Frugal Vegan

Lentil Soup

2011-03-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

This simple soup warmed our tummies last night. We had it with thick crusty bread-- sometimes we have it with corn muffins.
Lentil soup

1-2 medium onions chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic crushed
2-3 med- large carrots chopped ( I used to slice them into circles, now I cut the carrots into quarters lengthwize and chop them up so I make toddler safe bite sizes)
2 tbsp olive oil ( I just pour a little in my soup pot)
16 ounces dried lentils
2 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp parsley to taste or 5-6 sprigs of fresh
1 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
8 cups of water ( I often add 1 more if I want more liquid)
Tomatoes- 1 can (15 ounces ) diced tomatoes with juice
Or about a cup of fresh chopped tomatoes.
3 bay leaves

Heat oil.
Sauté onions, garlic & carrots for about 5 minutes then add everything else. Turn heat up and bring to a boil, after about 20 minutes turn down and simmer until lentils are soft you are ready to eat!

Super simple & satisfying soup :)

Vanilla scones

2010-07-01T10:16:00.001-07:00

I've been asked to bring scones to a tea party today. we will be topping them with strawberries - I though of just making biscuits, which I've done and enjoyed in the past. Today I wanted to create something a little more spectacular!

I'm cre8ing my Vegan Vanilla Scones

I'll add recipe, review & pictures later!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lounging Llama

2009-07-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Veggies & couscous

2009-07-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

I like simple foods. I like easy dishes that can be thrown together, but are still satisfying and delicious. I have nothing against getting complicated in the kitchen, but time is not always something I have in excess. I need food, and I need it now.

That was how I felt at lunchtime today. I was hungry- and hot. I was nearly out of bread- and not about to bake more in this heat wave. So... What to make? I need to replenish the cupboards and the fridge... Time to get creative.

I had to figure out something quick to make to feed my family of five with out heating up the house. Hmmm

I had couscous. Now what? I had a small bowl of green beans fresh from the garden. I found a bag of frozen stir fry vegetables. This lunch was shaping up! I nuked the veggies, then the couscous. Decided to toss some (2 tbsp) Braggs liquid aminos into the cooked veggies- soy sauce would work too. Sprinkled a bit of granulated garlic & Ginger onto the veggies & tossed them a little. Smells good! I dished out couscous onto each plate and added the veggies. I was thrilled with the mmmmmms and "Thanks Mom, this is good!"

Meals made from items that are in my pantry are the dishes that get repeated. Veggies & couscous is such a dish!

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

hair cut!

2009-07-27T14:38:00.001-07:00

It was so hot today.... I gave Henri a big boy hair cut!

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Have

2009-07-26T09:48:00.001-07:00

As in the tot wants to have this plane!

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Crown jewel's boy

2009-07-22T12:24:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Motherly love

2009-07-22T12:07:00.001-07:00

Crown Jewel's boy born at 11:50

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Wordless Wednesday fluffy cuteness

2009-07-22T10:15:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

gDiaper pants @ $6.67!

2009-07-21T19:58:00.001-07:00

gDiaper pants @ $6.67! each…COUPON CODE: g625billings
coupon good thru july 30th!!! so hurry!

Gdiaper coth pants can be used with cloth liners or flushable inserts!! Buy their everyday g 6 pack for 40$ (w/o the code 70$!) and give them a try!!! it's 6 pairs of pants ( 3 cream color, 3 orange color). SUCH A DEAL!
code expires 7/30/09!

1. Go to http://www.gdiapers.com and go to the SHOP section!

2. Click on “Getting Started”

3. Click on “Everyday g’s 6 pack”

4. Select your size and add to cart

5. Enter coupon g625billings and click REDEEM

The price will immediately drop from $70 for the 6-pack to $40!!!

Jenni Billings

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Fun in the summertime!

2009-07-17T14:54:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

making gSplash fun summer time! @gDiapers

2009-07-17T14:15:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Blossom

2009-07-17T09:32:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Tomatoes soon

2009-07-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

Jenni Billings

get $30 off gdiaper six packs using code g625billings at www.gDiapers.com

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Breakfast!

2009-07-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

Two nurslings on the farm

get 6 pair of gpants for $40 with the code g625Billings at www.gdiapers.com
when you buy the 'everyday g's 6 pack'

offer expires 7/31 so hurry!

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Black Beauty's boy

2009-07-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

This 22.3 pound cria was just born a little while ago!

get 6 pair of gpants for $40 with the code g625Billings at www.gdiapers.com
when you buy the 'everyday g's 6 pack'

offer expires 7/31 so hurry!

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Meet our newest family member- Tiberius

2009-06-30T21:33:00.001-07:00

We now own this little guy and his momma!
Tiberius is 20 days old and hardly ever stops moving! He's a curious, energetic little fella. & we think he's a cutie!!

get 6 pair of gpants for $40 with the code g625Billings at www.gdiapers.com
when you buy the 'everyday g's 6 pack'

offer expires 7/31 so hurry!

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Untitled

2009-06-24T16:39:00.001-07:00

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Seattle public library

2009-06-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Sonora & Baby 5.21.09

2009-05-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Beer: Bread using ale yeast, high protein flour, artisan bakers

2009-05-06T22:31:00.001-07:00

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Beer-2269/2009/3/Bread-using-ale-yeast.htm

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

That made me smile. :-)

2009-04-28T13:43:00.001-07:00

Henri (now 19 months old) loves music--- woke up this morning saying sun sun sun--- as in please turn on "Here Comes The Sun"- by the Beatles- . He's been jammin all day/-- he even learned a few new words-- he loves saying "raccoon"-as in "Rocky Raccoon"

:)

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Gardening: Coping with insects, raccoons and rabbits without traps or pesticides | Factoidz

2009-04-27T17:09:00.001-07:00

http://factoidz.com/gardening-how-to-cope-with-insects-raccoons-and-rabbits/

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Economic Meltdown Survival Guide: 100 Things You Can Do To Save Money Right Now

2009-04-20T15:44:00.001-07:00

free downloadable ebook. 100 things you can do to save money right now.

http://tinyurl.com/econmelt

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Fellow mom went under the blade!!

2009-04-19T20:19:00.001-07:00

Rae is a Portland area mom who has gone bald- by choice - to raise money & awareness for cancer research.
She has already passed her goal- but I would love to blow her mind by REALLY passing it!! Every dollar counts-- every bit adds up. Please consider donating a buck or two or more!!

