Day #4 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life--- Create a Serene Bedroom

Do you have your list of questions in your wallet?  Have you decided not to buy non-perishables for the next month?  We'll get to all that in a minute.  Your day #4 mission is:

Today is a great day to edit your sheets and pillowcases.  First, take all of your sheets out of your linen closet and put them in three piles: the Recycle Pile, the Ambivalent Pile, and the Love and Use Pile.  Second, put the Recyclables in your car's trunk.  Third, put the Ambivalent Pile into a lidded box or a bag in another closet so you can practice living without these linens.  Finally, return the sheets and pillowcases you use to the linen closet.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 27)

OR...for serious simplifiers only---

Create a tranquil bedroom.  First, remove the television.  Next, remove excess furniture and everything under your bed.  Redesign your closet so it can hold clothing that was stored in your dresser.  Put a large plant where your dresser used to be.  Finally, empty the walls of everything except one serene print, painting, or wall sculpture.  Without busy art and bulky furniture, your bedroom will have a spacious, airy feeling. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 31)

The author has lots of other great bedroom simplification suggestions so if you want more, get the book!

My husband just recently cleaned up and organized the linen closet in the last month so I'll have to take a look and see if there's anything more that needs to be done.  We still have my electric mattress pad and it takes up a TON of space.  Unfortunately, we can't use it with our new memory foam mattress.  Maybe my parents would want it?  We already don't have a TV in our bedroom and there's only two pieces of art on the walls.  Getting rid of the dresser seems a bit extreme for me.  What I do need to do is get rid of all the stuff in the bedroom that doesn't belong in there!  The top of my husband's bureau and my dresser are a little bit crazy when they don't need to be so I'll definitely by tackling that today.

Since Purple Heart is coming tomorrow at 8AM, I also have to tackle the basement (cue the screams of horror)---

Here are my Day #3 results---

I printed my 2011 goals each defined by a word on an extra Valentine with the following questions on the back:

Do I need it?

Do I already have something that serves its purpose?
Can I get it elsewhere for less or free?

Can I recycle it later?

Some of the sample questions posed yesterday were less relevant to me so I made up my own.  What are your questions?

Now...will I not buy any non-perishables for the next month?  I'm going to see if I can do it.  I actually don't remember the last time I bought something non-perishable (maybe a couple of weeks ago?).  I know for sure I haven't bought anything since when this challenge started so I'll start from there.  If I break, I'll let you know what I bought.  Good luck everyone!

Book Review: Eating Animals

I admit it.  I'm a vegan wannabe.  I have flirted with the idea of being vegetarian or vegan for years.  Now that I can't eat dairy because of my bizarre unidentified digestive disorder, I've been thinking about it even more.  Do you know a mom who is always reading labels at the grocery store, who thinks high fructose corn syrup is evil, tries to buy organic, and is constantly making her kids try new vegetables like kale and collard greens?  If you don't, now you do because that mom is me.

Books about food are always sneaking on to my reading list.  I've read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and The Omnivore's Dilemma.  But no book about food has challenged my decision making and lifestyle regarding food quite as much as Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals.  Foer is a self confessed on again-off again vegetarian.  Motivated by the birth of his son, he decides once and for all to decide whether or not he wants to continue to eat meat.  Foer begins to investigate the realities of factory farming (without the assistance of the corporations responsible for it, despite repeatedly asking for interviews and tours).  I was completely dumbfounded by the results of his investigation (which were corroborated by two fact checkers and an attorney).

In short, what I consider to be the major findings of his research are:

1. Less than 1% of the animals killed for meat in America come from family farms.  The other 99% come from farms where animals are kept in crowded conditions where many become ill and are treated inhumanely.  Even at the point of their death, many times it is done improperly.  Chickens are sent to the scalding tanks still alive or cows and pigs are skinned and dismembered while still conscious.  And these are just a small number of the atrocities he cited.  
2. We can thank factory farming for more humans getting sick.  Because of the poor conditions in which the animals are kept, they are fed more and more antibiotics and other drugs in order to keep them in salable condition.  Because of this overuse, medications are becoming ineffective for humans and more strains of illnesses like H1N1 are developing and crossing over from animals to humans.
3. Farmed animals contribute more to climate change than transportation.  A University of Chicago study found that animal agriculture is responsible for 37% of anthropogenic methane, which offers 23 times the global warming potential of CO2  as well as 65% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide, which provides 296 times the global warming potential of CO2.  The bottom line is omnivores contribute 7 times the greenhouse gases than vegans.

What I like about this book is that he does attempt to be even handed.  This is not a man who is a gung ho paint slinging PETA member (although he does interview a PETA member in the book).  He also interviewed family farmers who are concerned about the happiness of their animals lives prior to their slaughter.  

