Shampoo

Before I begin to explain this recipe, I'd like to prepare you by saying that this is more like a shampoo "tea."  I may have lost a lot of you there, but I assure you that it works and it will save you a lot of money if you decide to try this recipe.  The only disclaimer is that you need to allow your hair a couple of weeks to adjust to the new shampoo.  Most of the shampoos we use today are so full of harsh chemicals that your scalp over-produces it's natural oils to keep up.  So when you suddenly take away the chemicals, your skin needs time to regulate again, but it will get there.  And I assure you that your hair is getting clean with this recipe.  People often associate the cleaning abilities of shampoo with the lather it produces.  But it is not those tiny bubbles that are cleaning your hair and skin, it's those pesky chemicals again.  Here's another way to be mindful of what you're putting on your skin.

First you need supplies.  Since you could literally drink this tea (but I don't recommend it), you don't need and special pots or utensils- you can use what you cook with.  You will need cheese cloth or some other type of reusable tea bag, herbs, baking soda, and water.  If you really crave some lather, you can also add some pure Castile liquid soap into the final product, but only if your hair is not dyed.  Castile soap is very alkaline and can strip hair color.

The herbs in this recipe are customized for my hair type, and you can do the same.  My hair is light brown, fairly dry, and wavy, so if you have the same type, you can just follow my recipe.  For all other readers, I have listed several herbs that can be used to make your shampoo, and the benefits of each.

What I use:

Rosemary-helps with circulation, a good herb for dark brown hair
Chamomile- soothing, good herb for blonde hair
Nettle-a good source of nutrients, anti-inflammatory
Burdock Root-soothes skin, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants
Raspberry Leaves-antioxidants
Lavender- fragrance, cleansing, helps with circulation
Rose Petals-fragrance

Other herbs to choose from:

Calendula- supports healthy skin, anti-inflammatory
Orange/Lemon Peel- fragrance, cleansing
Mint- fragrance, cleansing, helps with circulation
Thyme- cleansing

There are many other herbs and flowers to choose from as well.  Just do some research to find out their healing properties, any color that they carry so as not to stain light colored hair, and whether or not they are safe if you're pregnant.  Also keep in mind that some herbs are more expensive, which effects which ones I will buy.

Once you have your herbs, you can assemble your tea bag. Add about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of each herb to your reusable tea bag or cheesecloth and close it tight. I use a hairband to close my herbs in my cheesecloth.

Bring about 4-8 cups of water to a boil. I store my shampoo in two resealable glass bottles (from Ikea), so I usually make about 6 cups at one time. You can use as much water as you like.

Drop your herb packet into your water and let it simmer on medium low about 20 minutes. I will use a wooden spoon and "press" my herbs every few minutes to help all of their oils steep into the water.

Once your tea is as dark as you want it, remove it from the heat. At this point you can add your cleaning agent- baking soda. I add about 1/4 cup into my tea and stir until it is dissolved. If your hair is very dry, you can add less baking soda. If your hair is oily, add a little more. But baking soda can be hard on your hair, so add sparingly until you know how your hair will react to it.

At this point you can also add your Castile soap if you choose. I would start with about 1/4-1/2 cup, and add more until you reach a consistency or lather that you like.

Feel free to add essential oils if you like, but remember that they are oil, so they might make your hair look dirty if you use too much.

I use an empty squeeze bottle to apply my shampoo in the shower. You could buy ketchup and mustard bottles at the dollar store, or just recycle one you have in your kitchen. Mine used to hold agave.

I hope you enjoy your new shampoo. I love how easy, affordable, and customizable it is. And of course, I love that it is chemical free. Our skin is so absorbent, so you can feel at ease with this recipe.  

On a separate note, I would like to share about one of my latest projects.  When my husband and I moved into our current home, we could not fit our sofa through the door, despite ours and our friends' best efforts.  Luckily, one of the families that helped us move just happened to need a sleeper sofa, so they bought it from us.  So we went onto craigslist and found a daybed to use as seating in our living room.  The only problem was finding enough large pillows to make it a comfortable place for people to sit.  Luckily, after telling my sister about how expensive Euro pillows can be, she said she had two that she wasn't using, but I would have to make new covers for them because the fabric was very dated.  I found a window curtain at a local thrift store, which cost seven dollars, and I sewed new cases last weekend.  Here is the finished product, and each pillow only cost me $3.50:

We really liked the idea of a daybed as additional seating because when we finally get our daughter home (to read more, check out our adoption blog at www.doingforone.org) she can use it as her bed when she outgrows her crib.  