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-337427

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

shaved heads for cancer?

2009-04-18T20:51:00.001-07:00

Please share this link- spread the news!
My friend is going bald-- by choice! She is shaving her head to raise money for research to cure Children's cancer. She's $105 from her goal--
Donate to help her reach it!

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-337427

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

2009-04-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since I've been any good at keeping in touch with most everyone... But you can tell that from my smile and that bundle in my arms, that my time has been well spent!

I hope all is well with you and yours. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Spring!
Much love,
Jenni

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Latest good find...yippee!

2009-03-20T21:03:00.001-07:00

Last night my hubby David, was meeting some people at a pub in our old neighborhood-- so the kids and I decided to tag along and spend a few hours doing things we used to do. The first place we stopped was our old consignment shop. (a fact I shared with the owner, who felt thatveas some praise! ).

Anyway, my almost 11 year old daughter was ( depending on perspective ) blessed or cursed with "skinny genes" from both hubby & me-- these skinny genes feel like a curse when you are only growing taller & taller and trying desperately to find a pair of jeans that fit-- without having to resort to the old cincheroo. Like she said, "Mommy, I'm getting sick of belts!"

So we searched the racks-- I actually found two pairs of pants that fit me perfectly- both were half off. My daughter said two fit her-- though I am pretty sure these would need a belt. I suggested we look some more. Then she spotted them. The pair. Size slim--- with adjustable wasteband- and embroidery that would make Janis Joplin proud. $6.50. She found another pair of jeans as well. Nice fit, comfortable, adjustable waste ( whoever started putting those little elastic button strips in kids' jeans is a genius to whom I am eternally grateful!).

So we left our favorite consignment shop ( http://rerun.com) with four perfect pairs of pants ( two for each of us)- for the low low price of $17.

After, we went to wholefoods to get some vegan cookies & bananas. The kids found some chocolate peppermint soy milk( yum). We headed to starbucks where I had a much needed and appreciated cuppa while we snacked and talked. It was the easy simple kind of fun.

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

There are only two ways

2009-01-27T13:07:00.001-08:00

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is ad though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

This is my simple religion

2009-01-21T19:18:00.001-08:00

"This is my simple religion.
There is no need for temples;
no need for complicated philosophy.
Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;
the philosophy is kindness."

- his holiness the 14th dalai lama

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Invented dinners!

2009-01-17T21:28:00.001-08:00

I wasn't sure what to make for dinner tonight. Our cupboards aren't bare, (I'm a stockpiler- we buy in bulk and on sale...) but we are getting down to the last of the obvious meals now, without a lot of extra cash to spend at the grocery store this month. Honestly, some of our best meals come of such circumstances. I guess it's the whole necessity is the mother of invention-- and when money is tight- the inventing takes place in the kitchen.

So, looked around to see what I could piece together. I grabbed some tube pasta, & the last of a bag of frozen stir fry vegetables from costco. This was probably about a pound of mixed veggies but these were broken small bits- --- brocolli, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, mini corn, water chestnuts... I always have olive oil & garlic... So I figured this would work nicely! I heated the water, tossed in the pasta which I cooked for half the cooking time then I added the veggies to the pasta water for another 5 minutes. Meanwhile I crushed a bunch of garlic and added it to some hot olive oil. After the pasta was cooked- I drained it and tossed it all in a bowl with the garlic olive oil. This was awesome! Another easy, delicious dish that will become a frequently repeated meal around here! :)

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

What's on the menu?, 1/3/2009, 10:00 am

2009-01-03T18:26:00.001-08:00

Tonight I'm making spaghetti squash. I always get nostalgic when I bake it- and the funny thing is that it isn't from any particular recipe--- in fact every time I do make it I wing it- but still spaghetti squash reminds me of my grandma & grandpa- one year they were surprisedv when this strange squash started growing in their garden- they hadn't specifically planted it- had never even heard of it actually- at the time I took that little tidbit for granted- probably even thought them a little foolish or something!

Now, however, I enjoy the knowledge that that little tidbit gives me- and that is the knowledge that my granpatents were winging it too- they had an amazing garden-- in which I'm sure was planted my inspiration and desire to have one of my own. And mysterious things just grew in it. And they cooked up these mysterious veggies and ate them! And I can still see the grin on my grandpa face when he talked about growing stuff- or how my grandma described the strange stringy squash--- imagine- spaghetti in a squash!

Anyway- I don't know how it will all taste , but I always enjoy the nostalga that I dish up along with it!

:) Jenni

Posted via email from jenni's posterous

Saturday....

2008-10-25T20:22:00.001-07:00

apparently it is Saturday and has been ALL DAY!

Posted by email from jenni's posterous

Dust

2008-10-22T16:45:00.001-07:00

Add sunlight and we're playing in the stars-- it's a much better way to think of dust, I think!

Posted by email from jenni's posterous

Word up??

2008-10-21T22:03:00.001-07:00

Um, what??

Posted by email from jenni's posterous

Techno testing

2008-10-14T10:38:00.001-07:00

Baby is sleeping--- I'm hoping to grab a bite and get ready to head out to the library.

Posted by email from jenni's posterous

posterous!!

2008-10-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

working out some kinks- I could be on to something!!

tried to twitter...

2008-08-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

but it seems to have been lost to cyber space... so I'm here again..at least, for the moment.

I spent the morning communing with my little garden.. the little guy strapped safely and contentedly to my back in his beco baby carrier. I thinned some of the lettuce, replanting what I pulled in hopes that we'll get even more lettuce. I also picked away (and cursed) a few little caterpillars.. how dare they munch on my greens!

G & I (with H in the beco) planted two more rose bushes in the front. We also decided to replant a couple of the green bonsai type bushes to put the roots deeper in the ground. In the process, I uncovered a few big chunks of concrete, a bunch of rocks that G will add to her little rock garden, and a pretty cool larger rock.. about a foot long!!! I think the little plants will do better with out the concrete in their roots. We'll see. We also planted another of the neat little plants that our generous green thumbed neighbor so graciously offered us. G couldn't decide which was more fun, playing with the neighboorhood cats, or planting in the yard. J didn't have a hard time deciding at all.. he spent the time upstairs on the computer probably on the bionicle site, chatting with his friend from Austria!