In one particularly compelling passage, Foer quotes a factory farm worker describing the time he beat a pig for sport prior to killing it.  Foer went on to say:

Just how common do such savageries have to be for a decent person to be unable to overlook them?  If you knew that one in one thousand food animals suffered actions like those described above, would you continue to eat animals?  One in one hundred?  One in ten? (Eating Animals, p. 255)

Does meat taste so good that I will turn my head and pretend I haven't read this information?  Is ignorance really bliss?  Currently, we eat vegetarian dinners 2-3 times a week.  Is it okay with me to eat factory farmed meat on the other days of the week?  Because quite frankly, we can't afford to eat grass fed, free range animals.  It costs that much more to eat "ethical meat".  But is there ethical meat?  Foer made case for that being a harder way to live than vegetarianism.  Imagine being invited to a friend's house for dinner and they ask if you have any dietary restrictions.  Would it be easier for you to say culturally "I'm a vegetarian (or vegan)" or "I eat meat, but I will only eat meat that is grass fed and slaughtered at a family farm"?  Maybe we can be ovo-vegetarians if we can buy some eggs from one of our friends that raises chickens for fun?  After reading about factory farmed eggs (even cage free doesn't mean a thing), I don't think I can eat those either.

So what's a girl to do?  Baby steps...I talked to the Cobbler and he said he would be on board with trying to be vegan if I can make it taste good.  But can I make it taste good?  Only time will tell...and I have to try.

However much we obfuscate or ignore it, we know that the factory farm is inhumane in the deepest sense of the word.  And we know that there is something that matters in a deep way about the lives we create for the living beings most within our power.  Our response to the factory farm is ultimately a test of how we respond to the powerless, to the most distant, to the voiceless---it is a test of how we act when no one is forcing us to act one way or another.  Consistency is not required, but engagement with the problem is. (Eating Animals, p. 267)

For more information go to the author's website, www.eatinganimals.com and click on the links at the bottom left.

Day #3 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Think Before You Buy

Day #3's mission is:

Create a checklist of questions that will help you decide what to buy and what to forgo.  Below, we have listed examples of questions for your list.  At the very top of the list, write down your major life goals in sound bites.  For example, you might write "get fit", "travel more", or "study wildflowers."  Put your list in your wallet so you can consult it when you go shopping.  When it comes time to purchase something, determine whether your goals and the purchase are harmonious.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 21)

OR for the serious simplifiers---

Take a month long sabbatical from buying anything but "perishables" --- items you use up quickly like gas, food, flowers, and toiletries.  During the month, jot down the nonperishable things you think you need or want.  At the end of the month, look at your list and cross off as many items as possible.  In our society, most of our needs are wants. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 26)

The example questions she mentions in the mission above that will help you decide what to buy or what to forgo are:

Will it enhance my goals?

Will it create more work?

Do I need it?

Is it truly a bargain?

Do I think it will make my life easier?

Do I want it because it's trendy?

Will it bring my family together or tear us apart?

Do I want it because it will make me feel better?

Will I have trouble getting rid of it in the future?

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 22-23)

I find it amusing that flowers fall into the list of perishable items that you can buy during the serious simplifiers buying sabbatical.  I want flowers as much as the next girl, but I think my husband would find it suspicious if there was an unending parade of unexplained flowers that suddenly appeared in our house.

I think I can definitely do making the list of questions, but could I forgo buying non-perishables for a month?  Hmmmm....I'm going to mull that one over.  In the meantime, here's my outcome from Day #2 (Practice Living Without It)---

At my house, the worst drawers are (ahem) in my craft bureau.  I looked at this drawer and felt overwhelmed so...

...I closed it and took out this bin instead, which was only one category of stuff (i.e. cross stitch) and less scary to tackle.

So I went through it and only found a couple of things that needed to be recycled---a photo from a magazine of a Christmas tree decorated with nautical ornaments (why???) and a photocopied quilt pattern of a quilt I made like 10 years ago.  Then, I got together a bunch of cross stitch kits that I'm never going to do to donate.

Here's the bin after I was done---

Granted, I'm still missing one knitting needle (I'm a really bad knitter so I should probably donate the knitting needles after I find its mate), but I figure it's got to be in one of the other drawers somewhere.  Surprisingly, I didn't find anything in the bin that I felt ambivalent about.  I either wanted it or didn't want it.  I'm sure I'll find something somewhere along the line that's going to stump me though.  Did anyone make it through more than one drawer?  If you did, I salute you!

See you all tomorrow for your Day #4 mission and Day #3 results!

