep both kids happy and feeling the love?

 Here are some pictures of the treat table. I made the flower arrangement myself at a church activity. It looks pretty nice for a first attempt if I do say so myself. The pine is real and smells heavenly! Also, here is a view from my wintry backyard.

Have a very Merry Christmas next week. Enjoy this time with family and friends! I will see you Boxing Day!

THE JUNK - Time Waster No More!

Though this might not deal with de-cluttering a space per se, a planner is an essential tool to de-clutter our time and prioritize where are energies will be focused.

I am really good at organizing big life events. Vacations, camping trips, birthday parties, baby blessings, are all planned to the exacting detail. My own day to day life... well that is a different story. A whole week can go by and I don't do any of the projects I wanted to do. I then get frustrated that they aren't done and that I have wasted a weeks worth of time. The old saying, "out of sight, out of mind" definitely applies to me. As well, let's admit it. It is much easier to sit and be lazy than to have to actually move and tackle a mountain of work.

Well, my planner has changed that. I am still not perfect at using it, it is only useful if I know where it is, but I do get a lot of things accomplished when I actually use it. Even just seeing the cover is a reminder to me to get off my duff and do something. It is my one stop shop for helping me feel organized, well organized with my time, remember don't open up any of my closets.

Planners are not a one fit all type of tool. There are so many on the market that you have to find one that really fits you and your lifestyle. A planner can be a purchased book, a high tech gadget, or a simple piece of paper outlining your day. It can be divided into hours, days, weeks etc. It can have spots to put your goals, or addresses or notes, or just simply be for organizing your time. The combinations seem endless.

I prefer something tangible that I do not have to rely on my computer for, so a purchased book planner is the one for me. Since I am not super busy everyday. and don't want to feel compelled to do household items at a certain time, I do not need a planner that divides my day up by the hour. So, I get a planner with a week spreading over two pages. It is nice to see a week at a glance.

The planner I use is called the Polestar Family Calendar. My mom started using them over twenty years ago and every Christmas she gives me my own copy and I love it! Each week starts with Monday and then each day is divided into three columns entitled family appointments, meals/kitchen, home. There is also a places in the margins for a to do list and a to buy list. These make it easy to plan meals and household tasks, especially since the shopping list is right there. There is also a month at a glance at the beginning of each month, which makes it nice for writing goals for the month and things around the house that need to get done that month. (I am not getting any kind of compensation from polestar calendars. I just really love their product!) 

A planner is good for people who are not list people. Just schedule things into your day. It is not a list, just appointments with yourself.

So, whether you like planners or not, they can be a useful tool to organize your thoughts and make your dreams into realities. It is essential to find a planner that fits you and your thought process, but for me the Polestar Family Calendar fits the bill. It helps me organize my life and and helps me know that I do have things to do and not just empty swaths of time. A planner is a wonderful tool that helps me live my simple life. 

Finding Contentment

I was talking with some friends the other day. They alluded to having a sense of not being happy or full of joy. They desired and craved after this but felt it was not coming to them. As we were talking this thought came to me. If we can't be joyful or if we don't know what will make us happy, we need to settle for being content.

What makes us content is different for every person. Some people find contentment in a nice herbal tea, or a good hot shower. For me being content is having a roof over my head, food in my belly, clothes on my back and my family safe and sound. Anything more than that is an added bonus. The more we find contentment in our small simple blessings the easier joy can infiltrate our being. If we are always discontent how is joy going to dwell there?

As we continued talking it also became evident that feelings of discontentment creep in when we compare ourselves to others. Comparison can be a good thing when it lifts us up to do better without feelings of guilt or discouragement. Yet, what we usually see from others has elements of falsehoods or untruths. People do their best to present their best selves. I know I want to present my best self (so when you come over to my house please don't open closet doors, an avalanche might fall on you). On blogs we never see the failed attempts to get things perfect or the practice it took to complete a craft or sewing project or whatever. We don't see the mountain of dishes in the kitchen to produce a yummy meal, or the other household tasks left undone or stories to children not being read as we do our other projects. We just see the end result that is usually picture perfect. We can't compare ourselves to these misrepresentations or feel we are not good enough if we can't replicate it on our first go. These are impossible ideals. So if you use comparisons make sure they drive you to reach to be better, not lead you to despair and self-loathing.

I think a lot of these joyless feelings come from the stress of perfection which we know is an impossible ideal. And this idea of perfection comes from comparisons, as illustrated above.

One way I get out of my joyless funks is by being kind to others. It feels so good and satisfying to do something for someone when they can't do it for themselves, or even when they can. Being able to be that helping hand means you are of worth and of value. And I think everyone wants to feel of worth.

Of course feelings of unhappiness could be symptoms of something more serious and appropriate counseling my be needed. But, in both cases, a general joyless funk, or a mores serious situation, a loving support system is so important. When you are able to surround yourself with love it makes even the darkest sky seem a bit brighter. It makes it easier for you to get your contentment back.