Henri & I came inside. He nursed and fell asleep. Then G, J & I ate lunch. We got a surprise call from a girl I met at the park the other day inviting us to a potluck at her house this afternoon! I wish David were able to go along with us, but I'm quite happy to have been invited!

All in all , the day has shaped up rather nicely!

grow little garden!

2008-08-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

The lettuce is blossoming! We have three little tomatoes where, yesterday, there was only one! My parsley is growing and the corn is gaining height.

the sight of those two extra tomatoes made me so happy!

now if only I can conquer these weeds and plant a few move veggies!!!

another chance!

2008-06-26T18:57:00.001-07:00

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

kiddos

2008-06-09T18:09:00.001-07:00

growing up fast

just for kicks!

2008-06-09T17:24:00.001-07:00

a little movie featuring my little man

Mirror Neurons

2008-06-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

The piece below is by Daniel Goleman ( Author of EQ), I found it on Jason Graham-Nye's gdiaper blog. I agree with Jason, it is thought provoking. He said he read it to his team at gHq. I find it especially interesting because hubby and I were just discussing the chaos that a bit of teething has produced in our household this month. (and by a bit, I should mention the lil' guy is growing no less than four new teeth on the top and possibly a few on bottomm ~ poor kid)

I've noticed with our 10 yo daughter that any time I am needing a bit of space.. feeling a bit crowded or at my wits end... she crowds me more because it is at these times that she needs me more. This has been our way since she came into this world. Perhaps this is simply and example of our mirror neurons at work...

Mirror Neurons

There’s a class of brain cells called “mirror neurons”, which act as a neural Wi-Fi, attuning to the other person’s internal state moment to moment and recreating that state in our own brain—their emotions, their movements, their intentions.

Mirror neurons offer a neural mechanism that explains emotional contagion, the tendency of one person to catch the feelings of another, particularly if strongly expressed. This brain-to-brain link may also account for feelings of rapport, which research finds depend in part on extremely rapid synchronization of people’s posture, vocal pacing and movements as they interact. In short, these brain cells seem to allow the interpersonal orchestration of shifts in physiology.

In the last few years researchers have discovered the social brain, the circuitry that connects us intimately in every human encounter we have. This can be for better or for worse, of course. For instance, we can pick up toxic emotions by witnessing violence, something like the emotional equivalent of secondhand smoke. Or we can radiate peacefulness to the people we meet. We’re all part of an invisible emotional economy, a give-and-take of feelings that transpires no matter what else we do in an encounter.

Because of mirror neurons, tuning into our internal feelings gives us a mix of our own responses and what we pick up from the other. So the challenge is to distinguish between what comes from the other person. The dilemma is that the social brain continually makes emotions contagious, which means our empathy also makes us vulnerable to catching distress.

Before we realized that brains interconnect so much, it seemed that how someone does at work has little or nothing to do with how that person’s boss treats them—that it’s entirely up to the person alone. But the social brain’s interconnectivity means that to some degree the boss’s brain is looped into that person’s brain. And so a leader’s responsibility includes helping that person get into and stay in an internal state where he can do his best work. It’s also a teacher’s responsibility with a student, because there is a strong relationship between maximal cognitive efficiency and a person’s emotional state. When people are in an alert, motivated, and engaged state, the brain operates at peak efficiency. In fact when they’re joyous, they’re even more efficient.

If a teacher just angrily scolds a student and expects that student to learn better, he’s basically undermining his own efforts as a teacher. Or if a boss puts someone down or humiliates them, that threatens and undermines the person’s ability to be at their best. So the boss or teacher has to understand that they’re partly responsible for the other person’s very brain state and subsequent inability to do better.

The emotional status of our main relationships also has a significant impact on our overall pattern of cardiovascular and neuron-endocrine activity. This radically expands the scope of biology and neuroscience from focusing on a single body or brain to looking at the interplay between two at a time. In short, my hostility bumps up your blood pressure, your nurturing love lowers mine. Potentially, we are each other’s biological enemies or allies.

There is also a power factor: emotions are most contagious from the most powerful person in a group outward. One study shows that people ruminate about negative statements from their boss far more than they remember positive ones. Which means that a small dose of negative feedback gets magnified in your own mind, and can have great power because something coming from this powerful person in your life is amplified emotionally.

People need to be very skillful when giving performance feedback and not be overly harsh. Otherwise all you’re doing is arousing the brain’s centers for anxiety, undermining the very ability to perform well.

Compiled from an article in the New York Times (Oct. 10, 2006) and an interview in Tricycle, Winter 2006

ergo!!

2008-05-29T15:00:00.001-07:00

Win a Free Ergo Baby Carrier from Along for the Ride

or better yet... win it and send it my way!! =) Our little guy is getting so big, and this is just what I've been looking researching. Won't it be great when I win an ergo... and just in time for my birthday .. and for father's day too! =)

Six Words

2008-04-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Short on words, deep on meaning

When SMITH magazine asked readers for their six-word memoirs, the miniature life stories had huge impact.

By Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser

February 5 2008

Everyone has a story. That's the tag on the masthead of SMITH, our online magazine. Yet until we asked the world to send us six-word memoirs, even we had no idea how true it was.

The complete article can be viewed here

=) thirsty anyone?

2008-03-19T10:14:00.001-07:00

YUP< i'm bragging a bit, and asking for your help =)

Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro chose my husband's design as a finalist in the contest for a new label for their two new house wines. (read more about the contest here )

By Friday, David Billings (my hubby) and three other finalists' designs will be on display at both their River Place and Lake Oswego locations, as well as online at www.thirstwinebar.com so that people can vote. To vote (here's where I'm asking for your help), register to become a member at Thirst's website. Membership is free. Members can vote once a day until the end of the contest. Ultimately, the design will be chosen by the owners of Thirst, but popular vote could sway their decision!

You can see David's work at his website... Sparkyfirepants =)

Thanks! Please spread the word!! =)

Born Green giveaway! =)

2008-03-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

Oh Baby Buy Products has put together a wonderful
Born Green contest! Follow the instructions and enter to win some super cool environmentally friendly products. And if you win... send your winnings on to me! =)

I enjoyed entering this contest because it got me thinking about the green efforts my family has been making. We are doing pretty good, but there is always room for improvement!

2008-03-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity's stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth.
-Baha'i Faith

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
- slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.
- Thich Nhat Hahn

EcoMoms

2008-02-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

another great article in the New York Times

For Eco Moms, Saving Earth Begins at Home

in case that link breaks again.. or the article is moved...

