There are things that everyone knows hippies do. They eat organic, they reuse water bottles, they recycle, they wear their hair long, and they do yoga. Then there are things the hardcore hippies do. They cloth diaper, they drink kombucha, they boycott Amazon and Walmart, and they don’t shave. So what kind of person refuses to use paper for anything but writing and drawing? That is too much for most of even the hardcore hippies. Today I’m going to show you how to switch away from paper products for hygiene. Are you ready?
Tag: frugal
Bedwetting and a diaper cover tutorial
Today I want to share with you a diaper cover tutorial for cloth diapers. According to Pubmed, many children still wet their beds at age 5 more than 6 times per year. My daughter A is one of them. Every morning that she wakes up dry, she gets a sticker on the calendar. Last month (February) she got 19 stickers. So far this month, she has 9 stickers. This means she has an accident approximately 1/3 of the time. This month, she was sick for two of those wet nights, and she is on a five day streak right now. I have told her that once she goes a whole week staying dry, she can wear underwear to bed. Continue reading “Bedwetting and a diaper cover tutorial”
Let’s join a (non-violent) riot!
I have really been an emotional roller coaster these last two weeks. Our new president frightens me so much and I have been alternating between weeping in depression and fear, and getting angry and taking back my power (and therefore being productive around the house). My Facebook feed has turned into a political forum. Gone are the LOLcats and kid pictures. Everything is about our president and his hateful, planet-destroying behaviors. In response I’ve decided to become a revolutionary and (re-)join a riot. Continue reading “Let’s join a (non-violent) riot!”
Drying apples in a dehydrator
This week, I dried apples for the first time. This is a simple preservation technique, and I’m not really sure why I never did it before. I wanted to make these delicious sounding Apple Pie Caveman Bars from Civilized Caveman, and it called for dried apples. I actually looked for dried apples at the grocery store, but we didn’t find any. Then the light bulb kicked on and I remembered that my dehydrator was actually meant for drying things, not just making yogurt. Continue reading “Drying apples in a dehydrator”
Making yogurt in the dehydrator
My husband loves his yogurt. He loves it so much that he makes it himself and eats nearly a quart each day at work. Yes, a quart. He credits it with curing his persistent toothaches and with boosting his immune system. I’m not sure if others have similar results, but he has definitely noticed an improvement. Today I am going to walk you through how we make raw milk yogurt in the dehydrator. It is only one of many ways, but it works very well for us. Continue reading “Making yogurt in the dehydrator”
Chicken Pot Pie {Recipe}
What could be better on a gloomy fall day than chicken pot pie? Especially if it is made with your own chicken. This is a recipe that is fairly simple to make, and tastes oh so good. It is perfect for potlucks, too. Continue reading “Chicken Pot Pie {Recipe}”
Processing pumpkins – What to do with them all
Despite my not planting any, I harvested a few pumpkins this year from my volunteer garden. Since the killing frost a few weeks ago, they have been sitting on my counter taking up space and waiting to be processed. Today I finally got around to tackling at least some of them. I started with three large pumpkins, two small pumpkins, and a Hubbard squash. The three large pumpkins are now in the freezer as purée, ready to become pies. Continue reading “Processing pumpkins – What to do with them all”
Apple Crisp Pudding {Recipe}
Last month I bought a bushel of Cortland apples that were on sale from a local orchard. My kids were in an apple phase, when they would eat apples faster than I could bring them home. Of course, the moment I brought home a whole bushel, they lost their ravenous appetite for apples. So now I had a huge bag of apples just sitting around, waiting to be eaten. They got bruised as we moved them hither and thither in the kitchen since they had no assigned home. Finally, I took the whole bag and sorted it by whether they were bruised or not. There were at least three times as many bruised apples as not. So I began doing what any sane person would do. I started making apple crisp pudding. Continue reading “Apple Crisp Pudding {Recipe}”
Ben’s Beans and Rice {Recipe}
When we first started dating, my husband cooked beans and rice for me while we were out on a picnic. Over the years, this has become a staple in his lunch box. It is simple to make and inexpensive. This recipe will make 6 man-size lunches, or probably 8-12 family servings. This is a great stand alone meal because it has protein, carbs, veggies, and fat. Continue reading “Ben’s Beans and Rice {Recipe}”
Electric bill sticker shock
The other day we received our electric bill for last month. It was a bit of a shock, and I went into panic mode for a while. I hadn’t looked at the bill itself, just the amount due. We have set up automatic payments, and I received an email saying that a partial payment was scheduled. That meant the bill was over $150, which is the highest automatic payment we had authorized. Our last few months of bills have been right around $120-$130. This time the bill was $170. Now, I accept that we are a large family in a large house and therefore consume more than your average electricity. On top of that, I am a stay-home mom, so I usually use electricity during the day. Usually it is laundry, cooking, or computer use. Continue reading “Electric bill sticker shock”