So, I hope during this time of crazy consumerism and holiday parties and festivities, you are able to take a moment to reflect on what makes you content and focus on that. This contentment will carry you through times when joy seems like an impossibility. When you feel really content joy is but a step away.

The Junk - Clothing

I don't know about you but clothes seems to always be an issue in our house. I just can't seem to get a handle on it. Laundry getting in the hamper is not usually an issue, unless my girls decide under the bed is better than the hamper. The problem is once the clothes are washed and folded, they just don't seem to want to back in the drawers from whence they came. So they end up as piles on the floor that get knocked over and mixed up.

Then, there are the outgrown clothes. Since I have all girls I save all the still nice looking clothes to pass down the line. So, I have totes with labels of different sizes, which house the said sized clothes. Not a problem. The step that seems to be crazy is I will wash the clothes that need to be stored, and somehow instead of ending up in the tote, the end up back in the drawers. And then, I get to deal with them all over again. It seems to be a vicious cycle.

I am still coming up with a sure fire method to this clothing madness. There are some tips that have helped me. Here they are.

1. Minimize the amount of clothes

We live in a time where clothes are fairly cheap. I can buy shirts and pants for $4. As well, they are making kids clothing so darn cute that you want to buy everything you see to make your child the cutest ever.

Another problem, is that many of us don't know how many articles of clothing our children actually need, so we keep buying because we figure that they need it. My brother in-law sat down and made a list of the bare minimum his kids needed to get through the week/seasons. I have tweaked the list a little to better suit my children, but it is nice to have a starting point. The following list is for girls, but it will give you an idea of what you need and should be fairly easy to change to make it work for boys.

• 1 Snow Suit
• 1 Spring/Fall Jacket
• 1 Rain Coat
• 1 pair Winter Boots
• 1 pair Rain Boots
• 4 Shoes/Sandals (this include running shoes, and dress shoes)
• 2 Winter Hats
• 2 Mittens
• 2 Summer Hats
• 2 Bathing Suits
• 1 pair Sunglasses
• 7 T-shirts
• 2 Sweaters
• 7 Long sleeved shirts
• 1 Nice White Shirt
• 5 Pants
• 4 Skirts/Dresses
• 5 Shorts/Capris
• 8 Socks
• 8 Underwear
• 3 Tights
• 3 Warm Pyjamas
• 3 Cool Pyjamas

This doesn't mean that you can't have more clothing, but hopefully this will help you avoid buying clothes unnecessarily.

2. Don't store totes in children's room

Part of my clothing in tote problem is that sometimes the totes are in the girls' closets. It is nice to have them close to where they will be needed, but at the same time, you can open them and not close them properly, or you might just place the clothes on top instead of putting them actually in the tote, or the kids are napping and you don't want to disturb them so you end up not putting the clothes in the totes at all.

It is much easier to keep the totes in the garage or other storage area that is independent of the children's room. That way they are still easy to access, but they are not dependent on the rooms being unoccupied. Also you will actually lift the lid and put the clothes in the tote as you don't want clothes randomly floating around with power tools.

3. Help children put away clothes or at least be in the room with them

You may not have to do this with older children, or teenagers, but with younger children it is essential. I know that my 6 year old can open the drawers of her dresser herself and that she knows which drawer each different item goes in. But, if she had a choice between putting her clothes away and playing with her toys or coming up with a cool game with her sister, well I think we all know what she will do.

By being in the room you can encourage, help if needed, and make sure they haven't missed anything, before the playing starts. You may think that there are other household chores you could be doing at that moment, since it seems redundant to be sitting there but, if you don't want to have to deal with THE JUNK that is clothing, it is worth the five minutes.

So hopefully some of these tips will help you tackle THE JUNK of clothing. I am still working on other ways to keep the clothing at bay. If you have any tips or insights let me know!

Homemade Granola Bars

I know this is not a normal posting day but I had two people in the past 24 hours ask me about home made granola bars. So, I figured that it was sign to do a post about it.

As part of my crusade to create a more simple life I have come to the conclusion that I need to make more things instead of buying them. One of those things are granola bars.

Ah yes, the granola bar. The thing you grab in the morning as a quick breakfast as you run out the door or get lunches ready for children, or you are making everyone else's breakfast. A lot of the store bought ones are dry, too sweet, or full of ingredients I don't know how to pronounce. They also cost a bunch. I knew I had to make  my own. That way I could stretch my dollars and provide something for my family that was healthier and not so full of unpronounceable ingredients.

So I turned to the glorious internet to solve my problem and I found this recipe. This was a great base but there were somethings I wanted to change, so I did. I was able to tweak it to meet my families needs and likes. This is such a versatile recipe. If there is something you don't like, leave it out, if you want to add something go ahead.