February 16, 2008
For ‘EcoMoms,’ Saving Earth Begins at Home

By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN
Correction Appended

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The women gathered in the airy living room, wine poured and pleasantries exchanged. In no time, the conversation turned lively — not about the literary merits of Geraldine Brooks or Cormac McCarthy but the pitfalls of antibacterial hand sanitizers and how to retool the laundry using only cold water and biodegradable detergent during non-prime-time energy hours (after 7 p.m.).

Move over, Tupperware. The EcoMom party has arrived, with its ever-expanding “to do” list that includes preparing waste-free school lunches; lobbying for green building codes; transforming oneself into a “locovore,” eating locally grown food; and remembering not to idle the car when picking up children from school (if one must drive). Here, the small talk is about the volatile compounds emitted by dry-erase markers at school.

Perhaps not since the days of “dishpan hands” has the household been so all-consuming. But instead of gleaming floors and sparkling dishes, the obsession is on installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, buying in bulk and using “smart” power strips that shut off electricity to the espresso machine, microwave, X-Box, VCR, coffee grinder, television and laptop when not in use.

“It’s like eating too many brownies one day and then jogging extra the next,” said Kimberly Danek Pinkson, 38, the founder of the EcoMom Alliance, speaking to the group of efforts to curb eco-guilt through carbon offsets for air travel.

Part “Hints from Heloise” and part political self-help group, the alliance, which Ms. Pinkson says has 9,000 members across the country, joins a growing subculture dedicated to the “green mom,” with blogs and Web sites like greenandcleanmom.blogspot.com and eco-chick.com. Web-based organizations like the Center for a New American Dream in Takoma Park, Md., advocate reducing consumption and offer a registry that helps brides “celebrate the less-material wedding of your dreams.”

At an EcoMom circle in Palo Alto, executive mothers whipped out spreadsheets to tally their goals, inspired by a 10-step program that urges using only nontoxic products for cleaning, bathing and make-up, as well as cutting down garbage by 10 percent.

“I used to feel anxiety,” said Kathy Miller, 49, an alliance member, recalling life before she started investigating weather-sensitive irrigation controls for her garden with nine growing zones. “Now I feel I’m doing something.”

The notion of “ecoanxiety” has crept into the culture here. It was the subject of a recent cover story in San Francisco magazine that quotes a Berkeley mother so stressed out about the extravagance of her nightly baths that she started to reuse her daughter’s bath water. Where there is ecoanxiety, of course, there are ecotherapists.

“The truth is, we’re not living very naturally,” said Linda Buzzell, a therapist in Santa Barbara who publishes the quarterly EcoTherapy News and often holds sessions in her backyard permaculture food forest. “We’re in our cars, staring at the computer screen, separated most of the day from the people we love.”

“Activism can help counteract depression,” Ms. Buzzell added. “But if we get caught up in trying to save the world single-handedly, we’re just going to burn out.”

Like many young women, Ms. Pinkson’s motherhood — her son Corbin is now 6 — coincided with Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and the advent of treehugger.com and grist.org. A favorite online column is “Ask Umbra,” whose author weighs in on whether it is better to buy leather shoes or “pleather” ones that could contain solvents.

Shaina Forsman, a 13-year-old daughter of eco-mother Beth Forsman, said the alliance branch in San Rafael helped her mother take action at home. Her mother turned the thermostat down so low that Shaina sometimes wore a jacket inside, she said proudly. She was also monitoring time spent in the shower, so as not to waste water.

Shaina said she tried to get her mother to compost, but “we got ants.”

One of the country’s wealthiest places, Marin County, is hardly a hub of voluntary simplicity; its global footprint, according to county statistics, is 27 acres per person, a measure of the estimated amount of land it takes to support each person’s lifestyle (24 is the American average).

Members of the EcoMom Alliance “are fighting a values battle,” said Tim Kasser, an associate professor of psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., and the author of “The High Price of Materialism.” “They are surrounded by materialism trying to figure out how to create a life more oriented toward intrinsic values.”

Wendy Murphy, 41, a member of EcoMoms in San Anselmo, became an activist after she noticed that the new tablecloths in her children’s preschool contained polyvinyl chloride. She and a fellow mother, working with the Green Schools Initiative, a nonprofit in Berkeley, developed green guidelines for shopping, like buying chlorine-free cleaning products, low-formaldehyde furniture and toys made of natural materials.

The matter of toys is particularly thorny. At the EcoMom party in San Rafael, women traded ideas about recycled toys for birthday presents and children’s clothing swaps. Then there is the issue of the materials used in imported toys. “It’s ‘Mom, these come from China,’ ” Pam Nessi, 35, said of her daughters’ recent inspection of two of their dolls. “It can be overwhelming. You don’t want them to freak out.”

At last year’s Step It Up rallies, a day of environmental demonstrations across the country, the largest group of organizers were “mothers concerned about the disintegrating environment for their children,” said Bill McKibben, a founder of the event and author of “The End of Nature.”

Women have been instrumental in the environmental movement from the start, including their involvement in campaigns a century ago to save the Palisades along the Hudson River and sequoias in California and, more recently, Lois Gibbs’s fight against toxic waste at Love Canal.

In public opinion surveys, women express significantly higher levels of environmental concern than men, said Riley Dunlap, a professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University.

Lately “local lifestyle activism,” much of it driven by women, has been on the rise and is likely to continue, Dr. Dunlap said. “Just belonging to a national environmental organization, which seemed effective in the 1970s and ’80s, doesn’t work anymore, particularly in an era of government unresponsiveness,” he said.

Ms. Pinkson and her colleagues are well aware of “the mom demographic,” as they call it, in which, according to surveys for the Boston Consulting Group, women say they “influence or control” 80 percent of discretionary household purchases. Thus far, their thrust has been more about being green consumers than taking political action.

The eco life can occasionally spawn domestic strife.

Julie DeFord, a 33-year-old mother in Petaluma, said the high cost of organic produce prompted serious “conversations” between her and her husband, Curt, a lawyer, especially after seven nights of chard.

And ecomotherhood is not always sisterly.

At the EcoMom party recently, some guests took the hostess, Liz Held, to task for her wall-to-wall carpeting (potential off-gassing), her painted walls (unhealthful volatile organic compounds) and the freshly cut flowers that she had set out for the occasion (not organic). Their problems with the S.U.V. in the driveway were self-explanatory.

