Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 9, 2010

Thankful Blessed Grateful

It is those days when the tiny mental list of things you wish were different begins to stack up, that you stop, re-collect and remember to give thanks. Yesterday was one of those days and yet I am thankful for:

  • The word toad, because it may just be the best word going!
  • Signs of spring
  • This amazing song by Ivy featured on Grey’s Anatomy
  • The videos that made my mum chuckle! [honestly I don't think I've heard her laugh in a very long time, so it was so incredibly wonderful to hear a faint chuckle for a second or two!]
  • The jobs I applied for – with each application comes hope the next stage is drawing nearer
  • Two more jobs I found!
  • The super seemless transition to cloth toilet paper [a post is coming]
  • The 1.5 hr chat with a friend who rang from 1/2 way around the world, just because!
  • Hot chocolate from Cafe 36 in Exeter (best hot chocolate in the world, hands down)
  • The awesome salads from PLANT in Exeter
  • The sun – which occasionally shines here in England ;)
  • LOST finally back on our screens
  • Tonight’s planned catch up with local friends
  • Beauty which is all around us!

What are you thankful for today? I do hope you feel blessed too!

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 8, 2010

Monday Night Round UP!

Firstly, thank you for all the neat comments on this mornings post! The post ended up being a tad um controversial,  with some friends leaping to my defence, but honestly I don’t think anyone was being judgemental and I honestly welcomed all viewpoints.  I think we can learn a lot by different experiences and opinions and try to always welcome them in the comments or by email.

I agree with some who said like it or not we all make assumptions and we should be aware of them [I really liked your example Shoestring of the little things we assume], but I also agreed with those who said assumptions can lead to misunderstandings. I think assumptions are not synonymous with judgement, in fact my cousin’s wife decided she would tell me she knew I assumed she would breastfeed while no one else in the family assumed she would because they viewed her as different. She then went on to share that in fact I was the only family member and friend she felt was non-judgemental and fully supported her decision to stop at 2 weeks. I thought it was nice of her to remind me that I may have assumed something yet it didn’t mean I judged her. I am, however, going to be very aware of what I assume, try to assume less and make sure it doesn’t come with any judgement. I also think sometimes it can be a good thing to make an assumption - for example that the world is a good place, or that people are kind, or people do good things.  Anyways, thanks for the range of viewpoints, as always I fall somewhere in the middle I think ;)

And…..I made a momentous leap today towards a couple of ideas I said I was interested in. Any guesses??

1. I began using cloth toilet paper!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it, I’ll do a proper post on it soon and I have to admit I won’t be using it for anything other than a tinkle, but wow, it was such an easy change and one I can hardly believe I made!!!

2. I turned the computer off for most of the day and instead got the following accomplished

  • finished painting the bathroom
  • got rid of 2/4 boxes of photographs and organized the remaining
  • decluttered the lounge
  • put a huge box of books together to pack up
  • found two more jobs to apply for over the coming month
  • vacuumed the house

 And that, is the Monday night round UP!

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 8, 2010

Monday Musings – What I assume

On Saturday I sent an email to one of my closest friends who is expecting a baby, I asked her if she had purchased her cloth nappies (aka diapers) yet, suddenly it made me realize I was making the assumption she was going to cloth diaper. I have to admit almost everyone I know in the US, Canada and the UK does, but statistically speaking most people don’t. It made me think about what I assume based on my simple, green, downshifted existence.

I assume people
:: Use cloth diapers and cloth wipes
:: Breastfeed (or try) and make their own baby food
:: Love long walks (until a friend told me today walks are boring! lol)
:: Get their 5 a day every day
:: Love veggies, specifically brussel sprouts ;0)
:: Are on the waiting list for an allotment if they don’t have one already
:: Don’t smoke
:: Drink water
:: Read the Guardian
:: Practice forgiveness
:: Give to the poor through chosen charities monthly and in times of disasters
:: Enjoy reading
:: Would rather spend less money so they can work fewer hours and give more
:: Would prefer not to shop, run errands or buy “stuff” at the weekends
:: Want pets
:: Believe in a national, free health service
:: Think racism is abhorrent
:: Are interested in self-sufficiency
:: Use eco-friendly products
:: Turn off lights
:: Conserve water
:: Give generously to friends, family, those in need
:: Support adoption and/or would adopt themselves
:: Use kind words
:: Don’t raise their voices
:: Are honest
:: Are genuine
:: Don’t gossip
:: Have traveled and lived in other countries
:: See the value in playing an instrument and speaking a second language
:: Listen to Radio Four,  CBC or NPR
:: Believe in something
:: Aren’t scared by differences or new experiences

And there you have it, those are my assumptions!
Do you assume anything? What made you realize that you do?