What are some things you have done lately to reuse and upcycle old items...I would love to hear from you.  And thank you for reading about our mindful home.

Hairspray

What a busy couple of weeks it has been- I'm sorry for the delay on the posts.  It's still pretty hectic on the home front, so I thought it would be fitting to start the "Beyond the Kitchen" series with an easy and quick recipe that only takes about fifteen minutes: hairspray. Random, right?  But think of how much you spend on hairspray in your household- at the very least, it's a dollar for a little bottle of sticky spray that claims to bring you long lasting body, but really just tangles your lovely locks.  I can't speak for you, but I'd rather have something that costs pennies, smells wonderful, and holds curl, but rinses out in the shower without leaving your hair feeling like straw.  Here's my recipe- and you really are reading it right- it's THAT easy.

Bring about 6 cups of water to a boil (more or less depending on the size of the bottle(s) you're storing it in).  Once boiling, add 1/2 cup sugar (more or less depending on how firmly you want your spray to hold).  Stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Remove the mixture from the heat, let it cool a bit so you don't burn yourself when pouring it into your spray bottle(s), and add about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.  I use homemade lavender oil and it smells great.  But choose whatever you prefer, stir it in, and pour the finished product into your bottles.  Done and done.  Side note- if you get through the process and find that the spray is still not strong enough, just re-boil it and add more sugar.

As you can see, my recipe is pretty flexible so you can customize it to your liking.  Not to mention, it is aerosol and chemical free...if a hummingbird can eat it, it sure won't hurt you either. I hope you enjoy your new hairspray, and thanks for reading about this mindful home.

Beyond the Kitchen

Keeping a mindful home extends far beyond the foods we eat and how we shop.  It also involves the products we use, the clothes we wear, how we clean our home, and what we put our money toward.  Have you ever heard the saying "put your money where your mouth is"?  We have hundreds of opportunities each day to choose to support companies, people, and causes, and it can be both empowering and disheartening.  Sometimes, don't you just want to buy a certain product and not have to worry about how it was made or what chemicals it contains?  Me too.  That's why I choose to make most of our toiletries and cleaning products.  This is another area that seems to interest a lot of people, so I thought I would share my recipes.  But be aware that I am not a licensed naturopath or asthetician. I find what works for me based on research and trying things out.  Luckily, the ingredients are so natural that you should not have a problem unless you have an allergy, so just be mindful of that.  However, if you stick with some of these ideas, I bet you'll never go back to buying them pre-made.  Plus, the difference in cost for the quality is absolutely unbeatable...it's a win-win.    

I am going to start a small series of blog posts that explain how to make toiletries including shampoo, deep conditioner, hairspray, hair gel, toothpaste, make-up remover, facial cleanser, whipped body butter, body scrub, sunscreen, and more.  Some of these recipes may sound like they wouldn't work, but give them a chance and you'll be surprised.  And all of them are easier to make than you might think.  I am also going to share recipes for a variety cleaning products and laundry detergent.  I look forward to the next series of posts, and thank you for reading about our mindful home.  

Menu Plan Example

Before getting to the menu plan, I wanted to thank everyone for the encouragement on the blog.  So thank you!  Also, I would like to quickly say that this week has been full of pleasant surprises.  Thank you to those friends who went out of their way to bring me vegan cupcakes, thank you to the people who gave me a bag of walnuts, a peppermint plant for my garden, and a bag of clothes and home goods.  Thank you to the pastor in Pakistan who sent a traditional dress back to the U.S. with a friend for me- he has no idea who I am and it was such a kind gesture.  Thank you to the person who is helping me get physical therapy at a discount. It's the little things in life, right?  But no action is too small to let someone know you care, and it encourages me to pay it forward.  I hope you can find something to change someone's day this week too.

Now for the menu plan.

I made this month pretty easy on myself because the weather here has been beautiful and my husband and I have been outside in the evenings training for our upcoming half-marathon. Also, when the weather gets warmer, it's nice to have lighter dinners that don't involve heating the oven up a whole lot.  So consider that when making your plan...you don't need to become a slave to this method of eating.  Don't push yourself too hard or you might burn out.