All the new eco-perfectionism did not seem to faze her. “I look around my house and think, ‘I haven’t changed all my light bulbs,’ ” she said. “But it doesn’t fill me with guilt. I think about all the things I’ve done so far. I just try to focus on the positive.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: February 19, 2008
A front-page article on Saturday about mothers who promote environmentally friendly behavior misstated the Web address of an environmental news site. It is grist.org, not grist.com.

soul

2008-02-12T21:47:00.001-08:00

To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul. – Cicero

advice

2008-02-08T13:00:00.001-08:00

I have to figure out how to take my son's advice.

We've moved into a house with hardwood floors, which I love, but the lack of carpet means the dust bunnies have no place to hide. (another reason I love it, but sheesh.... ours are doing double duty or something.. we have a lot of dust bunnies.)

my son's advice..

"you could just learn to live with them."

Gday =)

2008-02-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

it was a good day =)

I absolutely love Gdiapers. It's a fabulous product and a company about which I can't say enough good things. Today we all went downtown to visit gHQ for our first Mummy n me tea. How cool is this company? I was able to introduce my hubby and our newest family member to the Gdiaper family. We saw the gdiaper offices and were once again just happy to be part of this diaper revolution.

napping away...

2008-02-05T21:13:00.000-08:00

today was the sort of day where I just wanted to nap.
My little guy felt the same way.
I've been brewing a bit of a migraine all day, which is never fun, so after lunch, I gave in and he and I had a nice long snuggly nap.

wonder wash

2008-02-04T11:12:00.001-08:00

This handy little hand cranked water saving laundry machine was mentioned on the Gdiaper yahoo group about a month ago. It was love at first sight. I immediately sent the link on over to my " hubby (who is working downstairs, but hey, it's easier to fire off an email than to remember to mention something later.)

When we moved , we considered buying a washer & dryer since the house we are living in has neither. Trips to the laundrymat are no longer the kind of adventure I enjoy, and with a newborn in the house (not to mention a houseful of others who wear and therefore make dirty clothes on a daily basis) we knew we'd need something for that favorite American pastime .... laundry. (it should be a pastime. I spend enough time doing it! )
So we looked into our options. Not wanting to spend a fortune on a washing machine for a house we are renting, we decided to rent the washer / dryer too. This way we are not responsible for maintenance, nor did we have to figure out how to get the darn thing UP the small spindly staircase.

sooo.. we decided to take the plunge and try this little experiment.
We both like that the Wonder Wash uses less water, soap and NO electricity.
I bought it along with the larger spin dryer which does use electricity, but much less than a traditional dryer.

I found many reviews about the wonderwash. This guy really seems to like it, and we're willing to try it for all the reasons he mentions.
We'd like to stop paying to rent our machines, which would be a monthly savings of rental fees, savings on the gas bill for the heating of the water, electric bill, and water bill. Plus this is a much more environmentally friendly option.

And it beats banging our clothes on a rock in the stream, and since we are without such a stream in our immediate location, it's worth a shot.

I'll be posting updates on this little experiment in frugality in the future!

uber baby...

2008-02-03T20:13:00.001-08:00

I hear it all the time, people thinking it's not possible to be healthy and to eat a vegan diet. I was shocked when my hubby told me that he over heard some employees of Whole Foods saying "you just can't be vegan and pregnant."... don't worry.. he promptly informed them that it is quite possible, and four months ago we had the 8 lb 22 inch vegan home birth to prove it =) .

well.. now.. that little guy has more than doubled his weight.. he's 16 1/2 pounds!!! and about 27 inches long. Our Uberbaby is purely breastfed and doing fabulous!

my most recent pictures are on the camera still... as well as some pretty fun videos. We're in the midst of an upgrade to our data storage situation. When we have the kinks worked out, pictures will come =)

peanutty tofu...

2008-02-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight I made a family favorite. In fact, this was the first meal I ate after giving birth to our newest little one. Peanutty tofu never fails to please! It's simple.. I brown up the tofu with some ginger in a frying pan. Boil water for the noodles (udon or something similar). The pleasure is in the peanutty sauce! YUM>>
It's really easy.. just peanut butter, water, some ginger (fresh is best, powdered works fine too) and braggs liquid aminos (or tamari sauce or soy sauce). Sound simple? It is! and OH SO TASTY!

Tonight we had it with a salad. Greens, tomatoes, carrots, a handful of sunflower seeds, and some dried cranberries. I made a balsamic vinegar / olive oil dressing (simple, healthy and much cheaper than buying salad dressing).

peanut butter & bananas

2008-02-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

it is a combination fit for the king.. it's good enough for me =)

actually, I have a long standing love affair with peanut butter and bananas. It started long before I knew Elvis loved them... my first pb&nana sandwich..yummm

My tastes have expanded, but sometimes the simplicity of childhood is the best inspiration for new dishes.
I am sure that I could do a weeks worth of posts on dishes with peanut butter alone (heh... that's not a bad idea.. I'll have to come back to that one in the future.) For today, I'll keep it simple and stick with one dish, one post.

Tonight we are going over to our friends' house for dinner. She asked if I could bring dessert. Usually, I'd make chocolate cake for dessert, but my friend is limiting her consumption of sugar. And the fact that this dessert will be eaten by kids at 7 or 8 o'clock at night makes the lower sugar thing a good idea all around. Last week when they came over I made gingerbread. It has sugar.. but the blackstrap molasses is high in iron and a better alternative to table sugar. BUT I DIGRESS>>>
this posts is about peanut butter & bananas.

Tonight's dessert will be a little something I created accidentally one day (the best kitchen creations often come of 'accidents'). Being willing to experiment in the kitchen is a cornerstone my frugal vegan self... I mean you have to be willing to try a recipe and futz with it. Take out the animal products and make it vegan... substitute something that you have on hand rather than running to the store to purchase what is on the ingredient list. (where I'll inevitably see other things we need, making the cost of the trip higher ... ) ((( Again... I see future post material here...)

so.. back to bananas..

Tonight I'll make peanut butter pudding with bananas on top. I might sprinkle a little bit of dark chocolate shavings in place of the chocolate syrup I like on this dish. It's also wonderful with a few strawberries...but it's winter, and I want to use things I have on hand.