So the following is my family's version that I love. And, most importantly, my husband and children love. I hope you love it too. The only negative about this recipe is that it is so yummy you will want to eat the whole pan! (But is that really bad?)

In a large bowl combine
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpose is fine)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup chocolate chips (it is a heaping cup full)
2 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp raw pumpkin seeds (I sometimes leave the seeds out, my four year old is not always partial to them)
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp sea salt (I usually just measure it in my 1 tsp measuring spoon and have just a bit less than full.)

In a smaller bowl combine
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 banana mashed
1 egg, well beaten
2 tsp vanilla

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until mixture is moist throughout. Put into a greased 9"x13" pan and bake in a 350F preheated oven for 24 minutes. These freeze well, though we usually go through the pan before freezing them would be necessary.

Tips

• put ripe or over ripe bananas in the freezer. You can put them straight in, no need to wrap them. The peel will turn brown, so don't worry. When you are ready to use them just set them on the counter to thaw, in a pinch you can thaw them in the microwave. The banana will turn squishy and will be easier to mash. It eliminates waste and helps you always have bananas on hand for recipes.
• If you don't want to use bananas you can substitute applesauce. I use 1/2 cup of applesauce. I prefer to use the banana because the granola bars seem more moist, but sometimes I forget to buy bananas and replenish my freezer supply.
• The original recipe called for honey. I prefer to use maple syrup. You can exchange maple syrup for honey in any recipe using a ration of 1:1. I buy my maple syrup in 4L bottles from the mennonites who live around Waterloo. If you can't find a bulk supplier in your location, you can use the honey or another type of liquid sweetener, you may just have to play with the amounts.
• If you buy bulk maple syrup you can store it in the freezer with no ill effects. I usually have two 4L bottles in my freezer at any given time and then I use them to refill the bottle I keep in the refrigerator for day to day use.

The Junk - Loot bags

Kids seem to come with a lot of junk. Everywhere you turn kids get more and more junky toys and crafts. Restaurants, community activities, school, and the notorious party loot bag. Oh how I loath the loot bag. Tiny plastic craziness.

Now don't get me wrong. I love bringing joy to children with a loot bag but, the cheapy stuff from the dollar store that breaks, doesn't work well and just plain sucks... NO THANKS! (I love the dollar store for many other things.)

It was refreshing to me when my daughter came home from a birthday party with a tomato plant seedling. The party was held in mid-march and the seedling was an inch or so high. My daughter watered it faithfully. She made sure it had enough sunlight and, when the time was right, planted it into a bigger container for the summer. She watched in anticipation as her plant continued to grow and thrive. She squealed with delight when the yellow flowers appeared and was in awe when she saw the green tomatoes start to ripen.

This simple loot bag idea kept giving and giving. It showed thoughtfulness, as the birthday parent would have had to start the seeds in advance of the party, and it taught their own child about gardening and seeds. Super awesome! My daughter was thrilled with the plant and didn't come home asking, "where are the toys?"

My last loot bag was homemade play dough and chocolate. (Two of my children have birthdays in late April. Hello Easter candy sales!) Both items are consumable and will not add to "the junk". (If the play dough was not wanted it can be put in the compost or a green bin as it is homemade.)

So this is my plea. Say no to the itsy bitsy toys of plastic. They may look cute but they really suck. Kids love them, parents don't. They add to the clutter of our homes and the clutter of the earth, as they are most likely to end up in the landfill. Quality is much better than the quantity of toys. Give loot bags that will give an experience. Though the tomatoes are gone, the memory of the plant is still there, and my daughter is already planning our garden for next spring.

The Junk - A Series

Some people get drawn to the simple life because it promises a life of less stress, less clutter and more meaning. There is not excess. Things are bought with a purpose in mind. Things are kept because they serve a purpose.

Right now I feel like I am drowning in clutter. Perhaps drowning is a bit over the top. You will not find our house on a hoarders episode. However, the clutter that is around the house makes me feel stressed and not happy. If your belongings are not adding to your happiness, then what is the point of them. (I am talking about the extra things that you don't really need, not about the stove or sink, those are necessities and if they are not bringing you happiness then that is another issue all together.)

For me, I don't want to go completely minimalist. I just want less junk in the house. I want what is in my house to have a purpose and be beautiful. If I want to sew things at my sewing machine I don't want to have to move piles in order to do it. I don't want to have to move things around to set the table for dinner. When it gets to that point you are not happy. The stuff is becoming a barrier for you to be able to do the things that interest you and that you enjoy. If you have to move stuff out of the way to sew are you likely going to sew? I am guessing the answer is, no.

Over the next few weeks I will have a series of blogs that relate to "the junk". It will deal with things that create clutter or is clutter. The posts will commiserate with you as well as give you hints on what to do or how to manage things differently.