Here are the dinners by date of the month, and written out in detail:

1- Salad. Our salads are nothing to laugh at though.  Lettuce doesn't necessarily play the lead role.  We pile on quinoa, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, dried berries, homemade croutons, chopped veggies of all sorts, fresh black pepper, and homemade Dijon maple vinaigrette (extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and optional cooking sherry or rice wine vinegar- to taste).  We love the ease and taste of these dinners so much that I might do a whole month of them  during the summer.

2- Salad

3- Salad

4- Salad

5- Vegan "chicken" Cacciatore.  I took a chicken cacciatore recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook that everyone has in their kitchen (you know, the red and white checkered one) and made it vegan.  I do this a lot actually.  I will swap meat items for vegan options (but be mindful of the soy content and don't do this too often).  I use rice, almond, and sometimes coconut milk, Earth Balance butter and mayo, and egg replacer for my dairy subs.  The taste is just as good, if not better- you might be surprised.

6- Leftovers and salad

7- Black bean burgers and sweet potato fries (and salad if we have any left)

8- Veggie Tacos. Beans, rice, sautéed veggies, lettuce, salsa, and avocado on flour tortillas.

9- Tomato Basil Bisque with Steamed Broccoli.  A friend introduced me to this vegan tomato bisque recipe.  It is from Chloe's Kitchen and she serves it with croutons on top.  I kid you not, it tastes like it should have taken hours but it is so easy.  It's wonderful.  Thank you Nichole for making it for us!

10- Polenta and Cauliflower "Steaks."  I make my polenta with homemade vegetable bouillon and corn.  The cauliflower is sliced into "steaks," drizzled with EVOO and salt and pepper, and roasted in the oven at 400 degrees until browned. I also top the meal with sautéed veggies- mushrooms, onion, peppers, garlic, and zucchini.  This meal is a great standby because it is easy and delicious.  

11- Leftovers

12- Community group meal.  My husband and I lead a home community group through our church every Sunday evening (except the first Sunday of the month).  It is potluck style, and we don't know what we need to bring until the beginning of each week.  I keep enough items on hand to find something to make.  **However, if I do not have what I need on hand to feed the large group of twenty people and stay within the meal theme, I will send my husband to the store for only the item(s) that we need.  I know this goes against my once-a-month, no exceptions rule, but I see this as a ministry and I will always make exceptions for that! 

13- Quinoa and Oven Roasted Veggies.  The quinoa is made with homemade vegetable bouillon, corn, tomatoes, black beans, green onions, and/or lentils.  The roasted veggies might include red potatoes, carrots, onions, corn, kale, sweet potatoes, beets, red peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, summer squash, brussel sprouts, and/or zucchini.  But you can add whatever you prefer and/or what is in season.

14- Leftovers

15- Tangy Pasta and Roasted Veggies.  The Tangy Pasta recipe comes from the Budget Bytes blog and it is quick and easy.  I use organic whole wheat spaghetti from Costco.  The roasted veggies for this night are carrots and brussel sprouts with EVOO, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

16- Curry Vegetables and Brown Rice.  You can buy a bottle or mix of curry, or just make your own.  I make a green coconut curry sauce fromFoodAndWine.com and leave out the fish sauce.  You could also do stir fry teryaki veggies and rice.

17- Leftovers

18- Vegan Banana Pancakes and Vegan Sausage.  I created this  banana pancake recipe:

3 ripe bananas, smashed
1  1/4 cup flour of your choice (all-purpose, whole wheat pastry, etc.)
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 egg replacers
1 cup almond milk

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls, add wet to dry, mix until just combined, and cook on a griddle sprayed with canola oil.

19- Community Group Meal (see above)

20- Louisana Red Beans and Brown Rice.  I use the bean recipe from the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen website and use homemade vegetable bouillon to cook the beans in.  Don't forget to soak your beans the night before.

21- Leftovers

22- White Bean Alfredo Pasta and Steamed Broccoli.  The Alfredo recipe is from ThePrudentHomemaker.com.  Her blog and website are where I find a lot of recipes and inspiration.

23- Leftover Alfredo Sauce over Roasted Veggies

24- Baked Sweet Potatoes, Vegan "Chicken" Tenders, Steamed Broccoli and Carrots

25- Black Bean Soup- this is one of my pre-made frozen crockpot meals.  It is called Beezie's Black Bean Soup from AllRecipes.com

26- Community Group Meal (see above)

27- Sloppy Josephines- I use the recipe from PeasAndThankYou.com.  This is a fabulous website with a lot of inspiring vegan recipes that has come in very handy for me as I plan menus.