I'll post a picture later.

bloggityblog

2008-02-01T12:42:00.001-08:00

okay.. I realize that I have a blog creating addiction... I've often wondered if I should scrap the whole thing and start all over...

I have the Frugal Vegan Blog which is supposed to be where I log my frugal ways, in hopes of sharing how I feed my food lovin' family without breaking the bank.

my DC Daily Photo Blog which was a great experiment for myself. I wasn't sure about blogging DAILY! (yikes) and sharing my pictures with the whole wide world .. but I did it. and it was fun, and a fantastic way of documenting our time in DC. But, alas, I no longer live in DC. I know there will be a new daily photo blog in my future, but I'm not sure I'm ready for it yet. Maybe...

& there's this Cre8in Blog which was my attempt to encourage, nurture and allow an outlet for my creative side. (as if that creativity can have only one side!) plus, I happen to love the way I used the 8 in cre8in. okay, i'm a geek. whatever.

and a few other private blogs that I've created for various reasons, all rooted in my desire to write more, to create more, and to keep a record (albeit a loose, fun, not so structured record) of this thing I call my life.

sooo... now, I've been busy with life, and have allowed myself to be a bit more scattered than I normally find comfortable. And, I'm wondering what I want to do with this blogging part of my personality.

I don't think I want to just dump it all. I think I'm ready to challenge myself. What better day to do this than today. On the first day of the second month of a new year. (it makes sense to me, even if it's just a bunch of babble to anyone 'out there')

So... I'll take a baby step here, and try to post every day for a week. I was going to say a month.. but that's just more of a commitment than I'm willing to make right now. WIth this 'everydayforaweek commitment' I plan to post to each of my blogs independently. I've been lazy and copied some of my posts to my different blogs.. (BLA BLA BOring.)

so.. this will be my last (for this week at least) duplicate post.

this is where I get serious.
(for a week anyway!) >> Sheesh.. I'm beginning to sound like commitmentphobic.

let the experiment begin......

Downed cows going to school

2008-02-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

It certainly makes it easy to question whether schools have our children's best interests in mind. At least in this case, it's quite obvious they need to set the bar a bit higher.

I don't know how long the story will be online, so I'll past the text here. I applaud the Humane Society of the U.S. for investigating and sharing this information. Please try the link, but be forewarned, you shall see some disturbing footage.

Meat From 'Sick' Cows Could Have Been Sent to Schools

A nationwide animal abuse investigation and it all ends up in your child's school cafeteria.

The investigation showed a fork-lift being used to shove a “sick” cow into a slaughterhouse.

That video is now the focus of a USDA investigation into a meat company accused of supplying 'bad' meat to schools in 35 states— including Maryland.

Fox 5's Sherri Ly is following the school lunch scare.

Just a short time ago, the agriculture department released a letter saying it has indefinitely suspended the meat company involved from providing beef to its school lunch and federal food programs.

All this came after the Humane Society of the U.S. released disturbing video from a six week investigation.

Even more disturbing, the Humane Society says, is that meat from these potentially sick cows may have ended up in schools.

The Humane Society of the U.S. shot undercover video at a California meat packing plant and says workers routinely tortured downed or "sick" cows to get them on their feet so they could be slaughtered for human consumption.

The Humane Society says meat from this packing plant poses a potential health risk and goes to schools in 36 states through the National School Lunch Program – including Maryland.

Federal law bans downed cows in the human food supply because they may have a higher risk of e coli, salmonella contamination or mad cow disease.

The u-s-d-a says there is no immediate health risk but it is investigating.

The packing plant now says it fired two employees in this video and suspended a supervisor. In a statement the company president said “We are shocked and saddened by what we have seen today. Operations have been immediately suspended until we can meet with all of our employees and be assured these sorts of activities never again happen at our facility."

The Humane Society says what they found should worry everyone since an estimated 95% of Americans eat meat.

It's impossible to tell which schools may have gotten meat from this packing plant, because it's shipped to the state and not directly to schools.

The Maryland board of education today said it relies on the USDA to ensure food safety in schools and has no reason to believe there are any problems.

Parents in Virginia and the district do not have to worry as the Humane Society says they are not among the states or cities that receive meat through the federal lunch program.

2008-01-24T12:13:00.001-08:00

Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day

polly wolly doodle..

yup. I'm singing polly wolly doodle.. and I'm singing it all the day. WHY?? because my little guy giggles uproariously when I sing it.

as he does when I sing the slobber song, or the Henri BOP Bop BOP, HEnri Bop .

and you know what? I'll admit it. There's not much I won't do to hear that little guy giggle.

2007-12-31T11:33:00.000-08:00

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night
to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any
human being can fight and never stop fighting."

~ee cummings

necessity is the mother of invention.

2007-10-30T15:54:00.001-07:00

they say necessity is the mother of invention. While I do agree, I think moving must be a close relative...

We are in the living the last month in this apartment. That means it's time to purge purge purge. I have been contributing to the freecycle community in HUGE amounts... especially in the book department. But what to do with the food that the ever so frugal Frugal Vegan has stockpiled over the months and years of living here? There is no way I'm throwing away food. I can't just deliver it to the local shelters because we have chosen to live in this city as a car-free family. And with a newborn... and packing.. let's just say, I'm not really up for it.;)

sooo.. I get creative.

Tonight's dinner is a product of such creativity. We'll see how it goes over with the family in a few minutes.

I started with a very simple Dahl recipe that I found to be lacking and turned it into Curry Soup. At first I had thought it was destined for the dump, but I added a bit of this and a lot of that... some veggies.. some bragg's and hmmm.. It smells pretty good.

the second part of our creative meal has to do with bread. We are big bread eaters in this house. While pregnant, I got into the habit of making a high protein bread that was really super dooper. The very first time I made it the family declared it the best bread ever. It contains oatmeal, soy flour, wheat germ, wheat bran, wheat flour, wheat gluten, water, yeast and a tbsp of sugar. And it really is tasty. However, we are in our last month here, and I'm trying not to buy any thing...

I had some semolina flour... and some spelt flour, garbanzo bean flour... and my bread baking this last month has been a sucessful mix of each of these. I'm pretty happy to report that my bread baking has come so far I can experiment and alter and still succeed! =)

please welcome Henri David

2007-10-03T20:25:00.001-07:00

I've been so busy enjoying the new man in my life, I've neglected to give him a proper introduction.