I came to this idea, because I am ready to pare down and get rid of the stuff that is preventing me from doing what I would love to do. Before I was giving myself excuses, "you just had a baby" or "wait until you have money for more organizing materials" or "I don't know where to begin". Well no more. My husband and I had a powwow session and decided that we need to be adults and just do it. Make the goals have the follow through and just do it. So we are doing it.

I am by no means an expert, but hopefully by writing my experience as I go through my stuff it will help you as well. It will definitely help motivate me.

So de-clutter "the junk" from your life. What tips do you have? Is there a room in your house you are loathe to go through?

Tacos With A Twist

I love tacos. I could probably eat tacos every other day and be satisfied with life. Well, maybe that would be going overboard, but I love them. I love the spice of the meat, not too spicy, enough flavour and warmth to be delightful. The crunch of a taco shell is music to my ears.

Unfortunately taco shells have fats and lots of carbs, and not low glycemic carbs. This is usually not a big deal. When I was pregnant with kiddie number three I developed gestational diabetes. I was put on a low glycemic diet, which totally helped keep my sugar levels under control, but it meant I was on a very restrictive diet (at least restrictive to me). No taco shells. Oh the horror!

That's when I discovered brown rice. I made a taco salad mixed with brown rice. Super yummy and good for my sugar levels. Even though my body is back to normal, well, my blood sugars are at least, I still make it. Right now I don't have the organization for starting the brown rice early, so I have been using Uncle Ben's microwave brown rice. 90 seconds and done. I know it is not ideal but as established before, times and seasons!

So try brown rice next time you are planning tacos. It is nutritious and delicious. A perfect combination.

Here is the recipe for my Taco Meat seasoning.

1lb or so hamburger, browned
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
2/3 cup water

Mix all together in a pan. Let mixture come to a boil. Then, simmer until water is mostly evaporated.

Perfection - an impossible ideal

I find in today's society we want everything to be perfect. Our floors and counters need to be spotless. Our place mats and table wear need to match. We look for the most unblemished fruits and veggies. It is truly a preoccupation. We forget the wise words of Ms Frizzle from the Magic School Bus when she says, "take chances, get messy, make mistakes." (My kids have been watching a lot of Magic School Bus lately. Thanks youtube!) Where does this need for perfection come from? I wish I knew.

I am a planner. I love to know what is coming up, what is necessary to get ready or pack. When we go on trips everything has been planned months in advance. I make packing lists, snack lists, menues, figure out where the closest laundromats are incase we need to wash stuff. Hotels booked, routes made. It is a well oiled, military precision system. Things still can go awry, but on the whole we are able to do and see everything we would like too.

My mother is the complete opposite. If she feels like going to Alberta, the next day she is gone. No pre-booking motel rooms or campsites. Things always worked out. So it makes me wonder, where does my need to plan and have a perfect holiday come from? Is it worth the stress? Would I enjoy the family time and be more present in the moment if I was a bit more relaxed?

The drive for perfection comes at a cost in our lives. The cost is happiness. We get so stressed out it is hard to see the happiness and joy that is around us. Who cares if the cake doesn't turn out perfectly. It is still going to taste delicious. (There are a lot of cakes that look perfect but don't taste very good.) Now I am not saying we should set standards for ourselves and strive for excellence. But, if that gets in the way of joy, of being present with our families and making them feel important and loved, then really what is the point.

The most important thing to do is to be trying our best with where we are in life. Right now I am trying to make as much as I can from scratch. If I decide to buy a store bought pizza crust instead of making my own from scratch am I a failure because I am not living up to my ideals? Of course not. Sometimes the day turns out differently than planned. Nap times don't always come at convenient times. We just roll with it. Someday that pizza crust will be made from scratch and it will be awesome. Until then do what you can do.

Right now for me, I hate making up salads. Washing the lettuce and dicing the other veggies is not what I feel like having to do along with my other dinner prep. So I buy pre-made salads in a bag. Gasp, boo, hiss. I know it's horrible, but, right now I am not at a place in my life where shredding and dicing is an option for me. It stresses me out. I am sure later when my kids can start using knives it will be better because they will be helping me with the slicing and dicing. Trust me, eating pre-made salads is not my ideal but it is what I need to do for now. It helps bring the stress level down and more harmony in the home.

My mantra of late has been "times and seasons". That is what life is, times and seasons. Don't give up, keep trying and it will become your time and season. We just have to accept that we can't do everything all at once, but in time and at the right season I can have what I would like. I would love a toy free living room, but it is not my time or season yet. With three children under the age of six, toys in the living room is the reality for now, but it won't be forever. Another example is crocheting. I have been knitting since I was three but could never get the knack of crochet. Finally at age 28 I sat down with my mom determined to learn and bam! it happened. It was finally my time and season to know how to crochet.

So don't strive for perfect, you will get stressed and defeatist. Your desire and will to try anything new will dwindle, as you will want to be able to do it perfectly from the beginning. Instead strive to be the best you can be in the present moment. Don't beat yourself up about what you used to be able to do in the past or what you hope to do in the future. The present is all that matters and is where you will find true joy.

