Posted on 28th November 2008 by Mish in christmas
buy nothing day, christmas, Christmas shopping, shopping
Today is Black Friday. I just watched a news spot where people actually skipped their Thanksgiving dinner yesterday in order to wait in line in front of a box store and get that thing they want for cheap! I am stunned. In fact, I am stunned every year. I can’t believe what people will go through in order to spend their money. I mean really, if I’m going to stand in line for hours, someone had better be giving me something!
Before you run out the door and spend money on another cheap plastic something – decide if you really wouldn’t rather stay home, enjoy the day with your kids and read a book or watch a movie.
Why? Why avoid the sales and stay home? Well, I believe that by celebrating a “Buy Nothing” day we send a message to retailers and manufacturers that we don’t want their cheap crap anymore. I don’t want my kids to play with it. And I’m tired of it accumulating in my house.
Instead of buying things today – make something. Or check out freecycle.org. Or, if you must go out – go to thrift stores!
Technorati Tags: buy nothing day, christmas, Christmas shopping, shopping
Posted on 24th November 2008 by Mish in pregnancy
first trimester, morning sickness, pregnancy
One would really think that I would be used to the symptoms of pregnancy by now. Really – I mean this is my 8th pregnancy (one ended in miscarriage). You’d think after being pregnant this many times, I would have strategies for coping with morning sickness – which I get all day and very severely – and being exhausted. So far, all I’ve come up with is sitting on the couch with my laptop. Sometimes I lay down and moan.
I do get up to pee a lot – so that forces me to walk past loads of laundry that need to be folded. Sometimes I fold them. Most times I go, “Ugh…later.”
I have tried everything to quell my queasiness – sea bands, ginger root, ginger ale, saltines, dry toast, eating before I get up in the morning, eating protein, you name it.
The only thing that seems to work is sleeping through it – which is not really a possibility with three homeschoolers, expecting me to teach them something and a toddler! Fortunately, my teenage daughter doesn’t require much assistance – except that I’ve agreed to coach her basketball team. I’m hoping it gives me something else to focus on besides how cruddy I feel!
So, let’s see, I’ve been pregnant about 8 weeks now and already I can’t fit into any of the pants I just got back into after having Kiara, I’m exhausted and nodding off at the drop of a hat, the only food that turns me on right now are Rolos, I cry for no reason at all (OK, well, my husband kissing me on the cheek instead of the lips seemed like a perfectly good reason to cry at the time…) and Kiara still wants to nurse which is painful and driving me a little crazy!
OK – I’m done now. Did I mention that I’m really happy to be pregnant and can’t wait for the second trimester to begin? Well, if I didn’t – I am, and I can’t!
Technorati Tags: first trimester, morning sickness, pregnancy
Posted on 23rd November 2008 by Mish in health
carb counting, diabetes, health, type 1 diabetes
I called this blog Organically Inclined back when I started it because I try very hard to do things organically and “green,” but don’t always succeed. However, the one area I thought I had down pat was the frugal area. I have always been the epitome of frugal! I always made the frugal decision. It was one area I in which I felt very confident.
Well, no more! Now that I am the parent of a Type 1 diabetic, I have to tell you that pre-proportioned – well, everything – has become my friend.
Because Alex can only eat two snacks per day that are 15 grams of carbs or less, the nutritional labels on the back of packages are a Godsend. 
I was always anti-packaging girl. If it came in a box, I hated it! I liked snacks that are fresh – and package free. Now, I’m in love with items like individually packaged peanuts, applesauces and string cheese.
Why? Because they are easy for alex to grab and go. And while I know that someday we’ll feel confident enough in his ability to judge a portion size of applesauce out of the jar of homemade, right now – it makes me feel good that he can get himself a snack (he is 12 after all), without “Mommy” having to come and count out the amount of peanuts, or get out the measuring cups for the applesauce.
I still hate the packaging – and am saving all the applesauce cups to start seeds in next February – but for now, while we are still adjusting to coping with Alex’s chronic disease, having some of the little things made easier means a lot!
Technorati Tags: carb counting, diabetes, health, type 1 diabetes
Posted on 18th November 2008 by Mish in miscellaneous
homelessness, miscellaneous
I just wanted to thank everyone at the VHFA who made me feel so welcome there today! Even though my morning got off to a strange start, I heard that my speech was pretty good – so YAY!