28- Vegan "Chicken," Sweet Potato, and Pablano Enchiladas with Spanish Rice.  I adapted the Sweet Potato and Charizo Enchilada recipe fromBudgetBytes.com into a vegan version and I doubled the Pablano peppers in the recipe.  I leave out any cheese substitute.  I also make the Spanish rice that she links from this recipe site and double it so we have leftovers for lunches for a few days.

29- Leftovers

30- Chickpea Pot Pie. This is a new recipe that I haven't tried yet. I found it on Pinterest from VeggieConverter.com.

31- Leftovers, and use up anything I have left after the month.

Tips: have "bench-warmers"- these are recipes that I like to keep in mind every month for when my menu-planning inspiration is lacking.  They can be Pinterest recipes, old stand-bys, or things you haven't tried but would like to. Keep your old menu plans and highlight the meals that were a hit so you can refer back to them when planning.

I know that being vegan can be a challenge, especially when not everyone in your household follows the same diet.  I am fortunate because my husband loves a plate full of veggies.  But find what works for you.  If you need to come up with a menu plan that allows for a meat side dish, that's great. If you plan your meals where meat is not the anchor, it should be easy to do so.

Let me know if you have any great meals that I should try- I'm always on the lookout.  I wish you great luck while planning a menu that is full of whole, healthy foods.  And thank you for reading.

A Productive Weekend

This weekend, I took full advantage of my two days off. On Saturday, I spent some time with family.  While driving with my Mom, we came across a big garage sale where they were selling everything you could fill a paper bag with for just $1.  I got some very cute baby girl clothes for my niece, a dress-up scarf for a project my Mom is working on, some vintage books and children's books, a tool, an apron, a girl's backpack, some craft items, and a sweater for my husband- all for a dollar.  On Sunday, I attended church and took a six mile walk to train for a half marathon we are doing in June to help raise funds for our Ghana adoption (check out DoingForOne.org to read more). But I also fit in some frugal food preparation to get us through the month...

I used up some rolls that were given to us from a church event to make croutons.  The rolls were probably going to go stale if they weren't used, but making croutons with olive oil and salt will prolong their life and give us a tasty salad topping.  My husband loves homemade croutons, and I have another bag of rolls in the freezer that might end up as such, too.

My mom gave us a yogurt maker last year, and I decided to try making coconut honey yogurt.  Sadly, the yogurt did not set (which I kind of expected) so I'm going to turn the "yogurt" into popsicles this week.  I will pour it into molds and add fresh chopped fruit for a nice summer treat.

I got two bunches of bananas from Costco that turned brown so quickly that I decided to slice them and dehydrate them.  My mom also got us a dehydrater that makes this process a snap.  I just set it up right before bed and let it run through the night.  The finished product filled two quart mason jars, one of which has been devoured by my husband already.  But I can always make more, and at $1.29 for eight or nine bananas, it's a very cheap and easy snack.

This month, I bought a 25 pound bag of dry black beans and I made a double batch of them in the crockpot on Sunday.  It's so very inexpensive and simple to prepare your own dried beans this way.  I then used the beans to make 30 bean, rice, and veggie freezer burritos which the hubs and I can use for breakfasts, lunches, and/or snacks when we are in a hurry.  Along with the beans, I sautéed 3 onions and 3 red peppers that I had left from last month with some minced garlic, and I also added some roasted tomato salsa that I had leftover.  I made a big pot of brown rice from my 25 pound bulk bag, which I added to the burritos as well.  I can't wait to try them- just a couple minutes in the microwave and they will be ready to eat.  And I had two bags of black beans and two bags of rice leftover to freeze for future use as well.

My husband and I got a free, brand new 19 inch television and a free set of brand new Paula Deen pots and pans delivered this weekend to our house.  We got them through our credit union visa.  We have used our visa for big purchases since we got married and for gas for our cars.  We pay it off every week.  We have yet to pay a dime of interest on the card, but we earn rewards, which we used for these two treats.  Goodbye old Goodwill pots and pans- back to Goodwill you go!  And the television is for our bedroom.  We do not plan on connecting it to our basic cable, but will use it instead for watching DVDs when we are sick or getting ready for bed, and for me to do yoga.  I have great morning and relaxation yoga DVDs that I like to do, and there is plenty of room on our bedroom floor for me to lay out a yoga mat.  Since we sold a blender on craigslist for $25 this week, I used $8 of this money to get myself a new, much needed yoga mat.  I found a beautiful brand new one that came with a strap for a great deal.  I am very excited about all of this.  