How to Make a Budget - Tutorial

Everyone processes information differently. Budgets are the same. My husband and I do budgets differently. He likes to download the data every month using a budget program, ex. quicken. He likes making different graphs and he likes to make very specific categories for all the purchases made. I, on the other hand, like using a spreadsheet and input expenses as soon as I make them. My categories are more broad. If it is bought at the grocery store it is grocery, so that would include diapers, serviettes, garbage bags. Otherwise it will go into household, so purchases made at a department store etc. Otherwise I would have to go through all my receipts, itemize every item purchased and recalculate associated taxes. I like doing math, but not that much.

The current spread sheet I use was from the W network money show called Maxed Out hosted by Allison Griffiths. You can still download the spread sheet here. Click on the heading at the top called budget template tool.

I tweaked it to make it work for me. I changed some of the categories, got rid of some added others, made it a 12 month spreadsheet, so I could look at the whole year and see trends, and got rid of the percentage calculations, as that was not important to me. I like this spreadsheet template as a starting point as it is colourful, the formulas are already plugged in for you and at a glance I can easily see how we are doing for the month. You don't need to use the template, you can make your own. This template just helps you think of categories you might not have thought of on your own. It really is the jumping off point.

If you are not familiar with excel or do not know how to manipulate existing documents, go to youtube. There are tons of tutorials that will help you figure it out.

So to the budget!

The first step of creating a budget is to keep track of spending over a period of time. I would say at least 4 months. The longer time you track your spending the more data you have to use. BE HONEST. No one will see it but you. There is no one to please but yourself. If you have a bad spending month, that's okay, just keep going and keep tracking.

Once you have tracked your spending take the averages. These averages will be your monthly budget amounts. So take the average of your groceries, the average of utilities, the average phone bill, the average savings, the average other. Some months our car fuel amount is higher because we went visiting family or went into Toronto for a Blue Jay's game. Keep those higher amounts in your average. It will make your average higher, but if you don't spend the amount allotted you can set it aside and have it ready for the months when you do.

Once you have your averaged amounts for your categories add them up. You now know what your average output is each month. Subtract that amount from your monthly income. Hopefully there is a surplus. If you have a deficit it is time to look at where you can makes some cuts in your spending.

When I made my budget I added and averaged only items that needed to be paid every month such as the mortgage, hydro and phone. That way I knew what I had leftover to use to purchase the non-essentials, like clothes and eating out.  Non-essential things vary from month to month or you may have to save up for some of the non-essential items, like new shoes or house repairs. You can use this leftover "slush fund" to prioritize spending, for either fun or functional, without compromising your necessities of life.

I hope this helps and didn't make budgeting more confusing. To quote Red Green - "Keep truckin'. We're all in this together."

The Best Dessert for Thanksgiving!

I know I said that I would have the budget tutorial this week, but it isn't going to happen. Family life has been crazy and my level of sleep deprivation is at an all time high. I will for sure have it ready for next week.

Since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada I thought I would share what is now my all time favourite Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin Coconut cheesecake!

I first found this recipe in Chatelaine, an awesome Canadian magazine, in their October 2009 issue, I still have the paper copy and refer to it often. You can find the recipe online here. I will also give now below.

My one friend doesn't like pumpkin pie because she doesn't like things overly spiced. She can never tell what the pie will be like as each pumpkin pie is spiced differently, depending on who makes it. She loves this cheesecake though. So, if you are unsure about pumpkin pie, give this a try. Your taste buds will thank you.

from the chatelaine website

Ingredients
Crust

• 2 cups graham-cracker crumbs
• 11/2 cups toasted flaked coconut (I usually use unsweetened shredded coconut, as that is what I have on hand)
• 1/4 granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (no spices added, just pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 8oz. pkg of regular cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. For crust, preheat oven to 325F. Lightly butter sides of bottom of a 10-in springform pan. In a bowl, stir crumbs with 1 cup toasted coconut, granulated sugar and butter until evenly moist. Press over bottom and partway up sids of prepared pan. Bake in centre of oven until edges are golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack. Keep oven on.

2. Meanwhile..., whisk eggs in a large bowl. Then whisk in pumpkin, brown sugar and seasonings. Cut cheese into cubes and place in a [separate] large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat in granulated sugar. Then beat in cream, vanilla and pumpkin mixture... until well mixed. Pour over warm crust.

3. Bake in centre of ...  oven until filling is almost set when pan is jiggled, 55 to 60 minutes. Place pan on a rack to cool. Immediately run a knife around inside pan edge to loosen curst and prevent cracking. When cooled to room temperature refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. Remove from pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut.

ENJOY!

Budgeting - Blah But Essential

This week we had to do $1500 worth of repairs done on our car. Eek! Our emergency savings aren't quite where we would like them to be and so it got me thinking more about budgets and all that fun stuff.