Day #2 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life: Practice Living Without It!

Today we continue on our quest for simpler lives.  Day #2's mission if you choose to accept it is:

Today, dejunk one drawer.  If you are like most people, messy drawers abound in your kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.  Do the three steps of sorting, recycling, and dealing with ambivalence that are outlined below in "The Mechanics of Simplifying".  These simple steps will help you simplify and organize every area of your life. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 15)

OR for the serious simplifiers only---

Tackle at least five drawers today.  Be bold.  Toss as many items as you possibly can.  Make the items remaining in your drawers more accessible by using organizers --- small boxes, plastic trays, rectangular baskets--- to divide up drawer space.  Be ruthless!  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 20)

If you don't have the book*, you're probably wondering what are "The Mechanics of Simplifying"?  Here's the short version:

1. Sort the items you're organizing into 3 piles --- the love and use pile, the recycle pile, and the ambivalence pile (i.e. the things you both like and dislike and can't decide if you want to keep).
2. Create an ambivalence center.  Store all the stuff in the ambivalence pile in an out of sight area and practice living without it.  
3. Get the recycle pile out of your house and to a thrift store ASAP.
4. Put away the love and use pile neatly.  On Day #15, we're supposed to learn about systems to help us do that, but in the meantime just put it away.

Remember--- we have tomorrow off.  I will post my Day #2 results and our Day #3 mission on Monday. 

Here's my outcome from Day #1---Fill A Shopping Bag:

I ended up with a garbage bag full of kid clothes and a few stray maternity outfits, a box of unused disposable diapers and pull ups, the baby bath tub, an over the door jumper, a baby monitor and a changing pad and cover (being loved by Pumpkin the cat in the photo.  The cats found the whole process fascinating!).

I also parted ways with a bunch of baby blankets and the crib bumpers and crib skirt I sewed up before Red was born (sniff, sniff).

And a ton of boys shoes!  No I did not buy all these.  Hand-me downs are awesome!  Clearly, some of my girlfriends were obsessed with buying water shoes. :-)

I'm planning on going to the pregnancy center on Monday morning and I have a Purple Heart pick up scheduled for Wednesday (which means I have to get more stuff to donate together between now and then).  I also have a bag of clothes and cloth diapers together that I need to sell on eBay.  Time to get posting...

FYI---don't forget to take photos and keep track of what you're donating for next year's tax deductions!

Be sure to leave a comment and let everyone know your day #1 success story.

*I really like this book so if you want more detailed information about anything we're doing over these 30 days (not to mention there are some great inspiring stories in the book), do the author a favor and buy it. :-)

Day #1 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life--- Fill A Shopping Bag

I can't tell you how many times I have checked out 30 Days to a Simpler Life from the library.  It's a small book, but there are just so many great ideas in it!  I have never actually done what it says completely or in 30 days.  I just have paged through it and thought, "Oh, I should do that!" and never do.  So I've decided---as  my Lenten commitment (versus giving something up) I am going to literally do 30 days to a simpler life and see where I land at the end.  And you get the privilege of hearing all about it --- ha ha!

Day 1 is "Fill a Shopping Bag".  My mission (and yours if you choose to join me in this challenge) is this:

Today, gather up a bagful of things you no longer love and use.  First, find a shopping bag, trash bag, or cardboard box.  Next, fill it with giveaways or throwaways from around your house.  Gather unwanted stuff from anywhere in your home or garage.  Look under sinks, in closets, into drawers, and under the bed.  No space is off limits.  Finally, put the stuff into your car's trunk to be recycled.  This task could take 5 minutes to an hour, depending on how decisive you are.  Fill as many bags as you can in one hour (30 Days to a Simpler Life, page 11)

OR...if you are hardcore---

If your are really serious about simplifying your life, take a giant step today and fill ten---not one---shopping bags with unused, unloved things from around your house.  Immediately afterward, drop those bags off at a thrift shop. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, page 14)

My plan is to start working on Day #1's mission this afternoon.  I found some baby stuff that I forgot to donate to the crisis pregnancy center that needs to go (hello baby bath tub!).  I'll see you tomorrow with my Day #1 update and with my Day #2 mission.  

NOTE: After tomorrow's post, I'll be posting missions Monday through Friday.  The 30 days will end on Wednesday, April 20th (the day before Maundy Thursday).

Better than "Better Than Sex"

I knew the title of the post would catch your attention!  From my previous blog entry, you may be aware of my undisguised disdain for the book A Reliable Wife that I read for book club this month.  I'm hosting the meeting tonight and normally the hostess attempts to tie in the snacks and dessert served with the book.  Sometimes the book has food featured in it and sometimes not so it's always interesting to see what people come up with.