Please share feel free to share any exciting deals or recipes that you've come across.  And thanks for reading.

A Week's Work

It's almost garden planting season here in Oregon.  If I had property, I would plant a huge garden and orchard because that's what I grew up with and I have very fond memories of eating off our land.  What an accomplishment for anyone.  I also dream of keeping bees in the future, but that's a ways off.  However, we live in a condo and have a tiny balcony with very little space and it doesn't get much sun at all.  However, after talking to my downstairs neighbor, I found out that I am able to put pots in a community space and I can plant my garden there.  I can't wait to get started.  I went through the Oregon State Master Gardener program a few years ago and I haven't really had a chance to put my skills to the test in the ground.  But I am thankful to have the ability to plant in pots, which tend to be lower maintenance anyway- no weeding!  So on that note, I want to remind everyone that coffee shops typically save free coffee grounds for people to take for their gardens.  I got a couple bags at my local coffee shop, so take advantage- whether planting in pots or in the ground, coffee grounds are a great form of compost that is high in nitrogen and also contains calcium, magnesium, and potassium, among other minerals.  And they're free.

Speaking of free, someone shared with me about a website called RecycleBank.com where you can earn free points while getting educated about recycling, reducing, and reusing right at home and in your neighborhood.  These points can then be used to redeem great savings and coupons, as well as free magazine subscriptions.  I've already claimed year subscriptions to Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living, and I'm working on getting Country Living, Veranda, and Oprah magazines as well.  No strings attached- just getting educated and making better choices on a daily basis.  I love this idea!!

Lastly, the warm weather has finally arrived in Oregon, and my household is taking advantage by completely turning off our central air.  We have very high ceilings in our home, which has cost a lot of money to heat.  We have cut our electric bill in half since we moved in by keeping our heat on 62 degrees and just bundling up (a savings of $90 a month!), and now that it's warm outside, it will be significantly lower.  When it gets too warm, we open all of the windows and get a great cross breeze going.  And there's no place more beautiful in the summer than Oregon...but I might be a little biased...

Thanks for reading about our mindful home.

Strawberries!

Two days ago, I happened upon a deal on strawberries at one of my local grocery stores.  Ripe, mold-free strawberries for only 74 cents a pound.  So naturally, I bought 40 pounds.  I washed and stemmed 16 pounds to freeze for smoothies or cooking/baking.  Side note- my husband bought me a Vitamix blender about a year ago, and it makes wonderful smoothies, amongst other things.  I love, love the Vitamix and will be posting more about it in the future.  But they're totally worth the investment in my opinion.  Anyway, the other 24 pounds of strawberries were washed, stemmed, and turned into freezer jam.  This took 3 large pots to make, and about 4 hours from start to finish (including washing and cutting), but I made exactly 25 pints of fresh, homemade jam.  One of the reasons I find that making jam is worth the work is because I know exactly what ingredients are going into our food.  No extras- just the wholesome minimum.  So let's do the math:

I usually pay $9 for about 8 pounds of frozen strawberries at costco.  That's a savings of 6 dollars on my frozen strawberries, since I froze 16 pounds.  ($18 for 16lbs at costco versus $12 for 16lbs with the deal I found).

I usually pay $3.35 for 18 ounces of strawberry jam at the store.  I made 400 ounces (25 pints x 16 ounces) and it cost me $18, plus about $3 more for pectin and sugar. That's 5 cents per ounce homemade versus 19 cents per ounce of store-bought.  

Plus, my home smells like ripe strawberries and we have enough jam to last us nearly two years and it only took 4 hours-totally worth the effort.  I'm a big fan of buying in bulk, especially when you find a good deal.  Might I also recommend an extra freezer if you have the space in your garage?  My grandma gave her old garage freezer to us and it works like a champ.  I wouldn't be able to make all the freezer jam without the extra freezer space.  Thanks for reading about our mindful home.

My Monthly Grocery Shopping

I have had a lot of interest in the way I buy groceries to feed our family.  Why would it be interesting, you ask? Well, for starters, I only shop once a month.  And I make most of our food from scratch- not much in the way of pre-packaged or "convenience" foods here.  Also, I am vegan.  My husband eats meat, but only meat that he has hunted and killed for himself.  