Please welcome our son, Henri David. He was born at home last Thursday evening. Daddy caught him, big sister proclaimed "he's a Henri!", big brother is happy to have a little brother.

I'm simply in love.

gdiapers > changing the world, one bum at a time.

2007-09-25T07:59:00.001-07:00

My daugher has noticed that I've been spending a lot of time on cloth diapering sights lately. Things have changed a lot in the past 11 1/2 years since I first chose to try cloth diapering. I think when I mentioned it at the time, my mom (who cloth diapered all six of us) and my sisters thought I was a bit nutty. (but then, I get that a lot) So I started researching what is new in the cloth diapering community. One company in particular really stood out to both David and I. Gdiapers are a happy little marriage between cloth and disposable. It is a disposable insert in a cloth diaper cover.

Gdiapers appeal to me on so many levels. First, you have this Australian couple, Jason and Kim Graham-Nye, who came to the realization that disposable diapers are the third largest contributer to landfills in the world. And those suckers take five hundred years to break down (to me that kinda takes the practicallity right out of the ease of disposablility!) So this couple decided to take that realization a step (or two or many) further! Gdiapers have been available in Australia since 1991. A couple of years ago, I'm happy to say, Jason and Kim bought the rights to the rest of the world and brought Gdiapers to America.

Like I said, I have been spending a lot of time researching cloth diapering options. There are many. And to be honest, when I first found out I was pregnant, I wasn't totally sure I'd go all the way cloth again. After the kids and I saw the video here which shows the biodegradablitiy of a gdiaper insert next to disposable diapers, I knew I really couldn't come up with an excuse that I could swallow. I mean, I want this world to be a better world for my kids. I don't believe in a disposable planet. I sent the link to David and he was sold in a second. Of course, I kept looking online for all sorts of cloth diapering options... my hubby and daughter had already decided Gdiapers was the way to go. (my son isn't all that interested, I mean, he is eleven, and we are talking about diapers here.)

As if the product itself isn't amazing enough. This company runs on the philosophy of being real and genuine with everyone you encounter. That is something I can stand behind!

I have been in contact with people from Gdiapers. They are very personalble and helpful. Michelle, from Gdiapers, is going to be in DC today. When she first contacted me I thought that was cool, but was pretty sure I'd have a very newborn baby in my hands and that I'd not feel up to meeting for lunch or anything. Well... that babe is still neatly contained and rather portable in my ever growing tum-tum... soooo I'm happy to say that I very shortly I shall be meeting Michelle and some other area gmums & gdads for lunch.

Who knows... maybe the baby was just waiting to be born to give me the chance to meet Michelle! =)

but it must be all right!

2007-08-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

speaking of The Tasssajara Bread Book , I found this particular recipe to be quite funny! =)
yep.. that sounds like the 70s!!!

I'm always a sucker for a used bookstore!!

2007-01-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, I'm also a bargain magnet. Today we stopped into our local Books for America store and I found two new cookbooks.

The Tasssajara Bread Book by Edward Espe Brown, 1970, is one I have had on hold for months and months at my local library. SUCH FRUSTRATION. I go to pick it up, and they can't find the book they have told me they are holding. For one dollar, this baby is mine! The other book was, at two dollars, a bit of a splurge.

Vegetarian Express boasts easy, tasty and healthy menus in 28 minutes or less. I figured it was worth a look-see. Recipes such as "deviled tomatoes', 'apples with taffy cream', and 'curried pasta' caught my eye. And the 'seitan stroganoff' also sounds good. It was co-written by Nava Atlas and Lillain Kayte. I have a few other Atlas books on my shelf... still it was the 28 minutes or less that hooked me. I'll have to see if it lives up to that tagline.

jumble cake

2007-01-13T18:57:00.000-08:00

It's not everyday my baby turns eleven. Happy Birthday, Little Man.

2007-01-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

holy cow...
I have officially been a mama now for eleven years.

more later, I'm sure.

right now it's time to take the yummy vegan chocolate cake out of the oven and continue the celebrations !

lunch... it just keeps getting better!

2007-01-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

Bento TV

I have to say, I'm looking forward to this little online "tv" show. It's bentos bentos and more bentos... (a bento is a little lunch box.... japanese style... similar to the laptop lunchbox that I mentioned earlier.) Bento TV is a daily video blog featuring bento recipes, bento packing tips, and demos of bento making tools.

bring on the bentos. ;)

a knife by any other name....

2006-12-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

so I'm cutting up a squash and thinking , like I always do when I cut a squash, "THere has to be an easier way!!!"

so now I'm googling electric knives. I never thought I'd want to own one... having always considered electric knives a tool for the carnivore at thanksgiving, but now I'm thinking this just might be the easier way.

or maybe I need a chainsaw... I always liked the WRRRRRRRRRR sound... such power..
uh... right.

anwyay.. can anyone recommend a good electric knife ... what do I look for? what to avoid???