This month I was really struggling.  This book was just sex, sex, SEX (some champagne and oysters too, but I didn't really want to go there).  Then it hit me --- Better than Sex dessert!  I had never made it before, but I had heard of it.  After perusing a bunch of recipes online and realizing that one of the key ingredients is nuts (knowing full well I can't digest nuts and I want to eat the dessert at the meeting too darn it!), I tabled the idea.  Instead I decided to make my mom's chocolate eclair cake.  Her version uses 1 package vanilla pudding and 1 package of chocolate and splits the Cool Whip between the two so the layers are two different flavors.  I think it's tastier that way anyway.  If you're going to eat a dessert that's quite frankly a processed food bonanza you may as well go all the way!  I even used the whole can of frosting.  One hot tip from my mom is to pre-frost the graham crackers for the top layer, lay them on top of the pudding layer, and then fill in the cracks with more frosting.  It's faster and less messy too.

Needless to say, the kids helped.

Red was in charge of the vanilla layer.

Tom Thumb was in charge of the chocolate layer.

(Thanks to Red for the photography while mommy helped!)

They both were in charge of licking the leftovers out of the bowls.

Then after lunch, Red came up with this cute dessert idea made with 2 butterscotch chips, a grape, a banana and some whipping cream.

I like the one with the raised eyebrow. :-)

On a separate note, Tom Thumb is now fully potty trained.  We're still working on the fine art of wiping after #2, remembering to flush the toilet and wash his hands, but overall YAY!  We never thought it would happen.  Well, we did, but we didn't know when.  About 3 weeks ago on a Saturday, he woke up and said his diaper was "ouchy".  I said, "Why don't you put on some underwear instead?"  He did and about a 1/2 hour later went to the bathroom.  Since then, he's had three accidents.  That's right --- three in the last three weeks and they all happened in the first week.  He's even dry through the night!  It's a potty training miracle I tell you!

The other thing that's occupying a lot of my time is raising money for the PTA.  Back in January, we realized that we had $6390 to raise and hadn't done anything yet.  We have since had a bowling fundraiser that raised $311.  Over the next two months we have planned a sale of stainless steel BPA free bottles and a dinner out gala at a local hall.  I'm the chairperson for the bottle fundraiser so if you've been planning on buying one to replace your disposable plastic bottles, let me know.  Here's the selection, although our fundraiser prices are a tad lower than their website and the school will make about $8 profit per bottle sold.  I'm particularly fond of the Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night one they have.

Back to cleaning and cooking for the meeting.  I still have a spinach artichoke dip to make (yum) and lots of stray library books to pick up.

Book Review: A Reliable Wife

Lust.  Greed.  Greed.  Lust.  Despair.  Redemption.  These are the themes of A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.  The book opens during a Wisconsin winter in the early 1900s.  Catherine Land has responded to a personal ad placed in the newspaper by wealthy business man Ralph Truitt who is looking for "a reliable wife".  Catherine travels by train to meet him and shortly thereafter they are married.  From the very beginning, the reader is aware that Catherine's intentions are not pure and that she is planning to kill Ralph for his fortune.  Little does Catherine know that Ralph has plans of his own...

I don't want to reveal the finer plot points too much (the first big surprise comes about mid way through the book) so I'll stay away from that.  I do want to say I really disliked the book for about the first three quarters of it.  There is a TON of sex.  I'm no prude, but after a while it felt like Mr. Goolrick was living out all his midlife male fantasies through middle aged Ralph Truitt who gets to sleep with young Catherine every night.  Afterwhile I felt like "Another sex scene? Are you kidding me?!?!"  I actually considered going back and counting how many pages did not have sex or a reference to sex in them.  There weren't many.

The characters are not very likable either.  Catherine is a liar, a prostitute, and a would be killer.  Ralph is a wife beater and a child abuser.  Ralph's son Antonio (who plays a central role later in the book) is an alcoholic, drug abusing, narcissistic pleasure seeker.  There's not much to like there.

Finally, in about the last quarter of the book, Catherine has a change of heart.  She has spent her life changing her identity and telling lies.  She realizes that she has no idea who she truly is.  She finally decides to settle into life with Ralph and enjoy the company of another human being.  And she likes it.  When Catherine starts transforming, I started to like the book a little more...just a little.

In the end, I can't say I recommend it.  It wasn't a terrible book.  There were some great descriptive scenes (even ones not about sex---shocking!) that give me some hope that the author has the potential to turn out some better novels in the future.  I just wasn't thrilled with this book.  There are plenty of other superior choices on a library's shelves waiting to be read instead.