Side note: many people wonder how I do with a husband who hunts since I feel strongly about animal welfare.  But I say, if he's going to eat meat, which is totally his choice and his right just as it's mine to be vegan, hunting is the most sustainable way for him to get it.  It's not always the cheapest, but I'm totally on board with the way my husband hunts- he's very respectful of the animals and hunts as humanely as possible.  Many people probably wonder how I could be hypocritical, but it's my husband's choice and I respect the man to no end.  Plus, speaking of respect, if your going to eat meat, I think it's far more respectable to go out and get it yourself than to buy it off the grocery store shelves, where you may not know what kind of life it had or what kinds of other products were used in the production.  But I digress... and I will get off my soap box now.

Although the hubs eats meat, it is actually pretty rare.  So I am cooking vegan meals for two people (breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner) for the whole month.  And I usually do it under $230 a month.  This may not seem like an outstanding savings, but eating a healthy, balanced vegan diet can cost just a little more at times.   Plus, we aren't able to grow our own produce year-round in our current area because we have nowhere to put a greenhouse, so we must buy all of our produce for ten months out of the year.  And there are still some things that I will buy only organic.  So yes, I could cut that $230 down, and I hope to each month.  But I love to cook, and I love a good variety of meals.

So here are a few tips that I go by each month:

Menu plan!  Each month, I draw a calendar (on recycled or reused paper) and I write in each day what we will be having for dinner that day.  Every month, I learn something new about doing a menu plan.  First, after you write EACH meal, write all of the ingredients (or tally, or make a checklist-whatever you find easiest) on your shopping list.  I have a running checklist of groceries that I always keep in the house so I don't forget anything.  That way you don't leave anything off your list.  Because when I say I only shop once a month, I mean it.  No quick runs to the store- I make do without if I forget something.  Each time I used to go to the store for one of those quick runs for one item, I would undoubtably come home with six other things that were not on my list.  Shopping once monthly means getting the minimum of exactly what you need, which means saving money.  One key to making life easier with a menu plan is leaving plenty of nights for leftovers.  The first month I did a plan, we had WAY too much food.  Leaving room for leftovers means you will be more efficient and waste less food by the end of the month.

I take leftovers for my lunches.  I always make sure to pack my lunch for the next day as I'm making my plate at night for dinner.  

I choose a few things to have on hand for breakfasts throughout the month- be it a batch of granola or trail mix, toast, homemade oatmeal, something home-baked like scones or pancakes, or just some fruit.  Make breakfasts easy because you will be plenty busy making dinners.  

Have trusty standbys.  I keep veggie burgers, sweet potato fries, and burger buns in my freezer at all times in case we need something easy, or incase we don't have enough left from dinner for my lunch.  That way, I'm always prepared.

Get creative with leftovers.  If you don't have enough for a full meal the next night, but you have a few things left that you could throw together or dress up, go for it.  Some of my husband's favorite meals were from mixing two or three nights worth of leftovers into a casserole dish, adding a few new ingredients, and heating it up in the oven. (FYI- vegan Thanksgiving leftovers are AMAZING this way!)

Stock up on bulk staples.  Here's what I buy in 25 pound bags: rice, dry black beans, quick cooking rolled oats, and whole wheat bread flour.  These things are cheap and you only have to buy every few months to two years (check expiration dates).  For most other things, I buy from Costco.  Olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, spices, coffee, chocolate chips, pasta, fruit, vegetables, almond and rice milk, just to name a few.  If I can find it in bulk at Costco or another big box store and the price is unbeatable, you can bet that I'm going to buy it there.  Why?  Because then in only have to buy it once every two or three months, which saves a lot of money.  

Get an extra freezer...you're gonna need it if you're anything like me.  My grandma gave her old one to us when she needed to downsize, and it has been amazing.  There are just some things that are only cheap or good when you pick them in season. For example, blueberries and strawberries for smoothies or for making freezer jam.  And some things that are better when you make them yourself but they store in the freezer, like applesauce.  And don't forget about bread items, tortillas, and leftover soups.  I also have some pre-made crockpot meals that I put in the freezer for emergencies.  I made eleven meals in one day and they have been great to have around for the past year when I want an easy day or when we are having unexpected company over for dinner.  And speaking of the crockpot, I make dry black beans in mine and have batches in my freezer so I don't have to take hours and hours to make them each week.  A freezer also let's me take advantage of great sales on things like flash frozen broccoli, which really tastes like fresh when it's steamed.  And when I get free produce from friends and family during the summer, like apples, pears, plums,and tomatoes, I can make sauces to last the whole year in the freezer. We also make smoothies for breakfast and keep frozen produce just for that purpose.  Also, don't forget that you can freeze fresh herbs, which has saved me a lot of money because they're expensive and I don't usually use a whole package in one recipe.  