I'm finding they are also good for slicing fresh baked bread.. (who knew?? I didn't!)

~~~~~~~

tonight's dinner will be Curry Stuffed Squash...
Having sucessfully cut the acorn squash in half, and keeping all ten fingers, it is now in the crockpot on low. It will cook while we are out and I'll put the rest together when we get home tonight...

mmmmmm dinnner =)

first day of the laptop lunch!

2006-12-28T06:31:00.001-08:00

David has been wanting the laptop lunch box that is used at Vegan Lunch Box .... so I splurged (using a code I found online so I saved 10%) and got it for him for Christmas. You can buy one from Laptop Lunches . I am a little worried that it won't be enough food, but he thinks it will be just enough, limiting any extra unnecessary snacking.

It certainly looks nice all packed up in neat little spots. I'm worried it will mean I'll have to get creative with his lunches... and on the other hand, I'm looking forward to getting creative with his lunches ;)

I may just create a similar lunch system for the kids and myself. I'll probably opt for making it myself piecemeal and perhaps making or using one of the bags we already have... time will tell.

I plan to look in China town for other such Bento Boxes. I also saw some nice smaller size containers at Safeway. When the kids and I go out places, I like to pack lunches or snacks in little containers rather than baggies to avoid breakage or mashed sandwiches (YUCK). This piecemeal packing thing will simply mean more planning initially, which will only help in the long run.

as always... time will tell.

Something exciting happened on the way to the kitchen

2006-08-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

I have some pretty big news. My husband has published his very first book! After many years of writing, shelving, writing, shelving and finally illustrating in a sporadic 10 months, Road Trip with Rabbit and Squash is complete.

We are very excited and think (HECK< I KNOW!) you will enjoy it, too!

Please let me know what you think about the website and the blog, and of course feel free to share your excitement as well.

Feedback, feedback, feedback, please!! =)

The book is available for purchase and will be a lovely addition to any home, school, or public library!

As an added bit of coolness regarding Road Trip with Rabbit and Squash by David J. Billings. If you go to Google News and type in David Billings, you can see the latest press release!

Please check it out , as well as the website

Road Trip Book

And do please let me know what you think.

I am VERY excited and thrilled to be sharing our news with you! =)

Jenni Billings

Delicious chocolatey goodness... YUM.

2006-08-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been more conscious of the foods I eat. By this I mean I have been trying to all the food that goes into my body (and the bodies of my little ones) good for me. Being a lover of good food, it must also be tasty!

Today's Drinking chocolate was just that. Oh BOY OH BOY it was!

Being the frugal vegan, I recently bought four half gallons of silk soymilk. They are on sale at my whole foods and coupled with my $1 mambo sprouts coupon, they cost me a little over a buck and a half per half gallon. I've been buying the silk enhanced and I also bought chocolate.

which brings me to my delicious chocolatey goodness!

I poured a few cups of chocolate soymilk, 3 tbsp flax meal, a scoop of protein powder, a heaping spoon of peanut butter and a rather ripe banana and blended them all together using my little submersible blender and wowsers!

YUM.

this will be repeated! =)

Stuffed Pizza!

2006-05-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

Lately, I haven't felt much like writing things out here. I have to organize my thoughts and recommit to this blog. That said, I'll just jump right in to the food.

The first time I tasted deep dish Chicago stuffed pizza, I wasn't really sure what to think. I was in highschool, visiting Chicago on a school trip. The very first place they took us was for Chicago Style Pizza!

I fell much harder for the stuff when David and I moved to Illinois a few years later. We would treat ourselves to Giordano's. When people came to visit, we took them there. When we lived in Arizona, Oregano's.

When I got my first spring form pan (it was a frugal find ~ from when we lived in Los Angeles. A woman was moving out of the apartment she had lived in for twenty some years. She left me a few kitchen treats.) Anyway.. when I got my first springform pan, I thought it could be done.

It has taken me this long to attempt it.

Last night's dinner was quite a success, although I'm still tweaking the recipe a bit. We all felt the meal was satisfying and tasty as all get out.

more on this later... including pictures!

lame i am PLUS.. a frugal craft that has nothing to do with food

2006-04-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

oy.
i've been really lame with this blog lately. So many things I think I want to blog about and so little time... then there is the reading of blogs, books, cooking, creating.. knitting !!!

I'd really like to learn to knit more time into the day!

but really, I should be writing about frugality.

Today my daughter wanted to make a volcano/ mountain toy like the her brother and I made last year. He uses his with starwars toys, dinosaurs, animals, and any other action figure that might need to romp around an active or inactive (we made the lava removable) volcano.

sooo..
what to do , what to do.

we gathered an old oatmeal container and some pink and purple material (what else would she make.. a pink volcano with purple lava!) Actually, the pink came from a pair of discarded because the-butt-is-so-stained-from-sliding-around-the-park sweats that she loves. She is currently wearing them inside out (which hides the stain and gives them a cute soft cottony feel/ look). they are now long shorts since we cut off the bottoms for the aforementioned volcano.

we also grabbed the glue gun, with plenty of glue, scissors and a few odds n ends... and a great big smile...

a few creative moments later and she's happily playing with her own volcano and thinking I'm the coolest mom.

Perhaps I'll post some pictures later!

pizza pizza pizza!!!

2006-04-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

I do love pizza!

Tonight's frugal meal is homemade veggie pizza. I've been making homemade whole wheat crusts for years. The family actually prefers my pizza to any they've ever had. That always makes me feel good! Our favorite cheese is called Vegan Gourmet. The toppings will be tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and plenty of garlic, and of course homemade pizza sauce.

Today was spent at the National Air & Space museum. If you'd like to hear more about that, check out my DC Daily Photo blog... I'm too tired to post much more about it right now!

happy friday~

Two Gun Chili & Cornbread!

2006-04-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight's meal will be one of my favorites... the weather has been too warm to want Chili, but it dropped down to 45-50 so I thought tonight's the night for some yummmm.

;)

chili is such an easy thing to make, and there are millions of recipes out there. At our house it's not chili night without cornbread as well. I usually have everything needed to make this in the pantry and have even developed my own time saving system to help with that. I like to make a batch of the cornbread as a mix to keep on hand for those days when we NEED cornbread (and yes, we have those days!) Secretly (Or not so secretly now that I'm admitting it here) it makes me happy to see my jar in the cupboard!

and seeing these on the table makes me even happier! ;)

rice rice rice is nice

2006-04-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

One thing I always have on hand is brown rice. We love it. I buy it in bulk at my wholefoods. I realize wholefoods is not known for its bargain items, but it is right around the corner from our apartment, and it has a great bulk section. Until I decide to start purchasing bulk things online... (it's only a matter of time... i have the link I think I'll use, and it seems do-able...) in the meantime, I like that I can buy bulk rice and other items.

so.. that brings me back to rice.

it is nice.

We had rice for dinner last night, along with tofu bratwurst. Today I sent my hubby to work with leftover brown rice and a soyboy patty. It is easy for him to reheat, and a satisfying lunch. I'll probably have some brown rice with lunch. Miss G (our almost 8 year old daughter ) and I love to have brown rice with some nutrional yeast, braggs, garlic, and flax meal.. yum. Sometimes we'll add chopped walnuts or cashews too.

I think I'll make brown rice & tofu patties for dinner tonight, if this headache subsides.

Why start yet another blog??? > and a frugal vegan one at that???

2006-04-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

well... that's a good question.

The reason I've started this journal is simply to document the fact that it is quite possible to be both vegan and frugal.. at the same time!

I've always been a thrifty person.. cheap, tightwad.. whatever...

and I hate it when I hear people say how expensive it is to eat healthy...
so, I figured this would be a good way to hammer out all the easy things one can do to live a healthy life, frugally.

I'll see where it goes from here!