Budgets and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes I am go good at keeping track of my spending, entering the data in the spreadsheet and seeing a surplus at the bottom. I feel pure joy and satisfaction. Other times my budget and I are strangers in the night, passing by but not really seeing each other. Those are the months when I add up the numbers the surplus is non existent...usually inverse of what it should be.

Some people might say, "why worry about a budget. Just stay a float and things will work out. A little debt is not the end of the world." If that sits well with you, than that is awesome. Everyone handles money, stress and life differently. For myself here are my reasons for wanting my budget to be my friend.

Helps me prioritize financial goals
Right now we have a small line of credit, a mortgage and not very much in savings. (We spent a lot of our savings on the down payment.) Having a budget helps me see how much money is going to service these debts (especially the silly line of credit). It shows that I don't have the financial freedom to do other things that I might want to do.

Since I would like to boost our savings to be a 6 month emergency fund and pay down our mortgage faster than 30 years, I can look at my budget see where I can cut back and pay off the debt and build up the savings as quickly as possible. Those are my financial goals at the moment and my budget helps me see that.

Helps me prioritize spending and saving
Right now as long as there is food in my belly, a roof over my head and clothes on my back I am/should be content. But of course, once in a while, I turn into a magpie. I see all these glittery things in front of me that I decide I must have. A fancy apron, cute bowls, an awesome dress, new furniture and the list could go on and on and on.

Having a budget (and not going to the ikea website) helps my magpieness. I know how much extra money we have each month, as well as a list of upcoming renovations, repairs, birthdays etc. Would I rather have a Bosch mixer that will help me make nourishing food for my family or that snazzy new couch? Or, would I rather spend $5 dollars a week on smoothies, or put that money towards saving for said Bosch? (As you can see I really would like a Bosch.) It is all about prioritizing how and what we spend money on. A budget helps us do that. You are in control of where you want your money to go.

Helps gain control of life
I like tweaking the old adage of "money isn't everything" by adding "but it sure helps a lot". When living the simple life, money is not the object of our existence. We want a loving home, real food prepared by real hands, wholesome activities, using things up and wearing thing out. These things don't cost a lot of money, but there are items to purchase that makes this way of life easier. If you are into making bread you need bread pans, a large mixing bowl  and a rolling pin. A nice big stock pot helps when wanting to make soup stocks. If you want to ferment things a stone crock really helps.You may not have them to begin with so you will need to purchase them. Having your budget as a friend helps you set aside the money which allows you to purchase the things you will need and will use over and over again in your simple and less packaged life. You can begin to live and really envision the life you want to lead.

So a budget may not be the most glamourous thing in the world, but, it can be your friend on your journey through life if you let it. You do not need to be an accountant to do it. It does not need to be complicated. Your budget can be what you need it to be. It can be your disciplinarian or your cheerleader. You decide.

Next week I will have a tutorial on how to make a budget from scratch. There might even be ideas that might help you tweak your already existing one.

Indian Summer

The nice thing about living in South Western Ontario is you truly get to experience all four seasons. This year we are getting a fifth, Indian Summer.

The mornings are nice and chill. The afternoons are beautiful and warm. The cornstalks are turning golden, ready to be mown. The forest canopy makes the horizon look like a patchwork quilt with it's pops of red, orange and yellow.

This Indian Summer is giving us our last chance picnics, bike rides, playground fun and warm sunshine on our faces before Winter comes with its bundling and biting air.

Though I do love it when true fall comes, and you smell the earthy fragrance of fallen leaves and the air feels refreshingly crisp, I shall be ever thankful for this Indian Summer and bask in its warmth and beauty.

I hope you are enjoying your seasons, whatever season you may be in.

The Totally Amazing Versatile White Sauce

I love to cook for my family. I like coming up with cool dishes and seeing what they think. In my head my family raves about the amazing meal I slaved over. In reality my husband falls more in love with me because of my impressive culinary skills, while my kids say ewwww!!!! yuck!!!! (I have since taught them to say, "Thanks Mom. What an interesting flavour." For if one says they don't like it then they all don't like it.)

One rule I have when I cook weekday dinners is that it needs to be relatively simple and has to be done within half an hour. With going out to get the kids back from school and then if I have book club or my husband needs to go out to do something or if it is girl guide night, I don't have time to be cooking a meal that will take me an hour to make. (Unless it is the crock pot or something cooked in the oven. Turn on, walk away? Yes please!) That is what I love about this white sauce. It is versatile, it doesn't take long to make and it is yummers.

This is the white sauce:
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small pan.
Add 2 tablespoons of flour stir together until smooth and somewhat bubbly
then pour in 1 cup of milk stir constantly until it boils for one minute. It will thicken up.
Some people may wish to add salt and pepper to taste.