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 7, 2010

Reclaiming Simple Sunday

:: good grub

:: seaside home dreaming

:: merry music making

Peppered with some
:: Praying
:: WatchingNicholas and Alexandra. [What is it about those Tsars?]
:: Resting
:: Jumping for joy over this! Well done G7, well done!!
:: Swooning - recipes, cookbooks, food magazines –  inspiration galore!
:: Contemplating – cloth toilet paper…..?!
:: Corresponding – via the ancient art of letter writing!
:: Radio listeningRadio 4 and CBC (Canada) always get the vote!
:: Vitamin taking – remember that book? As a result I’m a 6 vitamin a day pill popper.

And there’s also a whole lot of nothing going on - in the words of Pa Larkin  – it’s perfick!

How is your Sunday shaping up? I hope it is simple, relaxed and reclaimed?

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 6, 2010

Rockin’

I was going to tell you about how I have completed four application forms, although only have a shot of 3 of the positions. Still 3 is good. I was going to tell you about a lovely simple day. But I can’t. Nope. Why? Because I’m too busy rockin’ to this awesome ukulele playin’ cutie. Can’t remember where I read it, but apparently he only started playing three months ago. So on this Saturday eve, I’m rockin’ around my house to the most awesome artist! John Mayer eat your heart out!

And after Moraz you need the Beetles. Yes?

The expressions. Oh those expressions! 

[And as someone who has studied music since age 2 and plays violin, cello, flute and piano and was supposed to be a professional violinist - let me say this kid has got talent, his timings and pauses were spot on!  Man if he can do this after 3 months of playing....just imagine where he's headed!!!]

Rock away little one. Rock away!

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 5, 2010

Friday Night Confessions

Since this blog, very often, feels like a place where I am blessed immeasurably more than I deserve, with a wonderful group of people, who are not just people, but a collection of incredible friends, I thought I should make some admissions, in the spirit of honesty in friendship.

:: I have an absolute obsession with my favourite song Fix You by Coldplay. I both lose and gain a piece of myself every time I hear it. It speaks to the very hidden bits in my soul.  I advise watching the video below and feeling the words. It always makes me ponder who “fixes you” – I’m sure the answer would be as varied as we are!

:: The Babies Movie – an independent film following four babies for a year – one born in the US, another in Mongolia, another in Namibia and finally one in Mongolia. To be honest, I can not wait for this film to be released. It makes me crave Mongolia, working in a maternity hospital or teaching on a project; oh to be staring at the sky, sitting by a yurt in Mongolia. And that final scene with the baby and the goat? So my future, I *hope*! Oh and the music in this trailer is by one of my favourites by Sufjan Stevens.

:: Today I sobbed, sobbed, sobbed. All because I watched the episode of Ballykissangel where Father Peter decides to leave the Priesthood because of his love for Assumpta, and then just as he is leaving and right after he tells her he loves her, she dies. And I cried and cried and cried.  Clip below is the good bit, before the bit that makes Frugal Trenches a crying, sobbing mess ;)

And there you have it, confessions on this Friday eve. I hope you enjoyed. In thinking about it, this post could also have been entitled You Tube Loves or The Confession box without the Priest! Pun intended ;)

HA!

Happy Weekending Friends!

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 5, 2010

What Would You Like To Do?

My post on yesterday’s co-op made me think a lot about this journey, this growth, this change. I have so much further to go on my quest, I have leaps to make in terms of where I’d like to be, but I have come to accept things take time, resources, trial and error and a whole lot of grace. 

The post yesterday made me think of baby steps I can make this year, so I had a look at my master plan (which is very flexible!) and decided upon the top little goals I can begin working towards now.

My in 2010 my “I will accomplish list” is:

  • Switch to using cloth feminine products
  • Begin making my own shampoo
  • Read the Bible cover to cover
  • Start taking a one day a week total media fast – no tv, no computer
  • Begin violin lessons again
  • Grow my own herbs
  • Crochet, knit or sew a  blanket – trying to increase the chance of success! ;)
  • Make a list of food needed for a 3 month emergency preparedness plan
  • Make a list of food needed to stock a pantry
  • Switch to cast iron pots & pans
  • Switch to glass food containers instead of using any plastic
  • Read a book on raising goats and a book on raising chickens!
  • Get a total blog make-over!

And there you have it, pretty simple, none too demanding baby steps.

What would you like to do this year? What skills would you like to learn? Do you have a plan for how you’ll acheive them?

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 4, 2010

The Simple Life and Computer Time

I read an interesting article yesterday via the BBC about internet usage/computer time and the link with depression; it led to my thinking a lot about internet usage in general and how it can either help or hinder the simple life.

I currently use the internet more frequently than ever before, partly because when job searching you not only use the internet to search for positions, but to submit applications. This has probably increased my internet usage twofold over the last couple of weeks and it is something I am very much looking forward to finishing! 

