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Real Food on a Real Budget :: Episode 2, Youtube Edition

By on February 7, 2014 in Real Food on a Real Budget, real food/real budget, Uncategorized

Hello all,

This week I want to address some emails and texts I have gotten from a few friends all asking questions about shopping in the bulk food aisle.  The kids thought it would be an awful lot of fun to make a youtube and so we did 🙂

It has taken all of two hours and a half this morning (thanks to our super slow internet) and for some reason only the audio was up but Alexandra saw it and said it is working fine.  So,  here it is.  My first youtube video.  Poppa saw it and told me that I say “um” too much.  My children have all rallied around their momma this morning as I share this video knowing that I’m really stepping outside of my box right now.  If it totally sucks, give me some pointers okay?  So, today’s blog post is a video blog.

To answer those questions finally since I didn’t get to do it on the video (nerves don’tcha know)

Christina F:  Are there any other stores other than Whole Foods that have a bulk section?  Yes, there are lots of smaller stores depending on where you live.  For me at this moment Whole Foods is it though I have heard of two other smaller stores around here but have not gotten around to visiting yet.

Bree:  Is it cheaper to buy say sugar in bulk than buying it in a bag?  Yes, to me it is usually cheaper though on occasion the bag may be on sale and so you should check but I just buy it that way.  I buy the quantity I really need and no packaging to throw away.

and my dear friend Reggie:  What things do you buy at the bulk aisle?  Reggie, I buy almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, chia, rices, beans, wheat berries and other grains such as quinoa and millet, sugar, salt, granola, dried fruits and even candy… on occasion.

I would love to hear your comments on the video.  Though I must say I am a bit apprehensive about sharing it, I would still love to hear what you think.  We are all our worst critics true but sometimes other people can be a bit more realistic and constructive than we can.

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A little reminder:  Tomorrow is the last day to enter to win the Embroidered Valentine Hoop Art.  Please enter here.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the first Pinterest Pin-along post.  I hope to see you here.

 

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just simple longies for wintery weather

By on February 5, 2014 in Knits and Crochet, Uncategorized

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IMG_1487 IMG_1490Busy, busy, busy is our norm.  None of us really is any good at just sitting by.  If there is time we will find a project to fill it.  It is just the way we are really.  Even the little ones but this winter is doing strange things to my children.   I think having to be inside is making them stir crazy.  Yesterday I found them cleaning out the refrigerator for fun or mopping with “I don’t know why” for an answer as to why they chose that activity.  We are used to be outside everyday you see and  they don’t know where to put their energies.

Late afternoon I figured that we would just go out for a break from the room decorating and quilt making yesterday but then I started getting emails and messages on Facebook from friends and people who know we are here.  Winter weather advisorys and before I knew it, we were heading into our first severe winter storm with snow, rain and ice heading our way.  We got out flashlights and brought in enough wood to heat should we lose power.  All that was left to do was something to do for all of us.

For the kids we pulled out all the paper, markers, board games, you have it and for me, well I remembered those poor longies which have been waiting for far too long and so we sat, looking out of windows as winter flew by in flurries and sheets of snow, pellets of ice and rain.

They played and I knit, needing to give my hands a break from the pressing action of the rotary cutter.  I think in short order, Matthew may be wearing these longies.  They are perfect for these cold days and the hand dyed yarn makes me think of that warm spring day when the girls and I hand dyed the wool.  These longies have no pattern, I just casted on enough stitches to make a ribbed waist and then worked the body until the it as long as one of his diaper covers.  I divided the stitches evenly for the legs and once the legs are done, I will add a cuff in the same yarn as the waist.  All that there will be to do for the crotch will be to sew 4 little stitches.  No kitchener or anything fancy like that just a simple pair of longies for my little one.

Besides quilting and knitting, all this winter has me dreaming and planning for spring.  There will be so much to do but for now I plan.  I am reading Paradise Lot which as I have mentioned here before I think, is wonderful.  He and his farming partner are raising their two families, in a duplex the purchased when they were both single and being permaculturists have made an edible eden in the city on 1/10th of an acre.  I have my perennial books to look up plants they mention as well as my seed catalogs to add new plants to my wishlist for spring.  So exciting but also a bit sad knowing that my plants at our farm in Florida will be without me or anyone this year.

Please don’t forget to enter for the Valentines Embroidery hoop art!   Enter here. It is the perfect Valentine and made by me.  I will see you here on Friday for Real Food on a Real Budget with the line-up of all the blogging mommas who will be guest blogging here in the next few weeks and some money saving ideas.

Yarning along with Ginny, whom I hope is staying as warm as we are in the winter of winters.

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