With this base you can make any kind of a creamy sauce you would like. Want to have a cheese fondue, add a cup or so of shredded cheese. Want a creamy curry sauce, use a tablespoon of curry powder for one of the tablespoons of flour. Add dill and pour over salmon and then bake, so yummy. Add parmesan cheese and you have alfredo sauce. So far, these are what I have come up with. The only limit is your imagination!

The Cost of Children

As part of the simple life, cultivating relationships is important. The relationship you have with family, especially children, is key to have happiness.

I was listening to the noon radio call-in show that is on CBC in Ontario. They were discussing the cost of raising children in today's society. Another new study came out with its estimate of what it costs.

The whole premise of the cost of raising children kid of irks me a little. To me, I don't think of my children as coming with a price tag. As soon as you think that, they start to become a commodity with an expectation of a return. Yes, it costs money to feed and cloth them, but even if you didn't have kids food and clothing would still be bought.

One of the callers said she would like a third child but did not want her other two to miss out on the activities that they were already doing. That made me feel sad. Children add so much to the home. That means there is some sacrificing and prioritizing. This woman's priority seems to be of material fleetingness instead of the blessing of having another spirit in her home.

While I was thinking about this whole issue I came up with the concept of the self-absorbed parent. This means putting what they think being a good parent is ahead of what the child actually wants. Parents think that they should put their children in every possible activity because a good parent does not deny any experience to their children. With both parents usually working outside the home, the children at school or daycare, I ask, when is the family time? When is the time for building relationships? We need to have time at home. We need time to eat together, work together, and share values together. If we, as parents, don't take the time to raising our children others will. That means the values we honour may not be passed to or shared with our children.

If we want our children to be kind we need to teach them and show them how to be kind. If want our children to serve others we need to serve as a family.

Now I love my children and want them to have many experiences, but I ask what they would like to do and they have to choose one activity. They can always change the activity each season but they have the choice. It is children led not parent imposed.

I guess that is why living the simple life is so important. It is a mindset of deciding what is truly important in life and making time for that. It is about being creative to attain what you want.

We live off one modest income. I do not feel deprived. We can eat, be warm, have a home. What more could we want. Children want to feel loved and secure. It does not take money to do that. Let's get away from self-indulgent thinking. Have kids, love them. Enrich their lives by spending time together. Don't think of your children as costs, think of them as fun times, learning and growing experiences. Enjoy!

Back to School

Well, the kids are in school. This is the first time in a long time that I have been by myself in years. My middle child has started junior kindergarten. My youngest is napping while writing this. I have time of my own and I have no idea what to do with it. Knowing me I will be so overwhelmed with ideas that I will simply sit on my bottom and do nothing! Man I need some gumption!

I love having my kids go to school. They learn so much, they get to meet so many interesting and diverse people and their teachers are patient with them...ooh so patient. My hat goes off to those parent who home school, I do not have that talent or the patience I am sure it takes. I am often reminded how I am not meant to teach my children academically. It never turns out well. I know that there are many things I need to teach them, but that is another blog post all together.

One thing that I don't love about school is making lunches. The figuring out of what food to feed, what to put the food in, how to keep it warm, or cold. It is a logic problem of the highest calibre.

Because I want to decrease the garbage that we produce I try hard not to buy prepackaged food. Not only are pudding cups or yogurt cups full of things that we probably shouldn't be ingesting, they are also way to big for my kids to finish. It is a waste. So I buy/make in bulk and have my own containers. Even buying containers now a days is difficult. There is so much about plastics that is not good. Now we have to check that things are BPA free, phthalate free, other chemicals I probably haven't heard of free. We almost need a post-doctorate degree in buying safe containers. Perhaps I am going over board and need to relax about it, but, if I can avoid having toxins leaking from containers then I will.

Luckily I found a great company that sells things for litter-less lunches. I was able to get containers that work so well and are completely safe. I am so glad that there are more and more people and companies are realizing the importance of safe lunch packaging. It is nice to support these businesses as their product is of good quality and if we want a change then we need to put our money where are mouth is at times.


What do you do about lunches and containers?

What is simple living?

There seems to be a "simple living" revolution going on. People all over the world are simplifying their lives, or, they want to. But what is it? How do we know when we have reached the simple life?

Some people think the simple life is getting back to nature, living exclusively off the land and using electricity they make themselves. Others see it as not buying the latest fashion or must have gadget. Others see it as being minimalists and to do without things. Others fall somewhere between everything.

All of the above are definitions of the simple life. The simple life is what you make of it and what you see for yourself. I am still working on my definition. I am sure my definition will change as my life does. Right now I cannot do all the things that I want to as part of what I think the simple life is. My reality is three children six years of age and under. My schedule is governed by theirs. I can only get done what I can. Right now, making everything from scratch might not be feasible, but I can make what I can. We are living on one income and land around here is rather expensive, living on acreage is not possible, so having hens or a huge garden isn't in the cards, but I can have a small one. This year my garden was one tomato plant in a pot. (The idea of getting my garden going while I had a three month old did not seem all that great to me this year.)