Unfortunately, my pregnant brain and I left my books at my house early this morning, so if you would like a signed copy of Without a Net, or Gandhi Was A Libra, please click here and buy one - all proceeds will go to the Vermont Food Bank.
-Mish
Technorati Tags: homelessness, miscellaneous
Posted on 10th November 2008 by Mish in frugal
frugal, frugal tips, nbc, today show
Dear Today Show on NBC:
I am a loyal viewer. I have only two channels – NBC and PBS – so I enjoy watching the Today Show with my morning cup of coffee. Sunday morning (November 9), I sat down for a little quiet and a little weather and news and whatnot. As the writer of a blog on being green and frugal, I was very happy to see that you would be doing a segment on how to save money in these tough times.
Imagine my surprise when you gave us, instead, two beautiful young ladies who told me how to save money by doing some of the silliest things of which I had ever heard.
Cut back on my cellphone service? Really? That’s a “frugal” tip? If I’m that strapped for cash, shouldn’t I give up the luxury of a cellphone? I don’t have a cellphone. I also don’t have a Blackberry. I don’t pay for things that require contracts or extraneous services. Besides, I live in rural Vermont and cellphones don’t work here.
Cut back on my “morning cup of Joe?” My husband and I thought about this. It used to be that a can of Folger’s or Maxwell House was the “expensive” brand of coffee. No one would have considered paying $4 for a cup of coffee every morning. Now, buying coffee out is the norm. Not me! I have a big, old-fashioned coffee maker and fill it up – twice – every morning.
I won’t go through the whole list of silly tips, but what I will say is that the reason people are in the position we are in is because we have been brought up believing that we are entitled to the “finer” things – regardless of our income level. We have been coaxed by marketing and television into believing that it’s OK to buy on credit or that we need more than we do.
Silly little tips on how to save money on manicures or cellphone service is not going to do it. This country needs to go back to the basics. People need to understand that cellphones are not a “need.” Salon visits are not a “need.” Pre-packaged, pre-processed food is not a “need.”
What we need to be giving people tips on is how to start a small garden that’s going to provide the bulk of a family’s produce. Or how to shop for bulk food. Or how to cook from scratch. Do you know how many people write to me and ask me how to make macaroni and cheese from scratch? Most kids that come to my house think mac and cheese comes out of a box – they didn’t know you could make it with real cheese!
Please, concentrate on giving us tips that are helpful. I appreciate wanting to live “well,” really I do, but it’s not until we, as a society, see that hard work, growing food, and saving money is the key to living well that anything will change.
Best,
Michelle Kennedy Hogan
Technorati Tags: frugal, frugal tips, nbc, today show
Posted on 7th November 2008 by Mish in food
bread recipe, bread sticks, food, garlic knots, homemade bread, pizza dough, recipes, wholegrain bread
I’ve actually had a number of requests to post my homemade bread recipe online – so here it is. I vary this recipe depending on what I have on hand – or what I feel like making. You can too! This recipe makes two loaves, but I often forget the Kitchenaid mixer and double or even quadruple it so I can freeze it too.
For two loaves:
5-6 cups of unbleached flour. Or, alternatively, 2 cups unbleached flour, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup whole rolled oats.
1 stick butter, melted. Or 1/2 cup dry milk and water or 1/2 cup milk.
1 tsp yeast
2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon salt
Here we go: (more…)
Technorati Tags: bread recipe, bread sticks, food, garlic knots, homemade bread, pizza dough, recipes, wholegrain bread
Posted on 6th November 2008 by Mish in christmas
christmas, gifts, holidays, homemade, teens
I love creative – and cheap – Christmas gift ideas! So, I spent the morning looking around for some gifts that I could make and give to my teens too. I found some really wonderful sites with some fantastically creative ideas. This, then, is my own little blog carnival of great Christmas Gift ideas:
1. A Scrappy Belt – for teens. This is from the blog Juicy Bits and is such an amazing idea! 
My 15 year old daughter just loves funky belts to wear with those low-rise jeans I love so much! There are a lot of instructions, so visit the site to find out how to do it.
2. Fingerless mitts – these are great for guitar players and any teen who is just too cool for you (that would be all of my teens). I knit these for my teens last year and they loved them, but Elemental Stitches has a great way to make them without knitting – you just need an old sweater or two!
3. A Laptop Sleeve – from Living Creatively. This is a great idea, especially for teens and college students who are always taking their laptops around. Make a bunch of different sleeves in a variety of colors for quick style changes!
Technorati Tags: christmas, gifts, holidays, homemade, teens
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