Lastly, but, in my opinion, MOST important, my FoodSaver with the mason jar lid attachment.  This is how we eat fresh produce all month long.  There's the secret.  I buy enough fruit and veggies on my monthly shopping trip to last the whole month and then I spend a day cleaning and slicing them and sealing them into single portions in mason jars.  For example, each bell pepper gets it's own jar, so I always know how much to add when a recipe calls for peppers. you can even seal up your lettuce, but I still try to use it at the beginning of the month just to be safe.  (Yes, we have a lot of mason jars.  But we literally use all of them.  And you can get them at Goodwill for 29 cents.  Just buy new lids and rims so they are super clean and flat, and get a good seal with the FoodSaver.)  The only things we don't slice and seal are onions, potatoes, and carrots, because they last just fine, as well as things that will be used in the first week or so, which don't need to be preserved.  Another tip: waste not, want not!  If your lettuce is about to go bad, put it in the blender with water and puree it.  Then pour it into ice cube trays to freeze.  These cubes can then be put into a resealable container and dropped into smoothies when you want.  We do this with our beet greens too, since they're so good for you, but they don't really cook up well in a meal.  

When planning out my shopping day, I categorize items on my list by which store I will buy them from.  I always take a pen or pencil with me to keep organized and cross things off my list as I buy them.  This is the point that I will also search for coupons- if, and only if, I am already buying the item.  And sometimes, the item with the coupon is not the cheapest, even after the discount, so pay close attention.  It is very helpful to keep a running price list so you know which stores have the best prices on which items.  We also pay cash for all of our food.  There is something very satisfying about getting all of your food for a month with the cash in your wallet.  And don't forget your own reusable shopping bags for three reasons: 1. You get money off your bill at almost every store if you bring in your own bags.  2. The last thing you want after carrying in bags and boxes of a month's worth of groceries into your house is to have a paper or plastic bag rip and spill your groceries all over.  3. It's mindful of our environment, of course.

This past month, I spent $216 for our food groceries.  But my overall goal is to get it down to $100 to $150 per month, and still eat wholesome, fresh foods.  I make all that I can from scratch, which helps so much with overall cost...and health.  I will be posting more on making things from scratch in the future.  In the meantime, what tips and tricks do you have to add to this post?  How do you save money each month?  Thanks for reading about this mindful home.

What's in a name?

What's in a name?

As I was thinking of starting a blog, my husband watched me silently pine over what I should call it for a day or so before I came up with This Mindful Home.  He asked my why I chose it, and I thought it would be an appropriate first entry to answer that question, and to let readers know a little more about what I would like to accomplish through in this blog.

The dictionary definition of "mindful" is attentive, aware, or careful. Synonyms include conscientious, observant, knowledgeable, respectful, and watchful.  When I write about things in this blog, and just as a general rule in life, I truly hope to be all of these things toward other living beings and toward the environment.  I believe it is possible to live in such a way that is considerate of others, even if it takes a little more effort sometimes. After all, we are all in this thing together. 

This is why I choose to be vegan, and make things from scratch, and shop for old rather than new.  Its why I recycle and reuse, and budget to save resources that someone else may benefit from, and consider what I bring into my household and feed my to family.  Don't let my actions fool you though- I am choosing a quality of life that may seem to be lacking in some areas (like meat and money and new things), but in reality, I choose to focus on what really matters to me: my family and their well being, and that of those around us, for years and years to come.  

I certainly don't claim to know everything, and I draw a lot of inspiration from others.  Some people call me a hippie and think I live in a tree and eat tofu and sing campfire songs.  And that's fine for them to think because we all get a good laugh from it.  I certainly don't take myself too seriously.  But it is those people who come to our home and share a meal with us, and realize there just might be something to this lifestyle.  And it brings me joy to see the look on thier faces as they step into our different and sometimes unexpected little world where everything has a story, and where we are intentional in our actions and decisions.  Those are some of the people who encouraged me to write this blog.  Thank you for reading.