I think that is the great thing about the simple life. You can mould it to fit your situation. It is an organic thing, not a rigid box you are trying to fit into. It is not an all or nothing obligation. It is about finding out what is important to you and then doing it.

So far my definition includes making what food I can from scratch, cutting down on garbage by recycling and composting, buying quality items, and getting out of the crazed consumer mindset. It also means keeping only the things that are useful and I super duper love and getting rid of the rest. It is hard to live any kind of life when you feel over burdened by what I call "the junk".

I know my current definition doesn't sound too hard. After all, I am not ploughing fields using horses or baking using a wood stove. But, it is tricky at times.

Making cleaners, making my own granola bars, sorting refuse, de-cluttering, thinking of menus and having energy to look after and nurture children all takes time. If we can hold onto our ideal and work towards that, we are a success.

I started the simple life by making my own cleaners. Vinegar is the greatest thing ever, who knew right. It was a small change but if you try too much too fast, you will quit. A drastic change, even when it is for the better, is hard on the system. Slow and steady is a great way to make a change. Once you have one thing down on your list, you can move onto the next.

One thing that I have found hard is to get out of the consumer mindset. My generation has been conditioned to thinking if you need something you go out and buy it, and our definition between an actual need and a want is somewhat skewed. All around us are billboards, flyers, advertisements, catchy jingles, the promises of happiness and the kids (and lets face it, us too) comparing their things with others. It is hard to see something that looks really awesome and not buy it. But it usually ends up as clutter or not being what we thought it was. What a waste, not only of money, but of space and energy.

So welcome to the simple life. The definition of the simple life is up to you. Never feel like a failure if you are not eating your own eggs or not making your own bread. Be happy with what you are able to do now. It is much nicer to be positive about our life and where we are heading. And that's the key we are heading somewhere. We are not stagnant. We are always heading to a place where we can truly become our best selves.

The Awesomeness of the Library

I love to read! The house could be falling down around me, but, as long as I have a good book I'm fine. I love the way a book feels in my hands, the smell they have and the satisfaction of turning the page. Books are wonderful.

When I was newly married I would run out and buy books brand new. I was impatient to read the stories and the library was not yet part of my life. Growing up in rural Ontario, the closest library was 20 minutes away, by car, and was really puny. My house basically was a library. Books lined the walls and their was actually a room that we referred to as the library. There was so much choice, I had no need for any other kind of library. So when I started living in the city I never really thought about the library, or at least not the public one, I lived in the university one for much of my undergrad.

When my husband and I got serious about budgeting I was gobsmacked to learn how much I was spending on books. Especially when I would read them once and, for the most part, never read them again. That is when I got a library card and a whole new world of FREE awesomeness opened up to me.

Libraries are no longer places to sit quietly and be shushed by a matronly librarian. They are truly a gathering place, a place of discovery and fun. Through the library you can download free ebooks and audiobooks. You can learn how to use various technologies in workshops. There are children's programs that are fantastic and all FREE! You can get movies, c.d.s, magazines as well as books. I discovered lots of books with great ideas I could incorporate into my so called simple life. You get to meet people of similar mindset at the library book clubs (where I met 3 of my best friends), children's concerts and more.

It used to be just me and the kids that would traipse into the library every week. Now my husband joins us, usually checking out what action flick is available. It is nice to go as a whole family, to share in the joy and excitement of the library. It sure beats buying our own books and movies and adding them to our already overburdened shelves. There are some books that I have bought after I got them from the library. That's o.k.. I'm not saying you have to go on a book buying hiatus, but, there are some books we don't need everyday and those are the books we can get from the library. As well, it always nice to peruse something before buying.

I do like a look of books on a shelf and I do have an attachment to the written word, but I bit the bullet and got rid of books I absolutely didn't love or books I could easily get at the library. Less stuff to worry about.

So if you haven't been into your library recently, GO! If your library isn't meeting your current needs, get involved, make suggestions. The library is there to serve you and they have the resources and ability to run the workshops you need and get the books you want.

The new library is truly for everyone.

Welcome

Welcome to the world of me.

I am a stay at home mother of three young kiddies. Most days I love it. Other days I phone my husband at work and give him my two weeks notice!

Lately I have wanted to feel more contented in my role as a home maker and feel the empowerment that staying at home and working in the home can give. I get excited when my kids and I work on a project together, or I make homemade jam and the kids prefer it to store bought jam. I want to share that excitement with others and hope to motivate others to break from the mould and grind of our society and slow down, find joy in simple things.

My intention is not to be preachy, make you feel guilty or be a look at me in my domestic goddess perfection. Instead I want to give a new perspective on home making in the present, ideas on how you can do little things to have the simple life you want (even when needing to work 9-5), and to see that perfection is something that happens the minority of the time.

So take this journey with me. After all we're all in this together!