For pleasure, I use the internet pretty much for updating this blog, checking in on my blog friends and communicating with friends who are not local (about 95% of my friends).  I’m not on any forums or groups, don’t really blog surf (I maybe find one new blog a month almost always through someone commenting here), and my facebook page has been updated maybe 6 or 8 times (and not at all in the last six weeks!). I do enjoy both listening to my two favourite radio programs through the wonders of the world wide web and reading some of my favourite political magazine or newspapers, but usually this is limited to one day a week for an hour or so. Apart from that, it is email, I send a daily email(s) to my good friend Michelle (and her daily emails back brighten my day!), I probably send another 4-6 emails to friends worldwide each day (not the same friends each day, Michelle is pretty much the only constant daily email receiver!) and maybe an email to a blog friend, or a response to a question. In total, I would imagine I currently spend about 2 hours a day on the internet, one in the morning and one in the evening. Since I’m not working this is more than typical, but not over the top or in any way preventing my enjoying activities, volunteering, learning new skills or socializing. 

When I had the children staying with me, I had a routine of spending the first 45 minutes after they’d gone to bed online – I wasn’t blogging then so it was mostly emails. After that it was dishes, cleaning, bills paying etc. I didn’t ever go online in the morning because getting children up, fed & ready for school and myself ready for work 5 days a week did not yield any am down time.

I would like to get into the habit of having a complete media fast one day a week, making sure that day I don’t watch tv or go online. I think I’ll wait until I’m gainfully employed before adding in that little change to the routine, but it is one of the goals I’m working towards.

For me the internet is a brilliant tool to connect with people with similar values and interests to myself, it is a medium for learning new skills and being encouraged to try something I hadn’t thought of before! But I also feel that the simple life, for me, includes some self-control when it comes to the internet and I certainly notice the difference when I am online too much.  Time unplugged enjoying nature, craft, cooking, music, my violin and in conversation is also what my soul needs and deserves. It’s a delicate balance, but one well worth the effort, especially when you are in the middle of plan sparkle ;)

How do you balance computer time with family time? Do you find your computer time gets in the way of everything else? How much is right for you?

p.s. my new post is up at the simple, green & frugal co-op! I’d love to hear your contributions!

Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 3, 2010

Wednesday Suppers – Three bean stew

This is such a simple meal – from start of prep until cooked and ready to eat – less than 30 minutes! It is a fabulous alternative to eating out when in a rush and very frugal too! Recipe can be found here (more Olive love!). As a tip I often add in a couple of stalks of celery to bulk it up and use up leftovers!

While the bean stew is cooking I make a rocket (arugula) or spinach salad - mix leaves with a fruit (blueberries or strawberries or grapefruit or grapes), plus avocado and pine nuts/seed mix. I then serve bean stew with salad and crusty brown rolls or bread – Irish soda bread works wonderfully!

I found it yields four portions; with salad and bread I priced the meal at a cost of £2.40 = £0.60 pence per portion (about 94 cents US)

Day One of Plan Sparkle is going very well!!

Admin Things

  • There were some issues with commenting on the last post, I’ve pulled the post but will put it back up eventually
  • Tomorrow I’ll be doing some admin and finally getting around to updating my blogroll. If you read this site & comment & have a blog, or if I read your blog and you’d like to be on the blogroll, can you please leave a comment and let me know :)
Posted by: Frugal Trenches | February 2, 2010

Sparkle

Starting tomorrow I’m going to be making some changes – not huge changes, but little changes to give myself more space to focus on health, to allow myself to truly sparkle inside & out. Now I know someone will point out I enjoy eating healthy and being healthy almost all the time, which is true, but I feel an extra need to just care for my body right now, to nest internally of sorts. Every now and then a day or two filled with too much sneaks up on me - whether it be a stressful volunteering situation that comes home with me, or a stressful day caring for someone with significant challenges, or job worries, or beginning a new journey that causes some stress (and yet a great deal of joy), and before I know it, a day or two turns into three, followed by four and poof a week has gone, and that week was characterized by stress and bad choices.

The good thing is, since simplifying and really embracing a more simple & healthy life, I’ve become aware of teeny tiny changes in my body that let me know I need to get back into control. I was not always this in tune with my body and it’s needs, I used to go for weeks without noticing changes, I would often just suffer from headaches or exhaustion and look for quick fixes like a day at the spa or a night out with friends; quick fixes that really didn’t work! No more! I’m interested in genuinely and loving caring for my body and soul. For finding time each day to give my body what it needs, for seeing that health is about the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional.  For recognizing the equilibrium my body needs and allowing myself the time and space to receive it!

I found a much longed for book at the charity shop today for £1 and decided I was going to take this season to really and truly focus on repairing damage, on peace, tranquility, good food, exercise and rest. I’m hoping that it will help my PCOS symptoms. I also have an intense feeling that  I owe it to myself now, and in the future, to do everything as naturally as possible!

 I’ll be focusing on enjoying a smoothie for breakfast each day, a salad or simple soup for lunch, drinking 8 glasses of water a day, swimming each morning and walking or running each evening. I’m also enjoying a Wednesday night supper club with friends (roast chicken this week!) and continuing to spend more time in prayer!

I’m always skeptical about making changes in the short-term, so I’m hoping this simple focus on health is a strong focus of the next three months, with positive results lasting for years to come!

When you feel the need to make some healthy changes, what do you focus on? How long does it take for it to become your new routine?

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